East Aleppo offensive (2017)

For the previous offensive, see East Aleppo offensive (2015–16).
For the later offensive, see Maskanah Plains offensive.

East Aleppo offensive (2017)
Part of the Syrian civil war, the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War, and the Russian military intervention in Syria

Map of the wider campaigns in northern Aleppo as of 11 March 2017
  Syrian Armed Forces and allied groups
  Syrian Democratic Forces
  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
  FSA groups and Turkish troops in Northern Syria
Date17 January 2017[4] – 5 April 2017
(2 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Location
East Aleppo Governorate, Syria
36°22′21″N 37°31′04″E / 36.3725°N 37.5178°E / 36.3725; 37.5178
Result

Syrian government victory

Belligerents

Syrian Arab Republic

Russia[1]

Hezbollah[1]

Syrian Democratic Forces (27 Feb.–6 Mar.)

Support:

Islamic State Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Syrian opposition Hawar Kilis Operations Room (26 Feb.–6 Mar.)

Ahrar al-Sham (26 Feb.–6 Mar.)
 Turkey (1–6 Mar.)[3]
Commanders and leaders

Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan[19]
Mohammed Mualla[20]

Adnan Abu Amjad[21]
(Manbij Military Council top commander)
Ahmad Arsh[22]
(Manbij Revolutionaries Battalion commander)		 Islamic State Muhammad Al-Awad Hassan Al-Jam'ah †
(Field commander)[23]		 Turkey Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı[24]
(Operations chief commander)
Turkey Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel[25]
(Second Army commander)
Units involved

Syrian Armed Forces

United States United States special operations forces (against ISIL only)[21]		 Military of ISIL Unknown
Strength

Syria 10,000 soldiers (pro-government claim)[citation needed]

United States 300+ US soldiers, 50 armoured vehicles[26][27]		 Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses

72+ killed (anti-government claims)
[28][29][30][31][32][33]
20 captured[34]

31 killed, 8 captured (per SDF)[35]
71 killed (per Turkey)[36]		 1,250+ killed[37][38] Syrian opposition 12–24 killed
[28][15][39]
26,000 civilians fled[40]

The East Aleppo offensive (2017), also referred to as the Dayr Hafir offensive,[41] was an operation launched by the Syrian Army to prevent Turkish-backed rebel forces from advancing deeper into Syria, and also to ultimately capture the ISIL stronghold of Dayr Hafir. Another aim of the operation was to gain control of the water source for Aleppo city, at the Khafsa Water Treatment Plant,[42][43] in addition to capturing the Jirah Military Airbase.[44] At the same time, the Turkish-backed rebel groups turned towards the east and started launching attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces, west of Manbij.[45]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference retreats was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "US coalition continues to assist SDF-led Manbij Military Council north Syria". ARA News. 23 February 2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017.
  3. ^ "U.S.-allied militia agrees to hand villages to Syrian govt". Reuters. 2 March 2017.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference beginning was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference 250villages was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference entered_Dayr Hafir was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference secured_Dayr Hafir was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Syrian army captures major IS stronghold in Aleppo". Indo-Asian News Service. The Financial Express. 30 March 2017.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference restart was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference push was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference vie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ @CivilWarMap (28 February 2017). "Rebel sources claim that Kirijah was..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ @CivilWarMap (6 March 2017). "- Syrian Arab Army captured several..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @CivilWarMap (7 March 2017). "- Syrian Arab Army captured 16..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ a b "Syrian state to be buffer between Manbij and Turkish forces".
  16. ^ "Syria conflict: Manbij militia to hand villages to army". BBC News. 2 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Syrian Kurds cede buffer as Turkish-backed FSA advances on Manbij". 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference 20 villages was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ontherun was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Mahmoud Bali (15 March 2017). "Rival Forces Bring Tentative Peace to Syria's Manbij". VOA News. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  21. ^ a b MICHAEL R. GORDON (4 March 2017). "U.S. Strengthens Its Forces in a Crowded Syrian Battlefield". The New York Times.
  22. ^ "A Border Police of Assad regime? or a commander in SDF factions?". Verify. 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  23. ^ "ISIS in full-scale retreat as the Syrian Army gears up for assault on Jirah Airbase". Al Masdar News. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  24. ^ Turkish Special Forces: From stopping a coup to the frontline of the ISIL fight Hürriyet Daily News, 24 August 2016.
  25. ^ Nick Tattersall; Humeyra Pamuk (26 August 2016). "Turkey signals no quick end to Syria incursion as truck bomb kills police". Reuters.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Correspondent, Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon (8 March 2017). "US Marines join local forces fighting in Raqqa". CNN. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ "US sends 200 more soldiers to northern Syria's Manbij". Kom News. 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  28. ^ a b Tomson, Chris (27 February 2017). "Syrian Army neutralizes Turkish-backed troops near Al-Bab". Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  29. ^ "ISIS suicide attack kills 11 Syrian soldiers in rural Aleppo". 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  30. ^ "Twin Islamic State suicide attacks kill 15 in north Syria". 6 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  31. ^ Tomson, Chris (8 March 2017). "11 Syrian Army soldiers killed by ISIS suicide bomber in eastern Aleppo". Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  32. ^ Fadel, Leith (28 March 2017). "ISIL suicide bombing kills 9 Syrian Army soldiers in east Aleppo". Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  33. ^ Cite error: The named reference repels was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  34. ^ Tomson, Chris (9 March 2017). "Syrian Army, Kurdish forces team up against Turkish troops in Aleppo province". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  35. ^ "Li Minbicê 4 cangoriyên azadiyê hatin oxirkirin – ANHA". Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
    "5 özgürlük şehidi Minbic'de uğurlandı – ANHA". Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
    [1]
    Scores of Kurds killed, captured as Turkish troops kick off Manbij offensive (graphic photos) Archived 9 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, [2] Archived 15 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ "Turkish military says 71 Kurdish fighters killed in Syria in last week". Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  37. ^ Fadel, Leith (11 February 2017). "Syrian government forces killed 650 militants in east Aleppo: Russian MoD". Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  38. ^ "The Latest: Syria calls for retreat of Turkish troops". 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  39. ^ "Attacks on Manbij repelled, Jubb al Hamir liberated – ANHA". Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  40. ^ "North Syria exodus as families flee assault on ISIL". Al Jazeera. 6 March 2017.
  41. ^ "Assad flexes military muscle against ISIS ahead of new round of Syria peace talks". The Washington Times.
  42. ^ Fadel, Leith (19 February 2017). "Syrian Army to cutoff [sic] Turkish Army from southeast Aleppo: map". Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  43. ^ "Syrian army advances against Islamic State near Aleppo – monitor". Reuters. 26 February 2017.
  44. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jirah was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  45. ^ "Turkey starts offensive to take Manbij from Kurds". The New Arab. 2 March 2017.