Siege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya

On 28 March 2015, after four days of fighting, rebels captured Idlib city{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/syrias-idlib-city-falls-qaeda-affiliate-allies-monitor-133519237.html|title=Qaeda, allies seize Syria's Idlib city in blow to regime|agency=AFP}} and managed to besiege the towns of Kafriya and al‐Fu'ah,[http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-fuah-siege-20160922-snap-story.html 'A massacre is inevitable': Punishing siege drags on for two Shiite villages in Syria], Los Angeles Times resulting in thousands of civilians being trapped in the two settlements. The Army of Conquest rebel alliance and one of its main components, al-Nusra Front, imposed a full siege, blocking all humanitarian supplies to the towns; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported several executions of people accused of smuggling goods into Kafriya and al‐Fu'ah.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/2016/02/24/158019|title=الصفحة غير موجودة. - المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان|publisher=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|access-date=17 June 2016}}

In July 2015, the battle of Zabadani began as Hezbollah and the Syrian Army launched an offensive against rebel-held al-Zabadani, as part of the Qalamoun offensive. The pro-government attack on Zabadani and the concurrent rebel siege of Kafriya and al-Fu'ah became linked in negotiations.

On 2 August, Army of Conquest announced it would continue its operations against the besieged enclave of Kafriya and al-Fu'ah.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/08/al-fateh-army-announces-the-continuation-of-its-operations-against-kefrayya-and-al-fuah/|title=Al- Fateh Army announces the continuation of its operations against Kefraya and al- Fu'ah|author=Master|date=2 August 2015|publisher=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|access-date=5 August 2015}} On 10 August, the rebels launched an assault on al-Fu'ah after detonating a car bomb and tunnel bomb, advancing towards it.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/08/violent-attack-launched-by-jabhat-al-nusra-the-rebel-and-islamist-factions-on-the-town-of-al-fuah-and-the-clashes-renew-in-sahl-al-ghab/|title=Violent attack launched by Jabhat al- Nusra the rebel and Islamist factions on the town of Al-Fu'ah, and the clashes renew in Sahl al- Ghab|author=Master|date=10 August 2015|publisher=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|access-date=10 August 2015}} A temporary ceasefire in Zabadani and the two Idlib towns was put in place after negotiations between Ahrar al-Sham rebels and an Iranian delegation in Turkey, but these collapsed in late August after the government refused the rebel demand to release 1,500 female detainees, according to Ahrar al-Sham.[http://syriadirect.org/news/regime-blames-turkey-for-ceasefire-failures-as-protesters-blame-regime/ Regime blames Turkey for ceasefire failures as protesters blame regime], SyriaDirect, 2 September 2015

File:Siege of Fuah and Kafarya (2015-18).svg

{{anchor|al-Suwaghiyah}}On 31 August, Army of Conquest rebels launched a powerful attack on the enclave and captured al-Suwaghiyah, forcing the government soldiers to retreat to Tal Khirbat. Opposition media reported that the village of Deir al-Zaghab, due south of Kafariya and southeast of al-Fu'ah, had also been captured by rebels, but pro-government media said the pro-government forces had repelled an attack on the area. There were two days of protests in pro-government areas across Syria, including Sayeda Zainab, Homs and Latakia, calling on the government to save the civilians trapped in the siege; protesters burned tires and blocked the Damascus International Airport road. The government blamed the demonstrations on "young anarchists".

Between 3 September and 5 September, government sources reported that the rebels intensively shelled the enclave and launched a number of attacks on al-Fu'ah and Kafriya from Maarrat Misrin, al-Suwaghiyah and Idlib city. The attacks were repelled, with the Syrian Army reportedly destroying three armoured vehicles.{{cite web|url=http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/jaysh-al-fatehs-attempt-to-enter-al-fouaa-and-kafraya-proves-unsuccessful/|title=Jaysh Al-Fateh's Attempt to Enter Al-Fou'aa and Kafraya Proves Unsuccessful|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|date=5 September 2015|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=24 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124195602/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/jaysh-al-fatehs-attempt-to-enter-al-fouaa-and-kafraya-proves-unsuccessful/|url-status=dead}}

