| 2015 Hama offensive | |||||||
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| Part of theSyrian Civil War | |||||||
.svg) Map of Syria with Hama highlighted | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 38+ killed[7][4] | 9+ killed[4] | ||||||
The2015 Hama offensive was a military operation launched by Syrian rebels during theSyrian Civil War in the northern parts ofHama Governorate.
The Jund al-Aqsa rebel group initiated a large-scale offensive in the northern part of Hama province on 28 November 2015. The initial aim of the operation was to capture the Alawite village ofMa'an. Over the next two days, their assault at Ma’an, as well against the other surrounding villages, was repelled.[3] A few days later, on 2 December, the Army of Conquest Islamist rebel coalition launched a new assault towards Ma’an, but their attack was reportedly disrupted after they were ambushed at theMorek Hills by the 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division.[7]
On 3 December, fighting took place in theAl-Ghaab plains of Hama province, atal-Mansoura,al-Qahira and Tal Zajram, while Army bombardment was reported atTal Wasit,al-Enkaw and al-Manara.[8] The military reportedly secured the southern entrance of the hilltop village of Tal Zajram.[9]
Jund al-Aqsa renewed their offensive on 13 December by attacking the villages ofMa’sasineh,Al-Buwaydah andMarkabat.[10] The following day, the rebels seized the villages of Al-Buwaydah and Ma’sasineh, as well as theAl-Zulaqiyat and Zalin checkpoints ("Jabal ash-Shir"). However, following the arrival of military reinforcements, the Syrian Army recaptured both villages and the Zalin checkpoint. As a result of these reverses, the rebel offensive stalled.[11][4][12] The fighting left 22 rebels, including six foreigners, and nine soldiers dead.[4]
By the morning of 15 December, the Syrian Army recaptured all areas lost the previous day.[5][13] In addition, government forces also captured the Tell Huwayr hill, which overlooks the town ofMorek.[6][14]
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