Content deleted Content added
3E1I5S8B9RF7 (talk | contribs) |
BilledMammal (talk | contribs) Preparing to implement RM consensus: Changed link from ABC News to ABC News (United States) using Move+ |
||
| (8 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown) | |||
Line 159:
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>
There were frequent instances of [[war crimes]] during the battle, including the use of chemical weapons by both Syrian government forces and rebel forces,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-chemicalweapons-idUSKBN15S1W7|title=Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in Aleppo: rights group|date=13 February 2017|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/kurdish-officials-rebels-may-have-used-chemicals-aleppo/3276743.html |title = Kurdish Officials: Rebels May Have Used Chemicals in Aleppo| date=8 April 2016 }}</ref> the use of [[barrel bomb]]s by the [[Syrian Arab Air Force|Syrian Air Force]],<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/in-syria-barrel-bombs-bring-a-new-form-of-terror-and-death-to-aleppo/2013/12/23/6f8a7f0c-6bed-11e3-aecc-85cb037b7236_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first1=Abigail | last1=Hauslohner | first2=Ahmed | last2=Ramadan | title=Middle East | date=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/bashar-al-assad-syria-president-regime-13000-barrel-bombs-rebels-aleppo-douma-2016-a7521656.html|title=Assad 'dropped 13,000 illegal barrel bombs on Syria in 2016', watchdog says|date=11 January 2017|website=independent.co.uk|last=McKernan|first=Bethan}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.publications.atlanticcouncil.org/breakingaleppo/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/BreakingAleppo.pdf|title=Breaking Aleppo|last1=Czuperski|first1=Maks|last2=Itani|first2=Faysal|last3=Nimmo|first3=Ben|last4=Higgins|first4=Eliot|last5=Beals|first5=Emma|publisher=Atlantic Council|year=2017|isbn=978-1-61977-449-0|access-date=3 March 2017|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413221722/http://www.publications.atlanticcouncil.org/breakingaleppo/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/BreakingAleppo.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/05/syria-forces-war-crime-barrel-bombs-aleppo-amnesty-report|title=Syria war: 'unthinkable atrocities' documented in report on Aleppo|first=Kareem|last=Shaheen|date=5 May 2015|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> the dropping of [[cluster munition]]s on populated areas by Russian and Syrian forces,<ref name="failure to acknowledge civilian killings" /><ref name="War Crimes in Month of Bombing Aleppo"/> the carrying out of "[[Double tap#Double tap missile strike|double tap]]" airstrikes to target rescue workers responding to previous strikes,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/25/aleppo-horror-dozens-of-civilians-killed-in-russian-and-syrian-s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/25/aleppo-horror-dozens-of-civilians-killed-in-russian-and-syrian-s |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Aleppo horror: dozens of civilians killed in Russian and Syrian strikes and rebel bombardment|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=25 September 2016|last1=Sanchez|first1=Raf}}{{cbignore}}</ref> summary executions of civilians and captured soldiers by both sides,<ref name="TORTURE WAS MY PUNISHMENT">{{cite web |title=TORTURE WAS MY PUNISHMENT' ABDUCTIONS, TORTURE AND SUMMARY KILLINGS UNDER ARMED GROUP RULE IN ALEPPO AND IDLEB, SYRIA|publisher= Amnesty International |date=5 July 2016 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde24/4227/2016/en/|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/20/iran-brutalizing-aleppo-executing-most-atrocious-w/|title=Iran brutalizing Aleppo, executing 'most atrocious war crimes' of 21st century|website=The Washington Times}}</ref> indiscriminate shelling and use of highly inaccurate [[Improvised artillery in the Syrian Civil War|improvised artillery]] by rebel forces.<ref name="Ara News">{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/03/syrian-islamist-rebels-renew-chemical-attack-kurdish-district-aleppo/|title=Syrian Islamist rebels renew chemical attack on Kurdish district in Aleppo|publisher=Ara News|date=14 March 2016|access-date=11 June 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516001625/http://aranews.net/2016/03/syrian-islamist-rebels-renew-chemical-attack-kurdish-district-aleppo/|archive-date=16 May 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Fields|first1=Liz|title='Hell Cannons' Have Slaughtered More Than 300 Syrian Civilians|url=https://news.vice.com/article/hell-cannons-have-slaughtered-more-than-300-syrian-civilians|website=Vice News|access-date=24 December 2016|date=12 December 2014}}</ref> During the [[Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)|2016 Syrian government offensive]], the [[UN High Commissioner for Human Rights]] warned that "crimes of historic proportions" were being committed in Aleppo.<ref>{{cite web|title='Crimes of historic proportions' being committed in Aleppo, UN rights chief warns|date=21 October 2016|url=https://
