Quneitra offensive (June 2015) explained

Conflict:	Quneitra offensive (June 2015)
Partof:	the Syrian Civil War
Date:	16–26 June 2015
Place:	Quneitra Governorate, Syria
Result:	Indecisive; Minimal rebel gains
Combatant1:	Free Syrian Army Southern Front ----Jaish al-Haramoun al-Nusra Front Islamic Front^[1] Sword of al-Sham Brigades Ezz Brigade Jesus Christ Brigade
Combatant2:	Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force Golan Regiment
Commander1:	Khaled al-Nabulsi^[2]
Commander2:	Unknown
Units1:	Southern Front First Army Army of Conquest Ahrar ash-Sham Local Al-Nusra Front Tahaluf Fatah al-Sham Liwa al-Jihad Tajamu al-Mujahideen Nawa Liwa Ansar al-Haq Liwa al-Umawayn al-Islami Liwa Fursan al-Sunna^[3] Harakat Shuhada al-Sham^[4]
Units2:	Golan Regiment Liwa Suqour al-Quneitra 9th Division
Strength1:	4,000+^[5]
Strength2:	Unknown
Casualties1:	15 killed (SOHR claim) 37 killed (18–19 June; Army claim)
Casualties2:	27 killed^[6] ^[7] ^[8]

The Quneitra offensive (June 2015) was launched by Syrian rebel forces, during the Syrian Civil War, in order to capture the last government-held positions in Quneitra Governorate: Hader, Madinat al-Baath, Khan Arnabah and the strategic hill of Tell Krum. The other objective was connecting southern rebel-held parts of Syria with Western Ghouta.^{[4] [9]}

The offensive

The offensive was launched on 16 June 2015. It was unclear who started the operation, with some reports saying it was the Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army,^{[10] [11]} while others that it was a newly formed coalition called Jaish al-Haramoun,^[12] which was established by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.^{[1] [11]} According to the Southern Front, it specifically forbade the participation of al-Nusra, with a spokesman stating it does "not share the vision for a free Syria we are fighting for".^[10]

The next day, the rebels surrounded the Druze town of Hadar, after they seized the Tuloul al-Hamar area,^{[12] [13]} including the strategic Tal Hamr hill north of the town.^[14] Also, the rebels launched simultaneous attacks targeting Tal Shaar, Tal al Bazzaq and the town of Jaba. The attacks were repelled by Syrian armed forces.^[15]

On 19 June, the SOHR reported that rebels had captured a large quantity of ammunition and weapons during ongoing clashes in the Tuloul al-Hamar area,^[16] while local government reinforcements were deployed to aid the besieged Druze militia in Hader.^[17] Later that day, the Syrian Army's 9th Division recaptured Tal Hamr hill, making Hader no longer besieged. In response to the Army counter-attack, rebels brought in new reinforcements.^{[18] [19]}

On 20 June, the 'Army of Conquest in the southern region' was established^[20] and immediately took part in the campaign in Quneitra,^[21] while the FSA announced the battle for the 160th Battalion, Infantry Battalion and Military Police barrier in Quneitra.^[22] The next day, FSA's First Army announced it would not cooperate with the Army of Conquest.^[23]

As of 23 June, fighting continued at the towns of Beit Jinn, Jabatha Al-Khashab and Ufaniya,^[24] while the rebels once again seized several positions in the Tuloul al-Hamar area, with the Army making attempts to regain them over the following several days.^[6]

On 25 June, opposition activists claimed fighting took place in Jaba village, located along the primary supply line for the government forces stationed in some of the villages and hills north of Quneitra. The rebels also claimed they were in the process of opening the way to Beit Jinn, in an attempt to trap several military brigades in the surrounding al-Hamar highlands, and cut the supply lines of government forces to Quneitra. They also claimed to had seized heat-seeking anti-aircraft Cobra rockets from military installations in the al-Hamar highlands.^[25]

