Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–2014)

Syrian military campaign

Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–2013)

Part of the 2012–2013 escalation of the Syrian Civil War, the Rojava conflict, and the Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present)

Location of the Hasakah Governorate
| Date| 20 July 2012 – 31 December 2013
(1 year, 4 months, 2 weeks and 1 day)

|

Location|

Al-Hasakah Governorate, Syria

Result|

Indecisive; YPG and ISIL gains

* YPG captured all Kurdish-majority towns in the governorate with the exceptions of Qamishli and Hasaka,[5] captured 40% of Qamishli,[6] and took control of al-Yaarubiyah and its border crossing[7]
* ISIL, al-Nusra, and other Salafist jihadists take control over the majority of the southern Hasaka countryside[1]

Belligerents

Syrian Arab Republic

* Syrian Armed Forces

Sootoro|

Liberation Front of Qamishli[1]

* Al-Qaeda
* Al-Nusra Front
* Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
* Ahrar al-Sham[1]

Ghuraba al-Sham
Free Syrian Army[a]
Ahfad al-Rasul Brigades[3]
Syrian Revolution General Commission[4]|

Kurdish Supreme Committee

* People's Protection Units
* Women's Protection Units

Syriac Union Party

* Syriac Military Council
* Sutoro

Army of Dignity

Kurdistan Workers' Party
Commanders and leaders

Yusuf al-Abdullah[8]
(Abu Jabal Brigade commander)

Hawas Jammo[8]
(Free Patriots Brigade commander)|

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Abu Mohammad al-Julani
Fahd al-Gaad[9]
(al-Nusra commander)
Saddam al-Jamal
Capt. Yusuf Yahya[4]
(SRGC 313th Brigade commander)
Col. Hassan al-Abdullah[9]
(FSA Hasaka Military Council top commander)
Nawaf Ragheb al-Bashir[10]
(FAEL commander)
Osama Hilali[11]
(Mashaal Tammo Brigade commander)
Lt. Col. Abdul Majid Sultan[12]
Lt. Col. Mustafa Ibrahim[13][b]
(FSA Hasaka Military Council commander)
Lt. Col. Hassan Aboud[14]

(FSA Hasaka Military Council commander)|  Sîpan Hemo[15]
(YPG general commander)
Axin Nujin[16]
(YPJ Rukan Battalion commander)
Juan Ibrahim
(YPG commander)
"Dijwar"[17]
(Martyr Erdal Brigade commander)
Hawas al-Akub[18]
(Free Men of the Homeland commander)
Humaydi Daham al-Hadi
(Army of Dignity leader)
Units involved
See order of battle
Casualties and losses
At least 334 killed overall

* v
* t
* e

Syrian civil war

Timeline

*     * January–April 2011
* May–August 2011
* September–December 2011
* January–April 2012
* May–August 2012
* September–December 2012
* January–April 2013
* May–December 2013
* January–July 2014
* August–December 2014
* January–July 2015
* August–December 2015
* January–April 2016
* May–August 2016
* September–December 2016
* January–April 2017
* May–August 2017
* September–December 2017
* January–April 2018
* May–August 2018
* September–December 2018
* January–April 2019
* May–August 2019
* September–December 2019

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* * *

* Background and causes
* Casualties
* Cities
* map
* Terrorism
* Massacres

* v
* t
* e

Civil uprising in Syria (March–August 2011)

* Daraa
* Baniyas
* Homs (May–August 2011)
* Talkalakh
* Rastan and Talbiseh
* 1st Jisr ash-Shughur
* 1st Jabal al-Zawiya
* Hama
* Latakia

* v
* t
* e

Start of insurgency (Sept. 2011 – April 2012)

* Homs (2011–14)
* Homs offensive
* 1st Idlib Gov.
* Syrian–Turkish border
* Jabal al-Zawiya
* 1st Idlib City
* Saraqeb
* 1st Rastan
* Hama Gov.
* Shayrat & Tiyas ambush
* Daraa Gov.
* 1st Rif Dimashq
* 1st Zabadani
* Douma
* Deir ez-Zor (2011–2014)
* Hatla
* Aleppo Gov.
* Azaz
* 2nd Rastan
* 1st al-Qusayr
* 2nd Idlib Gov.
* Taftanaz

* v
* t
* e

UN ceasefire; Rebel advances (May 2012 – Dec. 2013)

* 3rd Rastan
* Houla
* Northern Homs
* Al-Haffah
* Al-Qubeir
* Al-Tremseh
* 3rd Idlib Gov.
* 1st Damascus
* Bombing
* Aleppo
* Anadan
* Menagh Air Base
* Base 46
* Khan al-Assal
* 1st Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Aleppo offensive
* Syrian Kurdistan and Kurdish–Islamist conflict
* Hasaka campaign
* Ras al-Ayn
* al-Yaarubiyah
* Tell Hamis and Tell Brak
* Tell Abyad
* Nubl & Al-Zahraa
* 2nd Rif Dimashq (1st Darayya)
* Abu al-Duhur Airbase
* Quneitra Gov.
* 3rd Rif Dimashq
* 1st Yarmouk camp
* 2nd Darayya
* Darayya & Muadamiyat
* Aqrab
* 1st Hama offensive
* Halfaya
* 1st Safira
* Shadadeh
* 2nd Damascus
* 1st Raqqa campaign (1st Raqqa)
* 1st Daraa offensive
* 4th Rif Dimashq
* Jdaidet al-Fadl
* Tadamon
* Ghouta
* Al-Qusayr offensive
* 2nd al-Qusayr
* Eastern Ghouta
* 2nd Hama offensive
* Bayda and Baniyas
* 1st Latakia offensive
* Ma'loula
* Sadad
* 5th Rif Dimashq
* 1st Qalamoun
* Adra

* v
* t
* e

Rise of the Islamic State (Jan. – Sept. 2014)

* Inter-rebel conflict
* Northern Aleppo
* Markada
* 1st Deir ez-Zor offensive
* al-Otaiba ambush
* Maan
* Hosn
* Morek
* 2nd Daraa offensive
* 2nd Latakia offensive
* 4th Idlib Gov.
* Al-Malihah
* 2nd Wadi Deif
* 2nd Qalamoun
* Arsal
* Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017)
* 1st Shaer gas field
* 1st Eastern Syria
* Tabqa Airbase
* 3rd Hama offensive
* 6th Rif Dimashq
* 1st Quneitra
* Kobanî

* v
* t
* e

U.S.-led intervention, Rebel and ISIL advances (Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2015)

