Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Civil War, also known as the Syrian Revolution, is an ongoing armed conflict taking place in Syria. The unrest began in the early spring of 2011 within the context of Arab Spring protests, with nationwide protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government, whose forces responded with violent crackdowns. The conflict gradually morphed from prominent protests to an armed rebellion after months of military sieges.[71]

The armed opposition consists of various groups that were formed during the course of the conflict, primarily the Free Syrian Army, which was the first to take up arms in 2011, and the Islamic Front formed in 2013. In 2013, Hezbollah entered the war in support of the Syrian army.[72][73] In the east, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a jihadist militant group originating from Iraq, made rapid military gains in both Syria and Iraq, eventuallyconflicting with the other rebels. By July 2014, ISIL controlled a third of Syria's territory and most of its oil and gas production, thus establishing itself as the major opposition force.[74]

By July 2013, the Syrian government was in control of approximately 30–40% of the country's territory and 60% of the Syrian population.[75] A United Nations report in late 2012 described the conflict as being "overtly sectarian in nature", between mostly Alawite government forces, militias and other Shia groups[76] fighting largely against Sunni-dominated rebel groups,[77][78] although both opposition and government forces have denied it.[79][80] Due to foreign involvement this conflict has been called a proxy war.[81]

As of January 2015 the death toll had risen above 220,000,[82] with estimates in April 2015 as high as 310,000.[83]International organizations have accused the Syrian government, ISIL and other opposition forces of severe human rights violations, with many massacres occurring.[84][85][86][87][88] Chemical weapons have been used many times during the conflict as well.[89][90] [91] The Syrian government is reportedly responsible for the majority of civilian casualties and war crimes, often through bombings.[84][86][92][93] In addition, tens of thousands of protesters and activists have been imprisoned and there are reports oftorture in state prisons.[94][95][96][97]

The severity of the humanitarian disaster in Syria has been outlined by the UN and many international organizations. More than 6.5 million Syrians have been displaced, almost 4 million Syrians have fled the country to countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt and become refugees, and millions more have been left in poor living conditions with shortages of food and drinking water.

The Southern Front (August 2014 - August 2015)
In February 2014, the Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army formed in southern Syria. On August 27, 2014, rebels took control of the Quneitra Crossing between Syria and the Golan Heights. Fighting in the area continued in towns northeast of the crossing. Captured U.N. peacekeepers were evacuated on August 29 after a ceasefire was established. On September 4, rebels announced the start of a new military operation in the Quneitra countryside. Over two days, rebels managed to capture Mashara town; the Army failed to launch a counterattack. On September 9, Syrian Army units retreated from the Khan al-Hallabat area as rebels captured the strategic Tell al-Mal, which connects the Quneitra and Daraa provinces, advancing south to Aqraba. On September 10, rebels in the western countryside of Damascus pulled back into the northern countryside of Daraa province after the latest rebel gains. Rebels advanced toward the outskirs of western Syria and took two villages on September 12. On September 15, the rebels seized the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights. On September 18, rebels captured the Deir al-Adas area in Daraa province north of Kafr Shams. On September 23, the rebels launched an unsuccessful offensive to capture the Qunietra countryside and major towns in western Syria. On October 21, the Army launched a counterattack on al-Samdaniya and al-Hamidiya east of Qunietra. After the successful Quneitra Province offensive, the October Daraa offensive was launched on October 3 to take control of al-Harra and al-Sanamayn in northern Daraa. On October 5-6, the rebels captured al-Harrah and the village of Zimrin east of the town. On October 20, rebels captured three checkpoints after three days of fighting on the Jordanian border northward, including the town of Umm al-Mayazan north of the Nasib crossing on October 21. On November 1, the Army attacked Al-Shaykh Maskin to secure the Daraa-Damascus highway. On November 3, the rebels launched a counterattack inside the town - on November 9, the rebels secured control of Shaykh Maskin and Brigade 112 HQ to the west. Two days later, Nawa was captured to the west. On November 15, rebels took large parts of the Dalli area north of Shaykh Maskin as the Army retreated; the vilage was recaptured on November 17. In late November, heavy fighting took place after the Army launched a counterattack on November 25. By November 30, Army units recaptured the eastern neighborhood of Shaykh Maskin, leaving the city divided by December 3. On December 7, two car bombs by al-Nusra Front allowed for a rebel advance in the area. On January 24, 2015, the rebels announced three battles to take control of Shaykh Maskin. Rebels captured the city and Brigade 82 north of the city on January 25. At the end of January, the rebel advance was stopped at Dilli north of Brigade 82.

