Daraa offensive (October 2014)

The October Daraa offensive, code-named "wa al-Fajr wa Layali Asher"[16] ("By the Dawn and ten nights"), was a military operation launched by Syrian rebels during the Syrian civil war in Daraa Governorate, in an attempt to take control of Al-Harra and Al-Sanamayn.[17] This operation came after the successful rebel offensive in Quneitra province, which resulted in the rebels seizing the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan and the capture of a number of towns, villages and hills in Quneitra and Daraa provinces.

See also: Daraa Governorate campaign
Daraa offensive
Part of the Syrian Civil War

Map showing the rebel advances and government counterattacks
Date3–6 October 2014
(3 days)
Location
Daraa Governorate, Syria
Result

Rebel victory

  • Army counter-attack on Deir al-Adas repelled[1]
Territorial
changes		 Rebels capture al-Harrah town,[2] two villages,[3][4] three checkpoints,[3][4] Tell al-Harrah[5] and its radar base[6][7]
Belligerents

Free Syrian Army
Islamic Front
Alwiya al-Furqan[7]

Al-Nusra Front

Syrian Arab Republic

Supported by:

Commanders and leaders
Captain Abu Aws[7] Brig. Gen. Mahmud Abo Arraj
(Brigade 121 commander)[9]
Brig. Gen. Nazir Fuddah [6]
Units involved

Amoud Houran Brigade[10]
Tawhid Kata’ib Horan[10]
Ababil Houran Brigade[11]

Hazzm Movement[7]

7th Division[12]

  • 121st Brigade[9]
9th Division
90th Brigade
15th Brigade
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
63+ killed[13][14][15] 53+ killed[1][13]
26+ civilians killed[2][15]

Failed army attack and rebel offensive

On 3 October, 23 soldiers were reportedly killed after a failed attempt to regain control over Deir al-Adas.[1] The next day, rebels announced the start of a military operation called "wa al-Fajr wa Layali Asher", which aimed to capture al-Harra town and its 1,075 meters high strategic hill and to besiege Army forces in al-Sanamayn and its surrounding barracks.[16] That day, between 18 and 60 rebels were killed.[14][18]

On 5 October, at least 30 soldiers and 29 rebels were killed at Tell al-Harrah and at its radar base.[13] The rebels captured the hill,[5] Zimrin village and the Oum El-Aaoussaj barrier in al-Harrah town. According to opposition sources, two army tanks were destroyed and one fighter jet was downed,[4] while rebels also managed to capture the Tell al-Ahmar and the security facilitity in the south of al-Harrah town and the al-Jadeera checkpoint east of it.[19] The base on the hill contained Center C, a spy facility run by a Russian special unit.[8]

The next day, rebels captured the village of Zimrin (east of Al-Harrah town), the two strategic hills surrounding it (Western Tell Zimrin and Northern Tell Zimrin),[20] and two checkpoints nearby.[3] That day, 16 rebels (including two commanders) and six members of the same family were killed.[15]

Aftermath

On 10 October, the Syrian Army started bombing al-Harrah town from the air and with ground-to-ground missiles, killing 20 civilians.[2]

On 15 October, the Syrian brigadier-general “Mahmud Abo Arraj”, commander of the Brigade 121 affiliated to the Seventh Division, fled his home in Damascus to the Syrian-Jordanian border after hearing he will be on trial and executed on charge of high treason due to "handing over al-Harrah Hill". He was likely killed in Rif Dimashq, but his body is still missing.[9]

On 17 October, rebels announced the start of a new battle called “Ahlo al-Azem", which aimed to capture the following Army checkpoints: Umm al-Mayazen al Tebeh, Al-Ma’esra checkpoint and Al-Kazeyyat checkpoint. These checkpoints are located along the Damascus-Jordan highway and are considered the biggest of their kind in the eastern area.[21] On 20 October, rebels captured the al-Jeser, al-Falahin gas station and al-Ma'sara checkpoints near Umm al-Mayazan after three days of fighting. Umm al-Mayazan village was captured by the rebels the next day after heavy fighting with pro-government troops, who withdrew from the village and reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels.[22] That same day, at least 8 civilians were killed after the Syrian Arab Air Force bombed the Nasib border town.[23]

On 23 October, rebels captured the Umm al-Mayathen checkpoint near Nasib border crossing.[24]

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References
  1. "23 soldiers from the regime forces died in Daraa". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. "20 civilians including 5 children, killed in al-Harra in Dar'a". Facebook.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. "Al-nusra front and rebel battalions capture barriers in Daraa countryside". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  4. "Opposition fighters seize areas in Daraa, southern Syria". KUNA. October 5, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  5. "19 regular soldiers killed during clashes in the strategic hill of al-Harra". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  6. Oryx. "Captured Russian spy facility reveals the extent of Russian aid to the Assad regime". Spioenkop.blogspot.nl. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  7. "اشتباكات في جوبر والنظام يستولي على الدخانية"الجيش الحر" يحرّر مدينة الحارة الاستراتيجية في درعا". Almustaqbal Newspaper. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. "Syrian Rebels Seize Russian Spy Station Near Israeli Border". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  9. SOHRadmin1. "The brigadier- general "Mahmud Abo Arraj" has escaped from the regime army". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  10. "The Moderate Rebels: A Complete and Growing List of Vetted Groups". الثورة الديمقراطية، الطراز السوري Democratic Revolution, Syrian Style. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  11. "Elijah J Magnier: 6-10-2014". Twitter.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  12. "Syria forces ranged for major counteroffensive to dislodge rebels from Quneitra. High tension on Golan". Debka.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  13. "Syria regime bombing kills 21, including 8 children: monitor". Yahoo News. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  14. "Clashes in Daraa left 18 deaths on al Nusra and rebel battalions side". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  15. "22 martyrs in Daraa, including 16 rebel fighters". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  16. "Islamic battalions announce a new battle in Dar'a countryside". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  17. "Syria rebels take strategic hill near capital". Aljazeera.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  18. "Syrian Army Repulses Rebel Attack on Tal Harra". almasdarnews. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  19. "Rebels Conquer Southern Gate to Western Ghouta". Syrianobserver.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  20. "الجيش الحر يسيطر على بلدة زمرين والتلال المحيطة بها في درعا ضمن معركة "لبيك اللهم لبيك"". Smart News. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  21. "Announcment [sic] of a new battle in Daraa, and death of 10 IS militants in Deir Ezzor". Syriahr.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  22. "Syrian Army Captures Al-Samdaniyya in Quneitra; Rebels Capture 'Umm Mayaazan in Dara'a". Al-Masdar News. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  23. "تقدم للمقاتلين في محيط بلدة أم المياذن بريف درعا". Syriahr.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  24. Al Jazeera. "Syrian rebels take key checkpoint near Jordan". Retrieved 29 December 2014.
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