* U.S.-led intervention
* Homs school bombing
* 3rd Daraa offensive
* 2nd Safira
* 2014 Idlib city raid
* Nusra–FSA conflict
* 2nd Shaer gas field
* 1st Al-Shaykh Maskin
* 2nd Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 3rd Aleppo offensive
* An-26 crash
* 4th Daraa offensive
* Southern Syria
* Eastern al-Hasakah offensive
* 1st Sarrin
* Hama/Homs offensive
* Bosra
* 5th Idlib Gov
* 2nd Idlib city
* Al-Fu'ah-Kafriya
* Nasib
* 2nd Yarmouk camp
* 1st Northwestern Syria
* 3rd Qalamoun
* 1st Palmyra
* Western al-Hasakah offensive
* 1st Al-Hasakah city
* Tell Abyad
* Daraa/As-Suwayda
* 2nd Quneitra
* 2nd Sarrin
* 5th Daraa
* 2nd Al-Hasakah city
* 2nd Kobanî
* 4th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Zabadani
* 2nd Palmyra
* Al-Ghab
* 1st al-Qaryatayn
* Douma market
* 7th Rif Dimashq
* Kuweires offensive

* v
* t
* e

Russian intervention (Sept. 2015 – March 2016)

* Russian intervention
* 3rd Quneitra
* 2nd Northwestern Syria
* 3rd Latakia offensive
* Su-24 shootdown
* 5th Aleppo offensive
* al-Hawl
* Homs offensive
* 6th Aleppo offensive
* 4th Hama offensive
* Tell Tamer
* Tishrin Dam
* 2nd Al-Shaykh Maskin
* al-Qamishli bombings
* Orontes River
* 3rd Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 1st Sayyidah Zaynab
* 7th Aleppo offensive
* 1st Ithriyah-Raqqa
* Al-Shaddadi
* Homs bombings
* 2nd Sayyidah Zaynab
* Khanasir
* 2nd Tel Abyad
* Al-Tanf
* 2nd Al-Qaryatayn
* 3rd Palmyra
* 2nd Maarat al-Nu'man

* v
* t
* e

Aleppo escalation and Euphrates Shield (March 2016 – February 2017)

* 8th Aleppo offensive
* 6th Daraa
* 9th–11th Aleppo offensives
* Al-Dumayr
* 1st East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict
* 1st Qamishli
* Aleppo bombings
* 8th Rif Dimashq
* 3rd Shaer gas field
* Northern Raqqa
* Jableh & Tartus
* Manbij
* Tokhar
* 2nd Ithriyah-Raqqa
* 9th Rif Dimashq
* 12th–14th Aleppo offensives
* 12th
* 13th
* 14th
* 4th Latakia offensive
* 1st Abu Kamal
* 3rd Qamishli
* Atmeh
* al-Rai
* 3rd Al-Hasakah City
* Operation Euphrates Shield
* Northern al-Bab
* Dabiq
* al-Bab
* 5th Hama offensive
* 1st Western al-Bab
* 1st Eastern Qalamoun
* September bombings
* 4th Quneitra
* Deir ez-Zor airstrike
* Aleppo aid convoy attack
* 15th Aleppo offensive
* Khan al-Shih
* 1st Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Western al-Bab
* 16th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Raqqa campaign
* 17th Aleppo offensive
* 4th Palmyra
* Wadi Barada
* 1st Syrian Desert
* Azaz bombings
* 5th Palmyra
* 4th Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 18th Aleppo offensive
* 2nd Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 7th Daraa
* Qaboun
* 8th Daraa

* v
* t
* e

Collapse of the Islamic State in Syria (Feb. – Nov. 2017)

* Eastern Homs offensive
* al-Jina mosque
* 6th Hama offensive
* Tabqa
* Khan Shaykhun
* US Shayrat strike
* Aleppo bus bombing
* April 2017 Turkish airstrikes
* 2nd East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Syrian Desert
* Maskanah
* East Hama
* 2nd Raqqa
* 9th Daraa
* Southern Raqqa
* Iranian Deir ez-Zor strike
* Ja'din
* Jobar
* 5th Quneitra
* Central Syria
* 3rd Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 4th Qalamoun
* Deir ez-Zor (2017–2019)
* 2nd Eastern Syria
* Deir ez-Zor city
* Euphrates Crossing
* Mayadin
* 2nd Abu Kamal
* 7th Hama offensive

* v
* t
* e

Rebels in retreat and Operation Olive Branch
(Nov. 2017 – Sep. 2018)

* 3rd Northwestern Syria
* Eastern Syria insurgency
* Atarib
* Harasta
* Beit Jinn
* 3rd Syrian Desert
* 5th Deir ez-Zor offensive
* 1st Southern Damascus
* Olive Branch
* Afrin
* SDF insurgency
* Khasham
* Feb 2018 Israel–Syria incident
* 10th Rif Dimashq (Douma)
* 4th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 2nd Southern Damascus
* U.S.-led missile strikes
* Northern Homs
* 2nd Eastern Qalamoun
* 3rd Southern Damascus
* Deir ez-Zor SAA-SDF clashes
* House of Cards
* 1st As-Suwayda
* 2nd Southern Syria
* 2nd As-Suwayda
* 3rd As-Suwayda
* 2nd Qamishli

* v
* t
* e

Idlib demilitarization
(Sep. 2018 – April 2019)

* Idlib demilitarization
* 5th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* Sep. 2018 missile strikes
* Iranian Eastern Euphrates strike
* Northern border clashes
* Daraa insurgency
* Manbij bombing
* Baghuz Fawqani
* U.S. airstrike

* v
* t
* e

First Idlib offensive, Operation Peace Spring, & Second Idlib offensive (April 2019 – March 2020)

* 4th Northwestern
* Tell Rifaat
* Raqqa & Azaz
* Hass
* 2nd Israeli missile strikes
* Peace Spring (2nd Ras al-Ayn)
* Kayla Mueller
* Northern bombings
* 3rd Israeli missile strikes
* Qah
* 5th Northwestern
* Balyun
* Spring Shield
* 2nd U.S. missile strikes
* 10th Daraa

* v
* t
* e

Idlib ceasefire (March 2020 – present)

* 6th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* Ayn Issa
* Qamishli & Al-Hasakah
* 4th Israeli missile strikes
* 3rd Qamishli
* 11th Daraa
* 7th Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* 3rd Al-Hasakah city
* 1st Aleppo inter-rebel conflict
* Jabal al-Bishrī
* 2nd Aleppo inter-rebel conflict
* Claw-Sword
* Northwestern clashes
* 3rd U.S. missile strikes
* 2nd Northern clashes
* Deir ez-Zor (2023)
* 3rd Northern clashes
* Homs drone strike
* Israel–Hezbollah conflict (Iranian consulate airstrike)
* February 2024 airstrikes
* 3rd Aleppo inter-rebel conflict

* v
* t
* e

Syrian War spillover and international incidents

* Lebanon spillover
* Lebanese–Syrian border
* Sidon
* Iranian embassy bombing
* North Lebanon clashes

* * *

* Syrian–Turkish border incidents
* Turkish F4 shootdown
* Reyhanlı bombings
* Turkish occupation of northern Syria
* Kurdish riots

* * *

* Jordanian–Syrian border incidents

* * *

* Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line
* February 2018 incident
* May 2018 incident

