Hama offensive (March–April 2017): Difference between revisions

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On 21 March 2017, two Tahrir al-Sham [[suicide bomber]]s detonated two large [[car bomb]]s against government positions in the town of [[Suran, Hama Governorate|Suran]]. Rebel forces led by Tahrir al-Sham then proceeded to attack Suran and the nearby villages of [[Maardis]] and [[Ma'an, Syria|Ma'an]]. The rebels claimed to have captured the three villages by 22 March,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.qasioun.net/en/news/show/57675/Syrian_opposition_continue_to_advance_in_Hama_and_seize_Maan|title=Syrian opposition continue to advance in Hama and seize "Maan"|work=Qasioun News Agency|date=22 March 2017}}</ref> but this was denied by [[Hezbollah]].<ref name=reuters1/> The pro-opposition activist group the [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|SOHR]] confirmed the rebel capture of Suran and parts of Maardis.<ref>[http://www.syriahr.com/2017/03/22/هيئة-تحرير-الشام-تسيطر-على-صوران-وأجزا/ هيئة تحرير الشام تسيطر على صوران وأجزاء من معردس بتمهيد صاروخي من الفصائل المقاتلة في معركة “وقل اعملوا”]</ref> The village of [[Khitab]] was also captured.<ref name="Khattab" /> According an SAA Tiger Force commander, there were about 6,000 HTS and allied militants involved in the offensive.<ref name="Tiger Force report" /> In response to the rebel offensive, the Syrian Army sent reinforcements to the northern Hama frontline.<ref name="fend" /><ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN16T13P Syrian army sends reinforcements to Hama province]. Reuters. 22 March 2017 </ref> The rebels aimed to capture the [[Jabal Zayn al-Abidin]] and attack the [[Hama Military Airport]], and reportedly advanced to within 7 kilometers of Hama city.<ref name=again/>
On 21 March 2017, two Tahrir al-Sham [[suicide bomber]]s detonated two large [[car bomb]]s against government positions in the town of [[Suran, Hama Governorate|Suran]]. Rebel forces led by Tahrir al-Sham then proceeded to attack Suran and the nearby villages of [[Maardis]] and [[Ma'an, Syria|Ma'an]]. The rebels claimed to have captured the three villages by 22 March,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.qasioun.net/en/news/show/57675/Syrian_opposition_continue_to_advance_in_Hama_and_seize_Maan|title=Syrian opposition continue to advance in Hama and seize "Maan"|work=Qasioun News Agency|date=22 March 2017}}</ref> but this was denied by [[Hezbollah]].<ref name=reuters1/> The pro-opposition activist group the [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|SOHR]] confirmed the rebel capture of Suran and parts of Maardis.<ref>[http://www.syriahr.com/2017/03/22/هيئة-تحرير-الشام-تسيطر-على-صوران-وأجزا/ هيئة تحرير الشام تسيطر على صوران وأجزاء من معردس بتمهيد صاروخي من الفصائل المقاتلة في معركة “وقل اعملوا”]</ref> The village of [[Khitab]] was also captured.<ref name="Khattab" /> According an SAA Tiger Force commander, there were about 6,000 HTS and allied militants involved in the offensive.<ref name="Tiger Force report" /> In response to the rebel offensive, the Syrian Army sent reinforcements to the northern Hama frontline.<ref name="fend" /><ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN16T13P Syrian army sends reinforcements to Hama province]. Reuters. 22 March 2017 </ref> The rebels aimed to capture the [[Jabal Zayn al-Abidin]] and attack the [[Hama Military Airport]], and reportedly advanced to within 7 kilometers of Hama city.<ref name=again/>


