Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016)

The Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016) was a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, that was launched in late April 2016, as part of the Syrian Civil War. The offensive resulted in the military's capture of the southern section of the rebel-held East Ghouta,[1] as government forces exploited concurrent large-scale rebel infighting in East Ghouta that left around 500 rebels dead.[4]

Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016)
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Date25 April –19 May 2016
(3 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Eastern Ghouta, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria
Result Major Syrian Army/Hezbollah victory
Territorial
changes
  • Army and Hezbollah capture the southern section of the rebel-held East Ghouta,[1] including the rebel strongholds of Deir al-Asafir and Zabdin[2]
Belligerents

Syrian Arab Republic

Palestine Liberation Army
Hezbollah

Guardians of the Dawn[3]		 Islamic Front
Free Syrian Army
Al-Nusra Front
Units involved

Syrian Army

Islamic Front

Free Syrian Army

The offensive

On the evening of 25 April, government forces captured the entire Bala Al-Kadhima region, approaching the villages of Harasta Al-Qantara and Hawsh Jarabo. With this, the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta pocket, east of Damascus, was almost split in two and the rebels in Deir Al-‘Assafir and Zibdeen were close to being cut off.[5][6]

On 29 April, the Army launched its second phase of the offensive, with an attack on Rukabiyah, seizing the southern part of the village within an hour.[7] By the end of the day, the village was mostly secured.[8][9] Shortly after, a 24-hour ceasefire was agreed upon in the area, with government troops receiving orders to withdraw from Rukabiyah.[10] The next evening, the offensive restarted and the military once again entered Rukabiyah, taking 80 percent of the village.[11] On 1 May, the military completely secured Rukabiyah,[12][13] after which the ceasefire was renewed for another 24 hours.[14]

Following the capture of Rukabiyah, the third planned phase of the offensive envisioned an assault against the rebel stronghold of Deir al-Asafir.[15] On 8 May, government forces captured parts of the town of Zabdin.[16][17]

On 11 May, government troops advanced from Rukabiyah and captured its farms.[18] The next day, they launched a push, from the areas they had taken control of since the start of the offensive, towards Deir al-Asafir and into the parts of Zabdin that were still rebel-controlled,[19] taking the village of Nolah, as well as positions near the Deir al-Asafir farms.[20][21][22] The Army also reportedly seized Zabdin's mosque.[23]

On 14 May, the Army and Hezbollah reportedly reached Deir al-Asafir[24] and imposed fire control over the town, after they seized the village of Hawsh Al-Khatib.[25] Shelling of Deir al-Asafir started on 17 May.[22]

On 17 May, government forces took control of the Bazinah farms and half of the village of Bazinah.[26] The next day, the rebels recaptured positions in Bazinah they had lost the previous day,[27] however, several hours later the military took full control of the village.[28][29]

On the morning of 19 May, government forces took full control of Deir al-Asafir and shortly after entered[30] the northeastern part of Zabdin, advancing to within 250 south of the Bala Air Defense Battalion base.[31] Elsewhere, the Army made other rapid advances, capturing two villages, as rebel defenses collapsed.[32] By the end of the day, Zabdin was captured[33] and the Army and Hezbollah cleared the whole southern section of East Ghouta,[1][4][34] which represented some 20 percent of the rebel-held East Ghouta pocket.[35]

With the success of the offensive, government troops were in control of most of the agricultural Marj region, which had been the biggest agricultural storehouse for East Ghouta. Due to this, some speculated that people inside the rebel-held East Ghouta pocket would starve and that the blockade would intensify.[36] Hundreds of families were displaced from the valuable farmland, that nourished residents trapped in the blockaded area, as government forces advanced.[37]

Following the capture of the area, the Army discovered a large network of tunnels connecting different villages and towns that contained large amounts of weapons, ammunition, medical supplies and communication equipment.[38]

Aftermath
Main article: Rif Dimashq offensive (June–October 2016)

On 20 May, the rebels recaptured Harasta Al-Qantara, as well as the nearby Bazinah farms.[39] It was later reported the rebels were pushed out of the Bazinah farms,[40] while on 21 May, the military launched an assault against Harasta Al-Qantara[41] and reportedly recaptured its farms while fighting in the village continued.[42]

On the evening of 28 May, the 416th Regiment of the Republican Guard, along with Hezbollah and the PLA, attacked the villages of Al-Bahariyah and Al-Nashabiyah, in another region of East Ghouta. During the assault, government forces broke through the rebel defense line south of Al-Nashabiyah, crossing the Barada River, and entered the village as the rebels withdrew to the village center. Meanwhile, government troops advanced on the eastern axis towards Al-Bahariyah's center.[43][44] Two days later, the military crossed the river at another point west of Al-Nashabiyah, seizing the Military Airbase Construction Battalion at Beit Na’em village.[45] Later that evening, they entered the village itself and broke through the first line of defense at nearby Al-Muhammadiyah, breaching the central region of East Ghouta for the first time since 2012.[46] On 1 June, the military cut the supply line between Al-Muhammadiyah and Beit Na’em.[47]

On the evening of 6 June, the Army blew up a large tunnel network connecting the Bala Farms with Al-Muhammadiyah and Beit Na’em. In all, nine tunnels were destroyed.[48] Two days later, government troops entered Al-Muhammadiyah, capturing 20 houses, although most of the village still remained in rebel hands.[49] Additionally, between 11 and 12 June, they advanced in Jisreen's and Al-Muhammadiyah's farms.[50][51] Also, on 14 June, the military captured the farmlands to the west of Hawsh al-Farah, cutting the rebel supply route to the rebel-held parts of Tal al-Sawwan.[52]

At the end of June, a new Army offensive was launched at the far eastern section of Eastern Ghouta.

