Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2017)

• Syrian opposition halted peace negotiations in Astana, Kazakhstan, citing multiple government ceasefire violations.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38492939|title=Syrian war: Peace talks under threat amid rebel warning|date=3 January 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 January 2017}}

• Syrian Army forces seize the Air Defense Battalion Base, near Hazrama, from Jaysh al-Islam militants in the Eastern Ghouta region of rural Damascus, during a counter-attack to the Islamist offensive.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-advances-deep-inside-rebel-stronghold-near-damascus-map/|title=Syrian Army advances deep inside rebel stronghold near Damascus: map|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=3 January 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar News|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927153833/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-advances-deep-inside-rebel-stronghold-near-damascus-map/|url-status=dead}}

Over 60 are killed and 50 are injured in the January 2017 Azaz bombing.

• Syrian media and U.S.-based journalists report that a special operation was carried out by U.S. forces in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. The operation took place between Kabr village and Jazra town, and some ISIL fighters were captured.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-coalition-conducts-special-landing-operation-deir-ezzor/|title=US Coalition conducts special landing operation in Deir Ezzor|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=9 January 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=13 January 2017|archive-date=20 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520130901/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-coalition-conducts-special-landing-operation-deir-ezzor/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-led-coalition-carries-out-ground-raid-in-syria/2017/01/09/b452e1df-f035-493c-bb2e-3932d788be01_story.html|title=U.S. troops carry out ground raid against ISIS in Syria|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=13 January 2017}}

• US airstrikes struck the former Syrian Army Sheikh Suleiman military base in western Aleppo now used by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, killing more than 76 al-Qaeda fighters, including Abu Hasan al-Taftanaz, a senior leader.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=59620|title=In the largest death toll by assassinations against Fateh al-Sham Front… coalition's warplanes kill 76 members and commanders at least and injure tens of others in bombardment of Regiment 111 west of Aleppo|date=22 January 2017 |publisher=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)|access-date=15 May 2017}} More than 150 AQ members were killed by US airstrikes in the first three weeks of January.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1055727/us-airstrike-kills-more-than-100-al-qaida-fighters-in-syria/|title=U.S. Airstrike Kills More Than 100 al-Qaida Fighters in Syria|work=US Department of Defense|date=20 January 2017}}

• According to government officials, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham rebels were beginning to negotiate their surrender at two eastern Damascus suburbs.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/rebels-verge-surrendering-two-important-suburbs-east-damascus/|title=Rebels on the verge of surrendering two important suburbs in east Damascus|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=21 February 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024181804/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/rebels-verge-surrendering-two-important-suburbs-east-damascus/|url-status=dead}}

{{See also|Wadi Barada offensive (2016–17)}}

The Syrian Army took full control of Wadi Barada. Maintenance workers were sent by the government to fix the Al-Fijeh Springs thus restoring the water supply to 5 million people who reside in Greater Damascus.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-take-full-control-wadi-barada-expulsion-militants/|title=Syrian Army to take full control of Wadi Barada with expulsion of militants|publisher=Al-Masdar News|author=Paul Antonopoulos|date=29 January 2017|access-date=29 January 2017|archive-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224174943/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-take-full-control-wadi-barada-expulsion-militants/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/syrian-army-captures-wadi-barada-170129131830656.html|title=Syrian army captures Wadi Barada|publisher=Al-Jazeera|date=29 January 2017|access-date=29 January 2017}}

• Israel cancels a plan to accept 100 Syrian child refugees due to opposition within its government.David Rosenberg, [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225575 "Israel cancels plan to take in 100 Syrian refugees"], Arutz Sheva. 23 feb 2017. Accessed 5 may 2017[https://web.archive.org/web/20170126024852/http://aranews.net/2017/01/israel-to-accept-syrian-refugees-for-first-time/ "Israel to accept Syrian refugees for first time"], ARA News. 26 jan 2017. Accessed 5 may 2017

