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{{Short description|2012 battle in Syria}}
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{{Infobox military conflict
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
|conflict= Battle of Al-Heffa
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{{infobox military conflict
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|partof= the [[2011 Syrian uprising|Syrian Uprising]]
|conflict =Battle of al-Haffah<br>معركة الحفة
|image=
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|partof =the [[Syrian Civil War]]
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|caption=
|date=5 June 2012 - 6 June 2012
|image =
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|caption =
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|place=[[Al-Haffah]], [[Latakia Governorate]], Syria
|date =5–13 June 2012<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=06|day1=05|year1=2012|month2=06|day2=13|year2=2012}})
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|result= Tactical Syrian Army Victory
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|place =[[Al-Haffah]], [[Latakia Governorate]], Syria
*Syrian Army Retakes The Town
|coordinates =
Strategic FSA Victory
|map_type =
*Freed Prisoners And Abducted Government Police Officers
|map_relief =
*Bulldozed Local Police Station And The Secret Police Office
|latitude =
|combatant1=[[File:Syria-flag 1932-58 1961-63.svg|30px]] '''[[Syrian National Council]]'''
|longitude =
*[[Free Syrian Army]]
|map_size =
|combatant2= [[File:Flag of Syria.svg|23px]] '''[[Government of Syria|Syrian government]]'''
|map_marksize =
*[[Syrian Army]]
|map_caption =
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|commander1=
|map_label =
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|commander2=
|territory =
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|strength1=
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|result =Syrian Army victory
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|strength2=
|status =
|casualties1= 10 fighters killed
|combatants_header =
|casualties2= 22 soldiers killed
|combatant1 ={{Flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} [[Free Syrian Army]]
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|casualties3= 8 civilians killed
|combatant2 ={{flagicon|Syria|1980}} [[Syrian Arab Republic]]
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|notes=
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} [[Syrian Armed Forces]]
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|commander1 =
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|commander2 =
|units1 =Unknown
|units2 =[[10th Mechanized Division (Syria)|10th Mechanized Division]]
*56th Armoured Brigade
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|strength1 =300+ fighters
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|strength2 =780 soldiers
|casualties1 =23 killed<ref name="Syriashelling">{{cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2012/June/middleeast_June131.xml&section=middleeast |title=Syria shelling, clashes kill 36 |publisher=Khaleejtimes.com |date=12 June 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref>
|casualties2 =68 killed<ref name="Syriashelling"/><br>200 wounded<ref name="renewshelling"/>
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|casualties3 =29 civilians killed<ref name="Syriashelling"/>
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|notes =
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|campaignbox ={{Campaignbox Syrian uprising}}
}}
}}
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The '''Battle of al-Haffah''' ({{langx|ar|معركة الحفة}}) took place between the [[Syrian Army]] and the rebel [[Free Syrian Army]] (FSA) in [[Latakia Governorate]], primarily in the area around the town of [[Al-Haffah]]. The battle resulted in the ousting of the rebels from Al-Haffah.
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{{Campaignbox Syrian uprising}}
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The '''Battle of Al-Heffa''' is a battle between the Syrian Army and the rebel Free Syrian Army in Latakia province, primarily in the area of the town of Al-Heffa.


