Raqqa campaign (2012–2013)
Raqqa campaign (2012–2013) | |||||||
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Part of the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
Top: Map showing rebel advances in the Raqqa Governorate Bottom: Map showing rebel advances in Raqqa city itself Syrian Army control Syrian Opposition control Kurdish control | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Syrian Islamic Front Turkey (border clashes) |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Mohammad al-Daher[6] (Farouq Brigades commander) Dr. Samer[7] (JWTI leader) Abu Wael[8] (Jihad in the Path of God Brigade commander) |
Brig. Gen. Khaled al-Halabi[5] (Raqqa state security head) Maj. Gen. Hassan Jalili (POW)[5][2] (Raqqa provincial governor) Suleiman Suleiman (POW)[5][2] (Raqqa provincial Baath party secretary general) Abu Jassim [9] (military intelligence commander) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
At least 60 killed | At least 500 killed or captured |
The Raqqa campaign (2012–2013) was a series of battles and offensives launched by various Syrian rebel groups, led by
The campaign
2012
On 19 September 2012,
On 12 October 2012, the
In November 2012, both the rebels and government forces set up checkpoints on the road between al-Thawrah (Tabqa) and Aleppo. By the end of December, the majority of the Raqqa province were reportedly under rebel control, and rebel fighters entered al-Thawra.[4]
2013
Battle of al-Thawrah
On 10 January 2013, heavy clashes erupted in the town of al-Thawra and the Syrian Air Force in Tabqa airbase shelled the town with artillery. By 11 February, rebels led by the al-Nusra Front fully captured both the town and the Tabqa Dam next to it.[14]
Battle of Raqqa city
On 6 March 2013,
Aftermath
The al-Nusra Front and
Order of battle
Rebel forces
- Free Syrian Army-affiliated groups
- Farouq Brigades[6]
- Raqqa Revolutionaries Brigade
- Kurdish Front Brigade[15]
- Euphrates Knights Brigade[9]
- Free Tabqa Brigade[16]
- Independent Islamist groups (some of which are also part of FSA)
- Islamic Unity and Liberation Front (alliance of several Islamist militias)[1][2]
- Liwa Owais al-Qorani[17]
- Nasr Saladin Brigade[5]
- Liwa Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman[9]
- Muntasir Billah Brigade[9]
- Katibat Hudheifa bin al-Yaman[17]
- Katibat Mohammed bin Abdullah[17]
- Katibat Musaib bin Umair[16]
- Katibat Abu Dujana[16]
- Katibat Saraya al-Furat[16]
- Katibat Shuhada al-Jamaa Jund al-Rahman[16]
- Katibat Ahrar al-Badiyah[16]
- Ahfad al-Rasul Brigades[18]
- Al-Tawhid Brigade[5]
- Conquest Brigade
- Ghuraba al-Sham Battalion[20]
- Ahrar al-Sham[16]
- Liwa Umanaa’ al-Raqqa[9]
- Liwa al-Haqq (Idlib)
- Salafist jihadists
- Islamic State of Iraq
- Muhajireen Battalion[4]
-
- Shura Council Front[7]
- Harakat al-Fajr al-Islamiyya[4][16]
- Ghuraba al-Sham[6]
- Katibat Usud al-Sunna[21] (part of Mujahideen Shura Council)
Government forces
- Syrian Army
- Syrian Air Force[22]
- National Defence Forces
- Military Intelligence Directorate[2]
- Political Security Directorate[1][2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Winter (2014), p. 13.
- ^ a b c d e f Lister (2015), p. 112.
- ^ Long War Journal. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Nicholas Al-Jeloo (2 August 2013). "Stranded: the Forgotten Assyrians of Al-Thawrah, Syria". Assyrian International News Agency.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Firas al-Hakkar (8 November 2013). "The Mysterious Fall of Raqqa, Syria's Kandahar". al-Akhbar. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ a b c Rania Abouzeid (5 October 2012). "Syria's Up-and-Coming Rebels: Who Are the Farouq Brigades?". TIME.
- ^ a b Winter (2014), p. 14.
- ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (29 July 2014). "The Factions of Raqqa Province".
- ^ a b c d e Matthew Barber (4 April 2013). "The Raqqa Story: Rebel Structure, Planning, and Possible War Crimes".
- ^ "WRAPUP 3-Syrian rebels extend grip on Turkish border". Reuters. 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Thursday 20 September 2012". SKS.com.
- ^ "Turkey hits targets inside Syria after border deaths". BBC. 4 October 2012.
- ^ "Militant group says was behind Aleppo air defence base assault". Reuters. 20 October 2012.
- ^ "Rebels take control of military airport in North Syria, NGO says". AFP. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Thousands mourn the body of the martyr Adnan Sheikh Mohammed in Kobani". Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party. 13 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Winter (2014), p. 5.
- ^ a b c d Winter (2014), p. 12.
- ^ "Jihadists push Syria rebels out of Raqqa". Now News. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
- ^ Lister (2015), pp. 112, 167.
- ^ "A leader in the Free Army Conquest Brigade: There are contacts and meetings between us and PYD but?". Afrin News Agency. 15 October 2012.
- ^ Winter (2014), pp. 5, 6.
- ^ Winter (2014), p. 15.
Bibliography
- Winter, Lucas (2014). Raqqa: From Regime overthrow to inter-rebel fighting. Foreign Military Studies Office.
- Lister, Charles R. (2015). The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency. ISBN 978-0-19-061318-1.