On February 7, 2015, the Syrian Army launched the Southern Syria Offensive to recapture al-Harra in northern Daraa around Kafr Shams. By February 8, north of the attack, the Army captured Tall Marri hill, which cut a rebel supply line and increased the isolation of rebel-held pockets around Damascus. They also secured Deir al-Adas northeast of Kafr Shams. On February 12, rapid advances by government forces slowed because of a snowstorm in the region. Between February 14 and February 25, the offensive stalled as the rebels recaptured some territory in the area of Kafr Shams and Kafr Nasij. On February 28, government troops captured four villages north of Kafr Nasij. On March 1, the Army advanced within 10 kilometers from al-Harra, capturing hills overlooking it. On March 4, the second phase of the offensive was launched as a two-pronged advance on Kafr Shams and Kafr Nasij. The offensive ended on March 13 with a stalemate. However, rebels launched a counterattack in the Kafr Shams area on April 6 and captured a chedckpoint.

Meanwhile, rebels launched the Battle of Bosra on March 21 to capture the city southeast of Daraa. On March 25, rebels captured the town and its UNESCO archaeological sites; the Army retreated after the promised reinforcements were not deployed. On April 1, rebel forces launched an offensive against government positions in and around the semi-besieged Nasib border crossing, forcing the Army to retreat from its last official border crossing with Jordan, which was subsequently closed. By April 4, al-Nusra pulled back from the crossing, leaving it to a civil administration. On June 9, the Southern Front rebels captured the Brigade 52 base northeast of Daraa. By June 11, the rebels pushed eastward into al-Thula airbase against government reinforcements; the following day, the attack was repelled. On June 15, the SAA, backed by Druze militia, repelled another rebel assault on the airbase, leaving 25 rebels dead. Despite seizing the Brigade 52 base, the rebels failed to capture the main road to Damascus. Between June 16 and June 26, 2015, Syrian rebels attempted to capture the last government-held positions northeast of Quneitra, but there were minimal gains.

In the Qalamoun region, on March 25-28, 2015, the SAA and Hezbollah captured two hills near the town of Flitah and several others in the Zabadani region. In mid-April, both sides prepared trenches, tunnels, bunkers, and barricades in anticipation of a new battle in the Qalamoun region. Rebel advances led to government and Hezbollah morale plunging dramatically. On May 4, 2015, Hezbollah and the SAA launched an offensive after a pre-emptive attack by al-Nusra and other allied Islamists. On May 6, heavy fighting erupted along the border near Assal al-Ward. By May 8, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah seized control of a number of hilltops overlooking Assal al-Ward, securing the town and killing dozens of rebels. On May 11, after the rebels retreated towards the Lebanese town of Arsal, the Army and Hezbollah captured the Al-Barouh hill outside of Al-Juba, seizing the border crossing. On May 12, al-Nusra vowed to eradicate ISIS in the Qalamoun region after ISIS betrayed them and attacked several of their bases in the border area. On May 13, the SAA and Hezbollah took control of Tallat Mussa after capturing at least nine rebel positions during heavy exchanges of artillery and rocket fire along the ridge. 36 rebels were killed during the fighting. As al-Nusra battled ISIS in the area, Hezbollah made sweeps for any remaining pockets of rebels. On May 19, the SAA and Hezbollah launched the offensive to capture the heavily fortified Jubbah Heights northeast of Zabadani from ISIS and the rebels. On May 25, Hezbollah and the Army captured the western hills of Tal Thaljah, the bloodiest battle for Hezbollah with 6 fighters dead. With this advance, government forces were in nearly total control of the Qalamoun mountains. On May 30, clashes were renewed at the mountains. On June 9, Hezbollah came into contact with ISIS militants for the first time. On June 13, al-Nusra fighters were surrounded in the outskirts of Arsal. On June 21, the battle concluded and the Syrian Army and Hezbollah units redeployed to the Zabadani front.

On June 25, 2015, the Southern Front rebels stormed the southeastern districts of Daraa city in an offensive to capture it. After days, however, the SAA repelled the assault and by July 2, the rebels failed to make any significant progress. On July 8, the rebels renewed their offensive, but by July 10, the rebels still failed to make much headway in the face of Army resistance, backed up by heavy air strikes.