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See also

References
  1. "Regime forces take complete control on the southern section of the eastern Ghouta". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  2. Zen Adra (19 May 2016). "Field Report: SAA tightens grip on Eastern Ghouta. Map Update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  3. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (14 December 2016). "Usud Al-Cherubim: A Pro-Assad Christian Militia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  4. "Syrian government troops take rebel stronghold near Damascus". AP. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. Leith Fadel. "Rebels in serious trouble as Syrian Army prepares to split the East Ghouta pocket". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  6. khaled. "معارك عنيفة في بالا القديمة وقوات النظام تتقدم في المنطقة". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان.
  7. Leith Fadel (29 April 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah begin phase 2 of East Ghouta offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  8. Leith Fadel (29 April 2016). "Hezbollah, Syrian Army capture several sites in the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  9. "Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  10. Leith Fadel (30 April 2016). "Ceasefire officially begins in Latakia, Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  11. Leith Fadel (30 April 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah resume offensive in East Ghouta after ceasefire expires". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  12. Chris Tomson (1 May 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army captures al-Rukabiyah village in eastern Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  13. Edward. "Violent clashes renewed in al-Rakkabiyyeh area in the Eastern Ghouta and regime's helicopters bomb Khan al-Shih". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  14. "Syrian conflict: Talks underway to extend truce to Aleppo, Russia says". 1 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  15. Leith Fadel (2 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah prepare to attack strategic East Ghouta town". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  16. "Qasion News Agency - Regime forces advance in Zibdin".
  17. "Reef Dimashq province: Regime forces... - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - Facebook".
  18. Chris Tomson (11 May 2016). "Syrian Army captures Rikabiyah Farms in new East Ghouta advance - Map update". Al-Masdar News.
  19. Chris Tomson (11 May 2016). "Syrian Army storms two major towns in eastern Damascus - Map update". Al-Masdar News.
  20. Leith Fadel (13 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah capture Nolah village in the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News.
  21. "Qasion News Agency - Regime seize over new sites in south of eastern Ghouta".
  22. "Qasion News Agency - Regime Seize Over Nola And Begins To Raids Deir Asafir … Opposition Fighting Between Each Other". Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  23. Leith Fadel (12 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah advance deep inside the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  24. Leith Fadel (14 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah reach strategic town in the East Ghouta: video". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  25. Leith Fadel (14 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah assert fire control over Deir Al-Assafir - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  26. Chris Tomson (18 May 2016). "Rebel defenses in East Ghouta collapse amid Syrian Army offensive - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  27. "Qasion News Agency - Syrian Opposition Forces Re-Seize Over Bazina Village". Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  28. "23 airstrikes target Khan al-Shekh and regime forces advance in a new town in Reef Dimashq". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  29. Leith Fadel (18 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah capture Bazinah in the East Ghouta: map". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  30. Leith Fadel (19 May 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah capture strategic town in rural Damsacus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  31. Leith Fadel (19 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah enter northeast Zibdeen in the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  32. Leith Fadel (19 May 2016). "Rebel defenses collapse in the East Ghouta as the Syrian Army, Hezbollah seize 2 more villages". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  33. Leith Fadel (19 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah seize important East Ghouta town - Map update". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  34. "Syrian government forces, allies capture extensive area near Damascus". Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  35. Chris Tomson (20 May 2016). "SouthFront: Syrian Army liberates large area in eastern Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  36. "East Ghouta loses its breadbasket: 'The regime exploited the ongoing infighting'". Syria Direct. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  37. "Syrian government troops take rebel stronghold near Damascus". Watertown Public Opinion. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  38. Leith Fadel (20 May 2016). "Syrian Army unearths large network of tunnels in the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  39. "Qasion News Agency - Opposition Re-Seize Over Bazina Farms And Progressing Around Harasta Al-Qantara". Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  40. "Hassan Ridha". Twitter. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  41. Leith Fadel (21 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah kick off new military operation in the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  42. "Hassan Ridha". Twitter. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  43. Fadel, Leith (29 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah attempt to enter new East Ghouta district". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  44. Fadel, Leith (29 May 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah cross the Barada River after rebel defenses crumble". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  45. Tomson, Chris (31 May 2016). "Rebels in big trouble as the Syrian Army captures new site in eastern Damascus". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  46. Fadel, Leith (31 May 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah enter the East Ghouta's central region: map". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  47. Fadel, Leith (1 June 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah cutoff key rebel supply road in the East Ghouta". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  48. Fadel, Leith (6 June 2016). "Syrian Army destroys large network of tunnels in the East Ghouta". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  49. Tomson, Chris (7 June 2016). "Syrian Army storms Muhammadiyah town after restarting East Ghouta offensive". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  50. Adra, Zen (11 June 2016). "Field Report: Syrian Army attacks rebel stronghold in Eastern Ghouta + [Video]". Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  51. Editor4. "قوات النظام تتقدم في مزارع المحمدية بالغوطة الشرقية واشتباكات بريف دمشق الجنوب الشرقي". Retrieved 14 June 2016.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  52. "Field Report: Syrian Army pushes deeper in Eastern Ghouta + [Video]". 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
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