Northern Aleppo offensive (February–July 2014)

The Northern Aleppo offensive (February–July 2014) was a military offensive launched by armed Syrian opposition forces led by the Free Syrian Army against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the northern Aleppo Governorate. The offensive resulted in ISIL's withdrawal from the city of Azaz, Menagh Military Airbase, and a number of towns and villages in the area.[1]

Northern Aleppo offensive (February–July 2014)
Part of the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War

Map showing the ISIS-held Azaz pocket in early February 2014
Date13 February – 2 July 2014
(4 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Location
Northern Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Result

Partial rebel victory

Belligerents

Free Syrian Army

Islamic Front
Al-Nusra Front[2]		  Islamic State
Commanders and leaders

Alaa Ajabu †[5]
(Kurdish Front top commander)
Abu Walid[6]
(al-Tawhid Brigade northern commander)
Abu Ahmad Bakri[2]

(Glories of the Levant Brigade commander)		 Abu Omar al-Shishani
Units involved

Free Syria Operations Room[7]

Military of ISIL

Background
Main article: Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War

ISIL captured the city of Azaz from the Northern Storm Brigade in September 2013. This resulted in the closure of the Bab al-Salam border crossing from Turkey further north. The Northern Storm Brigade and the al-Tawhid Brigade withdrew from the city and were stationed in its outskirts.[9]

Full-blown conflict between ISIL and other rebel groups erupted in January 2014. In the first few days of the conflict, al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham brokered a ceasefire agreement with ISIL in the city of Aleppo and its northern countryside. However, ISIL continued its attacks on other rebel groups and killed more than 24 rebel fighters across northern Syria. The newly created Army of Mujahideen also pledged to fight ISIL in both Aleppo and Idlib.[10]

The offensive

First phase

On 13 February 2014, the Kurdish Front Brigade, the Northern Storm Brigade, and the Descendents of Messengers Brigade declared the beginning of a battle to recapture Azaz and the rest of northern Aleppo from ISIL, code named the Battle of Dignity. The groups declared the front to be a military exclusion zone and warned civilians to leave the area. The first clashes began in the village of Maryamin, Afrin and resulted in the Kurdish Front capturing the village. Clashes spread to Deir Jamal and several other villages.[11] The top commander of the Kurdish Front, Alaa Ajabu, was killed in action during the fighting 4 days later.[5]

By 28 February, ISIL forces withdrew from Azaz, Menagh Military Airbase, Deir Jamal, and several other villages. ISIL forces from the area retreated to their strongholds of al-Bab, Jarabulus and Manbij in eastern Aleppo.[1]

Second phase

On 16 May 2014, 9 rebel groups formed the "Free Syria Operations Room", announced the beginning of the "Battle of Northern Earthquake", and declared the northern and eastern countrysides of Aleppo a military zone. Clashes took place in and near the town of al-Rai. ISIL reinforcements then arrived in al-Rai from Jarabulus to fight the rebels.[7]

In July 2014, ISIL launched a large-scale counter-offensive and recaptured the village of Bahwartah, north of Akhtarin, as well as 5 other villages. However, the al-Nusra Front and the Tawhid Brigade soon recaptured 3 of these villages. In response to the ISIL offensive, 11 rebel groups threatened to withdraw from the frontlines in the area due to the lack of support.[12]

Aftermath
Main articles: Siege of Kobanî, Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016), Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016), Manbij offensive, Battle of al-Rai (August 2016), and Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War

References
  1. "Syria's most hardline jihadist outfit retreats from parts of north". Agence France-Presse. 28 February 2014.
  2. "After fierce battles with the rebels making progress .. Daesh Brive Aleppo north". Al Aan TV. 2 July 2014.
  3. van Wilgenburg, Wladimir (27 March 2014). "Syrian Kurds, rebels find common enemy in ISIS". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  4. "ISIS Islamic-jihadists leave behind destruction in Syrian Kurdistan". Ekurd Daily. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  5. "Martyrdom brigade commander Kurdish front in the countryside Azaz". Afrin News. 18 February 2014.
  6. "Revolution and the withdrawal of "state regulation" of Aleppo accounts". Al Jazeera. 6 March 2014.
  7. ""Free Syria Operations Room" begins the battle "to defeat North earthquake" Daesh "from the eastern countryside of Aleppo". Zaman al-Wasl. 17 May 2014.
  8. "Kurdish Front: Chamber Free Syria Operations announces the start of the Battle of the North earthquake to cleanse the countryside of Aleppo organized Daesh". Kurdish Front. 16 May 2014.
  9. Paul Wood (19 September 2013). "Isis seizure of Syria's Azaz exposes rebel rifts". BBC.
  10. Nazeer Rida (6 January 2014). "Syria: ISIS agrees truce, withdraws from Turkish border areas". Asharq Al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  11. "Kurdish Front announces the start of the battle to liberate Azaz and Daesh to withdraw Cheddadi". Gulistan News. 13 February 2014.
  12. "Rebels demand help as fighting rages against ISIS in Ghouta". The Daily Star. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
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