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SOHR said "the intensification of the fighting can be explained by Hezbollah's desire to score points before the speech their leader Hassan Nasrallah is due to deliver this evening," marking the 13th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon.<ref></ref> The Syrian rebels have repeatedly warned that they will hit Hezbollah targets on Lebanese territory if the latter does not withdraw from Syria and have called on the Lebanese government to put a stop to Hezbollah intervention.<ref></ref> SOHR said "the intensification of the fighting can be explained by Hezbollah's desire to score points before the speech their leader Hassan Nasrallah is due to deliver this evening," marking the 13th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon.<ref></ref> The Syrian rebels have repeatedly warned that they will hit Hezbollah targets on Lebanese territory if the latter does not withdraw from Syria and have called on the Lebanese government to put a stop to Hezbollah intervention.<ref></ref>


According to SOHR's head Abdul Rahman, it was their belief that government forces were in control of much of the city and were intensifying their attacks on the air base, despite rebel claims of being able to repel Army and Hezbollah attacks on al-Qusayr.<ref></ref> A Hezbollah source said, at this point, Army and Hezbollah forces were in control of 80 percent of the city after capturing 10 percent during the day. He also claimed that the road between ] in Lebanon and Homs city was secured.<ref></ref> According to SOHR's head Abdul Rahman, it was their belief that government forces were in control of much of the city and were intensifying their attacks on the air base, despite rebel claims of being able to repel Army and Hezbollah attacks on al-Qusayr.<ref></ref>Qusayr’]</ref>


==Casualties== ==Casualties==

Revision as of 22:46, 26 May 2013

Battle of al-Qusayr (2013)
Part of the Syrian civil war and the Al-Qusayr offensive (2013)

Location of al-Qusayr
Date19 May 2013 – ongoing
(11 years, 7 months and 3 weeks)
LocationAl Qusayr and its district, Syria
Result Ongoing
Belligerents

Syrian National Coalition

Syria Syrian government

Commanders and leaders
Unknown top commander
Mahmoud Mohammed Ammar 
(Al Mughaouirs Brigade Leader)
Nawaf Alwani 
(Al Nusra Front Commander)
Bakr Saleh Mustapha 
(Kassioune Brigade Leader)
Unknown Syrian commander
Mustafa Badreddine
(Commander of Hezbollah in al-Qusayr)
Fadi al-Jazar 
(Hezbollah commander)
Units involved
15 rebel units 1st Armoured Division
10th Mechanised Division
Unit 910 (Hezbollah)
Strength
Unknown Unknown number of soldiers and militiamen,
800–1,200 Hezbollah fighters
Casualties and losses
154–183 fighters killed (by 26 May) 12 soldiers and militiamen (by 21 May) and 56 Hezbollah fighters (by 25 May) killed
14 civilians killed
Syrian civil war
Timeline
Civil uprising in Syria (March–August 2011)
Start of insurgency (Sept. 2011 – April 2012)
UN ceasefire; Rebel advances (May 2012 – Dec. 2013)
Rise of ISIS in 2014
U.S.-led intervention, Rebel and ISIL advances (Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2015)
Russian intervention (Sept. 2015 – March 2016)
Aleppo escalation and Euphrates Shield (March 2016 – February 2017)
Collapse of ISIS in Syria (2017)
Rebels in retreat and Operation Olive Branch
(Nov. 2017 – Sep. 2018)
Idlib demilitarization
(Sep. 2018 – April 2019)
First Idlib offensive, Operation Peace Spring, & Second Idlib offensive (April 2019 – March 2020)
Idlib ceasefire (March 2020 – Nov. 2024)
Opposition offensives and Assad overthrown (Nov. – Dec. 2024)
Transitional government and SNA–SDF conflict (Dec. 2024 – present)
Syrian War spillover and international incidents









Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war
Foreign intervention on behalf of Syrian Arab Republic

Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels

U.S.-led intervention against ISIL

The Battle of al-Qusayr started on 19 May 2013, as part of the Al-Qusayr offensive which was launched in early April 2013, by the Syrian Army and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, during the Syrian civil war, with the aim of capturing all villages around the rebel-held town of al-Qusayr, thus tightening the siege of the city and ultimately launching an attack on al-Qusayr itself. The region is an important supply route for rebels fighting Syrian government forces in Homs.

