Battle of al-Bab

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Battle of al-Bab
Part of the Turkish military intervention in Syria

Map of the wider Turkish-led operations and the wider campaigns in northern Aleppo
  Syrian Armed Forces & allied groups
  Syrian Democratic Forces
  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
  FSA groups and Turkish troops in Northern Syria
Date6 November 2016 – present
(7 years, 5 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Location
Al-Bab District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Status

Ongoing

  • FSA capture 36 villages from ISIL and 4 villages from the SDF[3][4][5]
  • SDF capture 17 villages, including Arima from ISIL[6][7][8][9]
  • Pro-government forces capture 5 villages from ISIL and FSA[10][11]
Belligerents

Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

 Turkey		  Islamic State

Syrian Democratic Forces

Syrian National Resistance[2]
Syrian Arab Republic[2]

Support:
Russia
Commanders and leaders
Turkey Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı[12]
(Operations chief commander)
Turkey Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel[13][14]
(Second Army commander)
Syrian opposition Col. Ahmed Othman[15]
(Sultan Murad Division commander)
Syrian opposition Fehim İsa (Sultan Murad Division commander)[16]
Mahmoud Abu Hamza[17] (Descendants of Saladin Brigade commander)
Syrian opposition Capt. Yussuf Shibli[18] (Qabasin Military Council commander)
Capt. Abdel Salam Abdel Razaq[17] (Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement commander)
Capt. Mohammed Abu Mustafa[19]
(Sham Legion commander)
Abu Jafer[20] (Brigade of Conquest commander)		 Unknown

Adnan Abu Amjad[21] (Manbij Military Council & Northern Sun Battalion commander)

Anwar Khabat[22] (Euphrates Liberation Brigade commander)
Units involved

Turkey Turkish Armed Forces

Syrian opposition Hawar Kilis Operations Room


Other Syrian rebels
Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement[33]

Ahrar al-Sham[33][34]		 Unknown

Syrian Democratic Forces

Syrian National Resistance[2]

Syrian Armed Forces

Strength
Turkey 40 tanks, 15+ armoured personnel carrier Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
45–65 rebels[39] and 6 soldiers killed,[40] 2 soldiers captured/missing[41] 39+ killed[42][43][44] 79+ killed[45]

The Battle of al-Bab includes a military offensive launched by Syrian rebel groups (including groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army), and the Turkish Armed Forces north of al-Bab in the Aleppo Governorate, and a separate Syrian Democratic Forces offensive east of the city. The northern operation intends to capture al-Bab from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as part of the Turkish military intervention in Syria.

Background

Main articles: Northern al-Bab offensive (September 2016), 2016 Dabiq offensive, and Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)

After the western al-Bab offensive, the rebels moved their focus from the western countryside of al-Bab so to avoid confrontation with the Syrian Democratic Forces, and launched an assault against ISIS north of al-Bab.[46]

The offensive

First week

Between 6 and 14 November 2016, the rebels captured 36 villages,[3][4] putting them within 2 kilometers of al-Bab.[47] Meanwhile, the Syrian Democratic Forces captured seven villages east of al-Bab in an attempt to besiege the village of Arima.[4][6][7]

Second week

On 14 November, rebel forces managed to enter the northern outskirts of al-Bab, but were facing stiff resistance, with fighting raging at a livestock market two kilometers north of the town.[42] By this point, al-Bab was surrounded from the north and northwest, with the only retreat route remaining for ISIL to the southeast towards Raqqa, through the ISIL-held town of Dayr Hafir.[47] In the evening, the rebels established fire control over the Jafirah Roundabout and seized several adjacent buildings in the northern part of al-Bab, leaving them in control of less than 5 percent of the city.[7] However, the next day, the rebels were forced to withdraw one kilometer to the north of al-Bab. Meanwhile, the rebels took control of the town of Qabasin, northeast of al-Bab.[5]

The Turkish military stated on 18 November, that the FSA had captured five villages in the Karadağ area of al-Rai district and added that it had also hit 80 ISIL targets and a SDF target.[48]

On 19 November, ISIL recaptured Qabasin, as well as one nearby village. This marked the fourth time the town had changed hands in the previous four days.[49]

Third week

On 20 November, the rebels launched two counter-attacks against Qabasin, with both being repelled. The next day, the rebels redirected their assault from al-Bab to the Kurdish-held village of Sheikh Nassir, managing to seize the village in the early morning hours, but losing it in an SDF counter-attack in the afternoon.[50]

Between 22 and 23 November, Qabasin changed hands two more times, ultimately remaining under ISIL control.[51][52][53] On 23 November, the SDF captured Arima. In response, Turkish artillery shelled the SDF-held villages in the area.[9][53][54]

