Offensive Daraa offensive (February–May 2014)

1 offensive

1.1 start of offensive, army counter-attack , stalemate
1.2 renewed rebel advance , fsa-nusra tension
1.3 new army counter-attack

offensive
start of offensive, army counter-attack , stalemate

in first days of offensive, reported rebels captured atman checkpoint in daraa, destroying 1 , captured army positions around town of atman.

on 14 february 49 rebel groups affiliated fsa announced united under 1 armed entity called southern front. same day car bomb killed @ least 33 people (including 12 rebel fighters) in rebel-held village of yabuda. activists accused syrian government behind attack. reported 22 people (including 19 civilians) killed air strikes on rebel-held areas in daraa province.

on 16 february, brigadier general salim idris dismissed , replaced brigadier general abdul-ilah al-bashir fsa chief of staff. same day, rebels captured army checkpoint in village of western gharia, lost next day.

on 18 february, rebels town of busra al-harir, in eastern part of daraa province attacked , captured military outpost known chemicals battalion or kimyaa battalion, west of dwera village, syrian army recaptured hours later. during fighting, 22 soldiers , dozens of rebels killed or injured. in conjunction attack on post, rebels attacked city of busra al-sham, near daraa s border southwest of suwaida province. however, government forces able repulse attack. part, army launched surprise offensive during morning using tanks , air strikes against villages of al-hajjeh, al-dawayeh al-kubra, al-sughra, bir ajam , al-buraika in central , southern parts of al-quneitra.

on 19 february, syrian air force began heavy air raids on rebel positions in daraa governorate, rebel fighters preparing major push towards damascus in following days.

on 22 february, according military source, government forces captured areas of rasm al-hour , rasm al-sad, south of town of quneitra. sohr confirmed troops on offensive, air force taking part in attack.

on 23 february, 9 rebel groups (including jabhat al-nusra , ahrar al sham) announced start of new battle focused on 8 military zones belonging 61st brigade in western daraa countryside.

on night of 25 february, rebels, led al-nusra front, made attempt capture tal al-jabiyah military facility, reportedly contained chemical weapons. international military commanders based in jordan warned rebels leave weapons alone , hand them on them in case capture bunker complex or israeli airstrike called in on location. rebels agreed. however, next day, rebels still pushing take control of tal al jabiyeh. amman command centre halted weapons supplies assaulting forces, apparently in successful effort delay advance on bunker. without supplies, rebels forced consolidate positions around base , not seek capture it. on next 2 days, government reinforcements arrived , 1 march military managed push rebels.

on 26 february, syrian army tried advance towards towns of inkhil , nawa , reinforced positions south of village of al-nuaimeh next day, while rebels tightened siege had imposed on army checkpoints in area, in attempt block reinforcements reaching government troops.

on 11 march, syrian air force conducted 7 airstrikes on rebel-held areas in southern daraa province, while district of daraa al-balad bombarded 285th battalion.

on 19 march, rebels took control of central gharaz prison in daraa province after syrian army retreated towards grain silos. opposition source stated 294 prisoners freed. other sources stated 300 400 prisoners freed , claimed vehicle training grounds south of prison , “secret facility” captured rebels. after capture of prison, battlefront shifted towards silos in attempt rebels take control of them.

as of 20 march, rebels in daraa unable progress north past line of government-held towns @ nawa, sheikh maskeen , izraa. army had taken defensive positions, not attack these positions. overall, stalemate ensued. main reason lack of rebel advance said no new weapons had arrived across border jordan.

on 21 march, rebels captured grain silos , gharz gas station, located near daraa gharaz prison. rebels claimed have seized armoured vehicles after fighting. after capture of silos, heavy clashes broke out on perimeter of qussad military checkpoint, while syrian air force bombarded gharz area. sohr reported end of day rebels took qussad military checkpoint.

renewed rebel advance , fsa-nusra tension

on 7 april, rebels captured 1 of twin military hills of tulul al-humur in quneitra province after besieged weeks.

