2016 Dabiq offensive

{{Short description|Military offensive}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = 2016 Dabiq offensive

| width =

| partof = Operation Euphrates Shield and the Syrian Civil War

| image = Northern al-Bab offensive (2016) (within Northern Syria).svg

| image_size = 300px

| caption = Map of the wider Turkish-led operations in northern Aleppo and the wider campaigns in Aleppo

| date = 28 September – 16 October 2016
({{Age in months, weeks and days|month1=9|day1=28|year1=2016|month2=10|day2=16|year2=2016}})

| place = Aleppo Governorate, Syria

| territory =

| result =

| status = SNA-Turkish victory

• SNA and Turkish forces capture Dabiq, Sawran, Akhtarin and 43 other towns and villages

| combatants_header =

| combatant1 = {{flag|Turkey}}
{{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Syrian rebels
Support:

• {{flag|United States}}

| combatant2 = {{flag|Islamic State}}

| commander1 = {{flagicon|Turkey}} Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-special-forces-from-stopping-a-coup-to-the-frontline-of-the-isil-fight.aspx?pageID=238&nID=103178&NewsCatID=352 Turkish Special Forces: From stopping a coup to the frontline of the ISIL fight] Hürriyet Daily News, 24 August 2016.
({{small|Operations chief commander}})
{{flagicon|Turkey}} Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN1111F1|title=Turkey signals no quick end to Syria incursion as truck bomb kills police|author=Nick Tattersall|author2=Humeyra Pamuk|work=Reuters|date=26 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/korgeneral-ismail-metin-temel-cerablusta-40208457|title=Korgeneral İsmail Metin Temel Cerablus'ta|publisher=Hürriyet Daily News|date=26 August 2016}}
({{small|Second Army commander}})
{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}}{{flagicon image|Flag of the Sultan Murad Brigade.png}} Col. Ahmed Othman{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/turkey-targets-islamic-state-in-syrian-border-town/3478539.html|title=Turkish Forces and Rebels Storm Into Syria, Taking IS Stronghold of Jarablus|publisher=VOA|date=24 August 2016}}
({{small|Sultan Murad Division commander}})
{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}}{{flagicon image|Flag of the Sultan Murad Brigade.png}} Fahim Issa{{cite web|url=http://sultanmurattumeni.com/entry/slug-d8krvl|title=SULTAN MURAT TÜMENİ KOMUTANI FEHİM İSA TATHAMUS TÜRKMEN KÖYÜNÜN DEAŞ TERÖR ÖRGÜTÜNDEN TEMİZLENDİĞİNİ AÇIKLADI|date=24 August 2016}}
({{small|Sultan Murad Division commander}})
{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}}{{flagicon image|Flag of the Sultan Murad Brigade.png}} Ali Şeyh Salih{{cite web|url=http://haber.star.com.tr/dunya/sultan-murat-tugaylari-once-cobanbey-ardindan-menbice/haber-1136807|title=Sultan Murat Tugayları: Önce Çobanbey ardından Menbiç'e ilerleyeceğiz|date=25 August 2016|access-date=7 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826172936/http://haber.star.com.tr/dunya/sultan-murat-tugaylari-once-cobanbey-ardindan-menbice/haber-1136807|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=dead}}{{DOW}}{{cite web|url=http://www.swe-turk.com/2016/10/04/turkmen-komutanimiz-ali-salih-sehit-dustu/|title=TÜRKMEN KOMUTANIMIZ ALİ SALİH ŞEHİT DÜŞTÜ|date=4 October 2016|access-date=2016-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006035505/http://www.swe-turk.com/2016/10/04/turkmen-komutanimiz-ali-salih-sehit-dustu/|archive-date=2016-10-06|url-status=dead}}
({{small|Sultan Murad Division field commander}})
{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Muhammad al-Gabi{{cite web|url=http://www.yenisafak.com/dunya/oso-komutanlarindan-turkiyeye-tesekkur-2516873|title=ÖSO komutanlarından Türkiye'ye teşekkür|date=25 August 2016}}
({{small|Liberation Army commander}})
{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Mohammad Abu Ibrahim{{cite web|url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/567306-turkey-backed-rebels-set-sights-on-key-isis-held-town|title=Turkey-backed rebels aim for key ISIS-held town|author=Albin Szakola|publisher=NOW.|date=25 August 2016|access-date=7 October 2016|archive-date=16 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016232204/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/567306-turkey-backed-rebels-set-sights-on-key-isis-held-town|url-status=dead}}
{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}}{{flagicon image|Flag of the al-Moutasem Brigade.png}} Mustafa Sejari
({{small|Al-Moutasem Brigade political leader}})
{{flagicon image|Liwa Ahfad Saladin variant opposition flag.svg}} Mahmoud Abu Hamza{{cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/news/turkish-backed-fsa-rebels-set-their-sights-on-last-is-aleppo-stronghold%C2%A0after-border-victory/|title=Turkish-backed FSA rebels set their sights on last IS Aleppo stronghold after border victory|work=Syria:direct|date=5 September 2016|access-date=7 October 2016|archive-date=24 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224220950/https://syriadirect.org/news/turkish-backed-fsa-rebels-set-their-sights-on-last-is-aleppo-stronghold%C2%A0after-border-victory/|url-status=dead}} (Descendants of Saladin Brigade commander)
{{flagicon image|Al-Liwaa.svg}} Capt. Abdel Salam Abdel Razaq (Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement commander)
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Sham Legion.svg}} Capt. Mohammed Abu Mustafa
({{small|Sham Legion commander}})
{{flagicon image|Al-Liwaa.svg}} Abu Jafer{{cite web|url=http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/41k-turkish-soldiers-ready-to-support-operation-al-bab-2535329|title=41K Turkish soldiers ready to support operation Al Bab|publisher=Yeni Şafak|date=22 September 2016|access-date=22 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923002133/http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/41k-turkish-soldiers-ready-to-support-operation-al-bab-2535329|archive-date=2016-09-23|url-status=dead}} ({{small|Brigade of Conquest commander}})