On 18 September, the rebels launched a new attack on the enclave, firing almost 400 shells and rockets, while nine car bombs (including seven suicide bombers) were detonated at government positions. The clashes led to the death of at least 29 rebels and 21 Syrian soldiers, as well as seven civilians.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Sep-19/315858-rebels-pound-shiite-villages-observatory.ashx|title=Rebels pound Shiite villages: Observatory|work=The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324122233/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Sep-19/315858-rebels-pound-shiite-villages-observatory.ashx|url-status=dead}} The SOHR reported that the rebels gained some ground,{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/09/64-people-killed-in-the-violent-attack-on-the-two-towns-of-al-fuah-and-kefrayya/|title=64 people killed in the violent attack on the two towns of al- Fu'ah and Kefrayya|author=Master|date=19 September 2015|publisher=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|access-date=23 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/2015/09/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%B7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A9/|title=المروحي يقصف ريف إدلب الجنوبي واستمرار المعارك في محيط الفوعة وقصف جوي على جبال اللاذقية|author=edward|work=المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان|access-date=23 September 2015}} though Iranian media said National Defence Forces and Hezbollah were able to defend their positions.[http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940628000847 Syrian Forces Rebuff Militant Groups' Offensive in Fuaa Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701193856/http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940628000847 |date=2018-07-01 }}, Fars Agency, Sep 19, 2015 Ajnad al-Sham threatened on social media to shell Fu'ah and Kefriya with over 100 mortars a day.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/IbnNabih1/status/635552412032466945|title=Ibn Nabih|work=Twitter|access-date=23 September 2015}}{{better source|Twitter|date=January 2018}} {{anchor|Tal Al-Khirbat}}On 19 September, SOHR reported that rebels advanced again in the vicinity of al-Fuah,{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/09/continued-clashes-in-the-vicinity-of-kafrayya-and-al-fouaa-and-airstrikes-on-the-southern-countryside-of-idlib/|title=Continued clashes in the vicinity of Kafriya and al-Fou'aa and airstrikes on the southern countryside of Idlib|author=Edward|date=19 September 2015|publisher=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|access-date=23 September 2015}} capturing Tal Al-Khirbat and a number of checkpoints around it according to pro-government sources.{{cite web|url=http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/islamist-rebels-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-al-fouaa-and-kafraya-dozens-of-foreigners-killed/|title=Islamist Rebels Suffer Heavy Casualties in Al-Fou'aa and Kafraya: Dozens of Foreigners Killed|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar|date=20 September 2015|access-date=20 September 2015|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702014118/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/islamist-rebels-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-al-fouaa-and-kafraya-dozens-of-foreigners-killed/|url-status=dead}}{{anchor|Deir Al-Zughab}} According to government claims, the rebels lost over 100 fighters, including 31 foreign fighters.{{better source|a-M not reliable for rebel facts|date=December 2020}}

On 20 September, a second cease-fire in al-Zabadani/Madaya and al-Fou'aa/Kafriya was implemented, where the rebels allowed humanitarian aid to the besieged civilians of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-ceasefire-idUSKCN0RM19H20150922|title=Ceasefires extended in besieged Syrian towns: Hezbollah's TV station|work=Reuters|date=22 September 2015|access-date=22 September 2015}} A violation of this cease-fire was reported the next day as the rebels resumed shelling the towns.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=32988|title=One died in the countryside of Idlib and shelling on Wadi Barada and breach of the cease-fire in Kafrayya, al-Fou'aa and Madaya|author=Edward|work=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|date=21 September 2015|access-date=23 September 2015}} Rebels again violated the cease-fire by shelling the towns at the end of the month, but the overall cease-fire held.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ceasefire-idUSKCN0RR0C020150927 Ceasefire holds in northwest Syria after violation overnight, monitor says], Reuters The Iranian Air Force began to airdrop supplies for al-Fu'ah and Kafriya using two Lockheed C-130 Hercules in October.{{sfn|Ripley|2018|p=33}}

On 11 January 2016, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme organized an aid convoy to deliver food, medicine and other aid to Kefriya and Fu'ah, along with Madaya in the south.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/11/madaya-more-starvation-deaths-as-aid-convoys-head-to-besieged-syrian-town |title=Trucks from aid convoy enter besieged Syrian town of Madaya |author=Kareem Shaheen |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 January 2016 |access-date=11 January 2016}}