On July 3, 2015, Hezbollah and the SAA launched an offensive against Zabadani and broke into the city the following day. On July 5, the rebels mined and fortified their positions inside the besieged city. By July 9, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah controlled half of the city following six days of clashes. By July 12, Hezbollah advanced deep into the western part of the city. On July 14, government troops destroyed a 360-meter tunnel passing under the highway linking Zabadani and the southern village of Madaya. Rebel forces were encircled on July 15. On July 21, government troops captured the Zabadani Plains to the south. On July 24-25, the rebels launched a surprise attack and seized several government checkpoints. By August 3, the rebel controlled areas of Zabadani had diminished considerably as the Army's noose tightened around the rebels in the besieged city.

Rebel advances in Idlib (October 2014 - August 2015)
On October 27, 2014, rebels from al-Nusra Front launched an attack on Idlib city and al-Mastouma to cut off the city from the south. Rebels initially captured two buildings inside the city and a hill near Mastouma. The Syrian Army recaptured the territory later in the day. On January 18, 2015, an Antonov An-26 operated by the Syrian Air Force crashed while attempting to land at the besieged Abu al-Duhur military airport in Idlib Governorate, killing 35 people.

On March 24, 2015, the newly established Army of Conquest rebels assaulted Idlib city from three sides. On March 27, the rebels penetrated the city. They captured Idlib city on March 28 as the Syrian Army regrouped south of the city. On April 2, the rebels advanced in the area of Mastouma. By April 5, the advance was repelled by the Syrian Army. On April 8, the military launched a counterattack towards the villages of Qameenas and Faylan to the east and west of Mastouma, respectively. On April 14, the Army breached the rebel defenses and entered Qameenas. On April 15, Army troops went on the offensive near Ariha south of Mastouma. By April 18, air strikes were conducted against Idlib city and its countryside since the rebel takeover, leaving 125 civilians dead.

On April 22, 2015, a new rebel offensive was launched in the northwest of Syria, threatening to capture Jisr al-Shugur and cut off government access to a major highway linking Idlib to Latakia. On April 25, the rebel coalition Army of Conquest captured the city of Jisr al-Shughur. At the end of the following month, the rebels also seized the Al-Mastumah military base. They also had captured the Qarmeed Brick Factory east of Mastouma on April 27. Rebels besieged the National Hospital south of Jisr al-Shugur, a pocket of Army resistance. On May 2, the Army launched a counterattack and recaptured three villages in the Al-Ghab plain, including Tall Waset. On May 6, government forces launched an attack on the al-Alawin checkpoint and rebel positions on the hills surrounding Frikka north of the Idlib salient. On May 10, the rebels launched a new assault on the National Hospital as the SAA captured territory north of Frikka. A renewed rebel advance on the salient on May 12 led to the capture of Mastouma on May 19 with a force of 2,500 rebels. On May 22, the rebels captured the National Hospital south of Jisr al-Shugur after government troops fled in broad daylight. On May 28, rebels began a large assault on Ariha and were able to enter the eastern distrcts of the city. Several hours later, opposition forces captured Ariha and Kafr Najd.

On June 4, 2015, the Army recaptured villages south of Frikka in the Al-Ghab Plain. On June 5, the Syrian Army also captured the Zayzoun Dam, near the administrative border between Idlib and Hama; the same dya, the rebels launched a large-scale attack on the Sheikh Ali hill area on the Ariha-Latakia highway. In addition, the rebels captured five villages near Basanqul on the highway; they captured Basanqul and Mahembel in the salient on June 6. On June 13, the rebels launched an assault on the remaining government-held positions in Idlib, including al-Musharyrifah and Tall Sheikh Khattab.

On July 28, 2015, rebels launched an assault to capture the remaining areas surrounding Jisr al-Shugur. Two hours later, the rebels captured strategic hills in the area. They also captured Frikka, forcing the Army to retreat to the south in order to reinforce its positions at Tall Waset. On July 29, the Syrian Army recaptured Tall Waset in the Al-Ghab Plain south of Idlib. On August 1, the military recaptured Ziyadia and Zeyzoun in the Al-Ghab plain. In addition, they captured the towns of Khirbat al-Naqus and Mansoura and its surrounding areas. On August 3, the rebels recaptured the Army's positions at Frikka after an Army retreat. Meanwhile, a Syrian fighter jet crashed inside Ariha, killing civilians at a market. On August 4, the rebels recaptured Tall Hamakah as the SAA withdrew to Tall Awar.

