Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016): Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Military confrontation in Aleppo (2012–2016)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| {{flagicon image|Flag of Palestine.svg}} Mohammad Rafi{{KIA}} <small>([[Liwa al-Quds]] Colonel)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/senior-palestinian-paramilitary-commander-killed-rebel-forces-aleppo/|title=Senior Palestinian paramilitary commander killed by rebel forces in Aleppo|first=Chris|last=Tomson|work=Al-Masdar News|date=28 November 2016|access-date=6 January 2017|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502062058/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/senior-palestinian-paramilitary-commander-killed-rebel-forces-aleppo/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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| [[Abdul Qader Saleh]]{{KIA}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-commander-idUSBRE9AH03H20131118|title=Top Syrian rebel commander dies from wounds|work=Reuters|date=18 November 2013|access-date=24 October 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190940/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/18/us-syria-crisis-commander-idUSBRE9AH03H20131118|url-status=live}}</ref><br /><small>(al-Tawhid Brigade top commander)</small><ref>{{cite news |title=Syria rebels struggle to advance in Aleppo offensive |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-chemicalweapons-idUSBRE88R0WY20120928 |last1=Solomon |first1=Erica |last2=Karouny |first2=Mariam |last3=Heavens |first3=Andrew |work=Reuters |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-date=27 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927164538/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/28/us-usa-syria-chemicalweapons-idUSBRE88R0WY20120928 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| [[Kata'ib al-Imam Ali]]<ref name="array" />

| {{flagicon image|}} [[Harakat al-Abdal]]<ref name="array" />

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{{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} Hezbollah<br />{{Collapsible list

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| units2 = * [[Al-Tawhid Brigade]]<ref name="emboldened">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-07-22/syria-violence-aleppo/56408056/1|work=USA Today |title=Emboldened Syrian rebels push into Aleppo | date=22 July 2012}}</ref> <small>(2012–14)</small>{{efn|name=fn1|Even though the Al-Tawhid Brigade mostly disintegrated in 2014, remnants of the group remained active in Aleppo until 2016.)}}

* [[Harakat Sham al-Islam]]<ref name="maghrebi">{{cite web|url=http://the-arab-chronicle.com/maghrebi-jihad-veteran-killed-syria/ |title=Abu Ahmad al-Maghrebi (Ibrahim Bencheqroun), un vétéran du Jihad mort en Syrie |trans-title=Jihad veteran killed in Syria |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=29 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607204250/http://the-arab-chronicle.com/maghrebi-jihad-veteran-killed-syria/ |archive-date=7 June 2014}}</ref>

{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria.svg}} [[Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria]]<ref>{{cite AV media |date=23 February 2016 |title=المرصد السوري: الحزب التركستاني وتنظيم جند الأقصى شاركا في معارك حلب |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIKq_CQQo7I |publisher=Sarmad Network Plus }}</ref><br />{{flagicon image|Green Shahada.svg}} [[Movement of Salah al-Din the Kurd]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/2019/08/kurdish-rebels-in-northwest-syria-interview-with |title=Kurdish Rebels in Northwest Syria: Interview with Harakat Salah al-Din al-Kurdi |author=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi |date=6 August 2019 |access-date=12 August 2019 |author-link=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi}}</ref>

| units3 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Jaysh al-Thuwar.svg|border=no}} [[Army of Revolutionaries]]

* [[Jabhat al-Akrad]]

| casualties2 =

| casualties3 =

| notes = {{Note label|YPG|a}} The YPG was neutral at the start of the battle in 2012, semi-allied with the rebels 2012–2014,<ref name=truce>{{cite web|url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/5383.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106075312/http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/5383.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2012|title=Syrian Rebels and Kurdish Group Sign Truce|date=6 November 2012|access-date=14 December 2016}}</ref> neutral 2015–2016, and semi-allied with the Syrian Army during the final offensive in late 2016 (see [[Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)|November–December 2016 Aleppo offensive]]).

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}}{{Campaignbox Battle of Aleppo}}

