Palmyra offensive (March 2016)

For the two previous offensives, see Palmyra offensive (May 2015) and Palmyra offensive (July–August 2015).
For the later offensives, see Palmyra offensive (December 2016) and Palmyra offensive (2017).

Palmyra offensive (March 2016)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and the Russian military intervention in Syria

Map showing areas captured by 26 March
Date9 – 27 March 2016
(2 weeks and 4 days)
Location
Tadmur District, Eastern Homs Governorate, Syria
34°33′36″N 38°16′02″E / 34.5600°N 38.2672°E / 34.5600; 38.2672
Result

Decisive Syrian Army victory

  • Syrian Army captures Palmyra city and its area[9][10][11]
Belligerents

Syria Syria

 Russia
 Iran[1]
Allied militias:
Hezbollah[2]
Iraqi Shi'ite militias:

Liwa Fatemiyoun[1]
Syria Liwa Sayf al-Mahdi[6]
Ba'ath Brigades[7]
Galilee Forces[8]		 Islamic State Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Major General Suheil al-Hassan[12]
(Operations chief commander)
Ali Rahmoun †[13][14]
(Syrian Marines commander)
Colonel Ali Shaheen[15]
(Panther Forces Brigade commander)
Colonel Shadi Isma'el[15]
(Cheetah Forces commander)[16]
Suleiman al-Shwakh[17]
(Desert Commandos commander)
"The Uncle" Abu Ismail[18]
(Military Security Shield Forces commander)
Russia Col. Gen. Aleksandr Dvornikov
(Russian forces commander)
Lt. Gen. Aleksandr Zhuravlev[19]
(Russian operations commander)
Sen. Lt. Alexander Prokhorenko †[20]
(Spetsnaz commander)		 Islamic State Sultan bin 'Abdel-Rahman †[21]
(Emir of Palmyra)
Islamic State Khalil Mohameed †[22]
(Emir of Palmyra)
Units involved

Syrian Armed Forces

Russia Russian forces

Iran IRGC advisors[1]
Hezbollah

  • National Ideological Resistance[34]
 Islamic State Military of ISIL
Strength
6,000+[27] Islamic State 2,000+ (per Syrian Army)
Casualties and losses
Syria 391 killed[35]
Russia 12 killed[36]
Iran 3 killed[35]		 Islamic State 417 killed (per SOHR)[35]
450 killed (per Syrian Army)[37]
500+ killed (per Russia; 20–27 March)[38]

The Palmyra offensive (March 2016) was a military operation of the Syrian Arab Army, supported by Russian airstrikes,[39] to recapture from the Islamic State the city of Tadmur (near the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra), which was strategically important for both forces due to its position in central Syria.[40] The city was fully recaptured on 27 March.

  1. ^ a b c Leith Fadel (21 March 2016). "Iranian special forces arrive in Palmyra to help liberate the city". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  2. ^ Leith Fadel (17 March 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah overwhelm ISIS in west Palmyra: dozens killed". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Leith Fadel (14 March 2016). "Tiger Forces liberate Hill 800 in west Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Leith Fadel (17 March 2016). "Massive convoy of Syrian Army reinforcements leave Latakia for Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  5. ^ Leith Fadel (26 March 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah liberate Al-Amariyah in northern Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  6. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (6 August 2016). "Liwa Sayf al-Mahdi: A Syrian Army Shi'i Militia". Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  7. ^ a b Leith Fadel (9 March 2016). "Syrian Forces, Hezbollah mobilize for the largest desert offensive against ISIS". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  8. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (23 December 2015). "Quwat al-Jalil: A Pro-Assad Palestinian Syrian Militia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Syrian forces retake historic city of Palmyra from Islamic State". chicagotribune.com. Associated Press. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  10. ^ khaled (27 March 2016). "بعد معارك استمرت لـ 3 أسابيع قوات النظام تستعيد السيطرة على كامل مدينة تدمر وخسائر بشرية فادحة في صفوف تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية"". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  11. ^ Leith Fadel (27 March 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Armed Forces liberate Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  12. ^ Chris Tomson (7 March 2016). "Prominent Syrian General deployed to ISIS-held Palmyra as Syrian Army prepares offensive". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  13. ^ jack (21 March 2016). "IS kills 26 seals and their commander in Tadmur city". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  14. ^ Leith Fadel (21 March 2016). "Friendly-fire in Palmyra kills 17 Syrian Marines". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  15. ^ a b Leith Fadel (18 April 2016). "Syrian Army cancels the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor offensive". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  16. ^ Leith Fadel (19 October 2015). "Cheetah Forces Capture 30km of Territory from ISIS in East Aleppo: Kuweires Airport Within Sight". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  17. ^ a b Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (30 August 2016). "Fawj Maghawir al-Badiya: A Military Intelligence Branch Militia". Syrian Comment. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  18. ^ a b Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 September 2016). "Quwat Dir' Al-Amn Al-Askari: A Latakia Military Intelligence Militia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  19. ^ Fadel, Leith (22 July 2016). "Russia appoints new commander of military forces in Syria". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  20. ^ Dearen, Lizzie (30 April 2016). "Body of Russian special forces officer who 'ordered air strike on himself' to kill Isis militants returned home". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016.
  21. ^ Leith Fadel (18 March 2016). "Top ISIS emir in Palmyra killed by the Syrian Army". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  22. ^ Leith Fadel (14 March 2016). "Top ISIS emir in Palmyra killed by Syrian Army". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  23. ^ Leith Fadel (15 March 2016). "Syrian Army advances in Palmyra despite heavy casualties". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  24. ^ Leith Fadel (26 March 2016). "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah liberate Al-Amariyah in northern Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  25. ^ Leith Fadel (5 March 2016). "Russian Air Force hammers ISIS' oil routes in east Homs as the Syrian Army advances on Palmyra". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  26. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (2 April 2017). "Quwat Muqatili al-Asha'ir: Tribal Auxiliary Forces of the Military Intelligence". Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  27. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference reinforcements2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. ^ https://informnapalm.org/en/russian-marines-palmyra/ |date=19 Nov 2019
  29. ^ Reuters Editorial (24 March 2016). "Russia's special forces officer killed in Syria: Interfax". Reuters. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ Huffington Post
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference PMC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wagner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ^ Sparks, John (10 August 2016). "Revealed: Russia's 'Secret Syria Mercenaries'". Sky News. Sky plc. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  34. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (28 March 2016). "Analysis: The Retaking of Palmyra from the Islamic State". Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  35. ^ a b c "Syrian forces pursue campaign against Islamic State after retaking Palmyra". townhall.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  36. ^ US says Iran forces pulling back in Syria; others say no
  37. ^ Reem (27 March 2016). "The army takes full control of Palmyra city, hundreds of ISIS terrorists killed".
  38. ^ "The Latest: Russian Officer Killed Near Palmyra in Syria". AP. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016 – via The New York Times.
    Heavy Russian Airstrikes as Syrian Army Fights IS in Palmyra
    The ancient city of Palmyra could be restored in 5 years
  39. ^ "Isis 'losing control' of Palmyra as Syrian troops backed by Russian air strikes approach ancient city". Independent. 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
  40. ^ "ISIS city of Palmyra under threat as government forces inch closer – Map update". 13 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.