The Aleppo Front (2014-15)
On December 7, 2014, the Syrian Army launched Operation Rainbow after a year-long offensive to encircle Aleppo from the northeast and cut rebel supply lines into the city. After capturing the Breij area, they pushed west to the al-Owayji area. On December 11, government forces recaptured territory in the Stone Quarries in the southern part of Breij they had lost the prior week. They pushed south towards the Hanano district, leaving more than 60 rebels dead. On December 14, the Army advanced into and captured the al-Mallah area. Government forces also advanced and captured the southern and western parts of the Handarat city district, closing in on the hill. By December 19, the Army had captured almost all of the Handarat district. On December 22, the rebels recaptured the industrial plants in the northern part of the Handarat district, but lost it again at the end of December after an assault by the Army. On January 5, 2015, the rebels captured the saw mills area of al-Breij. On January 8, the Army and pro-government militias conducted a counterattack against areas seized by the rebels in previous days. On January 22, the rebels advanced in al-Mallah and Sifat areas and two days later, took control over some positions on al-Breij hill. On February 3, the rebels captured al-Misat hill in the northeastern entrance to the city. However, it was recaptured by the Army the following day.

On February 16, a large military armored convoy arrived in Aleppo to complete the siege of the city. On February 17, the government launched an offensive from Sifat. The Army infiltrated the three villages of Bashakuy, Rityan, and Hardatnin and encircled rebel positions there, north of Aleppo. They also advanced into the Zahraa district northwest of Aleppo. On February 18, the rebels recaptured Rityan while fighting continued in the other two villages. On February 20, rebels secured control of the al-Mallah area and Hardatnin. At the same time, the Army activated the Aleppo front south of the city by transferring troops from the province of Hama. The four-day battle in the northern countryside left 152 soldiers and 131 rebels dead. On March 9, opposition forces launched an assault on Handarat, north of Aleppo. On March 18, the military fully expelled the rebels from Handarat and re-established control of the village. On March 20, the military captured some more of the western territory in the countryside. By the end of March, after a Turkish suicide bomber from al-Nusra Front detonated himself in the northern countryside, the government offensive fizzled out.

On July 2, an offensive was launched by two rebel coalitions at the northwestern frontline of al-Zahraa. By July 3, the rebels seized some buildings, but the advance came at a heavy cost as the government managed to recapture the areas they lost. On July 4, the rebels managed to seize the Scientific Research Center on Aleppo's western outskirts, thus overcoming the first major government fortification. On July 6, a suicide bomber hit government positions in Jamiyat al-Zahraa, leaving 25 government fighters dead. By July 7, the renewed rebel attack had been repelled, while the military reportedly used chlorine gas to regain control of the Research Center, which failed.

Resurgent ISIS Advance
On July 16-26, radical jihadists from ISIS attacked and captured the Shaer gas field in the Palmyra desert region before the Army recaptured it.

On October 28, 2014, ISIS re-attacked the gas field, leaving at least 30 government troops dead. ISIS managed to capture large parts of the oil and gas field. On October 31, ISIS took control of the Hayyan Gas Company affiliated with the Shaer gas field and cut off the Damascus-Tadmur-Homs highway. The Syrian Army managed to repel attacks on the T4 airbase in the desert region. As the SAA pulled back to the T4 airbase and lost control of the Shaer gas field, reinforcements arrived and boosted the Army's defense of the area. On November 3, ISIS capture the Jahar gas field to the east of Shaer. On November 4, the Army recaptured the village of Kherbet al-Tayyas, northeast of the T4 airbase. On November 6, the Army retook the Shaer gas field from ISIS. By November 11, the Army retook the final oil well captured by ISIS near Shaer gas field, forcing the militants to retreat towards Al-Hasakah Governorate. However, a few days alter, ISIS recaptured Well 107. On November 19, the vice president of the intelligence branch in the desert was killed in the Shaer area during a search-and-destroy mission. On November 21, the Syrian Army recaptured some positions surrounding Well 107. On December 1, 2014, the Army recaptured Well 105, leaving 77 ISIS militants dead and 32 captured.

On December 3, 2014, ISIS launched an offensive in the direction of the Deir ez-Zor military airbase in the eastern desert. On December 5, ISIS captured al-Jafra village in eastern Der ez-Zor. On December 6, ISIS took control of the area northeast of the airport. By December 7, ISIS retreated south of the military airport. On December 8-9, ISIS began to withdraw their forces from al-Jafra. By December 11, government forces regained full control of al-Jafra. The ISIS offensive ended on December 13 as the Syrian Army repelled another attack on the military airport. On December 17, the Army launched a major counterattack northeast of the airport, taking complete control of the surrounding area. By early February 2015, ISIS forces further retreated from several positions east of the airbase.