The large-scale devastation of the battle and its importance led combatants to name it the "mother of battles"<ref>{{cite news |last=McElroy |first=Damien|title=Badly armed rebels face tanks as Syria's mother of battles begins |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9435261/Badly-armed-rebels-face-tanks-as-Syrias-mother-of-all-battles-begins.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9435261/Badly-armed-rebels-face-tanks-as-Syrias-mother-of-all-battles-begins.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph|date=28 July 2012|location=London}}{{cbignore}}<br />{{cite news |last=Hermant |first=Norman|title=Fears about the 'mother of all battles' for Aleppo |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-28/fears-about-the-mother-of-all-battles-for-aleppo/4160852 |work=ABC|date=28 July 2012}}</ref> or "Syria's [[Battle of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Spencer |first=Richard |title=Aleppo 'is becoming Syria's Stalingrad'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9469080/Aleppo-is-becoming-Syrias-Stalingrad.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9469080/Aleppo-is-becoming-Syrias-Stalingrad.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph|date=11 August 2012 |location=Aleppo}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wright |first=Robin |date=2016-12-13 |title=The Battle for Aleppo, Syria's Stalingrad, Ends |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-battle-for-aleppo-syrias-stalingrad-ends |access-date=2023-08-10 |issn=0028-792X}}</ref> The battle was marked by widespread violence against civilians,<ref>BBC News, 28 April 2014 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27183752 BBC witnesses devastation of Syrian air bombardment on Aleppo]</ref> repeated targeting of hospitals and schools (mostly by pro-government air forces<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/29/world/middleeast/russias-brutal-bombing-of-aleppo-may-be-calculated-and-it-may-be-working.html|title=Russia's Brutal Bombing of Aleppo May Be Calculated, and It May Be Working|date=29 September 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Fisher|first1=Max}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/13/middleeast/syria-aleppo-airstrikes/index.html|title=Aleppo violence touches both sides of divide|author1=Schams Elwazer |author2=Laura Smith-Spark|date=13 October 2016|publisher=CNN}}</ref> and to a lesser extent by the rebels),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-aleppo-idUSKCN12S0KQ|title=Rebel shelling kills children at school in west Aleppo: government, monitor|date=28 October 2017|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-21/syria-unrest-aleppos-children-slaughtered-on-both-sides/8041258|title=Aleppo's children slaughtered on both sides|newspaper=ABC News|date=21 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-hospital-idUSKBN13U1JZ|title=Russia says two of its medics killed in Aleppo hospital attack|date=5 December 2016|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref> and indiscriminate aerial strikes and shelling against civilian areas.<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Syrian rebels shell government-held Aleppo neighbourhood |first1= Albert|last1=Aji|first2=Bassem|last2=Mroue|url= http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/syrian-rebels-shell-government-held-aleppo-neighbourhood-1.2322444 |agency=AP |newspaper=CTV News |date=11 April 2015 |access-date=30 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Children among the dead as violence touches both sides of Aleppo divide |first1=Schams|last1=Elwazer |first2=Laura |last2=Smith-Spark |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/middleeast/syria-aleppo-airstrikes/ |newspaper=CNN |date=13 October 2016 |access-date=30 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="AP_20161007">{{cite news|title=The Latest: Syrian gov't: rebel shelling of Aleppo kills 8|url= https://www.yahoo.com/news/latest-claims-bombing-syrian-rebels-near-turkey-080156353.html|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Yahoo! News|date=7 October 2016|access-date=30 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007181854/https://www.yahoo.com/news/latest-claims-bombing-syrian-rebels-near-turkey-080156353.html|archive-date=7 October 2016}}</ref> It was also marked by the inability of the [[international community]] to resolve the conflict peacefully. The [[UN special envoy to Syria]] proposed to end the battle by giving East Aleppo [[autonomy]], but this was rejected by the Syrian government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Syria rejects idea of rebel autonomy in eastern Aleppo|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-11/20/c_135844428.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121121748/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-11/20/c_135844428.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2016|publisher=Xinhua|date=20 November 2016| access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref> Hundreds of thousands of residents were displaced by the fighting and efforts to provide aid to civilians or facilitate evacuation were routinely disrupted by continued combat and mistrust between the opposing sides.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/aleppo-crisis-latest-rebel-assad-blame-un-lack-evacuations-a7374081.html|title=Civilians in east Aleppo say they're being shot at by rebels to stop them leaving during the truce|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=21 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Shaheen|first1=Kareem|title=Syria: UN considers role in Russia's 'deeply flawed' humanitarian corridors plan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/05/syria-un-considers-role-in-russias-deeply-flawed-humanitarian-corridors-plan|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=24 December 2016|date=5 August 2016}}</ref>

 

 

 

== Background ==

== Combatants ==

[[File:Major Yasser Abdul Rahim.png|left|thumb|[[Major (rank)|Major]] Yasser Abdul Rahim, commander of [[Fatah Halab]] and field commander of the [[Sham Legion]] in Aleppo, coordinates an attack on [[People's Protection Units|YPG]] positions in Aleppo, 2 October 2015.]]

