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Battle of Zabadani (2015)

Coordinates: 33°43′30″N 36°05′50″E / 33.7250°N 36.0972°E / 33.7250; 36.0972
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Battle of Zabadani (2015)
Part of the Syrian Civil War

Zabadani District (yellow) within the Rif Dimashq Governorate
Date3 July 2015 – present
(9 years, 5 months, 3 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Al-Zabadani and outskirts, Rif Dimashq, Syria
Status

Ongoing

  • Rebel forces are besieged in Al-Zabadani on 4 July 2015, by the SAA and Hezbollah.
  • The Syrian Army controls 75% of the city[8]
Belligerents

Jaysh al-Haramoun[1]

Free Syrian Army[3]

Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Hezbollah
 Iran

Palestine Liberation Army[7]
Commanders and leaders
Abdel-Rahman Kharita [9]  † Syria Lt. Gen. Ali Abdullah Ayyoub[10]
Iran Gen. Abdel Karim Rubash  †[6]
Units involved
Al-Zabadani Hawks Brigade[4][11]

4th Armoured Division

Syrian Air Force[14]

Iran Quds Force[6]
Strength
1,500–2,000[2] Unknown
Casualties and losses
62 killed (SOHR claim)[15]
112 killed, 315 wounded (Al Rai claim)[16]
380+ killed, 74 captured (pro-government claim)[17][18][19][20][21][22]		 56 killed[19][20][6]

The Battle of Zabadani (2015) started in early July 2015, during the Syrian Civil War, as a military offensive launched by the Syrian Army, and Hezbollah to capture the rebel-held town of Al-Zabadani.

Background

Main article: Qalamoun offensive (May–June 2015)

Prior attempts at negotiating a peaceful outcome between the government and the rebels in Zabadani failed.[23]

The battle

On July 3, 2015 Hezbollah and the Syrian Army launched an offensive against Zabadani and reportedly seized Qalaat Al-Tal hill.[13][24] The following day, they broke into Zabadani[25] and reportedly captured the southwestern part of the city, specifically the Jamiyat neighborhood.[24][26][27] News reports indicated that many civilians fled the city.[23] On 5 July, it was reported that the rebels mined and fortified their positions inside the besieged city ahead of expected heavy street fighting.[28]

By 9 July, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah controlled half of Zabadani following six days of clashes.[10] In the same day, the Syrian Army carried out a powerful assault on al-Nusra Front's positions in the village of Al-Zahra, next to Zabadani.[10] They captured a number of points while under the cover of the Syrian Air Force's airstrikes.[10] By 12 July, Hezbollah reportedly advanced deep into Zabadani, capturing Al-Zahra Castle, the majority of the western part of the city and the Al-Zalah neighborhood in the south of Zabadani.[11]

On 13 July, government forces captured the Hay al-Sultani neighborhood in the southeastern part of the town, thus closing Zabadani's southern entrance and cutting of the town from nearby Madaya. According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar television station, 200 rebels, 16 government soldiers and 12 Hezbollah fighters had been killed since the start of the battle, while another 43 rebels were captured.[2][17][29] On 14 July, government troops destroyed a 360-meter tunnel passing under the main highway linking Zabadani and the village of Madaya.[30] During the day, the Army seized the Kahraba roundabout and al-Hakl al-Asfar Street, reinforcing its control of Zabadani's entrance.[31] Before nightfall, government forces captured a collection of empty villas along Jamal ‘Abdel-Nasser Street that were being used by the rebels.[12][32]

By 15 July, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah were advancing towards the center of Zabadani and had effectively encircled rebel forces in the town.[2] Hezbollah and the Syrian Army’s 63rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division issued the rebels an ultimatum to “surrender or die”.[12] It was reported on 16 July, that the Syrian Army's and Hezbollah's grip of Zabadani had tightened, after a failed rebel attempt to counterattack Hezbollah in the southern part of the town, along with dwindling rebel supply lines. It was also reported that dozens of al-Nusra Front fighters had begun to surrender to government forces.[3]

On 18 July, the Syrian Army claimed that an SAA ambush killed more than 40 rebels in Zabadani.[33] The following day, three rebel fighters were killed by Army snipers in a failed attempt to infiltrate the besieged city.[34] By this point, according to the pro-opposition group the SOHR, the Army and Hezbollah had managed to take wide sections of Jamiyat, as well as parts of the northwest and southeast of the city, fully besieging it, but had still not managed to fully take control of Zabadani.[35]

On 21 July, Syrian government troops captured the Zabadani plains, while continuing to search for al-Nusra's main supply tunnel between Zabadani and Madaya.[15][36] At this stage, the military was still unable to enter the Old Town area of Zabadani, where rebel forces had barricaded themselves. This was due to the mountainous area, that most of the rebels were local fighters who are familiar with the city, the closeness of rebel supply lines and due to a single rebel command.[31] Since the start of the offensive on Zabadani, 600 barrel bombs were dropped on the town.[37] The next day, government forces further advanced in the city after rebels withdrew from some areas due to heavy airstrikes and shelling.[38] They also reportedly captured the Barada-Zabadani road.[18]

