2012–2016 Sanamayn clashes

Battle in the Syrian civil war 2012-16 Sanamayn clashes Al-Sanamayn, Daraa Governorate, Syria Syrian Civil War Syria 1980 Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg Syrian Armed Forces Shabiha Hezbollah late 2012-December 2016 (Four years) Syrian Army and allies victory *Syrian Army recaptures the entire city Syrian Opposition Free Syrian Army Logo of the Southern Front.pngSouthern Front Local rebel groups Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg Syrian Armed Forces Flag of the Syrian Arab Army.svg Syrian Army 9th Armoured Division 5th Armoured Division 15th brigade 79th brigade 15th Special Forces Divisionhttps://www.orient-news.net/ar/news_show/2920/0/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%86%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF الصنمين: مجزرة مروعة وأعناق أبنائها تحت سكاكين الأسد InfoboxNDF.png National Defense Forces Military Intelligence Directorate Hezbollah Lebanese Hezbollah Syrian Opposition Alliance of Southern Forces 46th Infantry Division Liwa Sha'alat al-Thawra Liwa Fajr al-Tahrir Katibat Shuhada' al-Sanamayn (al-Sanamayn Martyrs Battalion) Katibat Nusrat al-Haq (Supporting the Truth Battalion)https://www.meforum.org/6671/reconciliation-in-syria-the-case-of-al-sanamayn 'Reconciliation' in Syria: The Case of Al-Sanamayn 150+(2016)https://stj-sy.org/en/concern-over-repeating-al-sanamayn-scenario-in-other-areas-despite-settlement-agreement-daraa/#_ftnref1 Daraa: Concern over Repeating "al-Sanamayn Scenario" in Other Areas despite the "Settlement Agreement" 22 April 2020 unknown unknown Yahya al-Rifa'i (Leader of Fire of the Revolution brigade) Maher al-Labad (Leader of Dawn of Liberation Brigade) Abu Fadi al-Saydali (Leader of al-Sanamayn Martyrs Battalion) Abd al-Latif al-Haimid (Leader of Supporting the Truth Brigades) The 2012-16 Sanamayn clashes was a military confrontation in the city of Sanamayn between the Syrian Arab Army, supported by Hezbollah, and local Syrian opposition fighters during the Syrian civil war. The battle lasted roughly three years until December 2016, and ended with opposition fighter inside the city laying down their weapons and settling their status with the Syrian government. The battle typically consisted of small clashes and skirmishes between the two sides as well as shelling of each other's positions. On occasion, the Syrian army would carry out raids against the rebel-held areas, some having led to significant civilian casualties.Parker Mary Casey-Baker, Jennifer Syrian opposition accuses government of massacre in Daraa province https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/04/12/syrian-opposition-accuses-government-of-massacre-in-daraa-province/ 2020-06-01 Foreign Policy en-US The Syrian Army imposed a siege against the rebel held areas first in late 2015, leading to a ceasefire between the two sides, and again in 2016, leading them to sign reconciliation agreements, ending fighting in the city.Al-Tamimi Aymenn Jawad 'Reconciliation' in Syria: The Case of Al-Sanamayn https://www.meforum.org/6671/reconciliation-in-syria-the-case-of-al-sanamayn 2020-06-01 Middle East Forum en Background During March 2011, Sanamayn, like other towns and cities across Syria, became the site of protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad. On one occasion, up to 20 protesters were killed after setting a statue of Hafez al-Assad on fire.Road to Damascus The Economist https://www.economist.com/newsbook/2011/03/26/road-to-damascus 2020-06-01 0013-0613 Late in the year, the first rebel groups in the city appeared, and more would follow in 2013. History In late 2012, the first rebel group in the town, the "Al-Sanamayn Revolutionaries Battalion" was formed. In early 2013, a rash of defections took place in the town, which was located on a strategic highway.Dozens killed in Syria in army assault https://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/2013411135719359514.html 2020-06-01 www.aljazeera.com Rebels would take over multiple areas of the city. The Syrian government remained in control of the military and security branches, main roads, heavily defended checkpoints such as the Qiyetah junction, and all military sites.الصنمين: مجزرة مروعة وأعناق أبنائها تحت سكاكين الأسد Sannine: a horrific massacre and the necks of its sons under the lion's knives https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/2920 live https://web.archive.org/web/20170503182626/http://www.orient-news.net:80/ar/news_show/2920 2017-05-03 2020-06-01 Orient News ar On 10 April 2013, the Syrian Army launched an assault on the city targeting the southern areas. The Syrian armed targeted the city with artillery and rocket fire from barracks outside the city as they prepared to storm the city with heavy weapons. All roads leading in and out of the city were closed. The Syrian Army, accompanied by Hezbollah and pro-government militias, stormed the town and battled their way to the city center, forcing rebel forces to withdraw from the areas. 