 

By December, rebel fighters were commonly looting for supplies; they switched their loyalties to groups that had more to share. This new approach led to the killing of at least one rebel commander following a dispute; fighters retreating with their loot caused the loss of a frontline position and the failure of an attack on a Kurdish neighborhood. The looting cost the rebel fighters much popular support.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian rebels sidetracked by scramble for spoils of war|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/27/syrian-rebels-scramble-spoils-war|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=27 September 2015|date=27 December 2012|last1=Abdul-Ahad|first1=Ghaith}}</ref>

On 9 June, the Syrian Army announced the start of "[[Aleppo offensive (October–December 2013)|Operation Northern Storm]]", an attempt to recapture territory in and around the city.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syria: Assad forces massing for major assault on Aleppo|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10109013/Syria-Assad-forces-massing-for-major-assault-on-Aleppo.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10109013/Syria-Assad-forces-massing-for-major-assault-on-Aleppo.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=Telegraph|access-date=25 July 2015|date=9 June 2013|last1=Spencer|first1=Richard}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Between 7 and 14 June, army troops, government militiamen and [[Hezbollah]] fighters launched the operation. Over a one-week period, government forces advanced in the city and the countryside, pushing back the rebels. However, according to an opposition activist, on 14 June the situation started reversing after rebels halted an armored reinforcement column from Aleppo that was heading for two Shiite villages northwest of the city.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rebel brigades check loyalist advances in Aleppo: opposition|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-aleppo-idUSBRE95F0BA20130616|work=Reuters|access-date=25 July 2015|date=16 June 2013|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924182148/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/16/us-syria-crisis-aleppo-idUSBRE95F0BA20130616|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

=== 2014: Syrian government encirclement of the rebels ===

In preparation for a new offensive, the rebels heavily shelled government-held parts of Aleppo, leaving 43 civilians dead and 190 wounded on 15 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/rebel-shelling-kills-dozens-syria-aleppo-150616085739352.html|title=Rebel shelling kills dozens in Syria's Aleppo|work=Al Jazeera English}}</ref> On 17 June, rebel forces captured the western neighborhood of Rashideen from Syrian government forces.<ref name="Rashideen">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/rebel-fighters-advance-syria-aleppo-150618143848943.html|title= Rebel fighters advance in Syria's Aleppo|publisher= Al Jazeera English|date= 18 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/rebel-and-islamic-battalions-take-control-on-al-rashdin-area-in-aleppo/ |title=Rebel and Islamic battalions take control on al-Rashdin area in Aleppo |author=Master |work=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618000323/http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/rebel-and-islamic-battalions-take-control-on-al-rashdin-area-in-aleppo/ |archive-date=18 June 2015}}</ref> Throughout 19 and 20 June, a new round of rebel shelling killed 19 more civilians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/shells-kill-9-civilians-in-aleppo-city-clashes-continue-around-the-city/ |title=Shells kill 9 civilians in Aleppo city, clashes continue around the city |author=Master |work=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621034149/http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/shells-kill-9-civilians-in-aleppo-city-clashes-continue-around-the-city/ |archive-date=21 June 2015}}</ref>

 

 

In mid-October, ISIL captured four rebel-held villages northeast of Aleppo, while the Army seized the Syria-Turkey Free Trade Zone, the al-Ahdath juvenile prison and cement plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/news/jabha-shamiya-commander-blames-%E2%80%98complete-lack-of-coordination%E2%80%99for-aleppo-losses/|title=Jabha Shamiya commander blames 'complete lack of coordination' for Aleppo losses|work=Syria Direct|access-date=13 October 2015|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207163753/https://syriadirect.org/news/jabha-shamiya-commander-blames-%E2%80%98complete-lack-of-coordination%E2%80%99for-aleppo-losses/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Meanwhile, the SAA and Hezbollah launched an offensive south of Aleppo, reporting they had captured {{convert|408|km2|abbr=off}} of territory in one month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-and-hezbollah-capture-408-square-kilometers-of-territory-in-southern-aleppo/|title=Syrian Army and Hezbollah Capture 408 Square Kilometers of Territory in Southern Aleppo|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|date=14 November 2015|access-date=17 November 2015|archive-date=13 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813130910/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-and-hezbollah-capture-408-square-kilometers-of-territory-in-southern-aleppo/|url-status=dead}}</ref> By late December, reporting that they were in control of 3/4 of the southern Aleppo countryside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-army-high-alert-hezbollah-promises-retaliate/|title=Hezbollah, Syrian Army control 3/4 of southern Aleppo after completing phase 2 of the offensive|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|date=22 December 2015|access-date=23 December 2015|archive-date=13 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813115013/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-army-high-alert-hezbollah-promises-retaliate/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 25 June, the Syrian Army and allied forces began their long-awaited North-west Aleppo offensive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tiger-forces-begin-long-awaited-northern-aleppo-offensive/|title=Syrian Army begins North west Aleppo offensive|work=Al Masdar News|date=25 June 2016|access-date=27 June 2016|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107093525/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tiger-forces-begin-long-awaited-northern-aleppo-offensive/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ultimate goal of the offensive was to cut off the Castello highway, which would cut off the last supply route for rebels inside the city, thus fully encircling remaining opposition forces.<ref name="bbc.co.uk 2016-07-22"/>

