Tishrin Dam offensive

{{short description|Military operation during the Syrian Civil War}}

{{Not to be confused with|text=the East Aleppo offensive, the 2024–5 military operation involving fighting at Tishrin Dam}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Tishrin Dam offensive

| partof = the Syrian Civil War and
the American-led intervention in Syria

| image = Tishrin.png

| caption = Map of the territorial changes from 23–30 December 2015

| date = 23–30 December 2015
({{Age in months, weeks and days|year1=2015|month1=12|day1=23|year2=2015|month2=12|day2=30}})

| place = Northeastern Aleppo Governorate, Syria

| result = Major SDF victory

|territory=

The SDF captures Tishrin Dam{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/syrian-kurds-take-strategic-dam-from-islamic-state/a-18943392|title=Syrian Kurds take strategic dam from 'Islamic State'|work=DW.COM}} and Tishrin town
The SDF captures over 100 villages and {{convert|640|km2|mi2}}[http://ku.hawarnews.com/fermandariya-qsde-pilacoya-oprasyona-basure-kobane-eskere-kir/ General Command of SDF announcing balance sheet of OP south of Kobane: 100 villages liberated & 219 IS killed. According to SDF an area of 640 square kilometres with 100 villages and hamlets are under the control of SDF. 7 fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) & 2 Asayish-members martyred. (ku.hawarnews.com)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101172602/http://ku.hawarnews.com/fermandariya-qsde-pilacoya-oprasyona-basure-kobane-eskere-kir/ |date=1 January 2016}}

| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} Syrian Democratic Forces

{{flagicon image|}} International Freedom Battalion

Air support:
{{flagicon image|Seal of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.svg|size=20px|border=no}} CJTF–OIR{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-us-syria-idUSKBN0U719520151224|title=U.S.-backed alliance pushes toward Islamic State-held dam in northern Syria|last=Al-Khalidi|first=Suleiman|date=24 December 2015|work=Reuters}}

| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|name=Islamic State}}

| commander1 ={{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}}{{flagicon image|Flag of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa.svg}} Abu Issa{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/03/syria-raqqa-revolutionaries-brigade-liberation-isis.html#|title=Raqqa brigade continues to raise flag of Syrian revolution|work=Al-Monitor|author=Sardar Mlla Drwish|date=18 March 2016|access-date=4 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408114327/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/03/syria-raqqa-revolutionaries-brigade-liberation-isis.html|archive-date=8 April 2016}}
(Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa leader)

{{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}}{{Flagicon image|Flag of Jaysh al-Thuwar.svg}} Adnan Abu Amjad{{cite web|url=http://www.janes360.com/images/assets/333/57333/SDF_plays_central_role_in_Syrian_civil_war__1_.pdf|title=SDF plays central role in Syrian civil war|work=Jane's Intelligence Review|date=January 2016|access-date=3 April 2016|archive-date=23 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423194750/http://www.janes360.com/images/assets/333/57333/SDF_plays_central_role_in_Syrian_civil_war__1_.pdf|url-status=dead}}

({{small|Northern Sun Battalion deputy commander}})

| commander2 =Unknown

| units1 = {{tree list}}

{{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} Syrian Democratic Forces
{{flagicon image|People's Protection Units Flag.svg|border=no}} YPG{{cite web|url=http://dckurd.org/2015/12/24/syrian-democratic-forces-initiate-second-round-of-operations-against-daesh-in-northern-syria/|title=Syrian Democratic Forces Initiate Second Round of Operations Against Daesh in Northern Syria|publisher=Washington Kurdish Institute|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-date=9 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009084345/http://dckurd.org/2015/12/24/syrian-democratic-forces-initiate-second-round-of-operations-against-daesh-in-northern-syria/|url-status=dead}}
{{flagicon image|YPJ_Flag.svg|border=no}} YPJ
{{flagicon image|Flag of Jaysh al-Thuwar.svg}} Army of Revolutionaries
Northern Sun Battalion
Jabhat al-Akrad
{{flagicon image|Flag of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa.svg}} Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/4/28/us-backed-syrian-rebels-suspended|title=US-backed Syrian rebels suspend participation in fight for Raqqa|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=28 April 2016}}
{{flagicon image|MFS infobox flag.png}} Syriac Military Council{{cite web|url=https://syriadirect.org/two-killed-in-ypg-demonstration-in-qamishli/|title=Two killed in YPG demonstration in Qamishli|publisher=Syria Direct|date=18 August 2016}}
Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades
Al-Tahrir Brigade
Brigade Groups of al-Jazira
{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Sanadid Forces.svg}} Al-Sanadid Forces{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/kurdish-arab-forces-capture-syrias-largest-dam-140451483.html|title=Kurdish-Arab forces capture Syria’s largest dam from IS|publisher=Yahoo News|date=27 December 2015}}
{{flagicon image|}} International Freedom Battalion
{{flagicon image|MLKP Banner.svg}} MLKP{{cite web|url=//www.syriahr.com/en/?p=41492|title=SDF takes control over Tishreen Dam's Housing after 24 hours of seizing this strategic dam|publisher=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=27 December 2015|access-date=13 August 2016}}
{{flagicon image|Birleşik Özgürlük Güçleri (United Freedom Forces) flag.svg}} United Freedom Forces{{cite web|url=http://www.nouvelleturquie.com/en/kurdistan-en/women-freedom-forces-cemre-has-fallen-spring-is-close/|title=Women Freedom Forces: Cemre Has Fallen, Spring Is Close|date=10 July 2016|access-date=13 August 2016}}

| units2 = {{flagicon|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}} Military of ISIL