| commander2 = Unknown

| units1 = {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkish Armed Forces

• {{flagicon image|Flag of Turkish Land Forces Command.svg}} Turkish Land Forces
• {{flagicon image|Flag of Turkish Air Force Command.svg}} Turkish Air Force
• {{flagicon image||border=}} Special Forces

{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Hawar Kilis Operations Room

• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Sultan Murad Brigade.png}} Sultan Murad Division{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/live-turkish-military-coalition-forces-launch-euphrates-shield-operation-in-jarablus.aspx?pageID=238&nID=103175&NewsCatID=352 |title=Çobanbey'in ardından muhaliflerin yeni hedefi Cerablus|work=AJANS HABER|date= 9 April 2016}}{{cite web |url= http://www.ajanshaber.com/zaferin-ardindan-yeni-hedef-cerablus-haberi/346589 |title= LIVE: Turkish military, coalition forces launch 'Euphrates Shield' operation in Jarablus |work= Hürriyet Daily News |date= 24 August 2016 |access-date= 7 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160924024852/http://www.ajanshaber.com/zaferin-ardindan-yeni-hedef-cerablus-haberi/346589 |archive-date= 24 September 2016 |url-status= dead }}
• {{Flagicon image|Liwa Ahfad Saladin variant opposition flag.svg}} Descendants of Saladin Brigade
• {{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Hamza Division{{cite web |url= http://www.dw.com/tr/analiz-f%C4%B1rat-kalkan%C4%B1nda-bir-haftal%C4%B1k-bilan%C3%A7o/a-19520809 |title= Analiz: Fırat Kalkanı'nda bir haftalık bilanço |author= Serhat Erkmen |publisher= DW |date= 1 September 2016}}
• {{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Levant Front{{cite web |url= http://jkalternativeviewpoint.com/jkalternate/?p=8419 |title= Syria à la Carte: Turkish Invasion Highlights Rapidly Shifting Alliances-Maximilian Popp and Christoph Reuter |publisher= JK Alternative Viewpoint |date= 31 August 2016 |access-date= 2016-10-07 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160901141820/http://jkalternativeviewpoint.com/jkalternate/?p=8419 |archive-date= 2016-09-01 |url-status= dead }}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the al-Moutasem Brigade.png}} Al-Moutasem Brigade
• {{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Fastaqim Union{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/FkoUnion/status/777511166851637248|title=تعزية الفصائل العسكرية باستشهاد القائد العسكري للقوة المركزية في الفرقة13|work=Fastaqim Union on Twitter|date=18 September 2016}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Sham Legion.svg}} Sham Legion{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-led-forces-capture-first-village-northern-syria/|title=Turkish-led forces capture first village in northern Syria|work=al-Masdar News|date=24 August 2016|access-date=7 October 2016|archive-date=5 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005024546/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-led-forces-capture-first-village-northern-syria/|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Akhtarin Military Council ({{small|from 3 October 2016}}){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pEjVGO3ges|title=بيان تشكيل المجلس العسكري لمدينة أخترين و ريفها|website=YouTube |date=3 October 2016}}

{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Free Idlib Army{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/new-rebel-group-formed-idlib/|title=New rebel group formed in Idlib|work=AMN|date=20 September 2016|access-date=7 October 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923100636/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/new-rebel-group-formed-idlib/|url-status=dead}}

