Eastern Qalamoun offensive (September–October 2016)

The Eastern Qalamoun offensive was a large-scale military offensive against Syrian rebel positions in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains of the Rif Dimashq Governorate launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant along a frontline of more than 15 kilometers in the region.^[6]

Eastern Qalamoun offensive (September–October 2016)
Part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign of the Syrian Civil War
Date 3 September – 15 October 2016 (1 month, 1 week and 5 days) Location Eastern Qalamoun Mountains, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria Result Both sides capture or recapture territory[1] Government forces bombard ISIL positions in the region[2]
Belligerents
Syrian Opposition Syrian Government[3]	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Harith Siwar (WIA)[4] (Eastern Qalamoun Jaysh al-Islam commander) Salih Nouman †[5] (Eastern Qalamoun Jaysh al-Islam commander) Abdul Rahman Abu Mansour[6] (Al-Rahman Legion deputy commander) Abu Barzan[7] (Lions of the East Army deputy commander)	Unknown
Units involved
Free Syrian Army Southern Front Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo Lions of the East Army Authenticity and Development Front Sham Liberation Army Al-Rahman Legion Jaysh al-Islam Ahrar al-Sham Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Air Force	Military of ISIL Wilayat Dimashq
Strength
600–1,500 fighters[6][8] Helicopters and fighter jets[3]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
24 fighters killed[a] 1 MiG-23 crashed[3]	23–62 militants killed [b]

Offensive

On 3 September 2016, ISIL sent two car bombs towards rebel positions in the mountains, but both were destroyed before they could reach their targets. Following this, ISIL forces stormed the rebel-held territory from three different axes, overrunning several positions and reportedly killing more than 20 rebels.^[9]

Three days later, an ISIL convoy was deployed as they launched a second assault in the area. During the clashes, the rebels destroyed an ISIL T-72, a bulldozer, and a ZU-23-2, the latter with a BGM-71 TOW missile.^[11] The next day, Jaysh al-Islam recaptured a hill near Dumayr from ISIL.^[12]

On 9 September, ISIL launched a third attack against rebel forces in the mountains. Rebels led by Jaysh al-Islam and various Free Syrian Army factions repelled the assault and dozens of ISIL fighters were killed.^[10] Hundreds of rebel reinforcements reportedly arrived in the region the next day.^[8] On 13 September, ISIL recaptured the three hilltops of Jabal Zubaydi, Tall Daba'a and Jabal al-Afa'i.^[1] On 14–15 September, rebels launched a counter-attack to regain Jabal al-Afa'i.^[13] On 17–18 September, ISIL forces launched a successful assault against rebel positions at Badiya, killing four and capturing forty defenders,^[14] while losing two vehicles in return.^[15] Heavy fighting between rebels and ISIL in the area was reported on 19 September, as the ISIL offensive entered its 3rd week.^[16]

On 21 September, Ahrar al-Sham and the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo recaptured the Rajem al-A'ali area, giving them the control of 40% of the al-Afa'i Mountains, while a Syrian Air Force MiG-23 targeting ISIL crashed in the region.^[17][18] Rebel forces made further progress later that day, retaking several positions at Jebal Batra.^[19] The pilot of the crashed government jet landed in rebel territory in the mountains and as a result of a truce in the area, the rebels handed him over to the Syrian Armed Forces and reportedly received small arms and ammunition from government forces in return.^[3] By 23 September, the rebels were in control of 70% of Jabal al-Afa'i.^[20]

On 26 September, unknown gunmen attempted to assassinate Harith Siwar, commander of Jaysh al-Islam in the Eastern Qalamoun Mountains.^[4] On 29 September, ISIL forces launched a new attack in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains, leading to heavy clashes with the rebel defenders.^[21] In the night of 1–2 October, ISIL fighters stormed eastern Jabal al-Afa'i amid heavy fighting with FSA forces.^[22] Two days later, Jaysh al-Islam repelled another major ISIL attack on Jabal al-Afa'i and al-Naqab.^[23] On 9 October, 12 ISIL fighters and an unknown number of rebels were killed in clashes after an attack by ISIL on al-Khandaq and al-Naqab mountain.^[24] Five rebels were killed in clashes on the following day.^[25] On 15 October, rebels launched an assault on Kahil Tes and Mahol areas.^[26]

Aftermath

See also: 2017 Southern Syrian Desert offensive

On 26 October, Syrian military bombarded areas under ISIL control in the region.^[27] On 2 November, clashes renewed between ISIL and rebels, concentrated in the area of Jabal al-Afa'i.^[28]

On 6 November, the rebels launched their own offensive,^[29][30] attacking ISIL positions. The rebels stated they had captured three checkpoints, with 7 ISIL fighters and 4 rebels being killed in the clashes.^[30] With the recent advances, rebels broke the siege imposed by ISIL on them in the region and had started advancing northwards to retake territory previously captured by the group.^[29]

On 29 December, FSA forces launched an offensive toward ISIL lines in the eastern Qalamoun and captured five villages.^[31]

See also

• Al-Dumayr offensive (April 2016)

Notes

1. (ISIL claim)^[9]
2. (Rebel claim)^[8][10]