On March 20, 2015, ISIS launched a two-pronged offensive in the eastern rural areas of Hama and Homs provinces in an attempt to cut the main government suppy route linking Aleppo and Hama. On March 23, ISIS stormed several military checkpoints, killing 20 soldiers in Homs and 74 soldirs in Hama. That same day, they attacked the military airport in the ancient city of Palmyra and reportedly shot down a Syrian Army aircraft. On March 31, ISIS militants kiled 46-48 civilians in the village of Mabuja in Homs province, before the Army repelled the attack. On April 5, ISIS restarted its offensive by attacking four villages in the eastern district of Hama, but did not gain significant ground. By April 7, the ISIS assault was repelled.

On April 1, 2015, ISIS militants entered the rebel-held Yarmouk refugee camp south of Damascus, but were expelled the next day. However, ISIS re-entered the camp on April 4 and took control of 90% of it. Local recruits were among the ISIS forces - having joined the militants due to anger at being starved by the Syrian government and harboring resentment at some of the rebel groups. On April 5, it was revealed that some al-Nusra Front fighters had allowed ISIS to enter the camp as over 2,000 people were evacuated from the camp. On April 7, the fighting ceased, with ISIS in control of 95% of the camp. On April 12, rebels launched a counterattack on the ISIS-held districts, recapturing some territory. By April 20, ISIS retreated from the al-Qaboun and Barzah districts as the U.N. attempted to bring aid into the camp. By the beginning of May, ISIS control shrunk to 40% of the area. On June 8, Palestinian militias reportedly expelled ISIS from the area around Damascus. However, by the end of June, the Yarmouk Camp was still under siege by Syrian Army forces.

On May 13, 2015, ISIS took advantage of the miltary's redeployment to Idlib Governorate, where ongoing fighting was taking place, and launched a two-pronged offensive towards the ancient site of Palmyra in the desert near the Shaer gas field. The operation started on the outskirts of al-Sukhnah, northeast of Palmyra. After the capture of al-Suknhah, ISIS took all the Syrian Army posts between it and Palmyra. On May 15, the Syrian Army dispatched reinforcements to Palmyra. The following day, ISIS reached some of the ruins and captured parts of an historic citadel. On May 20, ISIS recaptured Amiriya, north of Palmyra, and captured a third of Palmyra. Later that day, ISIS seized the city and entered the ruins the following day. On May 21, ISIS captured the last government-held border crossing with Iraq. Betwen May 23-24, ISIS captured the area on the Palmyra-Homs road, resulting in the capture of more than 22 pro-government fighters. When the offensive ended on May 26, the frontline had moved to the Tiyas airbase west of Palmyra on the road to Homs. Between June 15 and June 22, the military recaptured the Jazal oil field near Shaer gas field and west of Palmyra and reopened a transport route from the field towards government-held cities like Deir ez-Zor. In response to the advance, ISIS mined the ruins of ancient Palmyra.

On July 8, 2015, the Army began an offensive east to Palmyra, positioning themselves by the following day to within 4-5 kilometers from the city. On July 13, the Army captured the Ancient Quarries in the northwestern countryside of Palmyra after fierce clashes with ISIS. Fighting in the Palmyra countryside continued on July 20 to July 22. On July 26, government troops captured strategic hills that allowed them to survey ISIS forces inside the city. On July 27, the SAA and Hezbollah captured Palmyra Castle after a three-hour gunfight. As a result, government forces were now a mere three kilometers from the city. Footage also showed 300 ISIS combatants fleeing in the direction of their capital of Raqqah.

Kurdish Front
On September 13, 2014, ISIS launched a massive offensive to take the Kobane Canton and the city of Kobane, pushing into villages at the western and eastern borders of the Canton. On September 16, ISIS captured a strategic bridge over the Euphrates and captured 21 Kurdish villages the following day. ISIS captured 39 more villages on September 19. By September 21, ISIS troops came within 10 kilometers of the city and shelled the center of the city. On September 24, they advanced south of the city, despite airstrikes against its supply lines by warplanes, which came from the Turkish side of the border. On September 26, ISIS troops captured a hill from which YPG fighters had been attacking them in recent days. On September 27, U.S. and Arab coalition planes bombed the area around Kobane for the first time, targeting ISIS positions around the city. On October 1, ISIS forces advanced southeast of Kobane and captured one of the final villages on the outskirts of the city.

