Jump to content

Al-Qusayr offensive

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Hometech (talk | contribs) at 16:09, 24 April 2013 (→‎The offensive). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Al-Qusayr offensive
Date4 April 2013 – ongoing
Location
around Al Qusayr, Syria
Result

Ongoing

  • Syrian Army and Hezbollah capture eight villages around al-Qusayr[1]
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army Syria Syrian Armed Forces
Hezbollah
Casualties and losses
152 fighters killed[2] 88 soldiers and militiamen killed[2]

The Al-Qusayr offensive was launched on 4 April 2013, by the Syrian Army and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, during the Syrian civil war,[3] with the aim of capturing all villages around the rebel-held town of al-Qusayr, thus tightening the siege of the city and ultimately launching an attack on al-Qusayr itself.[4]

The offensive

On 11 April, the Syrian Army, along with a large force of Hezbollah fighters, attacked and captured the strategic hilltop village of Tal al-Nabi Mando from rebel forces. Fighting still continued into the next day but it was described as sporadic.[5] 40 Hezbollah militiamen and Syrian soldiers were killed in the fierce battle for the hill.[6][7] The importance of Tal al-Nabi Mando is strategic and whoever controls it can fire on most Syrian border villages in the area. That the inhabitants of pro-government villages fled after the opposition previously seized Tall al-Nabi Mando points to the site’s strategic importance.[8]

On 14 April, after previously warning Lebanon that it would retaliate for Hezbollah's participation on the side of Syrian government forces, rebels launched a rocket attack over the border against the Lebanese towns of Hermel and Al-Qasr, killing two Lebanese, including a child,[9][8] and injuring six others.[10]

On 17 April, government bombardment of al-Buweida al-Sharqiya killed at least 12 people, including two women and two children. Meanwhile, fighting raged on the outskirts of the town Abel.[11] Opposition activists reported that 700 Hezbollah militiamen were deployed in the town of al-Nazariyeh near al-Qusayr.[12]

On 18 April, the FSA took control of Al-Dab'a Air Base near the city of al-Qusayr.[13] The base had no aircraft and was being used primarily to garrison ground troops. Meanwhile, the Syrian Army took control over the town of Abel. The SOHR director described the Army takeover of the town by saying that it will hamper rebel movements between al-Qusayr and Homs city. According to him, the capture of the airport would have relieved the pressure on the rebels in the area, but their loss of Abel made the situation more complicated.[14][15] 21 rebel fighters, including one commander, were killed during the fighting for Abel.[16]

On 20 April, government and Hezbollah troops captured the village of Radwaniyeh, tightening the siege of al-Qusayr.[17] Opposition activists stated that coordination between the military and Hezbollah was very strong and Hezbollah fighters were provided air-cover during their advance. A Hezbollah assault on Burhaniya had also started. Fresh fighting was also reported at Tal al-Nabi Mando, with other clashes raging in the villages of Saqraja and Abu Huri. One activist from al-Qusayr described the situation as very bad with the government forces trying to capture the countryside around the city, in order to attack the city itself.[4][18]

On 21 April, Burhaniya had also fallen to the government advance and the Army secured the road linking the Lebanese-Syrian border along the Orontes river to the west of al-Qusayr. At the same time, a new round of rebel rocket strikes hit the Lebanese towns of Hermel and al-Qasr, in retaliation for the Hezbollah participation in the offensive.[7] By this point, eight villages had fallen to the government offensive. Hezbollah forces were advancing from the Bekaa valley toward al-Qusayr, while the Syrian Army was moving south from Homs in a pincer movement.[1]

On 22 April, fighting continued between rebels and Hezbollah forces in other villages around Al-Qusayr.[19] Rebels alleged that 18 Hezbollah fighters were killed in the clashes.[20] A rebel commander claimed that rebels recaptured the villages of Abou Houri and Al-Mouh. However, there was no independent confirmation.[21]

On 23 April, more rebel rocket strikes hit the Lebanese town of Hermel,[22] as a Syrian military source insisted that the capture of al-Qusayr was "just days away, at most".[23]

By 24 April, the frontline had moved to the village of Ayn al-Tannur, a few miles northwest of al-Qusayr. Government forces were waiting until their positions in the villages west of the Assi River were reinforced before they advanced on al-Qusayr.[24]

Strategic Analysis

In late April, regime forces, aided by Hezbollah and pro-regime mobs, have been waging a violent offensive on Al qusayr and other places westward from Homs. But these are countryside areas and small farming villages which are not strategically useful. Durin the offensive Assad told Lebanese supporters that his plan was "purging" the region of Homs and its countryside. the westward direction indicates that "Either Assad is preparing to escape once the capital city has fallen and retreat to the sectarian regions towards the western coast with the inclusion of Homs, or he intends to hold out and control approximately one third of Syria from Damascus to Homs and the Mediterranean coast," according to a London based expert on Syrian affairs.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b Lebanon border area mired in Syrian conflict
  2. ^ a b "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  3. ^ Syrian opposition calls on Hezbollah to stay out of Syria’s civil war
  4. ^ a b Activists: Syrian regime provides Hezbollah aerial shield in Qusayr
  5. ^ Syrian troops battle rebels in hills near Lebanon
  6. ^ Activists say 40 Hezbollah, Syrian regime fighters killed in Qusayr clashes
  7. ^ a b Syria army closes in on Qusayr near Lebanon
  8. ^ a b Northern Bekaa Villages Threatened by Syria War
  9. ^ Fire from Syria kills two in Lebanon
  10. ^ Syrian regime rockets kill at least 2 in Lebanon
  11. ^ Syrian regime bombardment kills 12 in Homs village
  12. ^ Hezbollah deploys 700 fighters in Syria’s Homs, report
  13. ^ Syria rebels claim strategic airbase
  14. ^ Syria troops seize strategic Homs village
  15. ^ Homs province 1
  16. ^ About 160 people were killed yesterday
  17. ^ Dozens killed in battle near Damascus: Watchdog
  18. ^ Homs province 2
  19. ^ Hezbollah’s elite leading the battle in Qusayr region of Syria
  20. ^ FSA reportedly kills 18 Hezbollah fighters in Syrian city of Qusayr
  21. ^ Rebels say foiled Hezbollah attacks in Homs
  22. ^ Qusayr battle pits Syria rebels against army, Hezbollah
  23. ^ Syria chemical weapons fears, fierce clashes near Homs
  24. ^ Syria: National Defense Forces at Forefront of Qusayr Fighting
  25. ^ http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/al-assad-is-looking-to-his-future
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Al-Qusayr_offensive&oldid=551978370"