On 23 March, rebels captured villages of [[Kawkab, Hama|Kawkab]] and Iskendariyah, stormed [[Maardis]], and cut off the road linking [[Mahardah]] to Hama. The al-Masdar News claimed that the rebels carried out a massacre of [[Alawite]]s in the village of [[Al-Majdal, Syria|al-Majdal]], killing up to 30 of them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/map-update-syrian-rebels-massacre-civilians-press-major-offensive-syrias-hama/|title=Map Update: Syrian rebels massacre civilians as they press major offensive in Syria's Hama|last=Adra|first=Zen|date=2017-03-22|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref>According to the Sham FM radio, this was denied by Mohaled Hazzouri, the governor of Hama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/24530.html|title=Hama Governor refutes massacre reports in northern countryside|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=23 March 2017}}</ref> During the same day, the Syrian army recaptured [[Khitab]] and [[Kawkab, Hama|Kawkab]].<ref name=restore>{{cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/map-update-syrian-army-fights-back-northern-hama-restores-village-video/|title=Map Update: Syrian Army fights back in northern Hama, restores village [+Video]|last=Adra|first=Zen|date=2017-03-23|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=restore2>{{cite news|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=63357|title=Regime forces are desperate to repel the factions’ attacks in the countryside of Hama and try with an intense fire cover to restore the areas they have lost|date=2017-03-23|work=SOHR|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> and was also reported to have recaptured Rahbeh amid an ongoing counter-offensive.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-recaptures-two-villages-northern-hama-counter-offensive/|title=Syrian Army recaptures two villages in northern Hama counter-offensive|last=Fadel|first=Leith|date=2017-03-23|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref>
On 23 March, rebels captured villages of [[Kawkab, Hama|Kawkab]] and Iskendariyah, stormed [[Maardis]], and cut off the road linking [[Mahardah]] to Hama. The al-Masdar News claimed that the rebels carried out a massacre of [[Alawite]]s in the village of [[Al-Majdal, Syria|al-Majdal]], killing up to 30 of them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/map-update-syrian-rebels-massacre-civilians-press-major-offensive-syrias-hama/|title=Map Update: Syrian rebels massacre civilians as they press major offensive in Syria's Hama|last=Adra|first=Zen|date=2017-03-22|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref>According to the Sham FM radio, this was denied by Mohaled Hazzouri, the governor of Hama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/24530.html|title=Hama Governor refutes massacre reports in northern countryside|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=23 March 2017}}</ref> During the same day, pro-government sources claimed that the Syrian army recaptured [[Khitab]] and [[Kawkab, Hama|Kawkab]].<ref name=restore>{{cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/map-update-syrian-army-fights-back-northern-hama-restores-village-video/|title=Map Update: Syrian Army fights back in northern Hama, restores village [+Video]|last=Adra|first=Zen|date=2017-03-23|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=restore2>{{cite news|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=63357|title=Regime forces are desperate to repel the factions’ attacks in the countryside of Hama and try with an intense fire cover to restore the areas they have lost|date=2017-03-23|work=SOHR|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> and was also reported to have recaptured Rahbeh amid an ongoing counter-offensive,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-recaptures-two-villages-northern-hama-counter-offensive/|title=Syrian Army recaptures two villages in northern Hama counter-offensive|last=Fadel|first=Leith|date=2017-03-23|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|access-date=2017-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> all of which were denied by rebel groups.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 09:43, 24 March 2017

2017 Hama offensive
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Date21 March 2017 – present
(7 years, 1 month and 3 weeks)
Location
Northern Hama Governorate, Syria
Status

Ongoing

Belligerents

Tahrir al-Sham
Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria
Ajnad al-Sham
Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

Ajnad al-Kavkaz

Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Commanders and leaders

Syrian opposition Capt. Abu Taleb al-Hasan[6]
(Army of Victory commander)
Syrian opposition Abu Mahmoud[7]
(Army of Victory commander)
Syrian opposition Col. Mustafa Bakeware[8]
(Army of Glory commander)
Syrian opposition Col. Abdul Hamid Zakaria[9]

(Free Idlib Army commander)

Syria Brig. Gen. Hossam Ahmed Asaad †[10]
(Syrian Army commander)

Syria Unnamed Syrian Army lieutenant colonel †[11]
Units involved

Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

Syrian Armed Forces

Strength
6,000 fighters[17]
Casualties and losses
2 suicide bombers[18] Unknown
10,000 civilians displaced[19]

The 2017 Hama offensive, code-named by the rebels as the battle of "Tell Them to Work",[20] is a military offensive launched by Syrian rebel groups led by Tahrir al-Sham north of the city of Hama as part of the Syrian Civil War. The offensive began on 21 March 2017 and the rebels aim to recapture areas recaptured by the Syrian Armed Forces in the 2016 Hama offensive.[18]

The offensive

Rebel rocket artillery bombards government positions during the offensive.

