Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015)

The Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015), or the battle of "Allah al-Ghalib", was a battle launched by the rebels around Tall Kurdi, Adra and Harasta in Eastern Ghouta.

Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and the Siege of eastern Ghouta
Date11–27 September 2015
(2 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Eastern Ghouta, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria
Result Rebel victory
Territorial
changes
  • Rebels capture Tell Kurdi and its industrial district, Harasta Central Military Security Branch and electrical station
Belligerents
UMCEG
Islamic Front
Free Syrian Army

Syrian Arab Republic

Palestine Liberation Army
Commanders and leaders
Zahran Alloush
Cpt. Alaa Hamawi †[1]		 Brig. Gen. Qassam Mahmoud Shehada †[2]
Col. Mohamed Ali Zaatar †[3]
Units involved

Jaysh al-Islam[4]

Al-Rahman Legion[4]

Republican Guard

Strength
Unknown 200 soldiers
(reinforcements)[5]
Casualties and losses
170+ killed (pro-gov claim) [7][8][9][10][11][12] 41+ killed[13]

The offensive

On 11 September, the Jaysh al-Islam grouping launched the offensive towards the Adra Prison and captured Tell Kurdi and two buildings in the Adra woman prison.[14] 15 soldiers and at least nine rebels (including a leader and a spokesman) were killed during the fighting for Tell Kurdi.[15][16]

By the next day, rebels had captured "significant amount of territory" near the Adra prison and Harasta National Hospital. They also pushed into the town of Dhahiyat Al-Assad, but were reportedly pushed back by the National Defence Forces (NDF). Around 200 men of the 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard were brought in as reinforcements to recapture two hills overlooking Dhahiyat Al-Assad.[5]

On 13 September, rebels advanced deep inside the town of Harasta and captured the Military Security Branch, Electrical stations and Petrol Stations, while they also captured the Tal Kurdi Industrial District.[7][17] The Army reportedly recaptured Tell Talet Raas Abou Za’id and positions along the Damascus-Homs International Highway.[18] According to the SOHR, 38 rebels and at least 41 soldiers (including two brigadier generals) were killed since the offensive started.[7][8][13] At the end of the day, Jaysh al-Islam announced to have completed the first phase of its offensive.[19]

On 14 September, 11 rebels were killed around Dhahiyat Al-Assad.[9]

On 17 September, the Syrian Army reportedly captured Abou Zayd Hill near the Homs-Damascus highway located in Harasta.[11]

On 21 September, the Republican Guard, assisted by the PLA and NDF, advanced from Abu Zayd and captured the village of Al-Kassarat. Pro-government Al-Masdar news claimed that the SAA had hence secured Dhahiyat Al-Assad area, reversing much of the initial rebel gains.

On 22 September, the Republican Guard attacked the town of Jisreen, capturing the plum farm after killing 30 rebels. Meanwhile, Jaysh Al-Islam's attack on the south of Adra Industry City was repelled by the NDF. Intense SyAAF airstrikes on Duma were also reported.

On 25 September, a pro-government source reported the Army captured a series of hills overlooking Harasta. The firefight killed 17 rebels and unknown number of soldiers.[20] Two days later, government forces reportedly recaptured large parts of the Harasta Industrial Area.[21]

Aftermath

On October 18, the SAA advanced in the Harasta Construction Site and the northern farms of the town.[22]

References
  1. "archicivilians". Twitter. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  2. "مقتل العميد الركن الفلسطيني الأصل قاسم شحادة". سوريتي (in Arabic). 13 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. "Abdurahman Harkoush". Twitter. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  4. Master. "Al- Rahman Legion and al- Islam Army establish a joint operation room in the Eastern Ghouta". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  5. Leith Fadel. "Jaysh Al-Islam Attempts to Break-Out of the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  6. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (17 January 2017). "Quwat Dir' Al-Qalamoun: Shifting Militia Links". Syria Comment. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  7. Edward. "Continuous clashes at al-Zabadani and the Islamic factions advance in the Eastern Ghouta and shelling target both Ghouta". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  8. jack. "Continued clashes around Dahya al-Assad and Zabadani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  9. Master. "More than 14 barrel bombs dropped on Darayya, while people wounded in aerial bombardment on the Eastern Ghouta". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  10. Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Counters Jaysh Al-Islam's Offensive East of Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  11. Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Advance in Al-Zabadani and the Damascus Countryside". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  12. Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Pounds Jaysh Al-Islam in the East Ghouta: Significant Losses Near Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  13. Edward. "The death of 41 members of the regime forces and the militiamen loyal to them including officers during the ongoing clashes in the Eastern Ghouta". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  14. Jack. "الفصائل الإسلامية تسيطر على مزارع تل كردي وتقتحم قسم النساء في أكبر سجون سوريا". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  15. Edward. "A leading figure in al-Islam Army dies and continued clashes in the Eastern Ghouta and al-Zabadani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  16. Edward. "About 45 died and wounded in the clashes of al-Zabadani and the Eastern Ghouta". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  17. Leith Fadel. "Jaysh Al-Islam Captures Electrical Station in Harasta While Attempting to Push into Dhahiyat Al-Assad". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  18. Leith Fadel. "Jaysh Al-Islam Intensifies Their Assault on the Fringes of Damascus". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  19. "Map: The Military Situation in NorthEast Damascus - Syria - September 12, 2015". archicivilians. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  20. Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army Establishes Control Over Harasta Hills in the East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  21. Syrian Army Recaptures Large Parts of the Harasta Industrial Area
  22. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-air-force-strikes-damascus-for-the-first-time-as-the-syrian-army-advances-in-the-east-ghouta/
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