After four years of fighting, the battle represents one of the [[List of sieges|longest sieges]] in modern warfare and one of the bloodiest battles of the Syrian Civil War, leaving over 31,000 people dead,<ref name=vdc/><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bandarin |first=Francesco |date=2022-09-20 |title=The Destruction of Aleppo: The Impact of the Syrian War on a World Heritage City |url=https://www.getty.edu/publications/cultural-heritage-mass-atrocities/part-2/10-bandarin/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=Cultural Heritage and Mass Atrocities |language=en}}</ref> almost a tenth of the estimated overall war casualties at that time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/staffan-de-mistura-400000-killed-syria-civil-war-160423055735629.html|title=Syria death toll: UN envoy estimates 400,000 killed|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> Fighting also caused severe destruction to the [[Old City of Aleppo]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/world/middleeast/syrian-war-takes-heavy-toll-at-a-crossroad-of-cultures.html |title=Syrian war takes heavy toll at a crossroad of cultures |date=16 April 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> An estimated 33,500 buildings have been either damaged or destroyed.<ref name="Washington Post 33500"/> It is considered one of the worst urban battles fought in the 21st century, due to its length and destruction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-15 |title=Syria: Aleppo "One of the most devastating urban conflicts in modern times" |url=https://www.icrc.org/en/document/syria-news-cities-aleppo-one-most-devastating-urban-conflicts |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=International Committee of the Red Cross |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-09 |title=Syria: Ruling over Aleppo's Ruins |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/syria/syria-ruling-over-aleppos-ruins |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=www.crisisgroup.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-13 |title=Urban Warfare: No one is spared as cities become battlefields |url=https://www.icrcnewsroom.org/story/en/1703/urban-warfare-no-one-is-spared-as-cities-become-battlefields |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=Multimedia Newsroom of the International Committee of the Red Cross |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2"/>
Line 172:
== 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.]]
At the beginning of the Battle of Aleppo, rebels reportedly had between 6,000<ref>{{cite news|author=Martin Chulov |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/04/aleppo-syria-civil-war |title=War for Aleppo: battle rages in city that will determine fate of Syria |newspaper=Guardian |date=4 August 2012 |access-date=2 November 2012 |location=London}}</ref> and 7,000<ref name="new offensive">{{cite news|author=Matthew Weaver and Brian Whitaker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/middle-east-live/2012/aug/08/syria-crisis-rebels-kill-russian-general-live |title=Syria crisis: Assad's new offensive in Aleppo – live updates |newspaper=Guardian |date=8 August 2012|access-date=2 November 2012 |location=London}}</ref> fighters in 18 battalions.<ref name="keycities">{{cite news|author=Ivan Watson |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/26/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html |title=Battles for key cities of Aleppo, Damascus heat up in Syrian civil war |publisher=CNN |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=2 November 2012}}</ref> The largest rebel group was the [[al-Tawhid Brigade]] and the most prominent was the [[Free Syrian Army]], largely composed of army defectors. Most of the rebels came from the Aleppo countryside and from towns including [[Al-Bab]], [[Mare'|Marea]], [[Azaz]], [[Tel Rifaat]] and [[Manbij]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian rebels fight on for Aleppo despite local wariness |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/21/syrian-rebels-aleppo-local-hostility |last=Chulov |first=Martin |date=21 August 2012 |access-date=9 September 2012 |location=London |work=The Guardian}}</ref> A resident of Aleppo reportedly accused the rebels of using civilian homes for shelter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Sep-27/189319-aleppo-residents-caught-in-crossfire-losing-faith-in-rebels.ashx#ixzz27cMjLaFd |title=Aleppo residents caught in crossfire losing faith in rebels |newspaper=Daily Star |date=27 September 2012 |access-date=2 November 2012 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929091115/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Sep-27/189319-aleppo-residents-caught-in-crossfire-losing-faith-in-rebels.ashx#ixzz27cMjLaFd |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 19 November 2012, the rebel fighters—particularly the al-Tawhid Brigade and the al-Nusra Front—initially rejected the newly formed [[Syrian National Coalition]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian Islamists Reject Western-Backed Opposition |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/syrian-islamist-groups-reject-opposition-coalition-17758755#.UKq0Z-T8KW0 |last=Kennedy |first=Elizabeth |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=19 November 2012 |access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> However, the next day the rebels withdrew their rejection.