Euphrates Crossing offensive (2017)
2017 Euphrates Crossing offensive | |||||||
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Part of the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Russia |
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Suheil al-Hassan (Operations chief commander) Maj. Gen. Issam Zahreddine †[3] (104th Airborne Brigade of Republican Guard) Lt. Gen. Valery Asapov †[4] (Syrian 5th Corps commander)[5] | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Russian forces |
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
72 killed (SOHR claim)[9] 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
The offensive was concurrent with the two SDF offensives, the
Background
2011–14
Protests against the
2014–17
Following the expansion of the
Summer 2017
On 27 August, as part of a wider campaign in central Syria against ISIL, the Syrian Arab Army, launched a major offensive against the city of Deir ez-Zor in an attempt to break the siege. On 3 September, pro-government forces broke through to the city's first lines of defense around 10 pm. Two days later, the siege was broken. Soon after, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched
The offensive
On 18 September, pro-government forces crossed the
On 20 September, the Russian Defense Ministry accused the US-backed SDF of assisting ISIL in East Deir Ez-Zor in various ways in an attempt to prevent the Syrian army and its paramilitaries from capturing the region. Russian General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Ministry, noted that the strongest ISIL counter-attacks and artillery shelling on the Syrian Army bridge on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River came from the north where the US and Kurdish forces hold positions, not from the south where most ISIL forces were. The Russian general accused the US Coalition of other acts of sabotage against the forces of the Syrian army.[19] US denied complicity with ISIS.[citation needed]
On 21 September, ISIL released video appearing to show it was deploying armed drones to prevent the SAA from expanding its positions on the east coast of Deir ez-Zor. ISIS opened fire on the Syrian army, but the army did not report any losses.[20] Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued its march along the east coast of the Euphrates River, capturing a new town located near the strategic Al-'Omar's oil fields after fierce clashes with ISIS members. With the support of heavy artillery from the 113th and 137th Brigades of the 17th Division, the 5th Legion of the Syrian Arab Army reported it had overcome the positions of the ISIS east of the recently captured al-Marat in order to advance to Mazloum.[8] The 4th Mechanized Division and the 5th Legion began an advance south of Mazloum towards Khasham.[21][22]
On 5 October, units of the 4th Armoured Division crossed the Euphrates.[23] On 16 October, Syrian army captured town of al-Husayniyah on the other side of Euphrates from Deir ez-Zor after full day of clashes with ISIL fighters.[24] The next day, the town of Janenah was also captured.[25]
On 18 October, Major General
Syrian Army captured southern parts of Deir ez-Zor industrial area, including paper factory and construction zone, north of village of Al-Salhiyah in the morning of 20 October.[28] The next morning, two settlements were captured by the Syrian Army.[29]
Aftermath
The Syrian Army began operations to recapture the city of Deir ez-Zor on 17 October and by 3 November, government forces completely captured the city.
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army crosses Euphrates River, liberates new town in Deir Ezzor". Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "ISIS shell kills Russian commander of Syrian Euphrates crossing". Debkafile.
- ^ "Russia says general killed in Syria held senior post in Assad's army". Reuters. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Why the Euphrates Crossing has Deep Implications for the U.S. in Syria". News:Deeply. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "Russia: Syria government forces now on east bank of Euphrates river". Reuters. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "Syria: Russia denies airstrike that wounded six US-backed fighters". The Guardian. Associated Press. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Pro-Damascus alliance declares Syria offensive near Iraq border, Reuters
- ^ "The regime forces control Hawija Sakr and work with the Russians on rehabilitating the military base of Deir Ezzor and new groups arrives to the eastern bank of the Euphrates River". SOHR. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ^ "Pro-government Forces Advance Toward SDF in Deir Ezzor". Syria Deeply. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "Army confronts al-Nusra attack in Hama, advances on eastern bank of Euphrates River in Deir Ezzor – Syrian Arab News Agency". sana.sy. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "Kurdish, Coalition forces assisting ISIS in Deir Ezzor: Russian MoD". Al-Masdar News. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "VIDEO: Syrian Army bombed by ISIS drone while crossing Euphrates River". Al-Masdar News. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army continues advance along eastern bank of Euphrates". Al-Masdar News. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "The regime forces extend their scope of control in the sixth day of crossing the Euphrates River in the eastern banks". Al-Masdar News. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ Elite Syrian Army division crosses Euphrates to join the race to Al-Umar Oil Fields Archived 5 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Al-Masdar News
- ^ "Breaking: ISIS retreats from east Euphrates region amid rapid Syrian Army gains". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 16 October 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Syrian Army chases ISIS militants up the east Euphrates bank, liberates key town". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ Head of Syrian army brigade besieged in Deir al-Zor dies -media unit (Reuters, 18 October 2017)
- ^ "Breaking: Prominent Syrian general Issam Zahreddine killed in Deir Ezzor". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Syrian Army scores new advance along eastern bank of Euphrates". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "ISIS pocket in northeast Deir Ezzor nearly cleared as Syrian Army liberates two towns". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 21 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.