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Quneitra offensive (June 2017)

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Quneitra offensive (June 2017)
Part of theSyrian Civil WarandIsraeli–Syrian military incidents during the Syrian Civil War
Date24 June – 1 July 2017
(1 week)
Location
Madinat al-Baath,Quneitra Governorate,Syria
Result Syrian government victory
Belligerents
Tahrir al-Sham[1][2][3]
Alwiya al-Furqan[4][5]
Syrian oppositionFree Syrian Army[1]

Syrian Arab Republic

Israel
(Spillover)
Commanders and leaders

Abu Osamah Al-Karar†[6][better source needed]
(HTS assault commander)

Duraid al-Shuneibli†[7][better source needed]
(HTS military commander)		 Unknown
Units involved
  • Syrian Army
  • National Defence Forces[12]
  • Golan Regiment[13]
  • Quneitra Hawks Brigade[13]
  • Syrian Air Force
    • Casualties and losses
    75+ killed, 150+ wounded(per SAA)[14][6][15] ~12 killed(per SAA)[16]
    42–37 killed(perBellingcat)[17]
    120+ killed(per the rebels)[18]
    31–35 combatants killed on both sides
    (perSOHR& The Inside Source; by 26 June)[19][20]

    TheQuneitra offensive (June 2017),code-named"Road to Damascus",[21][6][22]was a military operation launched byrebelforces against theSyrian Arab Armyat the town ofMadinat al-Baath,in theQuneitra Governorate,during theSyrian Civil War.

    The offensive[edit]

    The offensive, by rebels organised in the Jaish al-Mohammed (Army of Mohammed) operations room, including theSalafist jihadistrebel groupTahrir al-Sham(HTS) as well asFree Syrian Army(FSA) fighters, was launched on 24 June, againstMadinat al-Baath,also known as Baath City.[2][3][1]HTS was reportedly the leading group in the offensive.[2]As the attack was underway,Israeli warplanesbombed Syrian military positions at the entrance to the town, destroying a tank and aShilkaSPAAGaccording to the Syrian military.[23]Israelstated the strikes were in retaliation for errant rocket fire that hit the Israeli-controlled part of theGolan Heights[24]and that it destroyed two tanks, one as it was preparing to fire.[25]Israeli journalistRon Ben-Yishaireported the errant fire as notable for including an unusual number of "10 mortar shells and tank projectiles" landing in an open area in Israeli territory.[2]As a result of the air-strikes, the rebels captured several positions near Baath City.[26]

    By the next day, government forces managed to recapture all lost positions.[27][28]However, later in the day, Israel once again conducted air-strikes against government positions,[29]hitting two artillery positions and an ammunition truck.[30][31]The strikes, which killed two Syrian army soldiers,[3]were again in retaliation for reported rocket strikes hitting the Israeli part of theGolan Heights.[31][32]Following the strikes, the Syrian government said rebels launched a new attack on Baath City[33]and a pro-opposition activist claimed the rebels managed to break through the government's first line of defence.[3]

    Israel conducted a third round of air-strikes on 26 June. According to Israeli sources, a shell from fighting in Syria landed on Israeli-occupied territory as Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuwas touring the area, although there were no injuries or damage.[34][35][1]Syrian military sources reported the Israeli strikes hit theMafrazeh Al-Jisrcheckpoint, killing two soldiers.[36]Subsequently, according to Syrian military sources, rebels unsuccessfully attacked the "key" hilltop ofTal Ahmar,clashing with Syrian military and National Defense Forces and "allied paramilitaries".[36]TheSyrian Observatory on Human Rightsreported at least four Syrian or allied soldiers killed in the three days of Israeli air-strikes.[37]

    28 June saw a fourth round of Israeli air-strikes[38]and further ground clashes erupted in the early hours, accompanied by air-strikes by theSyrian Air Forceas well.[39]Later in the day, shelling between both sides took place[40][1]and in the evening a major government counter-attack retook all remaining territory that the rebel forces had captured during the offensive.[6]The Syrian Army and its allies then attempted to advance westwards into rebel-held areas, but reported that they abandoned their advance when the Israeli Air Force raided their positions atAl-Samdaniyah Al-Sharqiyah.[41]According to Israel, the attack was in retaliation for a stray mortar shell hitting their territory – the 16th time stray fire from Syria struck Israeli territory in the week – and that they were firing back at the source of the fire.[34][42][38]The next morning, the rebels hit Madinat al-Baath with a barrage ofTOW anti-tank missilesin an attempt to restart their offensive.[43]