Wilayat Halab

| strength1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} SDF: Several thousand fighters

{{flagicon|United States}} US: ~30–70 soldiers (allegedly){{citation needed|date=July 2016}}[https://twitter.com/123_Finland/status/686651237018812416 American soldiers among SDF forces][https://twitter.com/CombatChris1/status/709467109911203840 Aleppo : 10 #US officers and 60 soldiers arrived at #Tishrin_Dam two days ago to form an operations room with Syrian Democratic Forces. 1–3]

| strength2 = Unknown

| casualties1 = SDF: 9 killed

| casualties2 = 319 killed

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}}{{Campaignbox Rojava Revolution}}

}}

The Tishrin Dam offensive, or Southern Kobanî offensive, was a military operation in December 2015 in the northeastern Aleppo Governorate during the Syrian Civil War, conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to capture the strategic Tishrin Dam and the southern countryside of the self-declared Kobanî Canton from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve supported the SDF offensive with over 26 airstrikes.

Background

The offensive

File:Tishrinof.png

On 23 December, the joint command of the Syrian Democratic Forces officially launched the offensive, with the goal to "clear all areas in southern Kobanî Canton that have been occupied by elements of the terrorist group known as Daesh (ISIS)".

On 24 December, the SDF captured the villages of Sahrij, Al Jabal, Abaydad, Al Mansia, Miruha, Sajjadi, Dandoshan, Birdan and over fifteen farmlands south of the town of Sarrin, which was captured by the YPG and Free Syrian Army earlier in the same year, during the Battle of Sarrin. 14 ISIL members and 2 SDF fighters were killed during the battles.{{cite web|url=http://ypgrojava.com/en/2015/12/24/effective-operations-carried-out-hours-after-enduring-qsd-campaign-aimed-at-confronting-daesh-in-southern-kobane/|title=Effective Operations Carried Out Hours After Enduring QSD Campaign Aimed at Confronting Daesh in Southern Kobane|work=People's Defense Units Official Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103123559/http://ypgrojava.com/en/2015/12/24/effective-operations-carried-out-hours-after-enduring-qsd-campaign-aimed-at-confronting-daesh-in-southern-kobane/|archive-date=3 January 2016}}

On 25 December, the alliance of Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian militias seized the villages of Bojakh, Hafyan, Munsiye, Sofayte, Saqit, Dahr Al–Faraj and the surrounding farms from ISIL. During a nighttime raid, 12 ISIL members were killed. At that point, the SDF had managed to capture 16 km along the east bank of the Euphrates.{{cite web|url=http://ypgrojava.com/en/2015/12/25/syrian-democratic-forces-push-further-south-of-kobane-secure-more-villages-dec-25/|title=Syrian Democratic Forces Push Further South of Kobane, Secure More Villages (Dec. 25)|work=People's Defense Units Official Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103123610/http://ypgrojava.com/en/2015/12/25/syrian-democratic-forces-push-further-south-of-kobane-secure-more-villages-dec-25/|archive-date=3 January 2016}}

On 26 December, the Syrian Democratic Forces captured the Tishrin Dam{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/u-backed-alliance-captures-key-dam-islamic-state-153550929.html|title=U.S.-backed alliance captures key dam from Islamic State: alliance spokesman|date=26 December 2015|agency=Reuters}} and the villages of Bir Shumal, Bir Bagar, Abdilkiye, Tal Banat, Khishkhash, Al-Wesi and Miwelih. The SDF managed to kill five ISIL fighters and captured another eight alive. A total of 50 villages were seized from ISIL during the first four days of the offensive.{{cite web|url=http://ypgrojava.com/en/2015/12/26/qsd-spokesman-fifty-villages-canals-river-crossings-secured-during-military-campaign-in-southern-kobane/|title=QSD Spokesman: Fifty Villages, Canals, River Crossings Secured During Military Campaign In Southern Kobane|work=People's Defense Units Official Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230231448/http://ypgrojava.com/en/2015/12/26/qsd-spokesman-fifty-villages-canals-river-crossings-secured-during-military-campaign-in-southern-kobane/|archive-date=30 December 2015}}

On 27 December, the SDF advanced on the western bank of the Euphrates. They captured the towns of Tishrin and Sakaniya. At least 15 members of ISIL were killed during the operation.{{Cite web |url=http://aranews.net/2015/12/17263/ |title=Kurdish-Arab join forces advance against ISIS north Aleppo |access-date=28 December 2015 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101120913/http://aranews.net/2015/12/17263/ |url-status=dead}} On the same day ISIL executed four young men in Manbij who were accused of being members of the SDF.[https://twitter.com/Syria_Rebel_Obs/status/681222301824774145 Four young men executed in main Manbij square]

On 30 December, the general command of the Syrian Democratic Forces declared the end of the operation to liberate the southern areas of the Kobanî Canton. The SDF captured over 100 villages and hamlets, the Tishrin Dam, an area of ~640 km², and killed 219 ISIL fighters, according to a balance sheet released by the SDF. An additional 100 ISIL fighters were killed by Coalition airstrikes during the offensive.{{Cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/639491/iraqi-flag-waves-over-ramadi-security-forces-control-key-city |title=Iraqi Flag Waves Over Ramadi; Security Forces Control Key City |access-date=31 December 2015 |archive-date=12 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712170835/http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/639491/iraqi-flag-waves-over-ramadi-security-forces-control-key-city |url-status=dead}} Seven SDF members and two members of the police force Asayish died during the operation.

Tishrin Dam offensive

Background

The offensive

See also

References

Further reading