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Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War
Date 13 March 2016 Location Maarat al-Numaan and Khan Shaykhun, Idlib Governorate, Syria35°38′N 36°40′E / 35.633°N 36.667°E / 35.633; 36.667 Result Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa victory Al-Nusra Front fully captures Maarat al-Nu'man and Khan Shaykhun Majority of Division 13's leaders captured
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army	Al-Nusra Front Jund al-Aqsa
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Ahmed al-Saud (Division 13 chief commander) Maj. Musa al-Khalid (Division 13 commander) Zahir al-Ahmed (POW) (56th Infantry Brigade commander) Capt. Ali al-Salloum (POW) (Victory Brigade commander) Zakaria Quitaz (Division 13 media official)	Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Jabhat al-Nusra Emir)
Units involved
Division 13   Victory Brigade 56th Infantry Brigade	Unknown
Strength
Entire division: around 1,000 fighters	Unknown
Casualties and losses
7 killed, 40+ captured	4 killed
class=notpageimage| Location within Syria

On 13 March 2016, jihadist fighters from Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa launched an overnight attack against the Free Syrian Army's 13th Division headquarters in the town of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 over local protesters and demonstrations.

Division 13 capture

The Division headquarters located in Ma'arrat al-Nu'man was overrun in a nighttime attack by a joint Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Asqa assault force. Two Division storage facilities that were allegedly filled with the U.S.-built anti-tank TOW missiles were surrendered to the attackers. This claim was denied by Division 13 leader Ahmad al-Sa'aoud, insisting Al-Nusra Front captured only 'light weapons and ammunition' and that all of the groups anti-tank missiles and mortars were secured. The Division 13’s depots in Maarat al-Nu'maan and three nearby towns were overrun; Hesh, Khan Shaykhun and Tal Aas. An unspecified number of armored vehicles and a tank were reportedly captured. Al-Nusra fighters conducted door-to-door searches, ultimately detaining 40 Division fighters including several top leaders of the rebel group. By the end of the battle, Division 13 abandoned all its posts in Maarat al-Nu'man and the bulk of its leadership fled to Turkey. However, civilians opposed to the takeover took to the streets and stormed Nusra's HQ in the city, freeing some prisoners. A total of 11 combatants died during the clashes.

Aftermath

Unrest and civilian resistance against al-Nusra rule continued for coming months. On 12 June 2016, a demonstration took place in Maarat al-Nu'man against al-Nusra's authoritarianism, with protestors calling Ahmed al-Sharaa an "Iranian nark".

From 6 to 8 June of the next year, clashes broke out between Tahrir al-Sham and Sham Legion in Maarrat al-Nu'man. The 13th Division and the Free Police joined the fighting on 8 June. By the evening of 8 June, HTS captured both the 13th Division and the Sham Legion's headquarters in Maarat al-Nu'man and killed Col. Tayser al-Samahi, the head of the Free Police in the town. On 9 June, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Free Idlib Army and Tahrir al-Sham in the town and the latter ordered the 13th Division to be disbanded.

References

1. ^ 11 Fighters killed in clash between the Division 13 and Al-Nusra in the countryside of Idlib and al-Nusra storm Maarrat al-Nu’man and Khan Shaykhun
2. "Nusra Front arrest the armament official in Division 13 and seize weapons, arrest other leaders in the Division | Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
3. Barnard, Mark Mazzetti, Anne; Schmitt, Eric (6 August 2016). "Military Success in Syria Gives Putin Upper Hand in U.S. Proxy War". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. ^ "Nusra accused of kidnapping FSA commander". Now News. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
5. ^ "Division 13 evacuate most of its headquarters in the southern countryside of Idlib and clashes between them against Jabhat Al-Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa in Maarrat al-Nu'man area and tension prevails in the area". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
6. ^ "MIDEAST - Al-Qaeda in Syria clashes with rebels, seizes weapons". Retrieved 2016-03-14.
7. Fadel, Leith. "Rebel infighting results in Nusra capturing U.S. manufactured missiles". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
8. ^ "Al-Qaida seizes weapons, bases from US-backed Syrian rebels". 680 NEWS. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
9. Fadel, Leith. "Nusra captures Division 13 headquarters in Ma'arat Al-Nu'man". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
10. "Syrian rebel commander says Nusra Front seized 'light weapons and ammunition'". Reuters. 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
11. "FSA exits strategic city in Syria's Idlib after warring with Nusra". en.abna24.com. 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
12. "Syria: Maarat al-Numan civilians protest against al-Qaeda's Nusra Front after attack on US-backed rebel group". International Business Times UK. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
13. Adra, Zen (12 June 2016). "Syrians protest against Nusra in Idlib". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
14. "(Edit Sham) controls the headquarters of the band (13) and Sham Corps in Maart". All4Syria. 8 June 2017.
15. "Agreement ending the clashes Maart on his head solution band 13". All4Syria. 10 June 2017.

• Battles of the Syrian civil war in 2016
• March 2016 events in Syria
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the al-Nusra Front
• Idlib Governorate in the Syrian civil war
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army