On 22 July, Syrian government forces made more advances in Zabadani's outskirts, after a military push from the plains.[39][40] The next day, the Army reiterated their “surrender or die” ultimatum to the rebels, saying it was their final warning, as government forces reportedly captured the village of Al-Marawah, near Madaya.[41] On the night between 24 and 25 July, the rebels launched a surprise attack and reportedly seized several government checkpoints.[40] On 25 July, the rebels trapped inside Zabadani issued a statement urging assistance from other rebel groups, while also accusing the UN and Staffan de Mistura's team of collaborating with Bashar al-Assad.[42] By this point, the remaining 1,200 rebels were trapped in a space about three kilometres by three kilometres.[40]

On 30 July, 30 rebel fighters were reportedly killed in combat, with the SAA and the Hezbollah attempting to push the rebels to the east of Barada Street and get closer to Zabadani’s downtown area.[43] The previous day, the city had been pounded by 40 airstrikes by the SAAF.[44] By 3 August, the rebel controlled areas of Zabadani had diminished considerably.[45] The same day the SAA and the Hezbollah captured the Mahata Neighborhood after a three hour battle. Government sources report that the SAA had hit Al-Zabadani with over 300 missiles and mortar shells that day. Government forces were now reportedly progressing towards encircling the downtown area.[46] By 4 August, the rebels had lost more territory, and Syrian government sources announced that the final assault on Al-Zabadani was merely days away.[47]

Urban clashes and ceasefire

On 5 August, reports surfaced that one of the rebel groups were, via an intermediary in the Lebanese Government, attempting to negotiate a secure withdrawal for their fighters in exchange for safe passage to 30,000 civilians trapped inside the towns of Al-Fou’aa and Kafraya.[48] SOHR also reported that pro-government forces had made further advances.[49] However, the next day it was reported that negotiations had failed and pro-government troops had made further advances into the city's core with fights now taking place inside the downtown area.[50][51][52] By 7 August, the rebels had lost more territory as well as 19 fighters, with the al-Nusra and the FSA now entrenched at Hikmat Street.[53]

On 8 August, the Syrian government forces announced they had breached the rebel's defense line and entered Zabadani's downtown area, capturing the central bus station. Troops also destroyed a Command and Control Center, thus eliminating the rebels' ability to communicate with their armed combatants.[54][55] On 9 August, The NDF and the Hezbollah were reportedly merely metres away from the city centre. If captured, the government forces anticipate the end of the rebel insurgency in the city.[56][57]

On 10 August, pro-Syrian government forces captured the Imam Ali Mosque, with the Hezbollah pressing on from the southern perimiter.[58] SOHR reported that negotiations are still taking place between the parties.[59] The following day, a 48-hour cease fire was brokered by Iranian mediators.[60][61][62] During this time, fighters would be allowed to leave the city by bus, but there was some contention amongst some rebel groups as to whether or not to accept the settlement.[63] However, the fragile cease fire was broken by the rebels from the al-Nusra Front merely hours later. The government forces were reportedly now in control of nearly 75% of Al-Zabadani.[8] According to Al-Manar, 40 islamist rebel fighters surrendered themselves to the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah on 13 August.[64]