On 21 July, two ill civilians from Fu'ah and Kafriya were evacuated to Latakia by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, in return for two ill civilians also being evacuated from Zabadani to Idlib. Medical and food aid arrived to the towns, in addition to Qalaat al-Madiq.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=48486|title=Ill people got out of Zabadani, Kafriya and Al-Fu'ah and aid convoy waits to enter Kafriya and al-Fu'aa and threats to target them by field commander|work=SOHR|date=21 July 2016}}

At the end of September, 52 aid trucks went to Zabadani and Madaya and 19 arrived in Fu'ah and Kafriya.{{cite web|url=http://observador.pt/2016/09/25/ajuda-humanitaria-chega-a-quatro-localidades-na-siria/|title=Humanitarian aid reaches four locations in Syria|work=Observador|date=25 September 2016}}

On 21 November, rebel shelling and sniper fire killed at least one civilian in Fu'ah and Kafriya.{{cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/news/an-agreement-to-bring-relief-to-4-towns-deteriorates-as-regime-rebels-punish-civilians-in-equal-measure/|title=An agreement to bring relief to 4 towns deteriorates as regime, rebels punish civilians in equal measure|work=Syria:direct|date=23 November 2016}}

From 3-6 December, more than 10 civilians in Fu'ah and Kafriya were killed by rebel shelling, in retaliation to the Syrian Air Force bombings throughout the governorate which killed more than 121 civilians.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=56449|title=72 hours of bombardment escalation by warplanes' of the regimes of Putin and Bashar al-Assad on Idlib province kills 121 civilians and wounds tens of others|work=Syria HR|date=7 December 2016}}

On 18 December, a group of busses from Aleppo headed toward Fu'ah and Kafriya in order to evacuate 2,500 civilians there as part of an agreement that would also evacuate the remaining civilians from the former rebel-held districts of Aleppo after the offensive. En route, 6 buses were attacked and burned by fighters from the al-Nusra Front, preventing the evacuation.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38358177|title=Aleppo battle: Rebels burn Syria evacuation buses|work=BBC|date=19 December 2016}} Two days later, more than 1,000 people from Fu'ah and Kafriya left the towns in the buses and headed to Aleppo.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/video/evacuees-kefraya-foua-arrive-aleppo-235843801.html|title=Evacuees From Kefraya and Foua Arrive in Aleppo as Militants Depart|work=SMART News Agency|date=21 December 2016}}

In January 2017, according to SOHR, rebels shelled al-Fu'ah, which led to several injuries.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=58865|title=Continuous clashes in the countryside of Al-Raqqah and coalition's airstrikes cause casualties and 8 injuries in shelling at al-Fu'aa|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=12 January 2017}} In mid-March, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Tall Umm A'anoun hill from the NDF in an attempt to cut the road linking Fu'ah and Kafriya.{{Cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/islamist-rebels-squeeze-government-enclave-idlib-key-hill-captured/|title=Islamist rebels squeeze government enclave in Idlib, key hill captured|last=Tomson|first=Chris|date=2017-03-13|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|access-date=2017-03-13|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615010103/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/islamist-rebels-squeeze-government-enclave-idlib-key-hill-captured/|url-status=dead}}

On 28 March, an agreement was brokered by Qatar and signed by Ahrar al-Sham, HTS, Hezbollah and Iran, for the evacuation of Fu'ah and Kafriya in exchange for the evacuation of residents and rebels in Zabadani and Madaya.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39426162|title=Syria conflict: 'Deal reached' for four besieged areas|work=BBC|date=29 March 2017}} The agreement came into effect beginning on 12 April and buses and ambulances arrived in the four towns with the assistance of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to begin the evacuations.{{cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/news/four-towns-one-agreement-and-the-%E2%80%98same-tragedy-for-all%E2%80%99-buses-arrive-ahead-of-mass-evacuations/|title=Four towns, one agreement and the 'same tragedy for all': Buses arrive ahead of mass evacuations|work=Syria Direct|date=13 April 2017|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=20 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520055141/https://syriadirect.org/news/four-towns-one-agreement-and-the-%E2%80%98same-tragedy-for-all%E2%80%99-buses-arrive-ahead-of-mass-evacuations/|url-status=dead}} The Free Syrian Army condemned the agreement, considering it to establish a dangerous precedent of ethnic and sectarian cleansing in preparation for redrawing the borders of the Syrian state, as well as a crime against humanity and contrary to article 7, paragraph (d), of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