• The Turkish Free Syrian Army forces, as a part of Operation Euphrates Shield, took full control of the city of al-Bab.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-backed-rebels-enter-center-of-islamic-states-al-bab-strongholdin-syria/2017/02/23/e389a506-f9c3-11e6-9b3e-ed886f4f4825_story.html|title=Turkey-backed rebels seize Islamic State's al-Bab stronghold in Syria| date= 2017-02-23|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2017-02-26|language=en-US|first1=Louisa|last1=Loveluck|first2=Liz|last2=Sly}} SAA and SDF forces seize other towns from ISIS control in the Aleppo countryside.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=54574|title=The Syria Democratic Forces are trying to besiege al-Arima and factions of "Euphrates Shield" advance in the vicinity of al-Bab with clashes on its frontiers|date=13 November 2016 |publisher=SOHR|access-date=15 May 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-backed-kurds-seize-9-villages-isis-turkish-backed-rebels-attack/|title=US-backed Kurds seize 9 villages from ISIS while Turkish-backed rebels attack both|first=Chris|last=Tomson|date=16 November 2016|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=2 March 2017|archive-date=24 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224221117/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-backed-kurds-seize-9-villages-isis-turkish-backed-rebels-attack/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=59961|title=More advancement by the regime forces put the "Islamic State" organization at al-Bab between the jaws of pliers of the regime and Turks|date=29 January 2017 |publisher=SOHR|access-date=15 May 2017}}

• Establishment of the Arima buffer zone along part of the border between the SDF-aligned Manbij Military Council and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces within the Turkish occupied zone.{{cite web|title=Atlantic Council analysis: How Russia beat Turkey in Syria|url=http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/world-news/24296-atlantic-council-analysis-how-russia-beat-turkey-in-syria.html|website=Tornos News|date=29 March 2017}}{{cite news|title=Russian Troops Deploy Southwest of Manbij Following Syrian-Kurdish Negotiations|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/russian-troops-deploy-southwest-manbij-225627176.html|agency=Yahoo News|date=13 March 2017}}

{{See also|Palmyra offensive (2017)}}

• The Syrian Army with Russian support recaptures Palmyra from ISIS forces. ISIL seized the city from government forces in early December 2016 during a sudden offensive.{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Syrian-Observatory-says-Syrian-army-allies-push-into-Palmyra-482936|title=Syrian Observatory says Syrian army, allies push into Palmyra|publisher=Jerusalem Post|access-date=1 April 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-deep-trouble-syrian-army-enters-palmyra-city/|title=ISIS in big trouble as the Syrian Army enters Palmyra city|first=Chris|last=Tomson|date=1 March 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729222441/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-deep-trouble-syrian-army-enters-palmyra-city/|url-status=dead}}

• U.S. Marine units began to deploy at Northern Syria District of Raqqa Governorate in as part of operations to help SDF forces take control of Raqqa from ISIL.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/marines-syria-170309014847784.html|title=US deploys heavily armed marines to Syria|date=9 March 2017|publisher=Al-Jazeera|access-date=23 February 2018}}

=== 17 March ===

• In a border incident, the Syrian Arab Army launched anti-aircraft interceptor missiles, which targeted Israeli jets on the Israeli-controlled side of the Golan Heights prompting Israeli anti-missile response, as Syrian Army accused Israel of allegedly striking targets on Syrian territories near Palmyra.[https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/17/middleeast/israel-jets-syria-strikes/index.html Israel jets strike inside Syria; military site near Palmyra reportedly targeted]. CNN News. 17 March 2017 Syrian Army claimed it intercepted 2 Israeli jets, while shooting down one and causing damage to the other, while Israel denied. Remains of the anti-aircraft missiles fell in North Jordan.{{Cite news|first=Steve|last=Weizman|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/netanyahu-syria-raids-targeted-advanced-hezbollah-arms-202637725.html|title=Netanyahu: Syria raids targeted 'advanced' Hezbollah arms|work=Agence France-Presse via Yahoo News|language=en|access-date=2017-03-17|archive-date=2017-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019104313/https://www.yahoo.com/news/netanyahu-syria-raids-targeted-advanced-hezbollah-arms-202637725.html|url-status=dead}}

Tahrir al-Sham launched an offensive on Hama Governorate with the aim of reaching Hama city.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/al-qaeda-linked-rebels-threaten-hama-syrias-largest-christian-city/|title=Al-Qaeda linked rebels threaten Hama and Syria's largest Christian city|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=23 March 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=24 March 2017|archive-date=21 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221023504/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/al-qaeda-linked-rebels-threaten-hama-syrias-largest-christian-city/|url-status=dead}} other Rebel offensives are countered by the SAA forces at Jobar (Damascus).{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/photos-syrian-army-continues-smashing-militants-jobar-russian-air-support/|title=PHOTOS: Syrian Army continues smashing militants in Jobar with Russian air support|first=Paul|last=Antonopoulos|date=24 March 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=19 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519111411/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/photos-syrian-army-continues-smashing-militants-jobar-russian-air-support/|url-status=dead}}

