| Conflict: | Daraa offensive |
| Partof: | the Syrian Civil War |
| Date: | 3–6 October 2014 |
| Place: | Daraa Governorate, Syria |
| Result: | Rebel victory
|
| Territory: | Rebels capture al-Harrah town, two villages, three checkpoints, Tell al-Harrah and its radar base |
| Combatant1: | Free Syrian Army Islamic Front Alwiya al-Furqan Al-Nusra Front |
| Combatant2: | Syrian Arab Republic
Supported by:
|
| Commander1: | Captain Abu Aws[2] |
| Commander2: | Brig. Gen. Mahmud Abo Arraj (Brigade 121 commander) Brig. Gen. Nazir Fuddah |
| Units1: | Amoud Houran Brigade[3] Tawhid Kata’ib Horan Ababil Houran Brigade[4] Hazzm Movement |
| Units2: | 7th Division[5]
9th Division |
| Strength1: | Unknown |
| Strength2: | Unknown |
| Casualties1: | 63+ killed[6] |
| Casualties2: | 53+ killed[7] |
| Casualties3: | 26+ civilians killed |
The October Daraa offensive, code-named "wa al-Fajr wa Layali Asher" ("By the Dawn and ten nights"), was a military operation launched by Syrian rebels during the Syrian civil war in Daraa Governorate, in an attempt to take control of Al-Harra and Al-Sanamayn.[8] This operation came after the successful rebel offensive in Quneitra province, which resulted in the rebels seizing the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan and the capture of a number of towns, villages and hills in Quneitra and Daraa provinces.
On 3 October, 23 soldiers were reportedly killed after a failed attempt to regain control over Deir al-Adas.[7] The next day, rebels announced the start of a military operation called "wa al-Fajr wa Layali Asher", which aimed to capture al-Harra town and its 1,075 meters high strategic hill and to besiege Army forces in al-Sanamayn and its surrounding barracks.[9] That day, between 18 and 60 rebels were killed.[6] [10]
On 5 October, at least 30 soldiers and 29 rebels were killed at Tell al-Harrah and at its radar base.[11] The rebels captured the hill,[12] Zimrin village and the Oum El-Aaoussaj barrier in al-Harrah town. According to opposition sources, two army tanks were destroyed and one fighter jet was downed,[13] while rebels also managed to capture the Tell al-Ahmar and the security facilitity in the south of al-Harrah town and the al-Jadeera checkpoint east of it.[14] The base on the hill contained Center C, a spy facility run by a Russian special unit.[1]
The next day, rebels captured the village of Zimrin (east of Al-Harrah town), the two strategic hills surrounding it (Western Tell Zimrin and Northern Tell Zimrin),[15] and two checkpoints nearby.[16] That day, 16 rebels (including two commanders) and six members of the same family were killed.[17]
On 10 October, the Syrian Army started bombing al-Harrah town from the air and with ground-to-ground missiles, killing 20 civilians.[18]
On 15 October, the Syrian brigadier-general “Mahmud Abo Arraj”, commander of the Brigade 121 affiliated to the Seventh Division, fled his home in Damascus to the Syrian-Jordanian border after hearing he will be on trial and executed on charge of high treason due to "handing over al-Harrah Hill". He was likely killed in Rif Dimashq, but his body is still missing.[19]
On 17 October, rebels announced the start of a new battle called “Ahlo al-Azem", which aimed to capture the following Army checkpoints: Umm al-Mayazen al Tebeh, Al-Ma’esra checkpoint and Al-Kazeyyat checkpoint. These checkpoints are located along the Damascus-Jordan highway and are considered the biggest of their kind in the eastern area.[20] On 20 October, rebels captured the al-Jeser, al-Falahin gas station and al-Ma'sara checkpoints near Umm al-Mayazan after three days of fighting. Umm al-Mayazan village was captured by the rebels the next day after heavy fighting with pro-government troops, who withdrew from the village and reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels.[21] That same day, at least 8 civilians were killed after the Syrian Arab Air Force bombed the Nasib border town.[22]
On 23 October, rebels captured the Umm al-Mayathen checkpoint near Nasib border crossing.[23]