on 14 april, rebels advanced towards tal al-jabiyah hill, 1 of several part of brigade 61 army base , main 1 protecting base west, after capturing several bunker positions throughout area earlier in year. 24 april, rebels captured tal al-jabiyah hill , village of al sekkariyyi, near nawa. rebels seized 2 tanks , large caches of weapons. army reportedly retreated nearby base after losing hill. next day army made attempt recapture hill unsuccessful. overall 49 rebels , 62 government fighters killed during 2 days of fighting hill. on 26 april, reported army started retreat areas surrounding tal al-jabiyah hill, while rebels focusing on capturing tal jamu hill, 5 kilometers tal al-jabiyah, in attempt link territory in daraa rebel territory in quneitra province. later day, rebels reportedly seized brigade 61 , tayroz checkpoint near nawa.

on 27 april, rebels reportedly took control of large parts of strategic area of eastern tal al-ahmar. later reported rebels captured eastern tal al ahmar, while army captured tal buraq hill, near mashara, without resistance, on 29th.

on 1 may, reported rebels captured 508 antitank battalion, village of tira , tal ashtara hill. same day, fsa-affiliated southern syrian revolutionary front established, consisting of 20 rebel groups. 3 days later, several rebel commanders belonging front (including commander: colonel ahmad al-na’meh) arrested al-nusra front. incident evoked tension in daraa, moderate rebels saying attack al-nusra front if commanders not released custody. mediation committee had been set deal case, involving leading figures both sides, tribal sheikhs. colonel ahmad al-na’meh forced make confession on video after 4 days of detainment.

on 5 may, rebels announced start of new offensive called allahu akbar” in aim capture matouq al-kabir hill, matouq al-saghir hill , kharbat fadi area on perimeter of inkhil city. heavy clashes erupted on perimeter of these hills , 115th division, resulting in casualties on both sides , damaged zsu-23-4 shilka . both hills captured after 3 days of fighting. reported 7 rebels killed pipeline explosion between nasib , gharz area, , 1 of arrested rebel leaders released al-nusra front.

on 6 may, rebels captured syrian colonel mohammad hassan kanaan on highway between damascus , daraa. kanaan 1 of 24 people nominated stand in 3 june presidential election. reported emir in al-nusra front , wife assassinated car bomb.

on 8 may, rebels launched military operation against al-qahtania, al-hamedia, quneitra crossing , al-rawadi checkpoint in quneitra province. army launched counter-attack after rebels captured al-qahtania village.

on 15 may, rebels detonated tunnel bomb in al-manshiyah district of daraa city after announcing new offensive.

new army counter-attack

on 16 may 2014, army launched counter-attack, firing 100 rockets , carrying out 15 air strikes on nawa. focus of government offensive nawa, inkhil, jasem , deraa city. next day, military recaptured tal al-jabiyah hill. military attempting advance towards western , eastern tal al-ahmar in attempt prevent rebels advancing toward quneitra. deal reportedly reached under 2,000 rebels granted safe passage evacuate jassem, overlooks southern daraa. deal set expire within 48 hours. same day, iranian fars news agency claimed government troops had captured um al-awsaj, opening road connecting al-sanamein-zamreen-tal al-hara.

on 19 may, fars news agency reported government troops had recaptured headquarters of battalion 74. next day, agency claimed government forces gained full control on area of old sajna neighborhood in daraa al-balad , completed encirclement of nawa, army seizing control of eastern neighborhood , moving towards national hospital on north-west side of city. on same day, rebels blew building used government forces, killing dozens

on 20 may, confirmed army had entered nawa west , east, fighting raging in city. @ least 15 soldiers killed in afternoon amid clashes rebels in town.

on 22 may 2014, mortar attack on tent approximately 100 government supporters , civilians had gathered in city discuss upcoming 3 june 2014 presidential election killed @ least 21 , injured scores more. not verified conducted attack, ahmad masalma, opposition activist in daraa, said rebels free syrian army umbrella group fired mortar shell @ tent in government-held area after repeatedly warning civilians stay away.

on 23 may, according sohr, rebels captured army checkpoint west of tell umm hawran. 4 days later, reported fauzi ayub, senior hezbollah commander on fbi wanted terrorists list, killed during fighting in nawa.