On 21 March 2017, two Tahrir al-Sham suicide bombers detonated two large car bombs against government positions in the town of Suran. Rebel forces led by Tahrir al-Sham then proceeded to attack Suran and the nearby villages of Maardis and Ma'an. The rebels claimed to have captured the three villages by 22 March,[21] but this was denied by Hezbollah.[18] The pro-opposition activist group the SOHR confirmed the rebel capture of Suran and parts of Maardis.[22] The village of Khitab was also captured.[16] According an SAA Tiger Force commander, there were about 6,000 HTS and allied militants involved in the offensive.[17] In response to the rebel offensive, the Syrian Army sent reinforcements to the northern Hama frontline.[14][23] The rebels aimed to capture the Jabal Zayn al-Abidin and attack the Hama Military Airport, and reportedly advanced to within 7 kilometers of Hama city.[7]

On 23 March, rebels captured villages of Kawkab and Iskendariyah, stormed Maardis, and cut off the road linking Mahardah to Hama. The al-Masdar News claimed that the rebels carried out a massacre of Alawites in the village of al-Majdal, killing up to 30 of them.[24]According to the Sham FM radio, this was denied by Mohaled Hazzouri, the governor of Hama.[25] During the same day, pro-government sources claimed that the Syrian army recaptured Khitab and Kawkab.[4][5] and was also reported to have recaptured Rahbeh amid an ongoing counter-offensive,[26] all of which were denied by rebel groups.

References

  1. ^ "Syrian rebels press major assault near Hama". Reuters. 22 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Al-Qaeda rebels seize two more villages in northern Hama". Al Masdar News. 23 March 2017.
  3. ^ Fadel, Leith (23 March 2017). "Al-Qaeda linked rebels threaten Hama and Syria's largest Christian city".
  4. ^ a b Adra, Zen (2017-03-23). "Map Update: Syrian Army fights back in northern Hama, restores village [+Video]". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  5. ^ a b "Regime forces are desperate to repel the factions' attacks in the countryside of Hama and try with an intense fire cover to restore the areas they have lost". SOHR. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  6. ^ a b "The Opposition Groups Start A Battle North Hama". Qasioun News Agency. 21 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Syrian rebel forces launch campaign, again, to breach Hama city and airport". Syria:direct. 22 March 2017.
  8. ^ "A leading role in the "free": the battle of Hama will not stop until they reach a range". Baladi News. 23 March 2017.
  9. ^ "The word of Colonel Abdul Hamid Zakaria to one of the free Idlib army groups such as their starting to break into the northern countryside of Hama". Free Idib Army. 23 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Killed Brigadier (Hossam Asaad) in the battles of Hama". All4Syria. 23 March 2017.
  11. ^ Iyad Makki (22 March 2017). "The rebels approaching the protectors of the system collapses amid forces (see)". Arabi 21.
  12. ^ Zen Adra (21 March 2017). "Breaking: jihadi rebels attack Syrian Army in Syria's Hama [+Video]". al-Masdar News.
  13. ^ "Rebels, jihadists begin new offensive in central Syria". AFP News. 22 March 2017.
  14. ^ a b c Leith Fadel (22 March 2017). "Syrian Army reinforcements arrive to northern Hama to fend off jihadist offensive". al-Masdar News.
  15. ^ Leith Fadel (23 March 2017). "Elite Tiger Forces arrive in northern Hama to drive back Al-Qaeda". al-Masdar News.
  16. ^ a b Leith Fadel (22 March 2017). "Jihadist rebels take control of Khattab village in northern Hama". al-Masdar News.
  17. ^ a b "AbuIzzadeen on Twitter".
  18. ^ a b c "Syrian rebels launch attack near Hama". Reuters. 21 March 2017.
  19. ^ Press, The Associated. "Syrian troops besiege Islamic State stronghold".
  20. ^ "The Opposition Groups Seize Soran Town North Hama". Qasioun News Agency. 21 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Syrian opposition continue to advance in Hama and seize "Maan"". Qasioun News Agency. 22 March 2017.
  22. ^ هيئة تحرير الشام تسيطر على صوران وأجزاء من معردس بتمهيد صاروخي من الفصائل المقاتلة في معركة “وقل اعملوا”
  23. ^ Syrian army sends reinforcements to Hama province. Reuters. 22 March 2017
  24. ^ Adra, Zen (2017-03-22). "Map Update: Syrian rebels massacre civilians as they press major offensive in Syria's Hama". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  25. ^ "Hama Governor refutes massacre reports in northern countryside". Zaman al-Wasl. 23 March 2017.
  26. ^ Fadel, Leith (2017-03-23). "Syrian Army recaptures two villages in northern Hama counter-offensive". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
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