On 24 November, according to the Turkish military, the Syrian Arab Air Force conducted an airstrike against Turkish Special Forces and aligned Turkish-backed rebels north of al-Bab, killing three Turkish soldiers and injuring ten.[55][56] Turkish officials initially stated the casualties were due to an ISIL attack, before blaming the Syrian Air Force. However, the pro-opposition activist group the SOHR disputed it was an air-strike and stated it was in fact an ISIL suicide attack. Additionally, ISIL confirmed it conducted a suicide attack in the area.[57][58] Later, the Turkish Prime Minister’s office issued a gag order on reporting about the airstrike,[56][59] while the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on the Turkish government to "act with common sense."[59] In the evening, the Syrian Air Force officially denied it or the Russian Air Force had conducted an air-strike against Turkish forces.[60] Concurrently during the day, the SDF, with support of government forces, captured three villages from ISIL west of al-Bab, coming within 10 kilometers of the city.[61][62] The rebels also took two villages east of al-Bab, reaching the main road between al-Bab and Manbij for the first time.[63]

Between 25 and 27 November, the SDF captured two villages from ISIL west of al-Bab, while the rebels took three to the east. Additionally, the rebels launched an attack on two SDF-held villages east of the city, with unclear results. At the same time, pro-government forces also advanced, taking control of four villages from IS west of al-Bab.[10]

Fourth week

On 28 November, the Syrian Army captured a village from the Turkish-backed rebels west of al-Bab, coming within 5 kilometers of the city.[11][64]