On October 5, 2014, ISIS entered Kobane and street fighting began. On October 9, ISIS forces were in control of more than a third of the city as they captured the Kurdish police headquarters. On October 11, ISIS forces attempted to take the center of Kobane, but were repelled by YPG forces. They were in control of half the city. On October 26, ISIS failed for the fourth time to capture the border gate with Turkey in northern Kobane. On October 29, FSA and Peshmerga fighters crossed the border from Turkey to reinforce Kobane. On November 8, the YPG advanced in Kobane against ISIS. On November 25, YPG fighters recaptured several buildings on the outskirts of Kobani, as well as the cultural center in the town. On January 5, 2015, YPG units recaptured the governmental and security district, controlling at least 80% of the city. On January 19, YPG fighters fully recaptured Mistanour Hill south of Kobane, killing 11 ISIS militants and controlling supply routes to Aleppo and Raqqah. On January 26, 2015, the YPG forced remaining ISIS forces in Kobane to retreat and managed to enter the eastern outlying areas, thus fully recapturing the city. It was confirmed by the U.S. on January 27 and ISIS admitted defeat in Kobane on January 30.

After pushing ISIS out of Kobane, the YPG and FSA started advancing on ISIS-held villages in the region. By February 6, YPG forces recaptured over 100 villages to the southeast. On February 8, the YPG and FSA faced stiff resistance from ISIS to the west of Kobane. On February 17, YPG seized the Aleppo-Hasakah road and seven villages in the Raqqah province during clashes. On February 22, the Turkish Army mounted a rescue operation across the border to evacuate its soldiers from the Tomb of Suleyman Shah. On February 26, YPG and FSA retook some of the last ISIS strongholds in the western Kobane countryside. Between March 1 and March 6, the YPG and FSA besieged ISIS militants at the Lefarge Cement Plant and seized 11 villages in the southern Canton. On March 9, ISIS attempted to launch a counterattack from Sarrin in the southwest part of the Canton. The YPG also shelled the ISIS-held city of Jarabulus, across the west bank of the Euphrates River. On March 15, a renewed YPG assault on Qara Qozak on the east bank of the river caused the ISIS defense there to collapse. On March 18, Kurdish forces recaptured almost all of the villages previously lost to ISIS in their initial September 2014 assault on the Canton.

Between March 17 and March 19, the YPG seized a hill overlooking Sarrin, the last remaining ISIS stronghold in the southern part of the Kobane Canton. On March 20, YPG and FSA forces besieged Sarrin with an assault. On March 25, ISIS forces attacked the village of Qara Qozak by boat, but the assault was repelled by the YPG. On March 28, ISIS launched a counterattack and managed to break through the Kurdish M4 highway defensive line and reach ISIS fighters at the Lefarge Cement Plant and Grain Silos in Sarrin. On April 13, 2015, the YPG massed reinforcements to take over the Sarrin Grain Silos. By April 19, YPG forces captured the village of Ras al-Ayn. On April 21, YPG and allied forces retook th territory lost to ISIS up to the M4 highway, capturing the Sarrin Grain Silos and neighboring villages. On April 25, Kurdish forces and their allies surrounded the town on three sides and started to push into the northern, western, and eastern suburbs. However, the offensive stalled with street fighting by April 27.

Meanwhile, on February 21, 2015, the Kurds launched an offensive against ISIS in Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria; their assault was backed up by U.S. and allied Arab air support. On February 22, the YPG captured two villages near the border with Iraq. On February 23, ISIS launched a massive attack on a cluster of villages along the southern bank of the Khabur River around the town of Tell Tamer, using 3,000 fighters and seizing 11 villages. On February 25, the YPG cut he road between Tal Hamis and al-Hawl, which was a main ISIS supply line from Iraq. By Februay 27, Kurdish fighters managed to capture 103 villages and hamlets around the town of Tal Hamis. By March 2, they had captured more than 25 more villages, with their ultimate aim being to take control of the main road linking the provincial capital of Al-Hasakah to the city of Qamishli. On March 6, the Syrian Army advanced down Highway 7 up to 15-20 kilometers from Tell Brak and were stopped with fierce clashes. On March 7, ISIS launched a massive attack on villages around Tell Tamer, capturing more villages on the northern bank of the Khabur River. On March 10, the YPG announced that their campaign had ended successfully after securing the Jaziria Canton, but ISIS launched a surprise attack on Tell Khanzir, about 30 kilometers to the west of Ras al-Ayn. By March 12, the Kurds managed to repel the ISIS advance on Ras al-Ayn resulting in dozens of casualties. However, ISIS advanced towards Tell Tamer and captured the village of Tal Nasri. On March 16, the YPG advanced and captured some ISIS positions in the countryside around Tell Tamer. The same day, 100 Hezbollah fighters arrived in Ras al-Ayn from Qamishli to support Kurdish forces.