Reaction

• – Israel, which has a large Druze population has been watching the offensive closely.^[26] The BBC reported that "thousands of Druze protested in villages across Israel, calling on the government and international community to come to the aid of their brethren in Syria".^[27] The Israeli government has stated that it will not send troops to Druze areas of Syria, though the government did lobby the United States for increased aid to the Druze populations on the Syrian side of the border.^[26] However, Gadi Eizenkot, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Force has stated that the "IDF will do everything it can to prevent a massacre of Syrian refugees who have taken refuge near the border with Israel".^{[26] [28]}
• - Reactions among Druze politicians in Lebanon varied, though all expressed concern for Druze populations in Syria. Walid Jumblatt, leader of the predominantly Druze Progressive Socialist Party, "called on Syrian Druze to support the rebellion in their country, arguing that the real threat to them came from a government that killed dozens of people every day".^[27] Alternatively, Wiam Wahhab of the Lebanese Unification Movement, a supporter of Bashar al-Assad, disagreed with Jumblatt's suggestion and instead "appealed for "money, volunteers, weapons" to help those in Suweida defend themselves".^[27]

Aftermath

In late July 2015, it was reported that the Syrian Armed Forces targeted the rebel contingents at the towns of Jabatha Al-Khashab, Turnajah, Al-Hamidiyah, Al-Samadaniyah Al-Sharqiyah, and Al-Ajraf.^[29]

On 25 August 2015, it was reported that the rebels had control of the Tuloul al-Hamar,^{[30] [31] [32] [33]} from which they sniped cars travelling on the three-kilometer dirt road between the government-held towns of Hader and Harfa.^{[34] [35]}

In late August and early September, rebel attacks on Madinat al-Baath and Khan Arnabah from Samadaniyah al-Gharbi-Al-Hamidiyah axis and Al-Huriyah-Ufaniyah axis were repelled.^{[36] [37] [38] [39]}

On 27 Sep 2015, it was reported that Israeli rockets had struck Syrian army positions in Brigade 90, Nabi' al-Fawwar and Tel ash Shahm army base.^{[40] [41]}

See also

• 2014 Quneitra offensive
• Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–14)
• Battle of Bosra (2015)
• Battle of Nasib Border Crossing (April 2015)