The battle has been described as a decisive one, which will will determine the outcome of the war.

The battle

First day

On 19 May, after two days of calm, planes, artillery and mortars bombarded al-Qusayr in the early hours of the morning killing 20 people, including 11 rebels. Later in the day, government troops, backed-up by hundreds of Hezbollah militiamen, stormed the city from several directions. Fierce fighting raged around the entrances to the town. Helicopters were seen bombing a heavily damaged neighbourhood in video uploaded onto the Web. Clashes at nine points in and around al-Qusayr were reported during the day.

Syrian troops entered the center of the city later in the day, seizing the town's main square and its municipality building, a military source said. One opposition activist denied that government forces made gains and stated that the municipality building had already been destroyed six months earlier. He also reported that 17 houses had been destroyed in the early morning bombardment. However, another opposition activist at the end of the day confirmed the Army had captured the municipality building and were in control of 60% of the city.

Government troops had attacked from the south, east and northeast. According to one soldier, after fierce fighting they quickly seized the southern part of town, the town hall and nearby buildings, and advanced on the western outskirts. During the operation, troops had to defuse mines and bombs placed by rebels at the entrances to the city. The attack appeared to surprise the rebels, who expected the Army to push via the north by attacking several rebel-controlled villages before attacking the city itself. Hezbollah fighters had descended on the city from the Al Tal area, west of the of Assi river, which has an overlooking position over al-Qusayr. Several rebel fighters accused some commanders of fleeing the Al Tal area after they bought their way out of al-Qusayr at the last moment before the assault on the city started. Many fighters reportedly managed to break the siege by escaping through a secret route towards Josiah and the Qalamoun Mountains to the south. However, government troops apparently found out about the escape route nearly a week before and blocked it, killing and injuring around 30 fighters. According to the FSA, the commander of Hezbollah's forces leading the battle in al-Qusayr is Mustafa Badreddine, who is accused of involvement in former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri's murder. “It has been confirmed that Mustafa Badreddine is present on Qusayr's front where he is leading Hizbullah's operations,” said a statement issued by the FSA.

A Hezbollah fighter reported that their forces managed to clear two thirds of the city and were moving towards the northern section of al-Qusayr when they were attacked from behind by rebel fighters, which they had not previously seen. At that point they suffered a lot of casualties, most of them shot in the back.

Second day

By the second day of the battle, state media claimed they had restored "stability" in the town's east, and was still hunting "remnants of terrorists" in some northern and eastern areas. The areas listed by them as coming under Army control were: "The local stadium area; some parts of the western area, municipality HQ, the cultural centre, the Church, al-Baladyeh roundabout and al-Ghytta area." An opposition source also reported the fighting to be concentrated in the northern part of the city.

SOHR reported the Army surrounded the village of al-Dab'a, north of the city. SOHR said there were conflicting reports as to whether or not the Syrian army was fighting inside al-Qusayr city, but had reports which confirmed that they were gathering near the western neighborhood of al-Qusayr "in order to lay siege on the city itself". Thick black smoke could also be seen from the direction of that air base, north of the city, as government troops fought to retake the facility.

An activist claimed that government and Hezbollah forces had been pushed back to their starting positions on the outskirts of the city, while an FSA spokesman claimed that the government force's efforts to enter the city were being blocked by the FSA, and accused the Syrian army of using a scorched-earth policy during the battle. At the same time, another opposition activist once again reaffirmed that government forces had captured the municipality building and the city center and had pushed out rebel units out of most of al-Qusayr. An Al Jazeera reporter in Beirut also said that it seemed that the Army had control of most of the town.