 

 

After a week of heavy fighting, rebels both inside and outside Aleppo advanced into the Ramouseh neighborhood, linked up and captured it, while also seizing the Al-Ramousah Military Academy. With these advances, the rebels managed to cut the government's supply line into the government-held part of west Aleppo<ref name="meet">{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=49141 |title=Factions meet the fighters of the besieged eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo and shelling and violent raids on the outskirts of the city |access-date=6 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005053229/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=49141 |archive-date=5 October 2016 |df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="academyloss">{{Cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/49158/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005053225/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=49158%2F|url-status=dead|title=Factions incur regime, the Russians, the Iranians and the Lebanese Hezbollah the biggest spiritual and military loss since 2013 • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|date=6 August 2016|archivedate=5 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/08/06/syria-rebels-try-break-government-seige-aleppo/88336208/|title=Syria rebels try to break government siege in Aleppo|first=Bassem|last=Mroue|website=USA TODAY}}</ref> and announced the Army's siege of rebel-held east Aleppo had been broken.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37000570|title=Syria rebels 'break government siege' of Aleppo|work=BBC News |date=7 August 2016 |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> However, the new rebel supply line was still under Army artillery fire and being hit by air-strikes,<ref name="meet"/> making both sides essentially under siege.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carnegie-mec.org/diwan/64274?lang=en|title=Who Is Laying Siege to Whom in Aleppo?|website=Carnegie Middle East Center}}</ref> Since the rebel offensive started, at least 130 civilians had been killed, most by rebel shelling of government-held districts. 500 fighters on both sides also died, mostly rebels.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/at-least-500-fighters-killed-in-a-week-in-aleppo-battle-monitor|title=At least 500 fighters killed in a week in Aleppo battle: monitor |newspaper=The Straits Times |date=6 August 2016 |access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> However, on 4 September, the Syrian Armed forces recaptured the Technical College, Armament college and artillery college, thus imposing the siege on Aleppo once again. Later that week they recaptured the Ramouseh district and reversed almost all rebel gains made since 30 July. The Syrian Government forces then [[Aleppo offensive (September–October 2016)|started an offensive]] to capture eastern Aleppo on 22 September, taking 15–20% of the rebel-held part of Aleppo.

 

== Aftermath ==

 

SOHR and a witness later said that Syrian government forces had entered the areas controlled by the Kurdish fighters. [[YPG]] spokesman Nouri Mahmoud however denied this claim.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-02-22/syrian-government-forces-enter-kurdish-held-aleppo-area-witness|title=Syrian Kurdish YPG Denies Government Entered Kurdish-Held Aleppo District|date=22 February 2018|agency=Reuters|publisher=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=23 February 2018}}</ref> A [[YPG]] commander later stated that Kurdish fighters had shifted to [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]] to help repel a Turkish assault. As a result, he said the pro-Syrian government forces had regained control of the districts previously controlled by them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-militia/syrian-ypg-militia-government-has-taken-control-of-aleppo-district-idUSKCN1G62K9|title=Syrian YPG militia: government has taken control of Aleppo district|website=Reuters|date=22 February 2018 }}</ref>

== Casualties ==

[[File:Syria- two years of tragedy (8642756918).jpg|thumb|Aleppo, Karm al Jabal neighborhood, 2013]]

 

 

The pro-opposition monitoring group the [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] (SOHR) gave a similar number: it registered that 1,612 days of fighting for Aleppo left 21,452 civilians dead. Among them were 5,261 children under the age of 18 and 2,777 women over the age of 18.<ref name=1600days/>

==== Aleppo victory celebrations ====

[[File:Christmas in Aleppo.png|thumb|Several days after the Syrian government's victory, Christmas was celebrated in Aleppo in public for the first time in years.]]

 

A May 2017 ''[[The New York Times Magazine|New York Times Magazine]]'' report from "Aleppo after the Fall" described the public experience in formerly rebel controlled East Aleppo as "a chaotic wasteland full of feuding militias—some of them radical Islamists—who hoarded food and weapons while the people starved" and quoted local sources as "no one is 100 percent with the regime, but mostly these people are unified by their resistance to the opposition" and people having experienced "a rebellion that is corrupt, brutal and compromised by foreign sponsors".<ref name=NYT />

 

== See also ==

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

* [[Siege of Homs]]—Siege of the city of Homs (2012–2014) during the Syrian Civil War