Battle of Al-Tabqa air base
| Battle of Al-Tabqa air base | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the 2014 Eastern Syria offensive | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Abu Omar al-Shishani |
Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Unknown | Army Airmobile Forces 2 battalions from 93rd Armored Brigade 12th Attack Squadron 24th Helicopter Brigade |
||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 800~ | 1,000~ | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 346 killed | 310–400 killed (250 executed) 10–20 captured One Su-22M3 shot down.[2] |
||||||
The Battle of Al-Tabqa air base refers to a series of clashes between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Syrian Arab Army in August 2014, during the Syrian Civil War. Al-Tabqa was the last bastion for Syrian military forces in Raqqah province, which at the end of the battle came fully under the control of the ISIL.
Battle[edit]
Around 10 August 2014, ISIL started to continuously attack Tabqa air base.[3]
On 17 August, the Syrian Air Force launched 26 airstrikes on Ar-Raqqah city and around al-Tabqa, killing at least 31 ISIL fighters and wounding dozens. At least 8 civilians were also killed and 10 wounded.[4] At the same time, the Army also launched an equal number of airstrikes in Deir Ez-zor against ISIL positions, bringing the total number of airstrikes to 40.[5] The following day, the Syrian Air Force launched another 20 airstrikes against ISIS positions, one of which destroyed the Raqqa city water plant, cutting off water supply to the city.[6][7] According to Kuwaiti reporter Elijah J. Magnier, the Syrian Air Force used guided missiles following U.S. intel on ISIS gatherings.[8] According to an anonymous source, the U.S. and an unidentified Western country provided the Syrian military with lists of ISIS targets acquired through drone intelligence.[1]
Meanwhile, the Army sent reinforcements to Tabqa air base and strengthened its fortifications inside the base. It also supplied its garrison with large quantities of ammunition and food.[9]
On the night of 19 August, the heaviest fighting yet occurred at Tabqa air base which involved medium and heavy weaponry as well as 15 government air raids around Tabqa.[3] ISIL had captured a string of nearby villages in the days before the attack, tightening its siege on the base.[10] The assault started with a double suicide bombing near the entrance to the base,[11] followed by a large-scale ground assault[9] that consisted of 200 fighters, half of which were foreigners.[11] The next morning, fighting subsided after the first assault wave failed to breach the base, but a second wave was launched in the afternoon.[9] ISIL fighters encountered a mine field, heavy shelling and air strikes throughout the assaults.[12] The mines were reportedly planted as part of an ambush set up by Syrian Army Special Forces based on previous observation of ISIS troop movements in the area.[13] The fighting for the base continued until the morning of 22 August, as ISIS managed to capture the al-Tayyara checkpoint near the air base,[14] but failed to break into the base itself.[15] The base was reinforced with additional troops by plane over night while there were still clashes.[12]
The SOHR reported that no more than 70 ISIS fighters were killed in the previous two days, since the attack on the base started, and denied other reported death tolls.[16] According to the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV, over 150 ISIS fighters were killed in the ambush near the base,[15] while the Al Masdar news site reported more than 200 ISIS fighters being killed in the previous two days, including the ISIS field commander Umar Abdel-Rahman, a Tunisian.[17] According to Al Masdar, 14 soldiers were killed and 29 others wounded between 18 and 22 August.[18]
On the evening of 22 August, ISIL launched a third attempt to breach the base, after militant reinforcements arrived, starting with a suicide bombing against the airport gate.[19] The attack was repelled, while air strikes also hit ISIS positions in the nearby city of Tabqa.[20] According to Al-Masdar, a Syrian Army brigade later captured the M-42 highway leading to the city of Salamiyah in Hama Governorate and ended the ISIS siege on the Tabqa air base.[21]
On 24 August, ISIS fighters breached Tabqa and took control over large parts of the air base.[22] This attack occurred when the Army was already retreating from the base to the Ithriya area, leaving a small garrison behind. The base was eventually captured that day.[22][23] According to Elijah J. Magnier, ISIS destroyed a MiG-21 fighter jet, while 15 other MiG-21's and all helicopters were evacuated from the base.[24] The SOHR also confirmed all military aircraft was evacuated from the base during the retreat,[25] while according to Charles Lister (Brookings Doha Center) ISIS captured a number of MiG-21B's, SA-16 MANPADS and Atoll missiles missiles in the base, but noted that it was unclear whether the MiG-21B's were at all operational.[26]
In the final assault, 170 soldiers were killed, while since the start of the battle 346 ISIS fighters and 195 soldiers had been killed.[27] The number of dead soldiers was later updated to 200.[28] Another 150 soldiers were reportedly captured,[29][30] while 700 soldiers managed to retreat.[28]