• {{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} 13th Division

{{Flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Liberation Army{{cite web |url= http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/08/2-us-backed-groups-clash-in-northern-syria.php |title= Two US-backed groups clash in northern Syria |author=Caleb Weiss |publisher= The Long War Journal |date= 29 August 2016}}

{{flagicon image|Al-Liwaa.svg}} Brigade of Conquest{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/naher-osten/krieg-in-syrien-die-trennlinien-verschwimmen-14405762.html|title=Krieg in Syrien - Die Trennlinien verschwimmen |author=Christoph Ehrhardt|language=de|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date=26 August 2016}}

Other Syrian rebels

{{flagicon image|Al-Liwaa.svg}} Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement

{{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} Ahrar al-Sham{{cite web|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/turkish-tanks-and-spec-ops-attack-islamic-state-forces-in-syria|title=U.S. warplanes support Turkish tanks attacking Islamic State forces in Syria|author=Susan Fraser|author2=Philip Issa|work=Military Times|date=24 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/el_sarkis/status/778286244371566592|title=fouad sarkis on Twitter|access-date=26 September 2016}}

| units2 = Unknown

| strength1 = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} 2,000 SNA{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-17/is-dabiq-captured-opposition-forces/7937494|title=Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces take Dabiq from IS|newspaper=ABC News |date=17 October 2016|access-date=18 October 2016}}
{{flagicon|Turkey}} 500 soldiers{{cite web|url=http://alwatan.sy/archives/70016|title=With the launch of the third phase of Euphrates Shield, American advisors making their ranks|work=Al-Watan|date=18 September 2016}}
{{flagicon|USA}} 40 military advisors

| strength2 = 800+ militants[http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=52366 More than 1000 fighters of Jaysh al-Osra reach Dabiq; sheikhs at mosques declare “Dabiq epic is approaching”]

| casualties1 = 89+ SNA and 1 Turkish soldier killed21 killed (3 Oct.),[https://news.yahoo.com/mines-kill-21-turkey-backed-rebels-syria-monitor-100327598.html] 1 killed (4 Oct.),[http://aranews.net/2016/10/leader-turkey-backed-syrian-rebel-group-killed-aleppo/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007053015/http://aranews.net/2016/10/leader-turkey-backed-syrian-rebel-group-killed-aleppo/ |date=2016-10-07 }} 2 killed (5 Oct.),[http://www.timesofisrael.com/turkish-soldier-2-syrian-rebels-killed-fighting-is-in-syria/] 13 killed (7 Oct.),[http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51886] 2 killed (8 Oct.),[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN12905N] 30 killed (9–11 Oct.),[http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=52134] 2 killed (13 Oct.),[http://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2016/10/14/operation-euphrates-shield-update-day-52-62-daish-terrorists-killed] 9 killed (15 Oct.),[http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/10/17/03/01/significant-win-for-syrian-rebels-after-they-capture-isis-stronghold-dabiq] 9 killed (16 Oct.),[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-backed-syria-rebels-secure-dabiq-area-eye-al-bab-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=105031&NewsCatID=352] total of 89 reported killed{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN1250EF|title=Turkish troops clash with Islamic State in Syria|date=5 October 2016|access-date=9 October 2016|newspaper=Reuters}}

| casualties2 = 183–210+ killed[http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=51886 35 militants killed during clashes around Ikhtren area]{{cite web|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN12C0Q7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013143811/http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN12C0Q7|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2016|title=Turkish army says Islamic State putting up 'stiff resistance' in Syria - World - Reuters|access-date=18 October 2016}}

| casualties3 =

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Syrian uprising}} {{Campaignbox Turkey–ISIL conflict}} {{Campaignbox Operation Euphrates Shield}}

}}

The 2016 Dabiq offensive was a military offensive and part of the third phase of Operation Euphrates Shield launched by the Turkish Armed Forces and factions from the Free Syrian Army (FSA, a Syrian rebel group) and allied groups, with the goal of capturing the town of Dabiq, north of Aleppo from the Islamic State (IS).[http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/021020161 Turkish-backed rebels 3km from strategic Dabiq, northern Syria]{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-syria-dabiq-army-forces-propaganda-centre-a7343211.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-syria-dabiq-army-forces-propaganda-centre-a7343211.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Isis is preparing for an 'apocalyptic' battle to defend the village at the heart of its propaganda|website=Independent.co.uk |date=3 October 2016|access-date=9 October 2016}}{{cbignore}} It began in September and resulted in the capture of Dabiq by Turkish/FSA-allied forces on 16 October.