:2013 Daraa offensive
{{Short description|Military operation in Syria}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = 2013 Daraa offensive
| partof = the Syrian civil war
| image = Daraa Governorate (June 15 2013).svg
| image_size = 290px
| caption = Situation in Daraa governorate, mid-June 2013
| date = 3 March – 10 April 2013
({{Age in months, weeks and days|month1=03|day1=03|year1=2013|month2=04|day2=10|year2=2013}})
| place = Daraa Governorate, Syria
| result = Partial rebel victory
- Rebels take control of several towns and villages along the border, as well as five Army bases
- Syrian army launches a counter-attack retaking two towns{{Cite web |url=https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-11/world/38444422_1_opposition-fighters-daraa-sanamein |title=Syrian troops launch counteroffensive in south near Jordan |access-date=2017-08-23 |archive-date=2019-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212222805/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ |url-status=dead }}[http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-10-april-2013/ Wednesday 10 April 2013]
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Free Syrian Army
- {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg}} (several Islamic battalions)
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Syria|1980}} Syrian Arab Republic
- {{flagicon image|Syrian Armed Forces Flag.svg}} Syrian Armed Forces
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Air Force.svg}} Syrian Air Force
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate.png}} Security Agencies
- Shabiha
| commander1 = Ltc. Yasser al-Abboud{{KIA}}
| commander2 = Gen. Mohsin Makhlouf
Col. Saleh Nejdah
| units1 = Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade{{cite web|url=http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/liwa-shuhada-al-yarmouk-history-and-analysis/|title=Liwa Shuhada' al-Yarmouk: History and Analysis|work=Syria Comment|access-date=18 September 2015|date=30 July 2016}}
| units2 = 5th Armoured Division
- 15th Armoured Brigade
- 61st Army Regiment
- 555th SF (Airborne) Regiment
| casualties1 = 40 killed[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/201333142627387462.html Syria rebels 'capture most of police academy'][https://www.foxnews.com/world/syrian-rebels-capture-key-town-near-jordan-border-after-clashes-kill-38 Syrian rebels capture key town near Jordan border after clashes kill 38][https://www.voanews.com/a/activists-say-battle-in-syria-killed-50/1639454.html Activists: Battle in Syria's South Kills 50]
| casualties3 = 29 civilians killed
}}
{{Campaignbox Syrian uprising}}
{{Campaignbox Daraa Campaign}}
The 2013 Daraa offensive was a campaign during the Syrian Civil War launched by the FSA in the Daraa Governorate to capture the strategic border area. The offensive began in early March 2013. During the campaign, rebel forces captured several bases and towns. The offensive was eventually halted following an Army counter-offensive in mid-April, which resulted in the recapture of a few towns and villages. After that, the rebels continued their advance by launching a counter-offensive of their own.
Background
In early 2013, rebels in southern Syria started receiving an influx of foreign-funded weapons over the border from Jordan. This gave them a new momentum, with the rebels preparing an offensive to capture the strategically important region along the border with Jordan that would give them a critical gateway to attempt an attack on the capital, Damascus.[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10875379 Syrian rebels set their sights on strategic south]
Offensive
=Rebel attack=
File:Daraa (March 15 2013).svg
On 3 March, rebels seized an artillery battalion in Jalma village near the Israeli Armistice line. Eight rebels were killed in the fighting, and SOHR stated that the rebels summarily executed the battalion commander.
On 23 March, several rebel groups captured the 38th division air defense base of the Syrian Army in near a strategic highway linking Damascus to Jordan, and killed the base commander, General Mahmoud Darwish.{{Cite news |date=23 March 2013 |title=Syria rebels seize key military base in Daraa |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/2013/03/23/Syria-rebels-seize-key-military-base-in-Daraa |access-date=26 September 2024 |work=Al Arabiya |publisher=Agence France-Presse}}
On the next day, rebels captured a 25 km strip of land near the Jordanian border, which included the towns of Muzrib, Abdin, and the al-Rai military checkpoint.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Mar-24/211277-activists-clashes-in-syria-near-jordan-border.ashx#axzz2OSgwmleH |title=Activists report Syria clashes near Jordan border |access-date=2013-05-02 |archive-date=2017-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010135353/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/Middle-East/2013/Mar-24/211277-activists-clashes-in-syria-near-jordan-border.ashx#axzz2OSgwmleH |url-status=dead }}
On 29 March, rebels seized control of the strategic town of Da'el, located 10 miles from the Jordanian border, after days of fierce fighting which left 38 people dead, including 16 rebels.
On 3 April, rebels captured the air defense base of the 49th battalion of the Syrian Army in the town of Alma in the northern outskirts of Daraa.{{cite web |title=New Rebel Gains Reported in Southern Syria With Seizure of Military Base (Published 2013) |website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520213931/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/world/middleeast/Syria-rebels.html?_r=0 |archive-date=2022-05-20 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/world/middleeast/Syria-rebels.html?_r=0}}
On 5 April, rebels captured an Army garrison defending the main border crossing into Jordan, after a week-long siege in which dozens were reportedly killed.[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/2013451652550741.html Syrian rebels claim to seize border post]
=Government counter-attack=
On 10 April, the Syrian Army launched a counter-attack on the town of Sanamein and Ghabagheb, seizing control of Sanamein. Syrian state TV reported that the Army launched operations against Tafas, Dael and Jassim as well. 54 people were killed during the fighting in Sanamein: 29 civilians, 16 rebels, 9 soldiers and three defectors.