    On 1 July, the Syrian Army, supported by theNational Defence Forces,continued their counter-attack, reporting they had recaptured the quarries area west of Baath City and thus reversing all rebel gains during the offensive.[15]During the fighting, two stray artillery rounds hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, prompting Israeli forces to target the Syrian government positions for the fifth time, targeting an artillery position they said was the source of the firing.[35][44][45]

    A four-day unilateral ceasefire was announced by the Syrian Army to take place between midday 2 July and midnight on 6 July.[46]Although exchange of fire between Israel and Syria largely ceased,[47]clashes renewed near Baath City on 3 July, with Israeli helicopters attacking Syrian Army positions according to Syrian military sources.[48]

    Aftermath[edit]

    On 8 July, the Syrian Army reported that, along with its allies, it had captured several points nearAl-Samdaniyah Al-Gharbiyah.[49]

    As a precursor toAstana 5peace talks, on 9 July 2017, at 0900 GMT, an American-Russian-Jordanian brokered ceasefire commenced.[50]Besides minor violations from all sides involved, including machine gun fire on an Irish base on the Golan Heights,[10]the ceasefire held though mid-July.[51]TheSouthern Frontboycotted the Astana 5 talks.[52]

    On 14 July, according to pro-government media, opposition groups in the "Death over Humiliation "operations room,including HTS and FSA groups participating in the Quneitra, offensive rejected the ceasefire, with clashes resuming across Southern Syria.[53]

    In early August, rebel sources reported that Russian forces were replacing government troops in Daraa and Quneitra, while pro-government sources reported that Russian military policemen had been deployed in the region and were now stationed in positions shared by the Syrian army and only the 4th Division was withdrawing. Both reported a new Russian base in the area, acting as a buffer between government/Hezbollah troops and Israeli occupied land and to enforce the ceasefire.[54][55]

    On 8 September,Tahrir al-Sham(HTS) fighters launched an offensive in the direction of the town ofHader,reportedly showering the town with missiles before launching a ground assault resulting in the capture of Tal al-Hira hilltop.[56]However, later in the day the Syrian Army, alongside National Defense Forces, reported it had recaptured the high-point.[57]

    Despite the truce, government shelling was reported by theSyrian Observatory for Human Rightsin late September 2017.[58]

    In mid-October 2017, the Syrian Army launched an operation in the nearby region known asWestern Ghouta,capturingTal Bard’ayyahhill and thus securing fire control over the town ofBeit Jinn,held by HTS.[59]However, the rebels recaptured all positions they had lost two days later.[60]During this time, Israel conducted several strikes against Syrian Army artillery positions due to errant rocket fire hitting Israeli-held parts of the Golan Heights.[61][62]

    In mid-2018, the Syrian military was preparing to launch an offensive against rebel forces in theQuneitra Governorate,as part of a greater campaign in Southern Syria. As preparations were underway, the rebels burned farms near the frontline.[63]The potential offensive was the subject of controversy withIsraeldue to the presence of Iranian backed groups in the region, with the Israeli government pressuringRussiato force Iranian backed groups out of the region.[64][65][66]

    See also[edit]

    References[edit]