== Background ==
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The clashes started on 5 June 2012, in Al-Heffa, where a large concentration of FSA rebels attacked and captured the town's police stations. Soon after, the government military forces surrounded the city and started an attack. The opposition claimed at least five government tanks and armoured personnel carriers were destroyed in the fighting.<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/05/syria-crisis-latakia-idINDEE8540AS20120605 Heavy fighting erupts in Syria's Latakia province]</ref> Clashes also broke out in the nearby villages of Bakas, Shirqaq, Babna, Al-Jankil, and Al-Dafil.<ref>[http://post.jagran.com/at-least-47-killed-in-violence-across-syria-ngo-1338958008 At least 47 killed in violence across Syria: NGO]</ref>
Haffah is a Sunni Muslim town that lies in the foothills of the coastal mountains that form the heartland of Assad's Alawi sect. It is strategically located close to the port city of Latakia, as well as the Turkish border which has been used by the rebels to smuggle people and supplies.<ref>{{cite web |last=Solomon |first=Erika |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-haffeh-idUSBRE85B0DT20120612 |title=Syrian rebels smuggle civilians from battered Haffeh |publisher=Reuters.com |access-date=14 July 2012 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031612/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/12/us-syria-crisis-haffeh-idUSBRE85B0DT20120612 |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Event ==
⚫
The fighting continued into the next day with government forces shelling the village of Shirqaq and continuing to assault Al-Heffa, where tanks and helicopters joined the fray. The helicopters strafed suspected rebel positions. On the first day of the battle 33 people were killed: 22 soldiers, nine rebels and two civilians.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gxdh5s6i3URmZkpoLQmo82XKO6NQ?docId=CNG.97688a235ae0de3b620d965c3080aab9.c1 Clashes rock Damascus, regime pounds Latakia: NGO]</ref> On the second day seven people were killed due to the shelling, including one rebel fighter.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/content/syrias-assad-names-new-prime-minister/1178880.html Syrian Troops Kill 7 in Coastal Area]</ref>
=== Rebels capture Al-Haffah===
⚫
The fighting started on 5 June 2012, in Al-Haffah, when a large concentration of FSA rebels attacked and captured the town's police stations. Soon after, government forces surrounded the city and began an attack. The opposition claimed at least five government tanks and armoured personnel carriers were destroyed in the fighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/syria-crisis-latakia-idINDEE8540AS20120605 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306222509/http://in.reuters.com/article/syria-crisis-latakia-idINDEE8540AS20120605 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2016 |title=Heavy fighting erupts in Syria's Latakia province |publisher=In.reuters.com |date=5 June 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> Clashes also broke out in the nearby villages of Bakas, Shirqaq, [[Babna]], [[Jankil]], and Dafil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://post.jagran.com/at-least-47-killed-in-violence-across-syria-ngo-1338958008 |title=At least 47 killed in violence across Syria: NGO |publisher=Post.jagran.com |date=6 June 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref>


=== Army counter-attack ===
By the 7th June, rebels already retreated from al-Heffa to al-Gheba area under heavy helicopter attacks, but not before they freed several prisoners, abducted several police officers and bulldozed the local police station and secret police offices.<ref>[http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/07/v-fullstory/2837890/in-northern-syria-rebels-now-control.html In northern Syria, rebels now control many towns and villages]</ref>
⚫
The fighting continued into the next day with government forces shelling the village of Shirqaq and continuing to assault Al-Haffah, where tanks and helicopters joined the fighting. The helicopters strafed suspected rebel positions. On the first day of the battle 33 people were killed: 22 soldiers, nine rebels and two civilians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gxdh5s6i3URmZkpoLQmo82XKO6NQ?docId=CNG.97688a235ae0de3b620d965c3080aab9.c1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103172014/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gxdh5s6i3URmZkpoLQmo82XKO6NQ?docId=CNG.97688a235ae0de3b620d965c3080aab9.c1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Clashes rock Damascus, regime pounds Latakia: NGO |date=6 June 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> On the second day seven people were killed due to the shelling, including one rebel fighter.<ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Lipin |url=http://www.voanews.com/content/syrias-assad-names-new-prime-minister/1178880.html |title=Syrian Troops Kill 7 in Coastal Area |publisher=Voanews.com |date=6 June 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> By 7 June, a number of rebels retreated from Al-Haffah to the al-Ghab area under heavy helicopter fire, but not before they freed several prisoners, abducted a number of police officers and bulldozed the local police station and secret police offices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1940426.html|title=In northern Syria, rebels now control many towns and villages|website=[[Miami Herald]] }}</ref>

Army troop reinforcements arrived to the area on 10 June, and the military continued to bombard the town and surrounding villages for a sixth straight day. Most of the rebels retreated to the surrounding mountainous area around Al-Haffah, which is a Sunni Muslim enclave, and entrenched themselves.<ref name="renewshelling">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/syrian-troops-renew-shelling-of-homs-38-killed-229690 |title=Syrian troops renew shelling of Homs; 38 killed |publisher=Ndtv.com |date=10 June 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="violence">{{cite web|author=Agence France Presse |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/06/10/12/syria-violence-kills-12-revolt-toll-tops-14100 |title=Syria violence kills 12 as revolt toll tops 14,100 |publisher=Abs-cbnnews.com |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> The next day, the US government reported that it feared the Syrian government was planning a new massacre in al-Haffah, where fighting had killed 68 soldiers, 29 civilians and 23 rebel fighters. The city continued to endure heavy shelling from the Army. The FSA reported the same day that they had moved civilians away from the city centre to protect them, but even the outskirts were shelled eventually.<ref>[http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/12/220241.html "Damascus accuses U.S. of encouraging massacres in Syria"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618121923/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/12/220241.html |date=18 June 2012 }}. 12 June 2012. [[Al Arabiya]]. Retrieved on 17 June 2012</ref>