Aftermath
=Reopening of Army supply line and stalemate=
On 8 May, government forces captured the strategic town of Khirbet Ghazaleh, situated along the highway to the Jordanian border. Over 1,000 rebel fighters withdrew from the town due to the lack of reinforcements and ammunition. The loss of the town also resulted in the reopening of the government supply-route to the contested city of Daraa. The rebels continued to withdraw from other towns and decided not to face the Army's advance along the highway because they no longer had ammunition.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-town-idUSBRE94703H20130508 Assad's forces capture strategic town in southern Syria] However, later in the day, an opposition commander claimed that the retreat was part of a rebel plan to set up a trap for government forces and that the opposition fighters managed to recapture the town. Still, this was denied by the opposition group SOHR which stated that the rebels had managed only to recapture one neighbourhood and fighting was still ongoing in the town.[http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/syrian-rebels-claim-control-of-key-town-20130508-2j8hn.html Syrian rebels claim control of key town][http://forum.ge/?f=86&showtopic=34499230&st=1185 სირიის კრიზისი, III ნაწილი]
On 12 May, government forces took complete control of Khirbet Ghazaleh and secured the highway near the town.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syrian-troops-retake-strategic-town-8613515.html Syrian troops retake strategic town]
By early June, according to Jordanian border guards and militias, the rebels were conducting primitive attacks against Syrian Army positions on the other side of the border. “They attack the checkpoints in a primitive way,” according to a Jordanian commander. “Sometimes you see them holding their weapons awkwardly and wasting their ammunition. They almost never take advantage of the vehicles and equipment the Syrians leave behind. It is clear from watching them that they are not well-trained.” The Syrian military was edging closer towards the border and their success against the rebels was credited to the recent arrival of more improved gear and vehicles, not seen before, for the Syrian Army. These include drones, anti-mortar systems and communications jamming devices. The anti-mortar systems deployed in some areas allow the Syrian military to trace the source of mortar fire and even strike before the rebels launch an attack.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-iranian-technology-is-boosting-assads-assault-on-syrian-rebels/2013/06/01/aefad718-ca26-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html Russian, Iranian technology is boosting Assad’s assault on Syrian rebels][https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/in-jordan-informal-militias-form-to-guard-against-potential-syrian-attacks/2013/05/29/8f0dc050-c189-11e2-ab60-67bba7be7813_story.html In Jordan, informal militias form to guard against potential Syrian attacks]
In late June, rebel forces were in fear of being routed by the Army in southern Syria and losing control of their safe zones on the Jordanian border. By 26 June, government forces had captured the villages of Itlaa and Basr As Sham and fighting was raging outside the village of al-Sheikh Maskin.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-rebels-say-they-need-us-weapons-now/2013/06/26/103d1d70-dd13-11e2-a484-7b7f79cd66a1_story.html Syrian rebels say they need U.S. weapons now]
=Slow rebel advances=
File:Daraa (October 15 2013).svg
On 28 June, rebels, including units of Al-Nusra Front, took control of the strategically important Binayat checkpoint in Daraa city. They also occupied the area around the Omari mosque in the southern part of the city, which was a focal point of the initial protests in March 2011.{{cite web |title=Syrian Rebels Claim Big Gains in City Where Protests Began (Published 2013) |website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523041342/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/world/middleeast/syrian-rebels-claim-to-control-most-of-city-where-protests-began.html?ref=world |archive-date=2020-05-23 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/world/middleeast/syrian-rebels-claim-to-control-most-of-city-where-protests-began.html?ref=world}}
On 8 August, Ahmad Jarba, president of the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition, crossed from Jordan into rebel-held territory in Daraa Province to meet with refugees and observe Id al-Fitr. He was accompanied by Ahmad Nima, leader of the FSA Daraa Military Council.{{cite web |title=Syrian opposition visits Deraa in challenge to Assad |website=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620092850/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-opposition-idUSBRE9770SR20130808 |archive-date=2020-06-20 |url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-opposition-idUSBRE9770SR20130808}}
On 28 September, rebels including groups linked to Al Qaeda seized the Ramtha border crossing on the Syria-Jordan border after days of fighting which left 26 soldiers dead along with 7 foreign rebel fighters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/09/student-deaths-reported-syria-air-raids-201392914391313718.html|title = Students reported killed in Syria air attack}} On 9 October, rebels also seized the Hajanar border crossing on the Jordanian border near Daraa after a month of fierce fighting. Its fall meant rebels were now in control of a swath of territory along the border from outside of Daraa to the edge of Golan Heights.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/131009/syria-rebels-seize-guard-post-jordan-border-0 |title = Syria rebels seize guard post on Jordan border {{!}} GlobalPost |access-date=2014-02-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210064929/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/131009/syria-rebels-seize-guard-post-jordan-border-0 |archive-date=2013-12-10 }}
On 21 October, FSA chief Yasser Abbud (aka Abu Ammar), leader of the Fallujah-Houran brigade was killed during fighting with the army in Tafas. He was once the commander of the military council of the FSA.[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/84415/World/Region/Senior-Syria-rebel-chief-killed-in-clashes-with-ar.aspx Senior Syria rebel chief killed in clashes with army][https://world.time.com/2013/10/21/syrian-troops-kill-defector/ Syrian Troops Kill Defector] Time, 21 October 2013
On 2 December, Islamist rebels managed to capture an armament battalion base near the town of Busir al Harir, several soldiers were captured during the attack.{{cn|date=January 2023}} One month later, rebels claimed to have taken control of the hospital in the town of Jasem, where government forces had previously been based.{{Cite web|url=http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Syria_Live_Blog|title = Al Jazeera Live | Today's latest from al Jazeera}}