| Conflict: | Battle of Khirbet Al-Joz |
| Partof: | Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013) (Syrian Civil War) |
| Date: | 6 October 2012 |
| Place: | Idlib Governorate, Syria |
| Result: | Rebel victory |
| Combatant1: | Syrian Arab Republic |
| Combatant2: | Free Syrian Army |
| Commander1: | unknown |
| Commander2: | Abu Baeda (Kaws al-Nasser Brigade commander) Abdelwahed Wahud(Army defector) |
| Units1: | 45th Army Regiment |
| Units2: | unknown |
| Strength1: | 110 soldiers |
| Strength2: | 250 fighters |
| Casualties1: | 40 killed[1] |
| Casualties2: | 9 killed |
| Casualties3: | Total: 50 killed[2] |
The Battle of Khirbet Al-Joz was fought between forces of the Syrian Army and the FSA for control of the town. On 6 October 2012, the FSA launched an attack on the government occupied village of Kherbet Eljoz, near the Turkish border. The FSA took control of the village after a 12-hour-long battle with government forces.[3]
In June 2011, the Syrian military attacked the town, with 40 tanks in a crackdown against supposed pro-democracy protesters.[4]
On 6 October, rebels launched an offensive on the border village Khirbet al-Joz in the Idlib Governorate. The FSA was said to first attacked a government border outpost just west of the village. Which left 3 rebels and 15 government soldiers dead.[5] Fighting later intensified in Khirbet al-Joz itself, as rebels attempted to retake the village. Activists claimed that the rebels had captured a 3-story high water tower in the center of Khirbet al-Joz, after 12 hours of fighting with government forces.[1]
On 7 October, the FSA released a statement indicating that they have taken full control of Khirbet al-Joz and its surroundings.[1] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the capture and put the number of dead at 40 soldiers, including 5 officers and 9 rebels.
In late October, the Syrian army conducted a series of airstrikes on rebel positions near Khirbet al-Joz.