Daraa Governorate clashes (2011–2013)

2011–2013 Daraa Governorate clashes
	Part of the Early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War and 2012–2013 phase of the Syrian civil war
	; Approximate situation in Daraa governorate, mid-August 2012
Date	14 November 2011 – 3 January 2013 (1 year, 1 month, 2 weeks and 6 days)
Location	Daraa Governorate, Syria
Result	Rebel victory FSA captures several districts Daraa City, and other towns in the Daraa Province; 2012 Army counter-offensives; FSA forces launch an offensive to capture the entire governorate.;
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army	Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Army; Syrian Air Force; Security agencies; Shabiha;
Commanders and leaders
LTC. Yasser al-Abboud; Muammar Kaif	Gen. Mohsin Makhlouf; Col. Saleh Nejdah
Units involved
Unknown	5th Mechanized Division 15th Mechanized Brigade; 4th Armoured Division 555th SF (Airborne) Regiment; 61st Army Regiment
Strength
4,000	3,000
Casualties and losses
≈950 killed	526 killed
	at least 470 civilians and protesters killed, several dozen wounded and 190 detained

The 2011–2013 Daraa Governorate clashes are a series of military confrontations between the Syrian Army and the Free Syrian Army in Daraa Governorate, Syria, which began in November 2011, after widescale protests and crackdown on protesters in Daraa had lasted since April 2011. The clashes had been ongoing as part of the Syrian civil war, until the U.N. brokered cease fire came into effect on 14 April 2012. Sporadic clashes continued since then, however.

Although there were some civilian protests, Arab League observers have been posted in the area, and one of them claimed to see snipers in the city. "We saw snipers in the town, we saw them with our own eyes," the observer told residents in a conversation filmed and posted online. "We're going to ask the government to remove them immediately. We'll be in touch with the Arab League back in Cairo. If the snipers are not gone in 24 hours, then there will be other measures taken." Civilian protesters have died.

On 16 February 2012, the army reportedly attacked Daraa, shelling the city heavily. This was apparently because, "Deraa has been regaining its role in the uprising. Demonstrations have resumed and the Free Syrian Army has been providing security for protests in some parts of the city." The attack was part of a security force push "to regain control of areas they lost in recent weeks", indicating FSA in Daraa had taken control of parts of the city. Security forces attacked at least three districts, but FSA fighters fought back, firing at army roadblocks and buildings housing security police and militiamen. An activist said that there had been a military build-up near Daraa for the previous two weeks. Images taken by residents appears to have shown military tanks in Daraa, and at least three security force members were initially killed in the fighting.

On 14 March 2012, fighters from the Free Syrian Army controlled at least 1 main district in the city of Daraa (Al-Balad district) which made the Syrian army attack it by firing anti-aircraft guns into buildings of the FSA-controlled district.

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