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'{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{infobox military conflict | conflict = Eastern Qalamoun offensive (April 2018) | partof = the [[Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign]] ([[Syrian Civil War]]) and the [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War]] | width = | image = | image_size = | caption = | date = 17–25 April 2018<br/>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=04|day1=17|year1=2018|month2=04|day2=25|year2=2018}}) | place = Eastern [[Qalamoun Mountains]], [[Rif Dimashq Governorate]], [[Syria]] | result = Decisive Syrian Army and allies victory *Syrian Army captures the entirety of the rebel-held eastern Qalamoun pocket *Rebels surrender and evacuate from eastern Qalamoun | territory = | combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syria.svg}} [[Syrian Arab Republic]]<br> {{flag|Russia}} | combatant2 = {{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} Unified Military Command of Eastern Qalamoun{{surrendered}}<ref name=refusal>{{cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/4/3/syrias-rebels-announce-refusal-to-evacuate-eastern-qalamoun|title=Syria's rebels announce refusal to evacuate Eastern Qalamoun|work=[[Al-Araby Al-Jadeed|The New Arab]]|date=3 April 2018}}</ref><br> {{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} [[Saraya Ahl al-Sham|Sham Liberation Army]] {{surrendered}}<ref name=tahrir>{{cite web|url=https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5508|title=Jaish Tahrir al-Sham Denies affiliate to Qalamoun Unified Command & Rejects negotiations with Russia|work=Syria Call|date=15 April 2018}}</ref><br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.svg}} [[Tahrir al-Sham|Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]]{{surrendered}}<ref name=3rd/> | commander1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syria.svg}} Maj. Gen. [[Suheil al-Hassan]]<br /><small>(Tiger Forces)</small><br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Syria.svg}} Col. Ghiath Dalla<br /><small>(42nd Armored Brigade)</small> | commander2 = {{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} Shaher Juma{{KIA}}<ref name=juma>{{cite web|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/222153|title=The assassination of the Chairman of the Commission for Negotiating the City of conscience|work=[[Enab Baladi]]|date=18 April 2018}}</ref><br> ({{small|head of rebel negotiations committee in [[Al-Dumayr|Dumayr]]}}) | units1 = {{flagicon image|Syrian Armed Forces Flag.svg}} [[Syrian Armed Forces]] *{{flagicon image|Syrian Arab Army Flag.svg}} [[Syrian Army]] *{{flagicon image|InfoboxNDF.png}} [[National Defence Forces (Syria)|National Defence Forces]] *{{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Air Force.svg}} [[Syrian Air Force]] {{flagicon image|Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (obverse).svg}} [[Russian Armed Forces]] * {{flagicon image|Flag of the Russian Air Force.svg}} [[Russian Air Force|Aerospace Forces]] * {{flagicon image|Герб ССО.png|border=no}} [[Russian special operations forces|Special operations forces]] advisors | units2 = {{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} Unified Military Command of Eastern Qalamoun<ref name=refusal/> *{{flagicon image|Logo of Jaysh al-Islam.jpg}} [[Jaysh al-Islam]] *[[Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo]] *[[Lions of the East Army]] *{{flagicon image|Al-Rahman Corps calligraphy.jpg}} [[Al-Rahman Legion]] *{{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} [[Ahrar al-Sham]]<ref name=3rd>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=90162|title=The Eastern Qalamoun witnesses preparations for a new displaced people convoy in conjunction with the arrival of the 3rd convoy in the north-eastern countryside of Aleppo|work=[[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]]|date=24 April 2018}}</ref> *Qaryatayn Martyrs Brigade<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=90017|title=The convoy of the Eastern Qalamoun reaches its destination after being attacked by loyalists to the regime at one of the checkpoints which injured a number of displaced people|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=22 April 2018}}</ref> *Levant Liberation Army **Western Qalamoun Union **Levant Liberation Division ***Levant Liberation Brigade ***Sadik Unit ***Martyr Mohammed Qassem Brigade **al-Ghouta Martyrs Battalion **Omar Haider Brigade **11th Special Forces Division | strength1 = | strength2 = 1,500<ref name=sd>{{cite web|url=http://ar.syriadirect.org/news/evacuations-around-damascus-continue-as-thousands-depart-encircled-city-of-dumayr/|title=Evacuations around Damascus continue as thousands depart encircled city of Dumayr|work=[[Syria Direct]]|date=19 April 2018}}</ref> | casualties1 = | casualties2 = | campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}} {{Campaignbox Rif Dimashq Campaign}} }} On 17 April 2018, rebel groups in the eastern [[Qalamoun Mountains]] pocket, led by [[Jaysh al-Islam]], reached a surrender agreement with the [[Syrian Army]] and [[Russia]]. The agreement came after 2 weeks of negotiations that began with a Syrian Army ultimatum on 3 April.<ref name=ulti>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/russia-assad-give-ultimatum-to-syria-rebels-northeast-of-damascus-idUSKCN1HA0VP|title=Russia, Assad give ultimatum to Syria rebels northeast of Damascus|work=[[Reuters]]|date=3 April 2018}}</ref> Around 1,500 rebels handed over heavy weapons and equipment to the Syrian Army, and were evacuated by 124 buses in 4 convoys to [[Turkish occupation of northern Syria|Turkish-held areas]] in the northern [[Aleppo Governorate]] along with their families, totaling around 5,000 people.<ref name=sd/> On 25 April, the last batch of rebels and their families left the eastern Qalamoun pocket, and the region came under full Syrian government control.