April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation
{{Short description|Organized assault by Syrian Army in Idlib province prior to UN brokered cease-fire}}
{{infobox military conflict
| conflict = April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation
| partof = Early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war
| date = 31 March – 14 April 2012
({{Age in months, weeks and days|month1=03|day1=31|year1=2012|month2=04|day2=14|year2=2012}})
| place = Idlib Governorate, Syria
| result = Syrian Army victory
| territory = The Syrian Army retakes Sarmin, Zardana and Taftanaz
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Syrian opposition
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Syria|1980}} Syrian government
| strength1 = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} 400 fighters
| strength2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} 1,000 soldiers
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} 90 tanks
| units1 = {{tree list}}
- {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Free Syrian Army
- {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Idlib Martyrs' Brigade
{{tree list/end}}
| units2 = {{tree list}}
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} Syrian Armed Forces
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Army.svg}} Syrian Army
- 1st Armoured Division
- 76th Armoured Brigade{{cite journal|url=https://www.hrw.org/node/106869/section/3|title="They Burned My Heart" – Human Rights Watch|journal=Human Rights Watch |date=2 May 2012|access-date=25 October 2014}}
- 84th Armoured Brigade
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Air Force.svg}} Syrian Air Force
{{tree list/end}}
| casualties1 = {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} 100+ fighters and opposition supporters killed
(number includes civilians){{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_20345927/syrian-refugees-flee-violence-talk-mass-graves|title=Syrian refugees flee violence, talk of mass graves|date=6 April 2012|access-date=25 October 2014}}
| casualties2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} 58 soldiers killed
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} At least 5 tanks destroyed or damaged{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/01/world/la-fg-syria-idlib-offensive-20120401/2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707044534/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/01/world/la-fg-syria-idlib-offensive-20120401/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2012|title=Outgunned Syria rebels turn to homemade bombs|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=25 October 2014}}
| casualties3 =
| notes =
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War}}
}}
The April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation was initiated by the Syrian Ba'athist government, in order to make gains against the rebels, prior to the implementation of the U.N. brokered ceasefire, planned for 10 April 2012.[http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/03/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html? hpt=hp_t2] The ceasefire was officially announced by the Syrian Ba'athist government and other sides on 14 April 2012.
Background
{{main|Idlib Governorate clashes (September 2011–March 2012)}}
Binnish throughout the Syrian civil war has been a major protest hub. It had been captured by the FSA. The Syrian Army then later assaulted Idlib city in March 2012 in a major operation. As early as March 23, it was reported Binnish was one of their next targets.{{cite web|url=http://sfluxe.com/2012/03/23/binnish-be-hell-world-news/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714075756/http://sfluxe.com/2012/03/23/binnish-be-hell-world-news/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2012 |title=SFLUXE |access-date=25 October 2014 }} Binnish is on a hill, so it is harder to assault. The Syrian Army had agreed to Kofi Annan's peace plan and to withdraw troops by April 10.
April Operation
On April 1, it was reported that the FSA was outgunned, so they were making homemade bombs to defend themselves.{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/01/world/la-fg-syria-idlib-offensive-20120401/2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707044534/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/01/world/la-fg-syria-idlib-offensive-20120401/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2012|title=Syria's outgunned rebels in Idlib turn to homemade bombs|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=25 October 2014}}
By April 3, the Syrian Army had retaken Sarmin. CNN reported they were assaulting Binnish, Taoum, Sarmin, and Taftanaz with tanks and helicopters.{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-03/middleeast/world_meast_syria-unrest_1_president-bashar-al-assad-idlib-local-coordination-committees?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST|title=Activist: After Syrian pullout vow, crackdown appears to escalate|date=3 April 2012|work=CNN|access-date=25 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425211104/http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-03/middleeast/world_meast_syria-unrest_1_president-bashar-al-assad-idlib-local-coordination-committees?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST|archive-date=2012-04-25|url-status=dead}}
On April 4, the Syrian Army was still shelling Binnish and Taftanaz. Citizens were reported to be fleeing Binnish, but could not flee Taftanaz because it was surrounded by the Syrian Army. 20 were reported killed in Taftanaz.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/04/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html?hpt=hp_t3|title=Violence rages in Syria despite high-level diplomacy|date=4 April 2012|work=CNN|access-date=25 October 2014}}
On April 5, the Syrian Army announced a pause in fighting in Taftanaz for residents to collect the dead.{{Cite web |url=http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/06/11043361-a-pause-in-fighting-allows-syrians-to-get-food-collect-their-dead-in-idlib?lite |title=PhotoBlog – A pause in fighting allows Syrians to get food, collect their dead in Idlib |date=6 April 2012 |access-date=7 April 2012 |website=MSNBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409015940/http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/06/11043361-a-pause-in-fighting-allows-syrians-to-get-food-collect-their-dead-in-idlib?lite |archive-date=9 April 2012 |url-status=dead}} Imagery released by Ambassador Robert Ford showed that the Army withdrew from Taftanaz after taking it, then took the nearby town of Zardana.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/us-embassy-damascus/a-message-from-ambassador-ford/10150655544736938|title=A Message from Ambassador Ford|website=Facebook |access-date=25 October 2014}}{{bsn|date=June 2025}}
On April 6, the Syrian Army started shelling the village of Killi.{{Cite web |title=Syria crisis, Bahrain unrest, Egypt turmoil – Friday 6 April |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2012/apr/06/syria-crisis-live-updates?newsfeed=true |last1=Siddique |first1=Haroon |last2=Whitaker |first2=Brian |website=The Guardian |date=6 April 2012 |access-date=25 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420022626/https://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2012/apr/06/syria-crisis-live-updates?newsfeed=true |archive-date=20 April 2014 |url-status=live}}
By April 7, it was reported at least 100 had been killed in Taftanaz and Killi.
On April 8, the Syrian Army, with about 90 tanks backed by helicopters, assaulted the al-Rouge plain with the FSA being surrounded and shelled in the village al-Bashiriyah in the plain.{{Cite web |title=Syrian rebels reject new demands |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/4/9/syrian-rebels-reject-new-demands |date=9 April 2012 |access-date=25 October 2014 |website=Al Jazeera English |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016115535/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/4/9/syrian-rebels-reject-new-demands |archive-date=16 October 2021 |url-status=live}}
On April 12, Khirbet al-Joz was reported to have been taken by the Syrian Army after two hours of clashes.{{Cite web |title=UN team ready for Syria deployment |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/4/13/un-team-ready-for-syria-deployment |date=13 April 2012 |access-date=25 October 2014 |website=Al Jazeera English |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304230018/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/4/13/un-team-ready-for-syria-deployment |archive-date=4 March 2021 |url-status=live}}
On April 13, though, it was reported the FSA still held Khirbet al-Joz and shelling was ongoing.{{Cite web |title=UN monitors head to Syria as fighting rages |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/4/15/un-monitors-head-to-syria-as-fighting-rages |date=15 April 2012 |access-date=25 October 2014 |website=Al Jazeera English |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016110420/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/4/15/un-monitors-head-to-syria-as-fighting-rages |archive-date=16 October 2021 |url-status=live}}
Aftermath
{{main|Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013)}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/04/09/cold-blood In Cold Blood], Human Rights Watch, 10 April 2012.
- [https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/05/02/they-burned-my-heart They Burned My Heart], Human Rights Watch, 3 May 2012.
{{Syrian civil war}}
{{Idlib Governorate|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Idlib Governorate operation 2012}}
Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2012
Category:Idlib Governorate in the Syrian civil war
Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian government
Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army