References

  1. ^ @Syria_Rebel_Obs (November 17, 2016). "RARE PIC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b c d e Chris Tomson (29 November 2016). "Syrian Army captures first village from Turkish-backed rebels on the outskirts of al-Bab". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b After reaching the edges of al-Bab city… the “Euphrates Shield” factions expand their controlled areas in the vicinity of the city and its countryside
  4. ^ a b c Tomson, Chris (7 November 2016). "Syrian rebels seize seven villages in major advance towards ISIS stronghold of al-Bab". Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  5. ^ a b Tomson, Chris (15 November 2016). "Turkish-backed rebels overrun another ISIS-held town near al-Bab". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  6. ^ a b The Syria Democratic Forces are trying to besiege al-Arima and factions of “Euphrates Shield” advance in the vicinity of al-Bab with clashes on its frontiers
  7. ^ a b c Tomson, Chris (15 November 2016). "Syrian rebels storm ISIS stronghold of al-Bab in northern Aleppo - Map". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  8. ^ US-backed Kurds seize 9 villages from ISIS while Turkish-backed rebels attack both
  9. ^ a b "A large number of injuries in the continued "Turkish Shelling" on the control areas of Manbij Military Council". Syria HR. 23 November 2016.
  10. ^ a b Syria civil war: All eyes on strategic town of al-Bab, marking a crucial new phase in the conflict
  11. ^ a b Syrian Army captures first village from Turkish-backed rebels on the outskirts of al-Bab
  12. ^ Turkish Special Forces: From stopping a coup to the frontline of the ISIL fight Hürriyet Daily News, 24 August 2016.
  13. ^ Nick Tattersall; Humeyra Pamuk (26 August 2016). "Turkey signals no quick end to Syria incursion as truck bomb kills police". Reuters.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Korgeneral İsmail Metin Temel Cerablus'ta". Hürriyet Daily News. 26 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Turkish Forces and Rebels Storm Into Syria, Taking IS Stronghold of Jarablus". VOA. 24 August 2016.
  16. ^ "SULTAN MURAT TÜMENİ KOMUTANI FEHİM İSA TATHAMUS TÜRKMEN KÖYÜNÜN DEAŞ TERÖR ÖRGÜTÜNDEN TEMİZLENDİĞİNİ AÇIKLADI". 24 August 2016.
  17. ^ a b c "Turkish-backed FSA rebels set their sights on last IS Aleppo stronghold after border victory". Syria:direct. 5 September 2016.
  18. ^ "LCC Qabasin rejects Qabasin MC". Yallasouriya. 13 November 2016.
  19. ^ "ÖSO komutanlarından Türkiye'ye teşekkür". 25 August 2016.
  20. ^ "41K Turkish soldiers ready to support operation Al Bab". Yeni Şafak. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  21. ^ "Turkey calls on US, allies to reconsider Syria no-fly zone". AP. 21 November 2016.
  22. ^ https://twitter.com/sayed_ridha/status/782488421063274496
  23. ^ "Çobanbey'in ardından muhaliflerin yeni hedefi Cerablus". AJANS HABER. 9 April 2016.
  24. ^ "LIVE: Turkish military, coalition forces launch 'Euphrates Shield' operation in Jarablus". Hürriyet Daily News. 24 August 2016.
  25. ^ Serhat Erkmen (1 September 2016). "Analiz: Fırat Kalkanı'nda bir haftalık bilanço". DW.
  26. ^ "Syria à la Carte: Turkish Invasion Highlights Rapidly Shifting Alliances-Maximilian Popp and Christoph Reuter". JK Alternative Viewpoint. 31 August 2016.
  27. ^ Albin Szakola (25 August 2016). "Turkey-backed rebels aim for key ISIS-held town". NOW.
  28. ^ "Turkish-led forces capture first village in northern Syria". al-Masdar News. 24 August 2016.
  29. ^ "New rebel group formed in Idlib". AMN. 20 September 2016.
  30. ^ Caleb Weiss (29 August 2016). "Two US-backed groups clash in northern Syria". The Long War Journal.
  31. ^ "فرقة حلب الأولى - The first band of Aleppo". First Division of Aleppo on Facebook. 18 September 2016.
  32. ^ Christoph Ehrhardt (26 August 2016). "Krieg in Syrien - Die Trennlinien verschwimmen". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German).
  33. ^ a b Susan Fraser; Philip Issa (24 August 2016). "U.S. warplanes support Turkish tanks attacking Islamic State forces in Syria". Military Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ "fouad sarkis on Twitter". Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chris Tomson (26 November 2016). "Turkish-backed rebels, Syrian Army and Kurdish forces all advance in race to al-Bab". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  36. ^ https://twitter.com/arabthomness/status/801387350957953024
  37. ^ "Shahba forces". RUMAF. 1 December 2016.
  38. ^ @SY_newsagency (November 26, 2016). "HUGE GAINS for the newly formed Protection unit !" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ 1 killed (6 Nov.),[1] 4 killed (7 Nov.),[2] 2 killed (9 Nov.),[3] 4 killed (10 Nov.),[4] 8 killed (11 Nov.),[5] 5 killed (12 Nov.),[6] 2 killed (13 Nov.),[7] 9 killed (14 Nov.),[8] 2 killed (15 Nov.),[9] 2 killed (16 Nov.),[10] 2–22 killed (19 Nov.),[11][12] 1 killed (20 Nov.),[13] 4 killed (24 Nov.),[14] total of 45–65 reported killed
  40. ^ One Turkish soldier killed fighting Daesh, 5 injured in Syria
  41. ^ The Latest: Turkey Says 2 Soldiers Missing in Syria
  42. ^ a b ‘It’s game over’: Turkish-backed rebels 2km away from Islamic State stronghold of al-Bab
  43. ^ Suriye'nin kuzeyindeki terör hedeflerine yönelik devam eden harekatta, DEAŞ üyesi 4 terörist etkisiz hale getirildi
  44. ^ [15]
  45. ^ 10 killed (14 November),[16] 5 killed (15 November),[17] 12 killed (19 November),[18] 1 killed (20 November),[19] 14 killed (21-22 November),[20] 6 killed (23 November),[21] 2 killed (24 November),[22] 7 killed (27 November),[23] 20 killed (28–29 November),[24] 2 killed (1 December), [25] total of 79 reported killed
  46. ^ "Julian Röpcke on Twitter". Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  47. ^ a b "Turkey-backed Syria rebels 'just two kilometres' from IS bastion". The New Arab. 13 November 2016.
  48. ^ Paksoy, Yunus (18 November 2016). "PKK's Syrian wing YPG attacking FSA to disrupt anti-Daesh al-Bab offensive". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  49. ^ ISIS retakes town near al-Bab during deadly ambush on Turkish-backed rebels
  50. ^ Turkish-backed rebels pause battle for al-Bab to launch huge attack on Kurdish forces
  51. ^ Rebels backed by Turkish forces advance over IS in Aleppo countryside
  52. ^ Turkish-backed rebels recapture Qabasin town in northern Aleppo
  53. ^ a b Huge three-way battle unfolds near al-Bab as all parties seize territory in the same day
  54. ^ "Human losses in Turkish forces and in aerial bombardment on al-Arima". Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. 24 November 2016.
  55. ^ "Three Turkish soldiers killed in regime attack in Syria: Military". Hurriyet Daily News. 24 November 2016.
  56. ^ a b "Turkish soldiers killed by Syrian air strike: Military". Al Jazeera. 24 November 2016.
  57. ^ Turkish army blames Syrian government for killing its soldiers
  58. ^ IS conflict: Turkish soldiers killed in Syria attack
  59. ^ a b "CHP warns of 'perilous process' after Syrian regime air strike hits Turkish troops". Hurriyet Daily News. 24 November 2016.
  60. ^ Syrian Air Force denies bombing Turkish Army in east Aleppo
  61. ^ The Syria Democratic Forces approaching from the west of al-Bab city and control several villages
  62. ^ Syrian Army, Kurdish forces liberate several villages in east Aleppo: map
  63. ^ Turkish-backed rebels seize two villages east of al-Bab during outflanking manuever
  64. ^ Syrian Civil War Map
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