* * *

* Iraqi–Syrian border incidents
* Akashat
* al-Shabah
* Western Nineveh
* Western Iraq

* * *

* Spillover in Iran
* 2017 Tehran attacks
* 2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike
* 2024 Iranian airstrikes in Syria

* * *

* Spillover in Turkey
* Russian Su-24 shootdown
* Andrei Karlov
* Balyun airstrikes
* Kafr Takharim airstrikes

* * *

* Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

* * *

* * *

* Spillover in Europe

* v
* t
* e

Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war

Foreign intervention on behalf of Syrian Arab Republic

* Russian involvement
* Iranian intervention
* 2017 missile strike
* 2012 Hezbollah involvement

Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels

* Foreign rebel fighters
* Turkish involvement
* Turkey–Islamic State conflict
* Tomb of Suleyman Shah relocation
* Euphrates Shield
* 2017 airstrikes
* Idlib Governorate operation
* Afrin operation
* 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
* Israel's role

U.S.-led intervention against ISIL

* US intervention
* Timeline
* List of attacks
* 2014 rescue operation
* May 2015 raid
* 2017 missile strikes
* Qatari involvement
* Jordanian intervention
* Operation Martyr Muath
* Lebanon's role
* Saudi involvement
* April 2018 missile strikes
* Dutch involvement
* German intervention
* French intervention
* Australian intervention
* UK intervention

The al-Hasakah Governorate campaign was a multi-sided military conflict between Syrian government forces, Kurdish forces, armed Syrian opposition groups, and Salafist jihadist forces, including al-Qaeda's Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the al-Nusra Front in the al-Hasakah Governorate as part of the Syrian Civil War. The clashes began with the People's Protection Units (YPG)'s entrance into the civil war in July 2012 and spread across the governorate.

## Background

[edit]

As of 2011, the Hasakah Governorate had a population of more than 1.5 million people. It is one of the most diverse regions in Syria. The diverse population of the governorate includes Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmen, Circassians, and Yazidis. The Arab tribes in the area are divided into several tribal confederations which play a role in the civil war.[19]

Anti-government protests had been ongoing in the Kurdish-inhabited areas of Syria since March 2011, as part of the wider Syrian uprising, but armed conflict in the region only started after the opposition Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Kurdish National Council (KNC) signed a seven-point agreement on 11 June 2012 in Erbil under the auspice of Iraqi Kurdistan president Massoud Barzani. This agreement, however, failed to be implemented. A new cooperation agreement between the two sides was signed on 12 July which saw the creation of the Kurdish Supreme Committee as a governing body of all Kurdish-controlled territories in Syria.[20][21][22]

## Order of battle

[edit]

###  Pro-Kurdish Supreme Committee (DBK) forces

[edit]

* Democratic Union Party
* People's Protection Units (YPG)
* Martyr Erdal Brigade[17]
* Free Men of the Homeland[18]
* Women's Protection Units
* Rukan Battalion[16]
* Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
* Syriac Union Party[1]
* Syriac Military Council[1]
* Sutoro[1]
* Army of Dignity[23]

###  Pro-government forces

[edit]

* Syrian Armed Forces
* Syrian Army
* 4th Armoured Division
* 154th Brigade[24]
* Syrian Air Force
* National Defence Forces
* Ta'ie tribal militia[25]
* Abu Jabal Brigade[8]
* Free Patriots Brigade[8]
* Sootoro[1]

### Rebels

[edit]

* Al-Qaeda[1]
* Al-Nusra Front[1][26]
* Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[1]
* Kurdish units[1]
* Ahrar al-Sham[1]
* Ahfad al-Rasul Brigades[3]
* Ansar al-Khilafah[1]
* Liwa Amjad al-Islam[1]
* Liwa al-Qadisiyah[1]
* Kurdish Islamic Front[26]
* Jaysh al-Tawhid (ex-Syrian Islamic Front group)[1]
* Syrian Revolution General Commission[4]
* 313th Brigade
* Free Syrian Army
* Ahrar al-Jazeera[27]
* Hamza Battalion[28]
* Al-Jazeera–Euphrates Liberation Front (FAEL)[10]
* Mashaal Tammo Brigade[11][c]
* 15th Infantry Division[12]
* Al-Tawhid Brigade[29]
* Ayad al-Fahri Battalion[29]
* Farouq Brigades[26]

## The campaign

[edit]

### First week: YPG claims territory

[edit]

On 20 July 2012, the YPG took control of the city of Amuda and established checkpoints outside it. The city fell without any major clashes, as the Syrian Army withdrew without any significant resistance and pulled out to fight elsewhere. A joint committee between the PYD and the KNC was planned to take over the administration of captured towns. The city of Derik was expected to be captured hours later. The goal of the KSC was the "full liberation of Syrian Kurdistan", restore peace and order, and to prevent the Free Syrian Army (FSA) from entering Kurdish-majority areas.[30]

On the same day, the Kurdish Coordination Committees, a Kurdish opposition group, demanded Syrian security forces to withdraw from Qamishli, the largest city in Syria with a majority Kurdish population. "Otherwise, they will be forced to leave", the KCC threatened. The YPG then prepared for an operation in Qamishli.[31]

On 21 July, the YPG entered Derik and clashes took place. On the same day, Syrian government forces attacked a patrol of YPG fighters and wounded one fighter.[32] The next day it was reported that Kurdish forces were still fighting for al-Malikiyah, where a Kurdish activist was killed after government security forces opened fire on protesters. The YPG also took control over parts of the towns of Ras al-Ayn (Kurdish: Serê Kaniyê) and al-Darbasiyah (Kurdish: Dirbêsî), after government security and political units withdrew from these areas, following an ultimatum issued by the Kurds. On the same day, clashes erupted in Qamishli between YPG and government forces in which one Kurdish fighter was killed and two were wounded along with a government official.[33]

The ease with which Kurdish forces captured the towns and the government troops pulled back was speculated to be due to the government reaching an agreement with the Kurds so military forces from the area could be freed up to engage rebel forces in the rest of the country.[34] However, Salih Muslim Muhammad, co-leader of the PYD, denied that there was any agreement between the PYD and the government.[35] On 24 July, the PYD announced that Syrian security forces withdrew from the small Kurdish city of 16,000 of al-Ma'bada (Kurdish: Girkê Legê), located between al-Malikiyah and the Syria–Turkey border. The YPG forces afterwards took control of all government institutions in the town.[36]

### August–October 2012: YPG consolidates gains

[edit]

On 2 August 2012, the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change announced that most Kurdish-majority cities in Syria, with the exception of Qamishli and Hasaka, were no longer controlled by government forces and were now being governed by Kurdish political parties.[5] In Qamishli, government military and police forces remained in their barracks and administration officials in the city allowed the Kurdish flag to be raised.[37]

Later in August 2012, 6 military officers who defected from the Syrian Armed Forces, led by Colonel Hassan al-Abdullah, announced the formation of the "Revolutionary Military Council in Hasakah Governorate", part of the Free Syrian Army. On the same day, a FSA group called the "Believers in God Battalion" captured a police station on the road between Aleppo and Hasakah.[38]