Third day

On the third day of the fighting, elite Hezbollah reinforcements were sent from Lebanon across the border to al-Qusayr. SOHR reported that much of the town had been destroyed by this point. SOHR had also confirmed, for itself, for the first time that fighting was raging in the city itself. Hezbollah fighters were no longer being used as conventional soldiers, instead they are breaking up into small groups and being used in a "guerrilla warfare" role against the rebels for which they were trained.

A US State Department official, citing multiple rebel sources, claims that Iranian soldiers are involved in the battle for al-Qusayr, whether they are fighting or not remains unclear.

Fourth day

George Sabra, president of the SNC, issued a call for reinforcements to be sent to al-Quasyr stating "Everyone who has weapons or ammunition should send them to Qusair and Homs to strengthen its resistance". The Islamic Tawheed Brigade reportedly sent a convoy of 30 vehicles to al-Quasyr from Aleppo. Later, Abu Firas of the Tawid brigade claimed that a total of 300 support units arrived in al-Qusayr, adding that they also sent an ambulance, an antiaircraft weapon and ammunition. SOHR reported that rebel reinforcements from the town of Ind Shamseen, who were trying to reach al-Qusayr, were ambushed by government forces and two rebels were killed. Days later, an opposition activist denied any reinforcements had arrived in al-Qusayr, stating that "No one is helping Qusair other than its own men".

One rebel source said government and Hezbollah forces had cut most of the oppositions overland supply lines into al-Qusayr and some others reaffirmed that they believe government troops had captured about 60 percent of the city, while a government official claimed they controlled up to 80 percent of the city. Rebel sources reported the Army was holding 40% of the city, with opposition forces still in control of the central and western part of al-Qusayr.

Government troops were advancing cautiously amid heavy fighting which largely destroyed the city. Morale among Army personal was reportedly high as "news broke" about the killing of al-Nusra Front commander Abu Omar. Military commanders on the ground said that the battle for Qusayr is far from over and it could take one more week to retake the northern part of al-Qusayr where rebels were entrenched. Meanwhile, opposition forces were still holding the al-Dabaa air base. It was reported that the Army had discovered rebel tunnels linking areas around the town. Morale was also high among Hezbollah fighters, despite loosing a large number of men.

Sixth day

Rebels launched a counter-attack in which they claimed to had recaptured three posts from the Syrian Army and Hezbollah fighters. SOHR reported that two rebels were killed. Rebel forces in al-Qusayr were joined by the ‘cannibal’ commander, Abu Sakkar, who became notorious after appearing in a video in which he ate the heart of a dead government soldier. It was also reported, according to pro-government sources, that Army forces were advancing in the outlying district of Hamdiyeh, in an attempt to cut the opposition forces' last supply line into al-Qusayr. Opposition sources denied this with an FSA major claiming the attack on the city via Hamdiyeh was repulsed. However, SOHR said that fighting in Hamdiyeh was still ongoing.

An AFP journalist said the eastern part of the city was transformed into a military barracks. A military officer told the journalist that the Army was in the penultimate phase of the battle. According to SOHR, the Army and Hezbollah were encircling and bombing the rebels in the northern part of the town, into which government forces were squeezing opposition fighters, as stated by a military officer. Another officer stated that the rebels were confined in a triangle linking Arjun, al-Dabaa and the northern part of al-Qusayr. A large force of rebels had retreated to the al-Dabaa air base. The approach of the Army was described as being slow and methodical, taking over small bit of ground from rebels and consolidating it before advancing again. Very few reinforcements reached the rebels, due to the control of surrounding roads by the government. This was reaffirmed when one opposition activist in fact said that no reinforcements had arrived into al-Qusayr at all.