<ref name=xh>{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/26/c_137137014.htm|title=Syrian army enters eastern Qalamoun after full evacuation of rebels|work=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|date=25 April 2018}}</ref> ==Background== {{See also|Al-Dumayr offensive (April 2016)|Eastern Qalamoun offensive (September–October 2016)|Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)}} Rebels in the town of [[al-Dumayr]] and the rest of the eastern Qalamoun pocket have been in a state of ceasefire with government forces throughout 2016, with both sides focusing on fighting the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]].<ref name=sd/> In mid-2017, however government forces launched an [[Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017)|offensive]] against rebels in the [[Syrian Desert]] to the east of the pocket, following a previous [[Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017)|rebel offensive]] against ISIL in the region. In late March 2018, the [[Saraya Ahl al-Sham|Sham Liberation Army]] launched an attack on Syrian Army positions in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains. This came amidst the Syrian Army [[Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)|offensive in eastern Ghouta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/article/33939/|title=Jaish Tahrir al-Sham kills 10 troops in eastern Qalamoun|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=28 March 2018}}</ref> ==Rebel surrender and evacuation== On 3 April 2018, rebel groups in the eastern Qalamoun pocket formed a unified military command,<ref name=refusal/> which met with a Russian and [[Air Force Intelligence Directorate]] officer, the latter issued an ultimatum to the rebels, demanding that they either disarm and reconcile, or leave the eastern Qalamoun pocket entirely.<ref name=ulti/> The rebel committee refused to leave and demanded the release of prisoners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/article/34093/|title=Rebels of al-Dumayr refuse evacuation, demand release of detainees|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=3 April 2018}}</ref> The Sham Liberation Army stated that it was not part of the unified military command, denied any coordination with it, and rejected negotiations with Russia.<ref name=tahrir/> On 8 April, the rebel unified command again met with Russian and Syrian Army officers, and reached a preliminary agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/5358|title=Unified Command of Eastern Qalamoun illustrates the results of the 1st. meeting held with Russians|work=Syria Call|date=8 April 2018}}</ref> On 17 April, the government-run [[Syrian Arab News Agency]] announced that [[Jaysh al-Islam]] and the [[Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo]] in Dumayr have surrendered, and began to hand over heavy and medium weapons to the government. 5,000 people, which included 1,500 rebel fighters and 3,000 civilians, prepared to leave. Clashes also continued in the nearby mountains.<ref name=sd/> On 18 April, Shaher Juma, head of the rebel negotiations committee in Dumayr, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen.<ref name=juma/> On 19 April, the rebel unified command agreed to hand over weapons and surrender the entire eastern Qalamoun pocket, including the towns of Dumayr, [[Jayrud]], and [[al-Naseriyah]]. Russian officers pledged to pardon people who [[draft evasion|evaded conscription]] in the towns. The first batch of 2,500 people, including 600 rebels, were then transported by 44 buses from Dumayr to [[Jarabulus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/article/34501|title=Rebels give up all eastern Qalamoun region: spokesman|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=20 April 2018}}</ref> The second convoy of at least 30 buses departed in the early hours of 22 April, and included 1,200 [[Tahrir al-Sham]] and [[Ahrar al-Sham]] fighters and their families, who arrived in the [[Afrin District]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=90061|title=More than 30 buses in the second convoy of the Eastern Qalamoun displaced people continue their way to the Syrian north|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=22 April 2018}}</ref> The 3rd convoy arrived in the [[al-Bab]] area on 24 April,<ref name=3rd/> and the 4th and final batch of 60 buses arrived in northern Aleppo on 25 April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=90267|title=The last convoy from the Eastern Qalamoun arrives in the north-east of Aleppo carrying hundreds of fighters, their families and citizens who refuse the agreement with the Russians and the regime|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=25 April 2018}}</ref> With this, the eastern Qalamoun Mountains came under full government control,<ref name=xh/> and the [[flag of Syria|flag of the Syrian Arab Republic]] was raised in [[Jayrud]]'s main square.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2018/Apr-25/446702-syria-regime-retakes-new-region-near-damascus-sana.ashx|title=Syria regime retakes new region near Damascus: SANA|work=[[Agence France-Presse]]|date=25 April 2018}}</ref> ==See also== *[[Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign]] *[[Eastern Qalamoun offensive (September–October 2016)]] *[[Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017)]] *[[Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017)]] *[[Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)]] *[[Southern Damascus offensive (April 2018)]] ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Syrian Civil War}} [[Category:April 2018 events in Syria]] [[Category:Rif Dimashq Governorate in the Syrian Civil War]] [[Category:Military operations of the Syrian Civil War in 2018]] [[Category:Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving Tahrir al-Sham]] [[Category:Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving the Syrian government]] [[Category:Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving Ahrar al-Sham]] [[Category:Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving Russia]] [[Category:Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving the Free Syrian Army]]'