The next day, jet fighters launched seven air strikes on the surroundings of the air base. According to the SOHR, ISIS captured the al-Ajrawi farm nearby. It also reported that the ISIS prevented vehicles entering and leaving Ar-Raqqah province in fear of Syrian soldiers being transported out of the province.[31] On 27 August, ISIS captured more than 20 soldiers in the farmlands of Tabqa,[32] while 27 soldiers and 8 ISIS fighters were killed in fighting at the Athraya checkpoint in eastern Hama countryside. 60 soldiers who were hiding near the Athraya area managed to reach Salamiyah.[33]
On 28 August, Syrian fighter jets launched a precise attack on an IS HQ in the city of Mohasan, during a meeting between military leaders and sharia judges. The attack resulted in the death of most leaders inside (numbering six), while others were wounded.[28][34] Another airstrike occurred the same day against an IS camp near Baath Dam, killing and wounding dozens of insurgents.[35] According to SOHR, ISIS executed 160 Syrian soldiers between 27 and 28 August.[28] Joseph Adams at Syria Direct identified the execution site 300m northeast of Ma'amal Al-Qarmeed, approximately 5 km east of A-Raqqa.[36]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "US gives Syria intelligence on jihadists: sources". The Daily Star. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "SyAAF Su-22M-3 Shot Down (2013-07-25)". Luftwaffe A.S. Retrieved 2014-11-08.
- ^ a b "Syrian troops defending last stronghold in Raqa province". Business Recorder. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ Al Jazeera and agencies. "Syrian jets hammer Islamic State stronghold". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Elijah J Magnier: 17-08-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Elijah J Magnier: 18-08-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Syrian forces hit Islamic State in Raqqa, destroy water plant". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Elijah J Magnier: 19-08-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "IS attacks Syrian army's last outpost in Raqqa". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Islamic State Militants Attack Major Air Base In Eastern Syria". The Huffington Post. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ a b "IS continues attacks on Tabaqa airport in Raqqa". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ a b "At least 30 ISIS fighters killed and wounded at Tabqa air base". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ Ziad Fadel (22 August 2014). "SYRIAN ARMY AMBUSH AT TABQA KILLS HUNDREDS OF ISIS TERRORISTS!". Syrian Perspective. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "At least 11 ISIS fighters killed in clashes with the regime". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ a b "REPORTS: SYRIA TROOPS KILL SCORES OF JIHADIS". The Big Story. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "اكاذيب للنظام حول مصرع150مقاتلا من تنظيم الدولة الاسلامية". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ Leith Fadel. "200+ Islamic State Fighters Killed at Tabqa Airbase". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ Leith Fadel. "Syrian Republican Guards Newly Formed 124th Arrives at Tabqa Airbase". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Third ISIL Attempt to Seize Tabaqa Airport Fails". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Jihadists killed in new push to take Syria air base". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Breaking News from Tabqa Airbase: Syrian Army No Longer Encircled". Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Islamic State takes over parts of Syrian air base - monitor". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "After Tabaqa airport, what is IS' next target?". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Elijah J Magnier:24-08-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Fall class airport: all tenderness outside Syrian sovereignty!". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Charles Lister: 25-08-2014". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "More than 500 dead in battle for Syria’s Tabqa airport: NGO". The Citizen. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d "IS executes "more than 160" Syria troops in new atrocity". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "More than 320 people dead and missing from the regime's forces at the Battle of class airport". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "ISIS seizes last Syrian regime base in Raqqa province". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "al-Raqqa province: warplanes went in...". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "ISIS captured more than 20 regime soldiers in Raqqah". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Hama Province". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "طائرات النظام تدمر مقر قيادة لتنظيم الدولة الاسلامية في الموحسن". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ Сирийские самолеты атаковали базу исламистов у плотины на Ефрате (in Russian). Vesti.ru. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
- ^ syriadirect.org/