On 18 August, the government's intelligence center in Qamishli was bombed. The Hamza Battalion of the FSA claimed responsibility for the bombing. This caused concerns among Kurdish parties in Qamishli as they have refused to allow the FSA to enter Kurdish-majority areas.[28]

On 30 September, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at the government intelligence center in Qamishli, killing between 4 and 8 people.[39]

### November 2012–January 2013: Islamists join the fight and the Battle of Ras al-Ayn

[edit]

Main article: Battle of Ras al-Ayn

On 8 November 2012, Free Syrian Army groups attacked Syrian Army positions in Ras al-Ayn and took control of parts of the city. A correspondent on the ground said that local Kurds aided the FSA in the attack.[40] 300 jihadist fighters from Ghuraba al-Sham then entered the city, although it did not enter the neighbourhoods controlled by the PYD and the latter did not intervene in the clashes between the rebels and the government.[41] Around 10-26 rebels and 20 Syrian soldiers were killed in the fighting, while about 8,000 residents fled to Ceylanpınar as fighting raged.[42][43]

On 10 November, YPG militiamen aided by local Kurds stormed the last government security and administrative stations in the towns of al-Darbasiyah (Kurdish: Dirbêsî) and Tel Tamer. This attack was prompted by violence in Ras al-Ayn where the FSA and Islamist rebels stormed the town because of the presence of government security units.[44] 12 November, the PYD forced the last Syrian government forces to withdraw from Derik.[45]

On 15 November, the rebels led by al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front announced that they had taken full control of Ras al-Ayn, capturing or killing the last remaining Syrian Army soldiers stationed there. There were also no government airstrikes in the town for the first time in three days, as government forces gave up trying to retake the city.[46] Al-Nusra Front fighters summarily executed dozens of Syrian soldiers after they captured a border outpost near Ras al-Ayn. Inside the town, al-Nusra implemented Sharia and burned a liquor store. This caused a confrontation with the YPG.[47]

On 19 November, the Islamist rebels launched an assault on the PYD in Ras al-Ayn[48] A rebel sniper also assassinated Abed Khalil, the president of the local PYD council.[49] By the next, SOHR reported that the death toll in the rebel-PYD fighting in the town had reached 34.[50] The opposition activist group Local Coordination Committees of Syria put the number of deaths at 46.[51] Also on 19 November, members of the al-Nusra Front and Ghuraba al-Sham opened fire on a YPG checkpoint, sparking clashes that killed dozens of people. The rebels planned to launch an offensive in Qamishli, but were stopped by the Assyrian Democratic Organization.[52] Meanwhile, pro-government Arab tribes in Qamishli organized themselves into the Popular Committees and clashed with the PYD.[25]

As a result of the fighting, there was a buildup in the number of forces deployed by both sides in Ras al-Ayn. By 22 November, Kurdish forces had strengthened their numbers to around 400 militiamen, who faced 200 fighters from the al-Nusra Front and 100 fighters from Ghuraba al-Sham.[53] By the same day, the fighting killed more than 54 people. The next day, however, a tenuous two-day ceasefire was announced between Kurdish fighters and the al-Nusra Front and Ghuraba al-Sham in order to determine terms of a possible permanent agreement between the two sides. Prior to this announcement, the PYD claimed that its forces had killed 25 rebels.[54]

Negotiations between the two sides on 4 December resulted in a fragile truce that lasted only until 6 December, when clashes broke out again. From 12 to 14 December, rebels conducted a series of rocket attacks on the town. It was reported that they had also tried and failed to expand fighting to the nearby towns and villages.[55]

Negotiations between the Arab rebels and Kurds resumed on 15 December.[55] An agreement was reached the next day.[56] On 17 December, a ceasefire came into effect between local Kurdish militias and Arab rebels.[57] Under the terms of the ceasefire, both sides were to withdraw from the city, share checkpoints surrounding it, and transfer its administration to local civilian Kurds, Arabs, Chechens, and Christians. Though fighting ended, fighters on both sides failed to withdraw, raising concerns about the strength of the truce.[56]

Fighting in Ras al-Ayn resumed on 17 January 2013.[58] By 22 January, more than 56 people were killed in a week of fighting in Ras al-Ayn.[59]

### February 2013: al-Qaeda launches new offensive, ceasefire between YPG and FSA

[edit]

See also: Battle of Shaddadi (2013)

On 12 February 2013, the al-Nusra Front launched an offensive on the Syrian Army in the town of al-Shaddadah in the southern Hasaka Governorate. 2 days later, al-Nusra took full control of the town and killed around 100 Syrian soldiers.[60]

On 18 February, an agreement was reached between the Kurdish Supreme Committee and FSA groups in Ras al-Ayn. The terms of agreement include the withdrawal of all foreign fighters from Ras al-Ayn, joint checkpoints between the YPG and the FSA, the establishment of a joint city council in Ras al-Ayn, the creation of a local police force, and cooperation between the two groups to fight the Syrian government.[2]

### March 2013: YPG take control of oil fields

[edit]

Situation in Qamishli, mid-March 2013 Situation in al-Hasakah, mid-March 2013

In March 2013, the YPG surrounded Syrian forces in Rmelan and al-Qahtaniya and took control of the towns without firing a shot. The YPG also took over the oil fields in the area. Meanwhile, further south, multiple rebel groups including Ahrar al-Jazeera, the al-Nusra Front, Ghuraba al-Sham, and Ahrar al-Sham captured the town of al-Yaarubiyah on the Iraq–Syria border.[27] In Qamishli, the PYD controlled 40% of the city while the government controlled the remaining parts.[6] Meanwhile, clashes between rebels and the Syrian Army erupted in Tell Hamis.[16]

### April 2013: renewed YPG-government clashes in Qamishli, concurrent rebel offensive

[edit]

On 5 April 2013, 3 YPG fighters and 3 Syrian soldiers were killed in clashes in Qamishli city. This marked the first time that Syrian government forces attacked the YPG in Qamishli for several months.[61]

On 13 April, the Syrian Revolution General Commission's 313th Brigade declared the start of a rebel offensive south of Qamishli.[4] The rebels launched an attack on the Syrian Army's 154th Brigade base in southern Qamishli. Both the PYD and the KNC stated their intentions to prevent fighting in the city, but according to al-Akhbar, the rebels contacted the YPG and were given a pathway to attack the base. In response to the rebel offensive, the Syrian Air Force conducted airstrikes on rebel-held villages south of Qamishli.[24] Fighting also reached Qamishli Airport.[62] The battle was described as a "massacre" by UNICEF.[63]

### May–September 2013: YPG fully capture Ras al-Ayn; further YPG gains

[edit]