On May 6, 2015, Kurdish forces launched an offensive in the area of Tell Tamer to recapture territory they had previously lost to ISIS. On May 10, the YPG advanced northwest of Tell Tamer on the road to Aleppo. On May 18, the YPG-led forces captured two villages south of Tell Tamer overlooking the road towards Mount Abdulaziz On the following day, the YPG captured another three villages on the road heading towards the mountain. Between May 17 and May 19, they had captured about 20 villages. On May 21, Kurdish-led forces captured the Asyrian villages of Tal Shamira and Tal Nasri. Thus, they completed the first stage of their two-week offensive successfully, recapturing Christian villages that ISIS had seized three months earlier. On May 26, the YPG captured the town of Mabrouka in the western border area of Ras al-Ayn. After the capture of Mabrouka, the YPG launched attacks on ISIS-held villages on the border. On May 29, the YPG captured the entire countryside of Ras al-Ayn as they continued their second phase of their campaign. Later that day, clashes on the administrative boundary between Al-Hasakah and Raqqah provinces took place that left 30 civilians dead on the Syrian-Turkish border. On May 31, 2015, Kurdish forces pushed beyond the provincial boundary between the Hasakah and Raqqah Governorates, thus ending the offensive operations within the western Al-Hasakah Governorate.

On May 31, 2015, Kurdish forces seized four villages on the Hasakah-Raqqah provincial boundary. At the same time, Kurdish and FSA forces in the eastern Kobane Canton launched a large offensive eastward towards Tell Abyad. By June 4, the Kobane Canton fighters reached Saada, about halfway between the Canton bounary and Tell Abyad. Meanwhile, YPG and FSA forces from Hasakah advanced to the villages neighboring the town of Suluk. On June 7, the YPG, backed by the FSA, launched an attack to the east of Suluk and captured a number of villages to the southwest of Ras al-Ayn. On June 12, YPG and allied forces captured the eastern part of Suluk, and some villages near it, but were forced to retreat from Suluk due to planted mines on June 13. That day, ISIS destroyed the main bridge east of Tell Abyad in an attempt to stall the YPG advance. By June 14, YPG and allied forces were within 5 kilometers from Tell Abyad, capturing about 20 villages to the southeast of the town. That day, they captured Suluk after ISIS escaped from the besieged town. On June 15, YPG and allied forces captured the Tell Abyad-Raqqah road, entering Tell Abyad. The Kurdish forces coming in from both the west and east linked up at the village of Qaysariyeh, two miles south of Tell Abyad. On June 16, they captured Tell Abyad.

On June 15, 2015, YPG and rebels captured the village of Shunaynah to the south of Tell Abyad, reducing ISIS control in the region to a besieged pocket west of Tell Abyad. They also entered Ayn Issa. On June 17, the ISIS resistance pocket to the west of Tell Abyad collapsed under pressure from YPG and FSA forces. On June 19, the YPG advanced in the southern countryside of Tell Abyad. On June 22, Kurdish-led forces captured the Brigade 93 military base from ISIS, just southwest of Ayn Issa. On June 23, they captured Ayn Issa, except for the grain silos. On June 24, YPG-led forces captured the village of Shakrak, located just east of Ayn Issa. By June 25, they also secured the remaining part of thre M4 highway, fulling linking the frontlines, and consolidating their control of the roads leading to Raqqah, blocking the ISIS supply line there. On that day, ISIS militants launched an attack on Kobane, which became a massacre, in retaliation for the recent Kurdish advances. On July 6, ISIS recaptured Ayn Issa in a massive counterattack. On July 8, the YPG recaptured Ayn Issa again from ISIS. On July 9, another ISIS counterattack was repelled by the following day. Later that day, the YPG declared their offensive successfully over.