Seventh day

At daybreak on 25 May, the Army unleashed the heaviest shelling since the start of the battle with barrages of rockets and tank shells hitting al-Qusayr and the surrounding rebel areas, specifically Hamdiyeh and the al-Dabaa airbase to the north. The barrage lasted for six to seven hours with an average of 40 shells per minute hitting the town. Government forces also fired two surface to surface missiles during the bombardment. According to military sources and state media, the Army launched a three-pronged attack on the town which was advancing well and resulting in heavy losses for the rebels. A Hezbollah fighter told Reuters that the attack was advancing slowly due to rebel efforts at mining the town, with the fighter saying "Even the refrigerators are mined."

Government and Hezbollah forces had also reportedly breached rebel defence lines at the al-Dabaa air base from the northwest and entered the facility where fighting was ongoing, according to the Army. SOHR reported that the fighting was taking place around the base, while rebels were still maintaining control of it, though it was being heavily shelled by government forces. Among the weapons being used were also multiple rocket launchers.

SOHR said "the intensification of the fighting can be explained by Hezbollah's desire to score points before the speech their leader Hassan Nasrallah is due to deliver this evening," marking the 13th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. The Syrian rebels have repeatedly warned that they will hit Hezbollah targets on Lebanese territory if the latter does not withdraw from Syria and have called on the Lebanese government to put a stop to Hezbollah intervention.

According to SOHR's head Abdul Rahman, it was their belief that government forces were in control of much of the city and were intensifying their attacks on the air base, despite rebel claims of being able to repel Army and Hezbollah attacks on al-Qusayr.Qusayr’]</ref>

Casualties

The military reported that they killed 100 rebel fighters on the first day of the battle for the city. The opposition activist group SOHR stated that 76 rebels, 31 Hezbollah fighters, 12 government soldiers and militiamen and eight civilians were killed during the first three days of the fighting. Among the Hezbollah members killed was commander Fadi al-Jazar. Two rebel commanders were also among the dead. 62-70 Hezbollah fighters were wounded and transported to hospitals in Lebanon. Per other opposition activist estimates: 90 rebels, 30 Hezbollah fighters and 20 government soldiers and militiamen were killed during the first two days. Lebanese sources stated that 12-20 Hezbollah members were killed and around 30 wounded.

By the fourth day of the fighting, 89 rebels had been killed, including six Lebanese. On the fifth day, the number of Hezbollah fighters dead had risen to 46. Opposition military sources put the Hezbollah toll on the sixth day at 50–64.

On the seventh day, 38 people were killed in heavy bombardment of the city and street fighting, including 32 rebels. 10 Hezbollah fighters were killed as well. Another 13 rebels were killed the next day.

