2017 Abu Kamal offensive

2017 Abu Kamal offensive
Part of the Eastern Syria campaign and the
Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war

SAA and ISF advances along the border
Date23 October – 6 December 2017
(1 month, 1 week and 6 days)
Location
Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
34°26′47″N 40°55′16″E / 34.4463°N 40.9210°E / 34.4463; 40.9210
Result Decisive Syrian Army and allies victory
Territorial
changes		 Abu Kamal changes hands three times before being captured by the Syrian Army on 19 November[6]
Belligerents

Syrian Arab Republic

Russia

 Iran

Allied militias:
Hezbollah[2]
PMF militias[3][1][4]
Liwa Fatemiyoun[2]
Liwa al-Quds[5]		 Islamic State Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Syria Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan[7]
Iran Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani[7]		 Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (possibly)[8]
Islamic State Hani Al-Thalji †
(field commander)[9]
Islamic State Abu Munzer Al-Shishani †
(field commander)[9]
Islamic State Abu Mohammad Al-Safi †
(field commander)[9]
Units involved

Syrian Army

Syrian Arab Air Force
PMF militias

Russian Armed Forces

Islamic State Military of ISIL

Strength

Several thousand

  • 8,000 Lebanese, Iraqi, Afghan and Palestinian fighters[10]
  • Tiger Forces: 450[10]
  • Republican Guard's 124th Brigade: 300[10]
  • 4th Division's 42nd Brigade: 300[10]
 5,000–10,000+[11][12][13]
Casualties and losses
376+ killed[14][15][5][16][17] 352+ killed[14][16]
269 civilians killed[18]

The 2017 Abu Kamal offensive, codenamed Operation Fajr-3 (translated Operation Dawn 3),[10] was a military offensive launched by the Syrian Arab Army and its allies against members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate. The aim of the offensive was to capture ISIL's last urban stronghold in Syria, the border town of Abu Kamal. This offensive was a part of the larger Eastern Syria campaign.

The offensive took place at the same time as the Western Iraq campaign, which was aimed at recapturing the ISIL-held border town of Al-Qa'im and the rest of western Iraq.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference IRGC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference surroundstrategic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference along was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference lastIS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Mudiq, Qalaat Al. "E. #Syria: #Aleppo-based Al-Quds Brigade also involved in #AbuKemal battle, releasing list of 5 killed and 7 wounded. Group recently recruited fighters from #DeirEzzor prov.pic.twitter.com/WfbdO4bzPl". Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference retake Abu Kamal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b "Leaked pictures: Iranian Major General arrives in southern Deir Ezzor to help defeat ISIS". Al-Masdar News. 5 November 2017. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Baghdadi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c "Syrian Army attempts to retake Albukamal after losing city to ISIS". Al Masdar. 12 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Der Syrische Bürgerkrieg - Update 06 12 2017" [The Syrian Civil War - Update 06 12 2017]. Truppendienst.com (Austrian Armed Forces) (in German). 7 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Iraqi forces launch battle against Islamic State footholds in vast Anbar province". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ Josie Ensor and Ben Farmer (3 November 2017). "Isil facing endgame after fall of last city in its caliphate". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  13. ^ Loaa Adel (4 November 2017). "Al-Bukamal gathers largest number of IS members in Syria". Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  14. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference absorbing was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Continuous violent clashes west of Euphrates River and southwest of Bokamal by the regime forces supported by their loyal gunmen and with cover by the intense bombardment". 7 November 2017.
  16. ^ a b "ISIS fights fiercely to defend its last area remaining on the banks of the Euphrates River against the attacks of the SDF and the regime forces and their allied • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 4 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Ivan Sidorenko".[dead link‍]
  18. ^ "With the continuation of military operations east of Euphrates River, the media of the regime, Russia and their loyal media spread false news about controlling the entire both banks of Euphrates". 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.