{{See also|Battle of Tabqa Dam (2017)}}

Hundreds of SDF soldiers are airlifted by United States across the Euphrates to begin their advance to capture Tabqa Dam and cut off ISIS reinforcements from Raqqa.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/hundreds-of-troops-in-airdrop-to-cut-off-raqqa-35557311.html|title=Hundreds of troops in air-drop to cut off Raqqa|date=23 March 2017 |publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=1 April 2017}}

File:Demining of Palmyra 2017 17.jpg

• The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar reach a deal to allow civilians and combatants to leave the besieged towns of Al-Fou’aa-Kafrayain, Madaya and Al-Zabadan in Idlib and Damascus governorates.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/deal-reached-qatar-iran-evacuate-4-besieged-syrian-towns/|title=Deal reached between Qatar, Iran to evacuate 4 besieged Syrian towns|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=29 March 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=1 April 2017}}
• Syrian Forces capture Deir Hafer in Eastern Aleppo according to an Army source.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINKBN1702BA|title=Syrian army captures Islamic State village near Aleppo|author=Angus McDowall|date=28 March 2017|access-date=28 March 2017|publisher=Reuters}}
• Turkey announces the end of its military operations in Syria, concluding Operation Euphrates Shield.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkey-concludes-operation-euphrates-shield-northern-syria/|title=Turkey concludes Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=30 March 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=1 April 2017}}

• The town of Khan Shaykhun came under a heavy air attack, allegedly involving chemical weapons, resulting in up to 100 deaths.{{Cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2017/04/04/Syria-toxic-gas-attack-kills-civilians-in-Idlib-province.html|title=Assad regime responsible for 'awful' Syria 'chemical' attack: EU's Mogherini|date=April 4, 2017|website=Al Arabiya English}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/syria-chemical-attack-survivors-1.4057633|title='I couldn't save anyone. They're all dead now:' man loses 22 family members in Syria chemical attack|publisher=CBC|access-date=8 April 2017}}

• Facilities and aircraft at the Syrian government's Shayrat Airbase are hit by 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the {{Sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|0}} guided-missile destroyers {{USS|Porter|DDG-78|6}} and {{USS|Ross|DDG-71|6}} in the Eastern Mediterranean.{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2017/04/07/us-launches-missile-strike-against-syria/|title=US launches missile strike against Syria|work=The Star Online|access-date=8 April 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-launches-missiles-into-syria-in-response-to-chemical-weapons-attack|title=US launches missiles into Syria in response to chemical weapons attack|first=Jennifer|last=Griffin|date=6 April 2017|publisher=Fox News|access-date=8 April 2017}} The U.S. claimed the strike was in response to intelligence that the 4 April Khan Shaykhun attack was conducted by the Syrian military. It was the first unilateral military action by the United States that directly targeted the Syrian government.

{{See also|Eastern Homs offensive (2017)}}

The Syrian Army expands the buffer zone around Palmyra{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-expands-buffer-zone-around-palmyra/|title=Syrian Army expands buffer-zone around Palmyra|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=17 March 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar News|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502062709/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-expands-buffer-zone-around-palmyra/|url-status=dead}} by capturing more than 230 square miles of territory around the city{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-liberates-230-square-miles-territory-around-palmyra/|title=Syrian Army liberates more than 230 square miles of territory around Palmyra|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=12 April 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502064128/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-liberates-230-square-miles-territory-around-palmyra/|url-status=dead}}

• Pro-government media announce that west Damascus district of Zabadani is declared free of "militants" by the regime after the departure of 1,000 rebels and their families, and that Syrian army forces entered the town for the first time since the beginning of the Civil War.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/strategic-west-damascus-town-al-zabadani-free-militants/|title=Strategic west Damascus town of Al-Zabadani free of militants|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=19 April 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=15 May 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-fully-controls-zabadani-mountains-first-time-since-2011/|title=Syrian Army fully controls Zabadani Mountains for first time since 2011|first=Leith|last=Fadel|date=19 April 2017|publisher=Al-Masdar|access-date=15 May 2017}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Syrian Civil War}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (2017-01)}}

Category:Timelines of the Syrian civil war

*

Category:2017 in Syria

Category:Conflicts in 2017

Category:Lists of armed conflicts in 2017