In June 2013, clashes between the PYD and anti-PYD protesters took place in Amuda.[64] Opponents of the PYD stated that fighters had opened fire on protesters following tensions with pro-Free Syrian Army youth committees and rival Kurdish groups. The PYD on the other hand stated it had been attacked by a mercenary gang.[65][64]

On 17 July, Kurdish fighters expelled the remaining jihadists of the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant from Ras al-Ayn after a night of fighting[66] and soon after took control of the border crossing with Turkey.[67] Islamist forces retreated from Ras al-Ayn to Tal Half, Asfar and Najar, which were under rebel control.[68]

On 19 July, the YPG captured the village of Tal A'lo.[69] Fighting was still continuing in Karhouk and A'li Agha.[70] The next day, Kurdish fighters captured an al-Nusra checkpoint near the contested villages. By this point, 35 jihadists and 19 YPG fighters had been killed in the fighting.[71]

At the end of August 2013, the Syrian Air Force conducted an airstrike on the PYD-held town of Derik.[72]

### October–December 2013: YPG capture border town; ISIL offensives

[edit]

See also: Battle of al-Yaarubiyah

In October 2013, Ahrar al-Jazeera was expelled from the border town of al-Yaarubiyah by the al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and other Salafist jihadist groups. At the end of the month, YPG forces supported by local Arab tribes and Iraq captured Yarubiya from the jihadists after a 4-day battle.[7]

From October to December 2013, ISIL conducted a campaign of suicide bombings on both YPG and Syrian government's National Defence Forces in Qamishli. Meanwhile, fighting between the YPG and ISIL, supported by al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham, escalated in the countryside of Qamishli.[1]

## See also

[edit]

* Raqqa campaign (2012–2013)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A number of FSA groups in ceasefire with YPG since February 2013, others continued fighting the YPG.[2]
2. ^ Unlike most other FSA commanders listed above, Lt. Col. Mustafa Ibrahim had "good ties to a number of Kurdish militia units" in Hasaka and has fought alongside these units against al-Nusra.[13]
3. ^ Kurdish FSA group which fought alongside al-Nusra against the YPG.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi; Brown Moses (10 December 2013). "The Qamishli Front".
2. ^ a b "AGREEMENT IN SERÊKANIYÊ BETWEEN YPG AND FSA". Firat News Agency. 18 February 2013.
3. ^ a b AFP (18 January 2013). "Raging clashes pit Syrian Kurds against jihadists". NOW. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
4. ^ a b c d "Statement of the 313th Brigade on the Battle of Qamishli". Muhammad al-Masri. 13 April 2013.
5. ^ a b "PYD Press Release: A call for support and protection of the peaceful establishment, the self-governed Rojava region | هيئة التنسيق الوطنية لقوى التغيير الديمقراطي". Syrianncb.org. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
6. ^ a b Wladimir van Wilgenburg (7 March 2013). "Syrian Kurdish Militia Takes Over Oil Fields". Al-Monitor.
7. ^ a b Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi; Fadel al-Kifa'ee (5 November 2013). "The Fall of Yaroubiya to the YPG In Context". Retrieved 6 April 2017.
8. ^ a b c d Andrea Glioti (13 February 2014). "Syrian Kurds recruit regime loyalists to fight jihadists". al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 2017-08-03. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
9. ^ a b AFP (20 February 2013). "Syria Islamist-Kurd warring ends as dissident mediates". NOW. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
10. ^ a b Azizi, Bradost (6 February 2013). "Islamists Fighting Kurds in Syria Admit to Turkish Military Support". Rudaw. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
11. ^ a b Wladimir van Wilgenburg (24 November 2013). "Kurdish militia aims to connect Kurdish enclaves in Syria". al-Monitor. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
12. ^ a b "The formation of the band 15 pushes Hasaka to the forefront of military action". Zaman al-Wasl. 9 July 2013.
13. ^ a b "Selected Supreme Military Council Members" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War.
14. ^ "News of the appointment of Major General Mansoura governor of Hasaka and the Free Army vows". Zaman al-Wasl. 17 December 2012.
15. ^ Mutlu Civiroglu (23 September 2013). "YPG Commander Sipan Hemo: 'Give Us Real Support'". Rudaw.
16. ^ a b c Jan Kalan (3 March 2013). "Formation the first battalion of women's protection units in western Kurdistan".
17. ^ a b "YPG: We clear Serikani off the bandit groups". Rojhelat.info. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
18. ^ a b Wladimir van Wilgenburg (13 December 2013). "Kurdish Strategy Towards Ethnically-Mixed Areas in the Syrian Conflict". Jamestown Foundation.
19. ^ Nicholas A. Heras (24 October 2013). "THE BATTLE FOR SYRIA'S AL-HASAKAH PROVINCE". Combating Terrorism Center. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
20. ^ "Syrian Kurds Try to Maintain Unity". Rudaw. 17 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
21. ^ "Syria: Massive protests in Qamishli, Homs". CNTV. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
22. ^ "Syrian Kurdish Official: Now Kurds are in Charge of their Fate". Rudaw. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
23. ^ Hassan Hassan (2017), p. 3.
24. ^ a b Youssef Sheikho (19 April 2013). "Syria: Qamishli's Kurds Fight Two Enemies at Once". Al-Akhbar. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
25. ^ a b Nicholas A. Heras, Carole A. O'Leary (27 June 2013). "The Tribal Factor in Syria's Rebellion: A Survey of Armed Tribal Groups in Syria". Jamestown Foundation.
26. ^ a b c Loveday Morris (26 July 2013). "Syrian Kurds' struggle for autonomy threatens rebel effort to oust Assad". Washington Post. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
27. ^ a b "Arab Tribes Split Between Kurds And Jihadists". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
28. ^ a b "Explosion at intelligence center in Qamishli, Syrian Kurdistan". Ekurd.net. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
29. ^ a b Metzger, Nils (28 March 2013). "Bürgerkrieg in Syria: Jedem seine eigene Rebellengruppe" [Civil war in Syria: Everyone has their own rebel group]. TAZ (in German). Retrieved 19 October 2021.
30. ^ "More Kurdish Cities Liberated As Syrian Army Withdraws from Area". Rudaw. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
31. ^ Guillaume Perrier (23 July 2012). "The Kurds of the PKK on the offensive against the regime of Damascus". Le Monde.
32. ^ "Clashes between Kurds and Syrian army in the Kurdish city of Qamişlo, Western Kurdistan". Ekurd.net. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
33. ^ "Armed Kurds Surround Syrian Security Forces in Qamishli". Rudaw. 22 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
34. ^ "Fighting in Syria indicates Bashar Assad's end isn't imminent". Charlotteobserver.com. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.[dead link]
35. ^ Jomaa Akkash (24 September 2012). "Syrian Kurds move to rule themselves as Assad's grip loosens". Al Arabiya English. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
36. ^ "Girke Lege Becomes Sixth Kurdish City Liberated in Syria". Rudaw. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
37. ^ "Syria – News". Peter Clifford Online. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
38. ^ "Five officers, including a colonel announce the formation of a military council in Al-Hasakah". Aksalser. 16 August 2012.
39. ^ "Syria suicide blast kills 4 at security compound". CBS News. Associated Press. 30 September 2012.
40. ^ "مراسل الكردية نيوز: مقاتلون كرد يحاربون إلى جانب الجيش الحر في مدينة "سري كانيه"". Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
41. ^ "Kurds Caught in Crossfire In Northwest Syria Battle". Ekurd. 15 November 2012.
42. ^ Matthew Weaver (8 November 2012). "Assad vows to 'live and die' in Syria - Thursday 8 November 2012". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
43. ^ "Thousands Flee Syria as Fighting Continues". Arutz Sheva. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
44. ^ "Kurds seize two towns in Syria's northeast, watchdog says". Now Lebanon. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
45. ^ Jose Miguel Calatayud (20 November 2012). "Kurds oust Syrian forces from northern towns". Al Jazeera English.
46. ^ "Community news from Biloxi and Gulfport, MS - Sun Herald". Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
47. ^ "Al Qaida-linked group Syria rebels once denied now key to anti-Assad victories". McClatchydc. 2 December 2012.
48. ^ "Syria rebels clash with armed Kurds". Al Jazeera English. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
49. ^ "Final death toll for Monday 19/11/2012: Approximately 134 Syrians were killed". Facebook. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
50. ^ "Syria troops besiege town near Damascus". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
51. ^ Ivan Watson; Ammar Cheikh Omar (20 November 2012). "Dozens dead after clashes in Syrian border town". CNN. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
52. ^ "Assyrian Party Mediated a Ceasefire in Syria". Assyrian International News Agency. 28 November 2012.
53. ^ "Jihadist rebels in standoff with Syria Kurds: NGO". Al Arabiya. AFP/Reuters. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-12-07. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
54. ^ van Wilgenburg, Wladimir (24 November 2012). "Kurdish Fighters and Syrian Rebels Announce Fragile Ceasefire". Rudaw. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
55. ^ a b "Raʾs al-ʿAyn: Ceasefire between PYD and FSA is fragile". KurdWatch. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
56. ^ a b "Raʾs al-ʿAyn: No easing of tensions despite agreement between PYD and Free Syrian Army". KurdWatch. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
57. ^ "Cessez-le-feu à Rass al-Ain" (in French). ActuKurde. 17 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
58. ^ "Fighting continues across Syria". Syria Live Blog. Al Jazeera English. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
59. ^ "Syrian rebels clash with Kurds in northeast: activists". Reuters. 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
60. ^ "Preliminary death toll for Thursday 14/2/2013". Facebook. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
61. ^ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (5 April 2013). "Conflict Intensifies in Kurdish Area of Syria". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
62. ^ "Syrian rebel attack on Kurdish Qamishli city in Syrian Kurdistan points to end of peace pact". Reuters. 13 April 2013.
63. ^ "Children of Syria - A UNICEF update". UNICEF. 25 April 2013.
64. ^ a b "Kurdish militia kills three protesters in Syria town: activists". The Daily Star. Agence France-Presse. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
65. ^ Glioti, Andrea (1 July 2013). "Syrian Kurdish Group Linked to PKK Kills Protesters". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 2015-07-16. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
66. ^ "Jihadists expelled from flashpoint Kurdish Syrian town, NGO says". AFP. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
67. ^ AFP, "Syrie: les Kurdes infligent une cuisante défaite aux jihadistes", L'Orient le Jour, 17 July 2013.
68. ^ "YPG clears Serekaniye of armed groups". Support Kurds in Syria. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
69. ^ "Friday 19 July 2013". Support Kurds in Syria. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
70. ^ "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Reports On PKK-Qaida Fight". Retrieved 21 September 2014.
71. ^ "Syria Kurds expel jihadists, seize weapons: NGO". Fox News. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
72. ^ Youssef Sheikho (22 August 2013). "Syrian Kurdish Fronts Exhaust Islamist Battalions". Al-Akhbar. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.