=== Army recaptures Al-Haffah ===
On 12 June, the military recaptured al-Haffah<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18421334 |title=Syrian government forces 'retake mountain town of Haffa' |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=13 June 2012 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> and the remaining 200 FSA fighters under heavy bombardment by government forces withdrew from the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-haffeh-rebels-idUSBRE85B1CY20120612 |title=Syrian rebels withdraw from besieged Hafffeh: spokesman |publisher=Reuters.com |access-date=14 July 2012 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203034311/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/12/us-syria-crisis-haffeh-rebels-idUSBRE85B1CY20120612 |url-status=live }}</ref> The rebels were reported to have retreated to Turkey. The FSA called the pullout a tactical retreat, to avoid the killing of more civilians. The rebels claimed that heavy shelling of the town had caused significant damage to the area's infrastructure and shortages in water and electricity supplies. In addition, the FSA statement said the withdrawal from the town and its suburbs was to avoid another "massacre" and orders were reportedly given to FSA fighters to evacuate the injured and killed civilians, which included women and children.<ref>[http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/13/220320.html Syrian rebels say Haffa pullout tactical; NATO says intervention ‘not right path’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613140700/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/13/220320.html |date=13 June 2012 }}, al arabiya</ref>

== Aftermath ==
UN observers were blocked from entering the city during the battle, but received reports of civilians trapped and unable to leave.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/11/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html|title=Syrian opposition cites indiscriminate firing from helicopters|first=the CNN Wire|last=Staff|website=CNN}}</ref> After the battle, UN monitors were met with the "smell of death", as they entered the deserted town of al-Haffah which had been shelled for eight consecutive days.<ref>BASSEM MROUE and DIAA HADID (14 June 2012 )[http://world.time.com/2012/06/14/smell-of-death-greets-un-monitors-in-syrian-town/ "Smell of Death Greets UN Monitors in Syrian Town"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617234616/http://world.time.com/2012/06/14/smell-of-death-greets-un-monitors-in-syrian-town/ |date=17 June 2012 }}, time</ref> The UN observers found the Sunni Muslim town completely abandoned with burned out wrecks of cars and at least one charred body lying on a street.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}


== See also ==
[[Category:2011–2012 Syrian uprising]]
*[[Houla massacre]]
*[[Al-Kubeir massacre]]

{{2011 Syrian uprising}}

{{coord missing|Syria}}

[[Category:Al-Haffah District]]
[[Category:Battles of the Syrian civil war in 2012|al-Haffah]]
[[Category:Latakia Governorate in the Syrian civil war]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian government|al-Haffah]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army|al-Haffah]]

Latest revision as of 11:06, 26 December 2024

Battle of al-Haffah
معركة الحفة
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Date5–13 June 2012
(1 week and 1 day)
Location
Al-Haffah, Latakia Governorate, Syria
Result Syrian Army victory
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army

Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Units involved
Unknown

10th Mechanized Division

  • 56th Armoured Brigade
Strength
300+ fighters 780 soldiers
Casualties and losses
23 killed[1] 68 killed[1]
200 wounded[2]
29 civilians killed[1]

The Battle of al-Haffah (Arabic: معركة الحفة) took place between the Syrian Army and the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Latakia Governorate, primarily in the area around the town of Al-Haffah. The battle resulted in the ousting of the rebels from Al-Haffah.