Notes and References

1. Web site: archicivilians on Twitter. Twitter. 17 June 2015.
2. Web site: Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter. Twitter. 17 June 2015.
3. Web site: Charles Lister on Twitter. Twitter. 25 June 2015.
4. Web site: Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter. Twitter. 17 June 2015.
5. Web site: Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter. Twitter. 17 June 2015.
6. http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/clashes-renew-in-homs-shelling-targets-latakia-mountains-and-more-deaths-in-the-ranks-of-the-regime-forces-in-the-countryside-of-al-quneitra/ clashes renew in Homs, shelling targets Latakia Mountains, and more deaths in the ranks of the regime forces in the countryside of Al-Quneitra
7. Web site: Militant Offensive in Al-Quneitra Fails to Yield Any Gains. Leith Fadel. Al-Masdar News. 25 June 2015. 14 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714120225/http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/militant-offensive-in-al-quneitra-fails-to-yield-any-gains/. dead.
8. Web site: Clashes on the outskirts of Al-Quneitera leaves causalities on the regime forces' ranks. edward. Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 21 June 2015. 25 June 2015.
9. Web site: Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter. Twitter. 17 June 2015.
10. Web site: Syria conflict: Rebels launch Quneitra offensive . BBC News . 17 June 2015 . 17 June 2015 . 'Isam al-Rayyis, spokesman for the opposition forces tweeted that the groups involved in the operation signed an agreement that does not include the al-Nusrah Front (al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria). al-Rayyis clarified that the groups involved in the attack were fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. The Southern Front had "prohibited" al-Nusra from joining the operation because it did "not share the vision for a free Syria we are fighting for", he added. .
11. News: In Syria, Rebel Disputes Will Not Halt Southern Offensive . 17 June 2015 . 18 June 2015. Stratfor . Though not formally integrated into the offensive, Jabhat al-Nusra established its own operations room and has participated in the fighting — mostly around Hadar, to the north — though it has been isolated from the Southern Front..
12. Web site: Syria rebels launch Quneitra campaign. 16 June 2015. 25 June 2015. 17 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150717014703/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/565443-syria-rebels-launch-quneitra-campaign. dead.
13. http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/clashes-continue-in-the-countryside-of-al-quneitra-and-shelling-targets-deir-ezzor-city/ Clashes continue in the countryside of Al-Quneitra, and shelling targets Deir Ezzor city
14. Web site: Rebels surround Druze village in Syria's Golan: activists. The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. 17 June 2015. 15 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315150122/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Jun-17/302526-rebels-surround-druze-village-in-syrias-golan-activists.ashx?utm_content=bufferbc3c0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer. dead.
15. Web site: Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for the period from 29 May to 28 August 2015. United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. United Nations Security Council. 23 September 2015.
16. Web site: Members in the regime forces killed in clashes in the countryside of al- Quneitera, while civilians killed in shelling on the countryside of Darra. sohranas. Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 19 June 2015. 25 June 2015.
17. Web site: watanisy on Twitter. Twitter. 25 June 2015.
18. Web site: The regime forces advance in the vicinity of Al-Quneitra, and the factions bring reinforcement to the area. edward. Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 20 June 2015. 25 June 2015.
19. Web site: Breaking: Syrian Army Recaptures Tal Hamr in Al-Quneitra; Siege of Hadar Lifted. Leith Fadel. Al-Masdar News. 25 June 2015. 13 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150713131739/http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-syrian-army-recaptures-tal-hamr-in-al-quneitra-siege-of-hadar-lifted/. dead.
20. Web site: Some factions establish "al- Fateh Army" in the south of Syria. sohranas. Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 25 June 2015.
21. Web site: Charles Lister on Twitter. Twitter. 25 June 2015.
22. Web site: Rebel and Islamic factions announce the battle of "opening the road towards the Western Ghouta". sohranas. Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 25 June 2015.
23. Web site: فصيل مقاتل في الجنوب السوري يعلن رفضه للتعاون مع جيش الفتح. Ahmad. المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. 25 June 2015.
24. Web site: Islamist Fighters and Druze Militias Clash in the Golan Heights. Leith Fadel. Al-Masdar News. 25 June 2015. 16 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150716030242/http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/islamist-fighters-and-druze-militias-clash-in-the-golan-heights/. dead.
25. Web site: Syrian Opposition Launches Attack on Regime Forces. Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.org.
26. News: Harel. Amos. How far will Israel go to protect Syria's Druze?. 20 June 2015. Haaretz. 18 June 2015.
27. News: Irshaid. Faisal. Syria's Druze under threat as conflict spreads. 20 June 2015. BBC News. 19 June 2015.
28. News: Lis. Jonathan. Israeli army chief: IDF won't allow massacre of Syrian refugees on border. 20 June 2015. Haaretz. 16 June 2015.
29. Web site: Syrian Army Captures Tal Qaba'a Near the Israeli Bordder. Leith Fadel. Al-Masdar News. 27 September 2015.
30. http://www.7n27.com/world/syria/%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86-18177.htmlسوريا “جيش الحرمون” ينفي ادعاءات النظام بالتقدم في ريف القنيطرة
31. Web site: شبكة المعلومات السورية القومية الاجتماعية - Syrian Social National Information Network.
32. YouTube.
33. رسالة من الجيش العربي السوري بريف القنيطرة - YouTube. 17 September 2015. YouTube.
34. News: al-Abed. Tarik. Quneitra between enemy fire and insurgent attacks . 24 September 2015. As-Safir. 25 August 2015.
35. Web site: طارق العبد: حضر: خط الدفاع عن القنيطرة :: عربي ودولي - جريدة السفير. طارق العبد. جريدة السفير.
36. Web site: 5 شهداء في اعتداء إسرائيلي جديد .
37. Web site: أخر التطورات العسكرية حتى الساعة ... خلود حسن. D.N.N شبكة دمشق الإخبارية.
38. القنيطرة : الجيش يحبط تسلل إرهابيين من اتجاه الصمدانية والحميدية - YouTube. 24 August 2015. YouTube.
39. Web site: Syria in the Last 72 Hours. SYRIA 360° — REPORTING ON EVENTS IN SYRIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST - ARABIC AND ENGLISH. 13 September 2015 .
40. Web site: Sami. Twitter.
41. Web site: Sami. Twitter.