Battle of Rastan (2011) explained

Conflict:First Battle of Rastan
Partof:the early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war
Date:27 September – 1 October 2011
Place:Rastan, Homs Governorate, Syria
Result:Syrian Army victory
  • Syrian Army retakes the city
Combatant1: Free Syrian Army
Civilian rebels
Combatant2: Syrian Arab Republic
Commander1:Maj. Abdul Rahman Sheikh Ali[3]
1st Lt. Ahmad Mustafa al-Khalaf[4]
Commander2:Unknown
Units1:Khalid ibn al-Walid Battalion
Units2:1st Armoured Division
Strength1:1,000[5]
Strength2:900 soldiers
250 tanks and armored vehicles
Casualties1:130 killed*[6]
3,000 opposition supporters arrested[7]
Casualties2:13 killed[8]
32 wounded[9]
Notes:
  • The number of dead on the rebel side includes both opposition fighters and civilian protesters
Map Type:Syria
Map Size:290
Map Relief:yes

A battle for control of Rastan, a city of 60,000 residents in Homs Governorate, Syria, occurred from 27 September to 1 October 2011. In late September, there were reports of numerous Syrian Army defections in the area, following which the Free Syrian Army took control of Rastan. After a four-day battle, the city was retaken by the Syrian Army.

Background

See main article: Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh. On 28 May 2011, after major protests, the Syrian Army launched an operation in Rastan and the neighboring town of Talbiseh, which resulted in the suppression of anti-government protests and numerous deaths. The Syrian Army met some armed opposition during the operation,[10] but had gained control of the city by 4 June.

Battle

In late September, there were reports of many Syrian Army defections in Rastan, and the Free Syrian Army claimed to have destroyed 17 armoured vehicles during clashes in the city,[11] using RPGs and booby traps.[12] The assault was also, the opposition claimed, supported by Syrian Air Force jets.[1]

On 1 October, the Syrian Army took control of Rastan, killing 120 civilians and opposition soldiers according to opposition sources[13] and arresting 3,000 suspected opposition members.

Aftermath

See main article: Battle of Rastan, 2012. Insurgent activity continued in the area for months after the major clashes ended. On 24 November, the military conducted an operation in Rastan, during which they killed 16 gunmen and captured a large cache of weapons.[14]

On 1 February 2012, the FSA and opposition activists reported that the FSA had gained full control of Rastan after four days of intense clashes.[15] [16] Photos were posted on the internet showing FSA fighters in the streets of Rastan, standing guard.[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Syrian forces pound western city in battle against defectors. 28 September 2011. CNN. 10 October 2014.
  2. Web site: The view from Damascus: Assad regime is 'weak' and 'robbing banks' to finance repression. https://web.archive.org/web/20120129013248/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaelweiss/100132839/the-view-from-damascus-assad-regime-is-weak-and-robbing-banks-to-finance-repression/. dead. January 29, 2012. News – Telegraph Blogs. 10 October 2014.
  3. Web site: Martyr Abdul Rahman Sheikh Ali. Symbols of the Syrian Revolution. 3 October 2011.
  4. Web site: Ahmad Mustafa al-Khalaf. Violations Documentation Center in Syria. 28 September 2011.
  5. Web site: Syrian tanks pound anti-Assad fighters for 2nd day. Reuters. 10 October 2014. 17 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141017125649/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/28/us-syria-idUSL5E7KS4QO20110928. live.
  6. Web site: Pro-Assad forces regain rebel Syrian town: agency. 10 October 2014.
  7. Web site: Syrian troops arrest 3,000 people in Rastan. 10 October 2014.
  8. 13 killed (27 September–1 October),http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE79017Y20111001?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/01/372492.htm, total of 13 reported killed
  9. Web site: Fri, 30 Sep 2011, 09:37 GMT+3 – Syria. Al Jazeera Blogs. 10 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120426061451/http://staff.blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-sep-30-2011-0937. 26 April 2012.
  10. Web site: "We Live as in War" – Human Rights Watch. 10 October 2014.
  11. Web site: Syrian defectors battle Assad's army. Financial Times. 10 October 2014.
  12. Web site: Thousands of troops desert from Syrian army. 10 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002031747/http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/middle-east/thousands-of-troops-desert-from-syrian-army. 2 October 2011. dead.
  13. Web site: Pro-Assad forces regain rebel Syrian town: agency. 10 October 2014.
  14. Web site: Some 20 killed in 24 hours across Syria: report. https://web.archive.org/web/20111130124107/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-11/26/c_122338446.htm. dead. November 30, 2011. 10 October 2014.
  15. Web site: Syrian troops push towards Damascus. BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 10 October 2014.
  16. http://www.newser.com/article/d9sjqvmg2/syrian-troops-push-further-into-damascus-suburbs-as-defectors-take-control-of-central-town.html Syrian troops push further into Damascus suburbs as defectors take control of central town
  17. Web site: Syrian death toll from Monday at 100 as rebels take central town of Rastan. GlobalPost. 10 October 2014.