East Aleppo offensive (2017)
The East Aleppo offensive (2017), also referred to as the Dayr Hafir offensive, was an operation launched by the Syrian Army to prevent Turkish-backed rebel forces from advancing deeper into Syria, and also to ultimately capture the ISIL stronghold of Dayr Hafir. Another aim of the operation was to gain control of the water source for Aleppo city, at the Khafsa Water Treatment Plant, in addition to capturing the Jirah Military Airbase. At the same time, the Turkish-backed rebel groups turned towards the east and started launching attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces, west of Manbij.
East Aleppo offensive (2017) | ||||||||
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Part of the Syrian civil war, the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War, and the Russian military intervention in Syria | ||||||||
Map of the wider campaigns in northern Aleppo as of 11 March 2017 Syrian Armed Forces and allied groups Syrian Democratic Forces | ||||||||
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Belligerents | ||||||||
Syrian Arab Republic
Russia
Syrian Democratic Forces (27 Feb.–6 Mar.)
Support:
| Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
Hawar Kilis Operations Room (26 Feb.–6 Mar.)
Turkey (1–6 Mar.) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan Adnan Abu Amjad (Manbij Military Council top commander) Ahmad Arsh (Manbij Revolutionaries Battalion commander) |
Muhammad Al-Awad Hassan Al-Jam'ah † (Field commander) |
Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı (Operations chief commander) Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel (Second Army commander) | ||||||
Units involved | ||||||||
Syrian Armed Forces
United States special operations forces (against ISIL only) | Military of ISIL | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | ||||||||
10,000 soldiers (pro-government claim) 300+ US soldiers, 50 armoured vehicles | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | ||||||||
72+ killed (anti-government claims) 31 killed, 8 captured (per SDF) 71 killed (per Turkey) | 1,250+ killed |
12–24 killed | ||||||
26,000 civilians fled |