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Battle of Damascus (2012)
Part of the Syrian uprising
Date 15 July 2012 - ongoing Location Damascus, Syria Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army	Syrian government Syrian Army Shabiha
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Bashar al-Assad Maher al-Assad
Casualties and losses
80 killed, 14 vehicles destroyed (government claim)	70 killed, 1 armored vehicle destroyed, 1 helicopter shot down (opposition claim)
6 civilians killed

The Battle of Damascus, also known as Operation Damascus Volcano, started on 15 July 2012 during the Syrian uprising. It is unclear who started it. Per some reports thousands of rebels attacked the capital from the surrounding countryside while per others the military learned of the large-scale rebel operation beforehand and made a preemptive strike.

Battle

On 15 July, fierce fighting was reported in some quarters of central Damascus as the army moved in to dislodge rebels. The rebels fighting were the ones who were routed from Douma and other suburbs and fled to Damascus itself. Fighting also closed the road leading from central Damascus to airport.

On 16 July, for a second day, heavy clashes in the southern Midan and Tadhamon districts of Damascus raged with the military managing to surround the rebel forces in the area and sending tanks and other armored vehicles into the neighborhoods. The rebels called the clashes a raid by them against the capital, while the government called it a 48-hour military operation to clear the area of any opposition forces. There were also indications that the government knew about the planned rebel raid and acted on the information. According to state TV, the military killed over 80 rebel fighters during the fighting.

On 17 July, shooting was reported in one of the main central streets and machine-gun fire was reported in nearby Sabaa Bahrat Square, site of the Central Bank of Syria, which was the scene of several major pro-government demonstrations. These clashes were only 400 Metres away from the Syrian parliment building. Fighting was ongoing in the southern Midan and Kfar Sousa districts and the northern Barzeh and Qabun districts. Artillery shelling was reported in all of them and specifically in Midan it was reported to be "hysterical", according to activists. At the same time, in Barzeh and Qabun, helicopter rocket strikes were reported.

The rebels claimed to had killed 70 soldiers and pro-government militiamen in the previous two days of clashes, while the government reported 14 rebel vehicles were destroyed. The FSA stated they destroyed one armored vehicle and that, among the members of the Syrian military who were killed, were several rooftop snipers. The opposition also claimed to had shot down an army helicopter in the Qaboun district. One FSA commander claimed that the Battle for liberation of Damascus had begun. with another dubbing it Operation Damascus Volcano. Government Information Minister Omran Zoabi stated that the military confronted rebel forces who infiltrated the city, surrounded them and forced many to retreat, while the rest were still being dealt with.

Rebels captured at least one armoured vechile and the Syrian army had to bring in reinforcements from the Golan heights. A rebel spokesman in Damascus said that he thought the clashes still represnted skirmishes. A deputy police chief, Brigadier general Issa Duba is said to have died from wounds sustained during the clashes in Damascus, according to a pro-Assad website. Meanwhile, activist Shakeeb al-Jabri claims more than 200 soldiers have been injured or killed during the clashes. The opposition also controlled two districts of central Damascus, Al-Midan and Tadamon according to an FSA spokesman for the military council in Damascus. This was described as a "turning point" while a pro-government newspaper said they will not "surrender Damascus". Government attack helicopters were used in at least four districts, with heavy fighting reported.

References

1. ^ Syrian capital's clashes continue in southern part
2. ^ Syrian soldiers jump through flaming hoops as helicopters fly over capital
3. ^ Syria fighting rages in capital, Russia pressed
4. ^ Assad loses grip on Damascus as rebels begin to close in on regime
5. ^ Syrian rebels converge on capital, Russia pressed
6. Damascus rocked by 'most intense' fighting of revolt
7. Guardian live updates
8. Syria unrest: Second day of fierce Damascus clashes
9. Syria fighting closes in on capital
10. "Syria conflict: 'Fresh clashes rock Damascus'". BBC News. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
11. Damascus sees heavy fighting, activists say
12. ^ Syria conflict: Central Damascus hit by clashes
13. FSA: 'Battle for liberation' of Damascus has begun
14. Syria conflict: Central Damascus hit by clashes
15. 1.44pm: Syria
16. Damascus fighting a 'turning point'
17. Syrian Regime Uses Attack Helicopters In Damascus; Defections Continue

• 2011–2012 Syrian uprising
• 2012 in Syria
• Conflicts in 2012