Eastern Qalamoun offensive (September–October 2016)

Summarize Fact Check

On 3 September 2016, ISIL sent two car bombs towards rebel positions in the mountains, but both were destroyed before they could reach their targets. Following this, ISIL forces stormed the rebel-held territory from three different axes, overrunning several positions and reportedly killing more than 20 rebels.^[11]

Three days later, an ISIL convoy was deployed as they launched a second assault in the area. During the clashes, the rebels destroyed an ISIL T-72, a bulldozer, and a ZU-23-2, the latter with a BGM-71 TOW missile.^[13] The next day, Jaysh al-Islam recaptured a hill near Dumayr from ISIL.^[14]

On 9 September, ISIL launched a third attack against rebel forces in the mountains. Rebels led by Jaysh al-Islam and various Free Syrian Army factions repelled the assault and dozens of ISIL fighters were killed.^[12] Hundreds of rebel reinforcements reportedly arrived in the region the next day.^[10] On 13 September, ISIL recaptured the three hilltops of Jabal Zubaydi, Tall Daba'a and Jabal al-Afa'i.^[1] On 14–15 September, rebels launched a counter-attack to regain Jabal al-Afa'i.^[15] On 17–18 September, ISIL forces launched a successful assault against rebel positions at Badiya, killing four and capturing forty defenders,^[16] while losing two vehicles in return.^[17] Heavy fighting between rebels and ISIL in the area was reported on 19 September, as the ISIL offensive entered its 3rd week.^[18]

On 21 September, Ahrar al-Sham and the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo recaptured the Rajem al-A'ali area, giving them the control of 40% of the al-Afa'i Mountains, while a Syrian Air Force MiG-23 targeting ISIL crashed in the region.^[8][19] Rebel forces made further progress later that day, retaking several positions at Jebal Batra.^[20] The pilot of the crashed government jet landed in rebel territory in the mountains and as a result of a truce in the area, the rebels handed him over to the Syrian Armed Forces and reportedly received small arms and ammunition from government forces in return.^[3] By 23 September, the rebels were in control of 70% of Jabal al-Afa'i.^[21]

On 26 September, unknown gunmen attempted to assassinate Harith Siwar, commander of Jaysh al-Islam in the Eastern Qalamoun Mountains.^[4] On 29 September, ISIL forces launched a new attack in the eastern Qalamoun Mountains, leading to heavy clashes with the rebel defenders.^[22] In the night of 1–2 October, ISIL fighters stormed eastern Jabal al-Afa'i amid heavy fighting with FSA forces.^[23] Two days later, Jaysh al-Islam repelled another major ISIL attack on Jabal al-Afa'i and al-Naqab.^[24] On 9 October, 12 ISIL fighters and an unknown number of rebels were killed in clashes after an attack by ISIL on al-Khandaq and al-Naqab mountain.^[25] Five rebels were killed in clashes on the following day.^[26] On 15 October, rebels launched an assault on Kahil Tes and Mahol areas.^[27]

On 26 October, Syrian military bombarded areas under ISIL control in the region.^[28] On 2 November, clashes renewed between ISIL and rebels, concentrated in the area of Jabal al-Afa'i.^[29]

On 6 November, the rebels launched their own offensive,^[30][31] attacking ISIL positions. The rebels stated they had captured three checkpoints, with 7 ISIL fighters and 4 rebels being killed in the clashes.^[31] With the recent advances, rebels broke the siege imposed by ISIL on them in the region and had started advancing northwards to retake territory previously captured by the group.^[30]

On 29 December, FSA forces launched an offensive toward ISIL lines in the eastern Qalamoun and captured five villages.^[32]

• Al-Dumayr offensive (April 2016)