Al-Dumayr offensive (April 2016) explained

Conflict:Al-Dumayr offensive (April 2016)
Partof:the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign of the Syrian civil war
Date:4–16 April 2016
Place:Al-Dumayr, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria
Result:Syrian Army victory
Combatant1: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Combatant2: Syrian Arab Republic---- Army of Islam[1]
Commander1: Abu Jihad al-Shami
Commander2:Unknown
Units1:Military of ISIL
Units2: Syrian Armed Forces
Casualties1:35 killed
Casualties2:20 killed
Casualties3:18 civilians killed by airstrikes[3]
250–300 cement plant workers kidnapped by ISIL[4] (170 released, 4 executed)[5]

The al-Dumayr offensive was a military offensive launched in April 2016 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant near the town of al-Dumayr, east of Damascus, Syria. The attack is notable for the abduction of hundreds of cement plant workers by ISIL.[4]

The offensive

On 4 April, ISIL attacked areas around the city of al-Dumayr, northeast of Damascus, resulting in 250–300 cement plant workers being abducted from a factory by ISIL.[6] ISIL reportedly massacred 175 of them afterwards, while 75 escaped. Druze employees were murdered while non-minority Muslims were released.[7] [8]

On 6 April, ISIL launched an attack on the Dumayr Airbase, outside the town, sending five car bombs and killing 12 Syrian soldiers.[9] The attack was repelled by the Syrian Army and the National Defence Forces.[10] Due to a partial ceasefire, the Syrian Armed Forces reportedly allowed some Jaysh al-Islam militants from Ghouta to cross into al-Dumayr in order to fight ISIL. The Syrian Air Force also hit ISIL targets in the front with the rebels.[1]

On 9 April, a new ISIL attack on the airport and power plant was reportedly repelled,[11] after which the airport was declared secured.[12]

On 11 April, a Syrian Air Force plane was shot down by ISIL near the airbase.[13] Two days later, yet another attack on the airbase was repelled, although Army checkpoints outside the base had sustained heavy damage.[14]

On 14 April, the Army launched a counter-attack, quickly recapturing several hilltops,[15] and by the following day, they had retaken control of the Khan Abu Shamat base and the Badia cement plant.[16] [17] On 16 April, the military continued to advance and recaptured the Battalion 559 base, Al-Sini Factory, Al-Safa Station and the triangle Baghdad-Palmyra-Jordan checkpoint, ending the ISIL offensive.[18] [19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Syrian Army, rebels work together against ISIS in east Damascus. Al-Masdar News. 7 April 2016. 8 April 2016. 25 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171025133828/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-rebels-work-together-isis-east-damascus/. dead.
  2. Web site: Quwat Dir' Al-Qalamoun: Shifting Militia Links . Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi . Syria Comment . 17 January 2017. 10 September 2017.
  3. Web site: Islamic State Kidnaps More Than 300 Syrian Workers. Sam Dagher. 7 April 2016. WSJ. 24 April 2016.
  4. Web site: Syria civil war: ISIL kidnaps '300 factory workers'. Al Jazeera English. 8 April 2016.
  5. Web site: Islamic State begins releasing kidnapped workers: Syrian Observatory. Reuters. 8 April 2016.
  6. Web site: Syria conflict: IS 'abducts hundreds of factory workers'. BBC. 7 April 2016.
  7. Web site: Most Cement Workers Abducted by Islamic State in Syria Freed. Associated Press. 9 April 2016. WSJ. 24 April 2016.
  8. Web site: Islamic State frees most of 300 abducted cement workers, kills 4. The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. 9 April 2016 . 24 April 2016.
  9. Web site: Islamic State attacks Syrian forces near Damascus. Reuters. 6 April 2016.
  10. Web site: Syrian Army thwarts the ISIS offensive at the Dumayr Airport. Al-Masdar News. 6 April 2016. 8 April 2016. 19 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160419211621/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-forces-repelled-dumayr-airport-east-damascus/. dead.
  11. Web site: Syrian Army pushes back the Islamic State at the Tishreen Power Plant. Leith Fadel. 9 April 2016. Al-Masdar News. 24 April 2016. 27 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180927205942/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-pushes-back-islamic-state-tishreen-power-plant/. dead.
  12. Web site: Field commander at al-Dmeir Airport: Airport completely secure. h.said. 9 April 2016 . 24 April 2016.
  13. Web site: The Latest: Activists: IS militants down Syrian warplane - US News. U.S. News & World Report. 24 April 2016.
  14. Web site: ISIS attempts to advance on the Dumayr Airbase in east Damascus. Leith Fadel. 13 April 2016. Al-Masdar News. 24 April 2016. 23 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423194423/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-loses-ground-east-qalamoun-rebels-attack/. dead.
  15. Web site: Syrian Army strikes back against ISIS in east Damascus: several hilltops liberated. Leith Fadel. 15 April 2016. Al-Masdar News. 24 April 2016. 23 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171023011948/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-strikes-back-isis-east-damascus-several-hilltops-caputred/. dead.
  16. Web site: Syrian Army drives back ISIS in eastern Damascus & recaptures Badia Cement Factory. Chris Tomson. 15 April 2016. Al-Masdar News. 24 April 2016. 22 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171022194921/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-drives-back-isis-eastern-damascus-recaptures-badia-factory/. dead.
  17. Web site: Battle for east Damascus underway as Syrian Army & rebels gang up on ISIS - Map update. Chris Tomson. 16 April 2016. Al-Masdar News. 24 April 2016. 22 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171022193416/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/battle-east-damascus-underway-syrian-army-rebels-gang-isis-map-update/. dead.
  18. Web site: ISIS offensive at Dumayr ends in disaster as the Syrian Army reclaims the area. Leith Fadel. 16 April 2016. Al-Masdar News. 24 April 2016. 22 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171022195024/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-offensive-dumayr-ends-disaster-syrian-army-reclaims-area/. dead.
  19. Web site: دخول 52 شاحنة تحمل مساعدات إنسانية إلى بلدات بغوطة دمشق الشرقية . https://web.archive.org/web/20191215180342/http://www.syriahr.com/?p=166577 . dead . December 15, 2019 . edward . المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان . 24 April 2016 .

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