### Works cited

[edit]

* Hassan Hassan (2017). "The Battle for Raqqa and the Challenges after Liberation" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 10 (6). West Point, New York: Combating Terrorism Center: 1–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2017-06-28.

* v
* t
* e

Syrian civil war

Overviews

| Main overviews|

* Syria
* Rojava
* Syrian civil war
* Timeline
* Background and causes
* Syrian peace process
* Syrian government reactions
* Belligerents
* Inter-rebel conflict
* Spillover
* Cities and towns
* Sectarianism and minorities
* Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017–present)

|

Effects and ongoing concerns|

* Casualties of the Syrian civil war
* Refugees of the Syrian civil war
* Humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war
* Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war

Phases and processes|

* Syrian revolution
* Early insurgency phase
* 2012–2013 escalation
* Ceasefires
* Syrian peace process

World reaction|

* International reactions to the Syrian civil war
* Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war

Specific groups and countries|

* Russian involvement
* Russian intervention
* Turkish involvement
* Turkish occupation of northern Syria
* Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone
* Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria
* US intervention in the Syrian civil war
* 2023 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria
* Kurdish Area in Syria
* Syrian Democratic Forces
* Rojava conflict
* U.S. task force

Agreements and dialogues|

* Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria
* Relations between Syrian government and Kurdish groups in Syria

Timeline

| Background|

* 1963 coup
* 1966 coup
* Corrective Movement
* Islamist uprising
* Latakia protests
* Damascus Spring
* Qamishli riots
* Syrian occupation of Lebanon
* Damascus Declaration
* Human rights in Syria
* 2010s in Syria political history

|

2011
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec|

* Syrian Revolution
* Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb
* Siege of Daraa
* Siege of Baniyas
* May Talkalakh siege
* Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh
* June Jisr ash-Shughur operation
* Siege of Hama
* Siege of Homs
* Jabal al-Zawiya operation
* Siege of Latakia
* Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–2014)
* Rif Dimashq clashes (Nov 2011-Mar 2012)
* Battle of Zabadani
* Battle of Douma
* Daraa Governorate clashes
* Battle of Rastan
* Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush
* Idlib Governorate clashes
* December Jabal al-Zawiya massacres

2012
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec|

* January al-Midan bombing
* Battle of Rastan
* First Battle of Idlib
* Battle of al-Qusayr
* Idlib Governorate operation (Apr)
* Battle of Taftanaz
* May Battle of Rastan
* Houla massacre
* Battle of al-Haffah
* Al-Qubeir massacre
* Battle of Tremseh
* Battle of Damascus
* 18 July 2012 Damascus bombing
* Battle of Aleppo
* Battle of Anadan
* Siege of Base 46
* Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–2013)
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Aug-Oct)
* Darayya massacre
* Battle of Khirbet Al-Joz
* Battle of Maarrat al-Numan
* First siege of Wadi Deif
* Battle of Harem
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Nov 2012–Feb 2013)
* Battle of Darayya
* Aqrab massacre
* Hama offensive
* Halfaya massacre
* Battle of Darayya
* Quneitra Governorate clashes
* Talbiseh bakery massacre