On 14 April, 75 buses and 20 ambulances evacuated around 5,000 people from Fu'ah and Kafriya to Aleppo.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-syrian-deal-evacuation-20170414-story.html|title=Syrians leave family, memories behind as tens of thousands are evacuated in previously brokered deal|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Nabih Boulos|date=14 April 2017}} On 15 April, a convoy of buses carrying evacuees was attacked by a suicide bomber west of Aleppo, killing more than 100 people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39609288|title=Syria war: Huge bomb kills dozens of evacuees in Syria|date=15 April 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=15 April 2017|language=en-GB}}

In September, seven trucks carrying medical supplies, food and an electric generator were allowed by the rebels into the besieged towns, while the government in exchange allowed supplies into the insurgent-held Yarmouk Camp.{{cite web |url=http://www.aldorars.com/en/news/1490 |title=Aid supplies to the besieged Yarmouk camp and to Kufarya and Foua' as well |work=El-Dorar Al-Shamia |date=7 September 2017 |access-date=11 September 2017 |archive-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909180737/http://www.aldorars.com/en/news/1490 |url-status=dead }}

On 17 March 2018, FSA fighters of "Saraya Darayya", a group formed by rebels from Damascus who had been exiled to Idlib following the end of the siege of Darayya and Muadamiyat, assaulted NDF positions in the two towns. Pro-government sources claimed that the attacks had failed, while Saraya Darayya claimed to have killed many NDF fighters.{{better source|SPS|date=December 2020}}

On 17 July, Iranian negotiators reached an agreement with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, with Turkey as a mediator, to evacuate the former's forces and civilians, totaling between 6,500 and 7,000 people, from Fu'ah and Kafriya.{{cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/news/%E2%80%98deal-underway%E2%80%99-for-evacuation-of-two-shiite-majority-idlib-towns-rebel-source/|title='Deal underway' for evacuation of two Shiite-majority Idlib towns: rebel source|work=Syria Direct|date=17 July 2018|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822214013/https://syriadirect.org/news/%e2%80%98deal-underway%e2%80%99-for-evacuation-of-two-shiite-majority-idlib-towns-rebel-source/|url-status=dead}} A total of 121 buses accompanied by Syrian Arab Red Crescent ambulances entered the two towns the next day. The buses were attacked by HTS fighters with stones, but departed on the morning of 19 July. In return, the government released 1,500 detainees and rebel fighters from its prisons, of which at least 400 were transported to Idlib on the same day.{{Cite web|url=http://syriadirect.org/news/rebel-siege-of-two-shiite-majority-idlib-towns-ends-with-total-evacuation-of-residents-militiamen/|title=Rebel siege of two Shiite-majority Idlib towns ends with total evacuation of residents, militiamen|work=Syria Direct|date=19 July 2018}}

During the evacuations, 126 unarmed civilians, the majority of which were children were killed via suicide bombing before they could make it into the safety of government-held territory. Following the evacuation, the surviving civilians from al-Fu'ah and Kafriya were mostly resettled to Hisyah in Homs Governorate and al-Basit in Latakia Governorate. Smaller numbers of refugees also moved to Aleppo, Damascus, Nubl, and al-Zahraa.

{{Portal|Asia}}

• Siege of Nubl and Al-Zahraa
• Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–17)
• Battle of Zabadani (2015)
• 2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement

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• {{cite book |last = Ripley |first = Tim |title= Operation Aleppo: Russia's War in Syria |date= 2018 |publisher= Telic-Herrick Publications |location= Lancaster |isbn= 978-0-9929458-2-4 }}

{{Syrian Civil War}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:al-Fu'ah and Kafriya, Siege of}}

Category:Idlib Governorate in the Syrian civil war

Category:Sieges of 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 Hezbollah

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the al-Nusra Front

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving Ahrar al-Sham

Category:Battles of the Syrian civil war in 2016

Category:Battles of the Syrian civil war in 2015

Category:Battles of the Syrian civil war in 2018

Category:Battles of the Syrian civil war in 2017