On June 18, 2015, the YPG and FSA launched a new offensive on the town of Sarrin in Kobane Canton, with YPG forces attacking from the north, supported by an FSA push from the east. On June 30, after the Kobane massacre, YPG-led forces re-established the sieges of the Sarrin Grain Silos and surrounding villages in the north of Sarrin. On July 2, YPG and FSA forces advanced westward to Sarrin and threatened the last ISIS supply route to the south of Sarrin. Meanwhile, ISIS continued to send reinforcements from the south, as well as from the west bank of the Euphrates River, via covert boat crossings. On July 4, the YPG cut the ISIS supply line and fully besieged Sarrin. On July 9, ISIS forces were dispersed into parts of the outskirts to avoid U.S. airstrikes as the YPG tightened the siege and pushed into the eastern neighborhood of Sarrin. On July 12, ISIS broke the siege in a counterattack, recapturing a few villages and reopening the supply route to the south of Sarrin. On July 19, YPG and FSA fighters recaptured the segment of the M4 Highway in the region, surrounding Sarrin. On July 22, ISIS attempted to recapture the village of Mitras and to cross the M4 Highway again, but the attack was repelled. On July 24, YPG-led forces advanced again, crossing the highway and cutting off ISIS's last supply route to Sarrin. On July 26, ISIS militants holed up inside the Sarrin Grain Silos blew up part of the structure. They were captured shortly afterwards as the YPG and FSA forces secured most of the southern portion of Sarrin. On July 27, the YPG and FSA forces finally captured Sarrin from ISIS. Violent clashes took place on July 29 at the Euphrates River near Sarrin, but the offensive was completed.

On May 30, 2015, ISIS launched an offensive towards the Syrian government-controlled part of Al-Hasakah city, and advanced in the city's outskirts after two suicide bombers targeted Syrian Army positions, killing and wounding 50 soldiers. The offensive had originated from the ISIS-held town of Al-Shaddadah, south of Hasakah. On June 1, ISIS launched its second attack on the city, followed by a ground assault on two villages south of Hasakah. ISIS soon breahced Army fortifications at the Central Prison. After Syrian government reinforcements arrived, the Syrian Army was reportedly able to recapture areas of the prison in the southern part of the city. On June 4, the Syrian government sent more reinforcements to the city as ISIS was in control of the Panorama checkpoint and the Central Prison. On June 5, the Kurdish YPG and Syrian militias joined Syrian government troops at their security center to prevent ISIS attacks. On June 6, YPG started fighting ISIS on the northwestern outskirts of the city for the first time. The Army also recaptured the Prison and other parts of southern Hasakah. On June 8, the Syrian Army continued its counterattack and captured the village of Aliyah, creating a 12-kilometer buffer zone around the city.

On June 23, 2015, three or four ISIS suicide bombers targeted a Syrian Army security compound and other sites in Hasakah. On June 25, ISIS began an assault on Syrian government-held parts of the city, forcing the Army to bring in reinforcements to counter the offensive. On June 26, ISIS managed to enter the southeastern parts of the city; they also captured territory from the Kurds to the east of Mount Abdulaziz southwest of Hasakah. On June 27, the YPG began their engagement in the battle as ISIS advanced further into the city. After an Army counterattack, ISIS made new gains on June 28. On July 5, YPG forces stationed to the east of the Abdulaziz Mountains launched an offensive eastward, capturing multiple villages that ISIS had captured from Syrian Army forces in an attempt to sever an ISIS supply line to Hasakah city. On July 10, ISIS militants captured the military base to the east of the Al-Zuhour neighborhood, fully besieging the Syrian Army forces in the juvenile prison and the power plant to the south of the city. Around the same time, the Kurds severed a section of the ISIS supply route to the south. By July 13, ISIS captured the Central Prison in the southern countryside of the city after besieging it for a week. On July 17, the YPG captured the Central Prison from ISIS as well as the power plant in an action that encircled the ISIS combatants in the city. YPG fighters had also taken control of the villages formerly controlled by the Syrian Army to the west of Hasakah, leaving the Syrian Army in control of only central Hasakah city. By July 23, Kurdish forces and their Syrian allies were largely in control of the city. By July 25, they seized the western al-Nashweh neighborhood from ISIS, isolating ISIS in the city by the following day. On July 28, the Al-Zuhour District was nearly cleared by YPG and Syrian Army froces, resulting in the remaining ISIS militants being pushed to the southern outskirts of the city. Clashes continued at the southern entrance to the city until August 1 when Hasakah city was finally secured from ISIS. On August 3, the Syrian government and the YPG began negotiations for redistributing contested territories seized by either side during the battle.