Background

[edit]

Haffah is a Sunni Muslim town that lies in the foothills of the coastal mountains that form the heartland of Assad's Alawi sect. It is strategically located close to the port city of Latakia, as well as the Turkish border which has been used by the rebels to smuggle people and supplies.[3]

Event

[edit]

Rebels capture Al-Haffah

[edit]

The fighting started on 5 June 2012, in Al-Haffah, when a large concentration of FSA rebels attacked and captured the town's police stations. Soon after, government forces surrounded the city and began an attack. The opposition claimed at least five government tanks and armoured personnel carriers were destroyed in the fighting.[4] Clashes also broke out in the nearby villages of Bakas, Shirqaq, Babna, Jankil, and Dafil.[5]

Army counter-attack

[edit]

The fighting continued into the next day with government forces shelling the village of Shirqaq and continuing to assault Al-Haffah, where tanks and helicopters joined the fighting. The helicopters strafed suspected rebel positions. On the first day of the battle 33 people were killed: 22 soldiers, nine rebels and two civilians.[6] On the second day seven people were killed due to the shelling, including one rebel fighter.[7] By 7 June, a number of rebels retreated from Al-Haffah to the al-Ghab area under heavy helicopter fire, but not before they freed several prisoners, abducted a number of police officers and bulldozed the local police station and secret police offices.[8]

Army troop reinforcements arrived to the area on 10 June, and the military continued to bombard the town and surrounding villages for a sixth straight day. Most of the rebels retreated to the surrounding mountainous area around Al-Haffah, which is a Sunni Muslim enclave, and entrenched themselves.[2][9] The next day, the US government reported that it feared the Syrian government was planning a new massacre in al-Haffah, where fighting had killed 68 soldiers, 29 civilians and 23 rebel fighters. The city continued to endure heavy shelling from the Army. The FSA reported the same day that they had moved civilians away from the city centre to protect them, but even the outskirts were shelled eventually.[10]

Army recaptures Al-Haffah

[edit]

On 12 June, the military recaptured al-Haffah[11] and the remaining 200 FSA fighters under heavy bombardment by government forces withdrew from the town.[12] The rebels were reported to have retreated to Turkey. The FSA called the pullout a tactical retreat, to avoid the killing of more civilians. The rebels claimed that heavy shelling of the town had caused significant damage to the area's infrastructure and shortages in water and electricity supplies. In addition, the FSA statement said the withdrawal from the town and its suburbs was to avoid another "massacre" and orders were reportedly given to FSA fighters to evacuate the injured and killed civilians, which included women and children.[13]

Aftermath

[edit]

UN observers were blocked from entering the city during the battle, but received reports of civilians trapped and unable to leave.[14] After the battle, UN monitors were met with the "smell of death", as they entered the deserted town of al-Haffah which had been shelled for eight consecutive days.[15] The UN observers found the Sunni Muslim town completely abandoned with burned out wrecks of cars and at least one charred body lying on a street.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Syria shelling, clashes kill 36". Khaleejtimes.com. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Syrian troops renew shelling of Homs; 38 killed". Ndtv.com. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  3. ^ Solomon, Erika. "Syrian rebels smuggle civilians from battered Haffeh". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Heavy fighting erupts in Syria's Latakia province". In.reuters.com. 5 June 2012. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  5. ^ "At least 47 killed in violence across Syria: NGO". Post.jagran.com. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Clashes rock Damascus, regime pounds Latakia: NGO". 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  7. ^ Michael Lipin (6 June 2012). "Syrian Troops Kill 7 in Coastal Area". Voanews.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  8. ^ "In northern Syria, rebels now control many towns and villages". Miami Herald.
  9. ^ Agence France Presse. "Syria violence kills 12 as revolt toll tops 14,100". Abs-cbnnews.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Damascus accuses U.S. of encouraging massacres in Syria" Archived 18 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. 12 June 2012. Al Arabiya. Retrieved on 17 June 2012
  11. ^ "Syrian government forces 'retake mountain town of Haffa'". Bbc.co.uk. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Syrian rebels withdraw from besieged Hafffeh: spokesman". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  13. ^ Syrian rebels say Haffa pullout tactical; NATO says intervention ‘not right path’ Archived 13 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, al arabiya
  14. ^ Staff, the CNN Wire. "Syrian opposition cites indiscriminate firing from helicopters". CNN. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ BASSEM MROUE and DIAA HADID (14 June 2012 )"Smell of Death Greets UN Monitors in Syrian Town" Archived 17 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, time

See also

[edit]

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