2013
Jan–Apr
May–Dec|

* Battle of Safira
* Battle of Shadadeh
* Damascus offensive
* Raqqa campaign (2012–2013)
* Battle of Raqqa (Mar)
* Daraa offensive
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Mar–Aug)
* Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl
* Ghouta chemical attack
* Al-Qusayr offensive
* Battle of al-Qusayr
* Bayda and Baniyas massacres
* Hama offensive
* Hatla massacre
* Khan al-Assal chemical attack
* Khan al-Assal massacre
* Adra massacre
* Battle of Ras al-Ayn
* Battle of Tell Abyad
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Sep–Nov)
* Aleppo offensive (Oct–Dec)
* Battle of al-Yaarubiyah
* Battle of Tell Hamis and Tell Brak (Dec–Jan)

2014
Jan–Jul
Aug–Dec|

* First Inter-rebel conflict
* Battle of Markada
* Deir ez-Zor offensive
* Battle of Morek
* Daraa offensive (Feb–May)
* Maan massacre
* Al-Otaiba ambush
* Idlib offensive
* Battle of Hosn
* Latakia Offensive
* Battle of Al-Malihah
* Kafr Zita chemical attack
* Second siege of Wadi Deif
* Qalamoun offensive (Jun–Aug)
* Battle of Arsal
* First Battle of the Shaer gas field
* Eastern Syria offensive
* Battle of Tabqa Airbase
* Northern Aleppo offensive (Feb–Jul)
* Hama Offensive
* Quneitra offensive
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Aug–Nov)
* Siege of Kobanî
* Homs school bombing
* Daraa offensive (Oct)
* Al-Safira offensive
* Idlib Raid
* Second Inter-Rebel Conflict
* Second Battle of the Shaer gas field
* Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin
* Deir ez-Zor offensive (Dec)

2015
Jan–Jul
Aug–Dec|

* Air Force An-26 crash
* Daraa Offensive (Jan)
* Southern Syria Offensive
* Eastern al-Hasakah offensive
* Battle of Sarrin (Mar–Apr)
* Battle of Sarrin (Jun–Jul)
* Battle of Bosra
* Idlib Offensive
* Second Battle of Idlib
* Battle of Nasib Border Crossing
* Battle of Yarmouk Camp
* Western al-Hasakah offensive
* Palmyra offensive (May)
* Qamishli bombings
* Tell Abyad offensive
* Kobanî massacre
* Quneitra offensive (Jun)
* Palmyra offensive (Jul–Aug)
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Sep)
* Northwestern Syria offensive (Oct–Nov)
* Aleppo offensive (Oct–Dec)
* Al-Hawl offensive
* Homs offensive (Nov-Dec)
* East Aleppo offensive (2015–2016)
* 2015–2016 Latakia offensive
* Tishrin Dam offensive
* Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown

2016
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec|

* Second Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin
* Deir ez-Zor offensive (Jan)
* January Sayyidah Zaynab bombings
* Northern Aleppo offensive (Feb)
* Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (Feb–Mar)
* Al-Shaddadi offensive
* February Homs bombings
* February Sayyidah Zaynab bombings
* Khanasir offensive
* Battle of Tel Abyad
* Battle of Maarrat al-Numan
* Battle of Qamishli (Apr)
* Northern Aleppo offensive (Mar–Jun)
* Palmyra offensive (Mar)
* East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (Apr–May)
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Apr–May)
* Northern Raqqa offensive (May)
* May Jableh & Tartous bombings
* Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (Jun)
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Jun–Oct)
* Manbij offensive
* Tokhar massacre
* Southern Aleppo campaign
* Battle of al-Rai (Aug)
* Operation Euphrates Shield
* Aleppo summer campaign
* Western al-Bab offensive (Sep)
* 5 September bombings
* September Deir ez-Zor air raid
* September Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack
* Aleppo offensive (Sep–Oct)
* Dabiq offensive
* Western al-Bab offensive (Oct–Nov)
* Khan al-Shih offensive (Oct–Nov)
* Raqqa campaign
* Battle of al-Bab
* Aleppo offensive (Nov-Dec)
* Palmyra offensive (Dec)

2017
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec|

* Wadi Barada offensive (2016–2017)
* January Azaz bombing
* Desert campaign (Dec 16–Apr 17)
* Idlib clashes (Jan–Mar)
* Deir ez-Zor offensive (Jan–Feb)
* Daraa offensive (Feb–Jun)
* Southwestern Daraa offensive (Feb)
* Qaboun offensive
* Palmyra offensive
* East Aleppo offensive (Jan–Apr)
* March Damascus bombings
* Al-Jinah airstrike
* Hama offensive (Mar–Apr)
* Battle of Tabqa
* Khan Shaykhun chemical attack
* Shayrat missile strike
* Aleppo bombing
* April Turkish airstrikes
* East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (Apr–May)
* Desert campaign (May–Jul)
* Maskanah Plains offensive
* East Hama offensive
* Battle of Raqqa
* Daraa offensive (Jun)
* Southern Raqqa offensive (Jun)
* Jobar offensive (Jun–Aug)
* Quneitra offensive (Jun)
* Idlib clashes (Jul)
* Central campaign
* Qalamoun (Jul–Aug)
* Deir ez-Zor offensive (Sep 17–Mar 18)
* Hama offensive (Sep)
* Northwestern campaign (Oct 17–Feb 18)
* Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate
* Battle of Harasta
* Eastern campaign (Sep–Dec)
* Euphrates Crossing offensive
* Mayadin offensive
* Battle of Deir ez-Zor (Sep–Nov)
* Abu Kamal offensive
* Beit Jinn offensive

2018
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec|

* Operation Olive Branch
* Battle of Khasham
* Rif Dimashq offensive (Feb–Apr)
* Southern Damascus offensive (Jan–Feb)
* Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict
* Southern Damascus offensive (Mar)
* Douma chemical attack
* Missile strikes (Apr)
* Northern Homs offensive (Apr–May)
* Eastern Qalamoun offensive (Apr)
* Southern Damascus offensive (Apr–May)
* Deir ez-Zor clashes (Apr)
* Deir ez-Zor offensive (May–Jun)
* As-Suwayda offensive (Jun)
* Southern offensive
* As-Suwayda attacks
* As-Suwayda (Aug-Nov)
* Qamishli clashes (Sep)
* Missile strikes (Sep)
* Northern border clashes

2019
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec|

* Idlib inter-rebel conflict
* Manbij bombing
* Battle of Baghuz Fawqani
* ISIL insurgency in Deir-ez-Zor
* Dêrik prison escape attempt
* Tell Rifaat clashes
* Northwestern offensive (Apr–Aug)
* June bombings
* Hass refugee camp bombing
* Missile strikes (Aug)
* Turkish offensive into northeast
* Barisha raid
* November bombings
* Israeli missile strikes (Nov)
* Qah missile strike
* Northwestern offensive (Dec 19–Mar 20)
* US airstrikes