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aleppo rebels retract rejection of coalition |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/2012112016567298627.html |last=Atassi |first=Basma |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |date=20 November 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref>
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>
Line 205:
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>
On 8 November, the [[Syrian Army]] started an offensive against the rebel-held Base 80, launching "the heaviest barrage in more than a year".<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria troops launch major offensive in Aleppo|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/11/syria-troops-launch-major-offensive-aleppo-201311863542920283.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> ''[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]'' wrote that a government victory would cut the rebels' route between the city and al-Bab.<ref>{{cite web|title=Backed by tanks and artillery|url=http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Syria_Live_Blog/95575090|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=26 July 2015}}</ref> Two days later, [[Reuters]] reported that the rebels had regrouped to fight the Syrian army.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian army closes in on Aleppo after dawn attack|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-aleppo-idUSBRE9A70JN20131108|work=Reuters|access-date=26 July 2015|date=8 November 2013|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203131824/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/08/us-syria-crisis-aleppo-idUSBRE9A70JN20131108|url-status=live}}</ref> Fifteen rebels were killed and the army recaptured the base.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syria army retakes parts of base by Aleppo airport: NGO|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/syria-army-retakes-parts-of-base-by-aleppo-airport-ngo-113110800979_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|access-date=26 July 2015|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=8 November 2013}}</ref> The following month, the army partially besieged the city in [[Operation Canopus Star]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Syrian army to impose blockade in Aleppo|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2014/03/syria-army-impose-blockade-militants-aleppo.html#|publisher=Al Monitor|access-date=26 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713202354/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2014/03/syria-army-impose-blockade-militants-aleppo.html|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> During the offensive, Army helicopters attacked with [[barrel bomb]]s, killing more than a thousand people, according to the Free Syrian Army's Abu Firas Al-Halabi.<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria: Intense Aleppo offensive prompts mass exodus|url=http://www.aawsat.net/2013/12/article55325898|publisher=Aawsat|access-date=26 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128061147/http://www.aawsat.net/2013/12/article55325898|archive-date=28 January 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
=== 2014: Syrian government encirclement of the rebels ===
Line 229:
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 early July, two rebel coalitions launched an [[Aleppo offensive (July 2015)|offensive]] against the government-held western half of the city.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-33373410|title=Syria military resists major rebel assault in Aleppo|work=BBC News|date=3 July 2015}}</ref> During five days of fighting, the rebels seized the Scientific Research Center on Aleppo's western outskirts, which was being used as a military barracks. Two rebel attacks on the Jamiyat al-Zahra area were repelled. Government forces launched an unsuccessful counter-attack against the Scientific Research Center.<ref name="Guardian_4July2015">{{cite news |title=Syrian rebels advance in government-held Aleppo |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/04/syrian-rebels-advance-west-government-held-aleppo |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 July 2015 |access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite
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>
| |||