Euphrates Crossing offensive (2017)

2017 Euphrates Crossing offensive
Part of the Eastern Syria campaign and the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war
Date18 September – 21 October 2017
(1 month and 3 days)
Location
Eastern Syria
Status

Syrian Army victory

  • The Syrian Army captured ten villages after crossing the Euphrates River[1][2]
  • The Syrian Army encircles the ISIL-held part of Deir ez-Zor city
Belligerents

Syrian Arab Republic

Russia		 Islamic State Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Syria Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan
(Operations chief commander)
Syria Maj. Gen. Issam Zahreddine †[3]
(104th Airborne Brigade of Republican Guard)
Russia Lt. Gen. Valery Asapov †[4]
(Syrian 5th Corps commander)[5]		 Unknown
Units involved

Syrian Armed Forces

Russian forces

Islamic State Military of ISIL

  • Wilayat Deir ez-Zor
Casualties and losses
Syria 72 killed (SOHR claim)[9]
Russia 7 killed (SOHR claim)[9] (some possibly PMCs)[10]		 300+ killed (SAA claim; 29 Sep. – 13 Oct.)[11]

The 2017 Euphrates Crossing offensive was a military offensive launched by the Syrian Arab Army against members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, following the breaking of the three-year siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor. The Euphrates Crossing offensive, conducted by government troops, was done with the aim of denying US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the US itself leverage over the Syrian government.[12]

The offensive was concurrent with the two SDF offensives, the Battle of Raqqa and the northern Deir ez-Zor offensive, as well the Hawija Offensive in Iraq.

  1. ^ "After bringing large reinforcements…one village in the east of the Euphrates River separates the regime forces from imposing the siege on ISIS inside Deir Ezzor". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army crosses Euphrates River, liberates new town in Deir Ezzor". Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  3. ^ Aboufadel, Leith (18 October 2017). "Breaking: Prominent Syrian general Issam Zahreddine killed in Deir Ezzor". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021.
  4. ^ "ISIS shell kills Russian commander of Syrian Euphrates crossing". Debkafile.
  5. ^ "Russia says general killed in Syria held senior post in Assad's army". Reuters. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army liberates first town after crossing Euphrates River". Al-Masdar News. 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  7. ^ Andrew Illingworth (19 September 2017). "VIDEO: Full report by very first Syrian troops to cross the Euphrates in historic operation". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army expands control over eastern bank of Euphrates River". Al-Masdar News. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  9. ^ a b "In its repel attacks, ISIS kills at least 79 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen including 7 Russians in the eastern banks of the Euphrates River". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  10. ^ "ISIS kills 3 Russian soldiers in Deir Ezzor: Amaq provides photos". Al-Masdar News. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Syrian Army slays hundreds of ISIS militants during big battle to encircle Deir Ezzor city". Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Why the Euphrates Crossing has Deep Implications for the U.S. in Syria". News:Deeply. Retrieved 24 September 2017.