See also

References

  1. ^ Leith Fadel (7 July 2014). "Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah Close-in on Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Syrian army, Hezbollah advance in city near Lebanese border". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b Leith Fadel. "Al-Zabadani Pocket Becomes Smaller and Smaller: Rebels Isolated from Supply Lines". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b Leith Fadel (4 July 2014). "Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah Suffocate Al-Qaeda in Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  5. ^ Leith Fadel (24 July 2015). "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Advance in Southern Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d "Iran keeps dark loss of its top general in Syria. Syrian Army starts closing in on ISIS-held Palmyra". Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  7. ^ Edward. "Shells target the capital, wound in a shelling by the regime forces on Darayya city and violet clashes in the area and al-Zabadani city". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  8. ^ a b Zen Adra. "Militants breach a fragile 48-hour ceasefire in Syria's war zones". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Hezbollah kills senior Nusra commander in Zabadani". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d Leith Fadel (9 July 2014). "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Control Half of Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  11. ^ a b Leith Fadel. "Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah Capture the Al-Zalah Neighborhood in Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  12. ^ a b c Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army and Hezbollah on the Edge of Downtown Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  13. ^ a b Leith Fadel (3 July 2014). "Breaking: The Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah Begin the Al-Zabadani Offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  14. ^ Leith Fadel (4 July 2014). "Battle Map and Analysis of Al-Zabadani Offensive". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  15. ^ a b Master. "Al- Zabadani fighters retreat from Sahl al- Zabadani, while continue to repel Hezbollah and the regime forces advancement towards the city". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  16. ^ Aalaa.j Magnaar. "Expectations of Battle of Zabadani to end August". Al-rai Media Group- Translated. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Hezbollah, Syrian army seize 'main crossing' in Zabadani". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  18. ^ a b Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah and the SAA Capture Barada-Zabadani Road". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Syrian army, Hezbollah capture 17 militants in Zabadani". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Fourteen rebels surrender to Hezbollah in Zabadani". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Produce Huge Gains Inside Al-Zabadani". Almasdar.com. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  22. ^ "Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Seize the City-Center of Al-Zabadani". Almasdar.com. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Syrian forces close in on rebel-held Zabadani". BBC. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  24. ^ a b Zen Adra. "Rebels collapse as Syrian Army, Hezbollah storm Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  25. ^ "Ground fighting rages in Zabadani". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  26. ^ "Zabadani battle rages on - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  27. ^ "Hezbollah and the Fourth Squad advance in the western outskirts of al-Zabadani, while the rebels advance in the Jobar". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  28. ^ Suleiman Al-Khalidi (5 July 2014). "Lebanese Hezbollah and Syrian army enter rebel-held border city". Reuters. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  29. ^ "Syrian army, Hezbollah advance in Zabadani - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  30. ^ "Hezbollah tightens the noose in Zabadani". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Regime forces tighten noose on opposition in Zabadani - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  32. ^ Master. "The regime forces and Hezbollah continue attacking on al- Zabadani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  33. ^ [1]
  34. ^ jack. "Losses in Zabdani and rebels target regime forces in Jobar". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  35. ^ Master. "Despite of targeting them by hundreds of airstrikes, al- Zabadani fighters foil Hezbollah attack on their city". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  36. ^ Leith Fadel. "Breaking: Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah Capture Sahel Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  37. ^ "More dead in clashes on Syria-Lebanon border". Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  38. ^ jack. "Regime forces advance in Zabdani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  39. ^ Edward. "Continued clashes in al-Zabadani city and shelling on Western Ghouta". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  40. ^ a b c Magdy Samaan, Nabih Bulos, Beirut and Richard Spencer (26 July 2015). "How one of Syria's best-known resorts became the latest victim of Assad's endless war". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ Leith Fadel. "1,100 Rebels Trapped Inside Al-Zabadani: "Surrender or Die"". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  42. ^ Master. "The local council in al- Zabadani empowers Ahrar al- Sham Movement to negotiate by the name of civilians and factions, while 40 airstrikes target the city". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  43. ^ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces Ambush Jabhat Al-Nusra Inside Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  44. ^ Master. "The regime forces shell al- Qalamoun, while the clashes renew in the Eastern Ghouta and continue in al- Zabadani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  45. ^ Leith Fadel. "Sequence of Gains Made by the Syrian Army and Hezbollah in Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  46. ^ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Capture Mahata Neighborhood in Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  47. ^ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Advance to the Fringes of Al-Zabadani's Downtown". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  48. ^ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah and the Syrian Army Continue to Pound Al-Nusra into Submission at Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  49. ^ Master. "The regime forces and Hezbollah advance in al- Zabadani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  50. ^ Master. "Ahrar al- Sham announces suspension of negotiations about al- Zabadani due to the attempt of "evacuating al- Zabadani" from fighters and civilians". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  51. ^ jack. "Regime forces and Hezbollah advance in Zabdani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  52. ^ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah Rejects Ahrar Al-Sham's Proposal: Siege of Al-Zabadani Continues". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  53. ^ Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Capture More Territory in Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  54. ^ Leith Fadel. "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Advance to Al-Zabadani's Downtown". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  55. ^ Edward. "Hezbollah and the regime forces advancing in al-Zabadani city near the Syrian – Lebanese borders". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  56. ^ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces Inching Closer to the Capture of Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  57. ^ Edward. "More deaths in the capital and renewed shelling on Darayya, and the clashes continued in al-Zabadani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  58. ^ Al-Masdar News. "Battle Map Update of Al-Zabadani: Syrian Army and Hezbollah Capture the Imam Ali Mosque". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  59. ^ Master. "The regime forces and Hezbollah advance in al- Zabadani". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  60. ^ ABC News. "Truce Between Hezbollah Fighters, Militants Starts in Syria". ABC News. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  61. ^ "Rebels and Hezbollah Establish a Truce in Western Syria". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  62. ^ http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Aug-12/310768-hezbollah-syria-rebels-agree-48-hour-truce-in-zabadani.ashx. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  63. ^ Edward. "Ongoing negotiations about al-Zabadani City and the towns of around it and the towns of Kafrayya and al-Fou'aa and fighters refuse the agreement". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  64. ^ Leith Fadel. "What Lies Ahead for the Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah in Al-Zabadani?". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 14 August 2015.

33°43′30″N 36°05′50″E / 33.7250°N 36.0972°E / 33.7250; 36.0972

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