    1. ^abcdeIsrael strikes Syrian regime forces as Netanyahu visits illegally occupied Golan Heights,Al-Araby, 29 June 2017
    2. ^abcdBen-Yishai, Ron (25 June 2017)."In state of panic, Syrian army tosses rules of caution aside".Ynetnews.YNet.Retrieved25 June2017.
    3. ^abcdFighting intensifies in Syrian Golan Heights,Al-Jazeera26 June 2017
    4. ^abcd"5 rebel factions launch attack on regime army in Quneitra province".Zaman al-Wasl. 25 June 2017.Retrieved29 June2017.
    5. ^Ellen FrancisU.S.-Russian ceasefire deal holding in southwest Syria,Reuters 9 July 2017
    6. ^abcdChris tomson (29 June 2017)."Syrian Army retakes all lost points in the Golan Heights as jihadist offensive grinds to a halt".al-Masdar News.Archived fromthe originalon 30 May 2019.Retrieved29 June2017.
    7. ^"Top jihadi commander killed in southwestern Syria".Al-Masdar. 2 July 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 2 July 2017.Retrieved2 July2017.
    8. ^Tsurkov, Elizabeth (25 June 2017)."Among the factions participating in the battle in Quneitra: Hayat Tahrir a-Sham (Nusra), Liwaa' al-Izz, Liwaa al-Furqan, Liwaa a-Sabetin".
    9. ^Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi(3 July 2017).Jonathan Spyer(ed.)."Arab Media: Israeli Bombardment Killed, Wounded Targets inside Syria".Rubin Center. Archived fromthe originalon 9 July 2017.Retrieved4 July2017.
    10. ^abHeavy machine gun fire lands on Irish Golan base,Irish Times,10 July 2017
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    14. ^"Jihadist rebels suffer 50+ casualties during failed Golan Heights offensive".Al-Masdar News. 28 June 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 27 October 2017.Retrieved28 June2017.
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    16. ^"VIDEO: Islamist rebels launch large-scale assault on Syrian Army stronghold near Israel".Al-Masdar News. 27 June 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 9 August 2017.Retrieved27 June2017.
    17. ^Waters, Gregory (2018-10-03)."Fifteen Months of Death: Pro-Government Casualties of the Syrian Civil War".bellingcat.Retrieved2020-06-25.
    18. ^Illingworth, Andrew (4 July 2017)."Map update: Israel-backed Golan militants to continue offensive operations".Al-Masdar News. Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2017.Retrieved4 July2017.
    19. ^"More than 31 members and fighters of regime forces and factions were killed in 48 hours of battles in the mid-sector countryside of Al-Quneitra".26 June 2017.
    20. ^Source, The Inside (25 June 2017)."#TwSyria // #Qunetria // Casualties as a result of heavy clashes around Baath city are inflated. Combined toll is no more than 35".Twitter.
    21. ^Weekly Conflict Summary June 22–28, 2017,Carter Center
    22. ^To Help Daraa... The Syrian Opposition Launches A New Battle South Of Syria
    23. ^"Update: Israeli warplanes bomb Syrian forces while Al-Qaeda blitzes their positions".Al-Masdar News.24 June 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 23 April 2019.Retrieved26 June2017.
    24. ^Andrew Carey."Israel strikes Syrian military near Golan Heights".CNN.
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    28. ^"The regime forces spare no effort to regain control over the positions they lost to the factions in the latter's attack on Al-Ba'ath city in Al-Quneitra countryside".Syrian Observatory on Human Rights(SOHR). 25 June 2017.
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    35. ^abAnna Ahronheim "IDF strikes Syrian targets after two projectiles hit Israel within an hour"Jerusalem Post1 July 2017
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    39. ^"Clashes in areas near Harasta town and the warplanes shell areas in a town in Al-Quneitra central countryside".SOHR. 28 June 2017.
    40. ^"Exchange of shelling between the regime forces and the factions in the countryside of Quneitra and at least 6 persons were killed in a booby-trapped explosion in the countryside of Idlib".SOHR. 28 June 2017.
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    52. ^Majeda EL-BATSH; Gareth BROWNE (2017-06-30)."'Precarious calm' in southwest Syria amid cease-fire – Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East ".Al-Monitor. AFP.RetrievedMay 12,2022.
    53. ^"Rebel factions in southern Syria reject ceasefire deal".Al-Masdar. 14 July 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2018.Retrieved21 July2017.
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    64. ^Israel’s National Security Advisor presses Russia to force Iran to leave Syria
    65. ^National security adviser in Russia for talks on Iran troops in Syria — report
    66. ^How Russia-Israel engagement is benefiting Iran
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