2020
Jan–Dec|

* COVID-19 pandemic
* Afrin bombing
* Idlib Governorate clashes
* Kafr-Takharim airstrike
* Ayn Issa clashes
* Deir ez-Zor ambush

2021
Jan–Dec|

* Siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah
* Missile strikes (Jan)
* US airstrike (Feb)
* Battle of Qamishli (Apr)
* US airstrike (Jun)
* Daraa clashes
* Tahrir al-Sham–Junud al-Sham conflict

2022
Jan–Dec|

* Battle of al-Hasakah
* Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes
* Jabal al-Bishrī clashes
* Jarqli airstrikes
* Northern Aleppo clashes (Oct)
* Operation Claw-Sword
* Northwest clashes (Dec)

2023
Jan-Dec|

* Al-Sukhnah attack
* Damascus airstrike
* Hama attack
* Northern border clashes

Spillover|

| Israel and Golan Heights:|

* March 2017 incident
* February 2018 incident
* May 2018 Israel–Iran incidents

|

Iraq:|

* Akashat ambush
* Operation al-Shabah
* April 2014 Iraqi border airstrike

Jordanian border incidents|

* April 2014 Jordanian border airstrike

Lebanon:|

* Lebanese border clashes
* Battle of Sidon
* Iranian embassy bombing in Beirut
* North Lebanon clashes
* Qalamoun (Jul–Aug 2017)

Turkey:|

* December 2011 Turkish border clash
* 2012 Turkish F-4 Phantom shootdown
* 2012 Turkish border clashes
* 2013 Reyhanlı car bombings
* January 2014 Turkish attack in Syria
* Assassination of Andrei Karlov
* Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident
* 2020 Balyun airstrikes
* Operation Spring Shield

Elsewhere:|

* Deir ez-Zor missile strike (Iran)

Belligerents

| Syria|

| Politics of Syria|

* Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region
* Syrian Social Nationalist Party
* Arab Socialist Movement
* Syrian Communist Party

|

Military and militias|

* Syrian Armed Forces
* Syrian Resistance
* PFLP-GC
* al-Quds Brigade
* Palestine Liberation Army

Foreign support|

* Hezbollah involvement
* Iranian involvement
* Liwa Fatemiyoun
* Russian involvement
* medical facility targeting
* military intervention
* Wagner Group
* Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition
* Popular Mobilization Forces

Opposition|

| Interim government|

* National Coalition
* Local Coordination Committees
* Syrian National Council
* Supreme Council of the Syrian Revolution
* National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change
* Syrian Revolution General Commission
* Syrian Support Group
* Adopt a Revolution
* Syrian Patriotic Group

|

Opposition militias|

* Syrian National Army
* Free Syrian Army
* National Front for Liberation
* Army of Glory
* Authenticity and Development Front
* Army of Free Tribes
* Revolutionary Commando Army
* Muslim Brotherhood in Syria
* Grey Wolves

Foreign support|

* US intervention
* Jordanian intervention
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Turkey

Autonomous Administration
of North and East Syria|

| DFNS Government|

* Democratic Union Party
* Kurdish National Council
* Smaller political parties

|

SDF militias|

* People's Protection Units
* Women's Protection Units
* Anti-Terror Units
* Al-Sanadid Forces
* Army of Revolutionaries
* SDF military councils
* Syriac Military Council
* Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa
* Northern Democratic Brigade

Support|

* Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
* Kurdistan Workers' Party
* International Freedom Battalion
* Sinjar Resistance Units
* Êzîdxan Women's Units

Islamists|

| Islamic State|

* Military activity of ISIL
* Dokumacılar
* Khalid ibn al-Walid Army
* Liwa al-Aqsa
* Group of the One and Only
* Liwa Dawud

|

al-Qaeda and allies|

* Tahrir al-Sham
* Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria
* Caucasus Emirate
* Ajnad al-Kavkaz
* Junud al-Makhdi
* Malhama Tactical
* Ansar al-Islam in Kurdistan

People

* Ammar Abdulhamid
* Ali al-Abdallah
* Adnan al-Aroor
* al-Assad family
* Bashar
* Maher
* Rifaat
* Rami Makhlouf
* Hafez Makhlouf
* Riad al-Asaad
* Anwar al-Bunni
* Fahd Jassem al-Freij
* Suheil al-Hassan
* Haitham al-Maleh
* Moaz al-Khatib
* Kamal al-Labwani
* Hamza al-Khateeb
* Tal al-Mallohi
* Fida al-Sayed
* Riad al-Turk
* Khaled Khoja
* Ammar al-Qurabi
* Suheir Atassi
* Ali Sadreddine Al-Bayanouni
* Aref Dalila
* Farid Ghadry
* Burhan Ghalioun
* Razan Ghazzawi
* Ghassan Hitto
* Salim Idris
* Randa Kassis
* Abdul Halim Khaddam
* Michel Kilo
* Bassma Kodmani
* Ali Habib Mahmud
* Ali Mahmoud Othman
* Ibrahim Qashoush
* Dawoud Rajiha
* Yassin al-Haj Saleh
* Bouthaina Shaaban
* Abdulbaset Sieda
* Riad Seif
* Fadwa Souleimane
* Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid
* Yaser Tabbara
* Razan Zaitouneh
* Rami Jarrah
* Abdurrahman Mustafa
* Fadlallah al-Haji

Related

| Elections|

* 2011 local elections
* 2012 parliamentary election
* 2014 presidential election
* 2015 Northern local elections
* 2016 parliamentary election
* 2017 Northern local elections
* 2017 Northern regional elections
* 2018 local elections
* 2020 parliamentary election
* 2021 presidential election

|

Issues|

* Casualties
* Cities and towns
* Chemical weapons
* Damaged heritage sites
* Foreign involvement
* Human rights violations
* Humanitarian aid
* International demonstrations and protests
* International reactions
* Massacres
* Refugees
* Sectarianism and minorities
* Status of the Golan Heights
* Spillover in Lebanon
* Syrian government reactions

Peace process|

* Arab League monitors
* Friends of Syria Group
* Kofi Annan peace plan
* UN supervision mission
* Lakhdar Brahimi peace plan
* U.S.–Russia peace proposals
* 39th G8 summit
* UN Security Council Resolution 2118
* Geneva II conference
* 2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement
* Vienna talks
* 2016 Geneva talks
* Idlib demilitarization (2018–present)
* First Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal
* Second Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal
* Syrian Constitutional Committee

War crimes trials|

* Universal jurisdiction trials in Germany

Related topics|

* Exclusive mandate
* Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
* International recognition of the Syrian National Council
* Syria Files
* Syrian detainee report
* Syrian media coverage
* 2015 European migrant crisis
* Syrian civil war in popular culture

* Category

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