20 houses were destroyed and at least 45 people were killed in Sanamayn alone in what was described as a massacre by opposition activists. The town of Ghabagheb, north of Sanamayn, was also stormed. 16 rebels were killed in fighting in the two towns according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Some listed the death count in Sanamayn as high as 60.Cowell Alan Gladstone Rick 12 April 2013 Syrian troops aim to reclaim southern sites lost to rebels https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2013/04/11/syrian-army-moves-retake-territory-south/HJXCSS9o2xqIfUNCIhDKTP/story.html 2020-06-01 The Boston Globe en-US Despite the operation, rebels would continue to have a presence in Sanamayn. More groups would emerge in the town with light and medium weapons. Although the rebels were present in multiple areas of the city, the Syrian government once again remained in control of the important military checkpoints and sites, such as the base of the 9th Division,bassamalahmed 2020-04-22 Daraa: Concern over Repeating "al-Sanamayn Scenario" in Other Areas despite the "Settlement Agreement" https://stj-sy.org/en/concern-over-repeating-al-sanamayn-scenario-in-other-areas-despite-settlement-agreement-daraa/ 2020-06-01 Syrians for Truth and Justice en-US and the roads passing through the city. Two local councils would be formed by the opposition in rebel-held areas of the town. The first was announced in August 2013, and later joined the Union of Local Councils in Daraa Province. The second was announced in November, headed by Yassin al-Atmeh, and linked through connections with other Daraa councils to the Syrian Interim Government. Despite this, the rebel-held neighborhoods of Sanamayn were mainly reliant on the Syrian government for most public services, with the local councils only able to oversee the distributions of gifts and aid on certain occasions. Due to this, and to the fact that the number of opposition fighters in the city was very small, the rebels in Sanamayn failed to play a significant role in the Daraa Governorate campaign. Skirmishes and clashes would take place between the two sides, with rebels launching attacks on the military and security sites, leading on occasion to escalations such as shelling. In December 2015, four civilians were reportedly killed in the town due to shelling, although it could not be verified whether or not this came from the Syrian Army or rebels in the Southern Front targeting pro-government sites in the area.agencies The New Arab & Regime bombardment across Syria kills over 50 civilians https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2015/12/5/regime-bombardment-across-syria-kills-over-50-civilians 2020-06-01 alaraby 5 December 2015 en In December 2015, the Syrian Army imposed a blockade on the rebel-held neighborhoods of Sanamayn in response for the factions carrying out an attack on a car carrying an officer and several soldiers. Negotiations took place between the Syrian Army and rebel factions resulting in a ceasefire between the two sides. In December 2016, in response to the theft of government property by a corrupt leader of a rebel faction, the Syrian Army once again besieged the rebel-held neighborhoods of Sanamayn and pressed for a reconciliation agreement. Under the terms, the rebels were to confiscate their weapons and pledge not to carry out any attacks, as well as join the regular forces or the Russian-led 5th corps. The rebels were divided on whether to negotiate or respond militarily to the Syrian Army's actions. During the siege, rebel fire from the Southern Front targeted government-held areas, leading to civilian casualties. In the end, 510 people, including 150 rebels, accepted the reconciliation agreement, and Sanamayn came under full government control. References Category:Daraa Governorate in the Syrian civil war Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2012 Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2013 Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2014 Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2015 Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2016 Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian government Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving Hezbollah