References

  1. Syria: National Defense Forces at Forefront of Qusayr Fighting
  2. "The Counter-Insurgency Role of Syria's "Popular Committees"". Fair Observer. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  3. The Guardian,22 May 2013
  4. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=371989652903147
  5. Al-Qusayr Battle Continues, Syrian Army in Control
  6. https://www.facebook.com/nosratalsham.menlobnan/posts/469325793143547
  7. ^ FSA: Mustafa Badreddine Leading Hizbullah Operations in Qusayr
  8. ^ Senior Hizbullah Official Killed in Syria Fighting
  9. Rowell, Alex (20 May 2013). "Qusayr resisting all-out attack". NOW Lebanon. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  10. '75 Hezbollah fighters killed in Syria so far'
  11. 61–90 killed (19–20 May), 15 killed (21 May), 18 killed (22 May), 9 killed (23 May), 6 killed (24 May), 32 killed (25 May), 13 killed (26 May), total of 154–183 reported killed
  12. Syrian opposition calls on Hezbollah to stay out of Syria’s civil war
  13. Activists: Syrian regime provides Hezbollah aerial shield in Qusayr
  14. Syria fighting flares both sides of Lebanese border
  15. Hezbollah Aids Syrian Military in a Key Battle
  16. Strategic city of Qusayr falls into hands of Assad forces
  17. Syria army launches assault on rebel-held Qusayr: NGO
  18. Syria army 'storms' rebel town Qusair
  19. Syrian Observatory: Military Pounds Rebel Town of Qusayr, Killing 13
  20. ^ Hezbollah Aids Syrian Military in a Key Battle
  21. Syrian army, Hezbollah kill over 30 in border town
  22. Syrian troops attack rebel town, 30 dead
  23. ^ Syrian forces storm rebel bastion of Qusayr
  24. ^ Syria: Turning Point in the Battle of Qusayr
  25. ^ Hizbullah Losses in Syria Steep, but Morale High
  26. Syria crisis: battle for Qusair – live updates
  27. ^ 28 Hezbollah fighters reportedly killed in Syria in clashes by Lebanon border
  28. Homs province 1
  29. Syrian Army, Hezbollah bear down on rebels in strategic Qusayr
  30. Qusayr battle claims 30 Hezbollah fighters
  31. FSA denies Assad forces entering Qusayr city
  32. Syrian offensive on Qusayr deepens
  33. Hezbollah sends new fighters to bloody Syria battle
  34. Homs province 2
  35. Syrian Forces and Hezbollah Fighters Press Assault on Key City
  36. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2013/may/22/syria-crisis-iran-joins-battle-for-qusair Syria crisis: Iranian troops join battle for Qusair 22 May 2013
  37. www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/05/209765.htm Background Briefing on the Secretary's Trip to Amman 21 May 2013
  38. Tawhid Brigade in Aleppo sends support units to al-Qusayr
  39. ^ Syrian opposition urges rebels to join key battle
  40. ^ Hezbollah, Syria government forces push for advance in Qusair
  41. Syria rebels call for reinforcements as war spreads abroad
  42. The Battle for Qusayr: What Victory in Syria’s Latest Front Means for the War
  43. Syria: Qusayr Battle Far From Over
  44. Syrian rebels launch attack on al-Qusayr
  45. Syrian rebels launch attack on al-Qusayr
  46. Syria rebels lifted by arrival of ‘cannibal’ commander
  47. Russia: Syrian Regime May Take Part In Peace Talks
  48. Battle still rages in Qusayr, rebels report 150 Hezbollah deaths
  49. Homs province 3
  50. Syria Army Says Captured Rebels in Qusayr's North with Hizbullah's Support
  51. Syria: Army Tightens Grip on Fighters in Qusayr
  52. Qusayr battle rages as Syria regime presses assault
  53. Syria regime unleashes barrage on key town
  54. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/05/201352621316268311.html Battle for Syria's Qusayr intensifies 26 May 2013
  55. Syria rebels fight on as peace talks pressure mounts
  56. Syria conflict: Qusair in heavy bombardment by army
  57. Syria regime takes key Qusayr objective, army claims
  58. Homs province 4
  59. Syrian opposition: 45 Lebanese militants killed in Qusayr
  60. Homs province 5
  61. Qusayr battle rages as Syria regime presses assault
  62. Hezbollah ‘escalates Qusayr battle’ ahead of Nasrallah speech
  63. Syrian Army and Hezbollah Step Up Attacks on a Rebel Stronghold
  64. "L'Armée syrienne libre appelle à défendre Qoussair". Le Monde. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  65. Hezbollah Fighters Killed in Clashes With Syrian Rebels
  66. Hezbollah suffers heavy losses in Syria
  67. 23 Hezbollah fighters killed in Syria's Qusayr: watchdog
  68. Thirty Hezbollah fighters killed in Syrian town: activists
  69. Hezbollah fighters killed in battle for Syria's Qusayr
  70. Syrian Opposition Urges Rebels To Join Key Battle
  71. Hezbollah suffers heavy losses in Syrian conflict: 104 killed according to watchdog
  72. Hizbullah leading the fight in Qusayr: Syrian activists
  73. More than 150 were killed yesterday
  74. Homs province 6
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