| Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theSyrian Civil War andInter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Free Syrian Army |  Al-Nusra Front Jund al-Aqsa | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Lt. Col. Ahmed al-Saud (Division 13 chief commander) Maj. Musa al-Khalid[3](Division 13 commander) Zahir al-Ahmed (POW)(56th Infantry Brigade commander)[4] Capt. Ali al-Salloum (POW)(Victory Brigade commander)[5] Zakaria Quitaz(Division 13 media official)[4] | Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Jabhat al-Nusra Emir)[6] | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Unknown | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Entire division: around 1,000 fighters | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 7 killed,[1] 40+ captured[6] | 4 killed[1] | ||||||
  Location within Syria | |||||||
On 13 March 2016, jihadist fighters fromAl-Nusra Front andJund al-Aqsa launched an overnight attack against theFree Syrian Army's13th Division headquarters in the town ofMa'arrat al-Nu'man. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 over local protesters and demonstrations.[7][8][9]
The Division headquarters located in Ma'arrat al-Nu'man was overrun in a nighttime attack by a joint Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Asqa assault force.[5] Two Division storage facilities that were allegedly filled with the U.S.-built anti-tankTOW missiles were surrendered to the attackers.[8] This claim was denied by Division 13 leader Ahmad al-Sa'aoud, insisting Al-Nusra Front captured only 'light weapons and ammunition' and that all of the groups anti-tank missiles and mortars were secured.[10] The Division 13’s depots in Maarat al-Nu'maan and three nearby towns were overrun; Hesh, Khan Shaykhun and Tal Aas. An unspecified number of armored vehicles and a tank were reportedly captured.[6][5] Al-Nusra fighters conducted door-to-door searches, ultimately detaining 40 Division fighters including several top leaders of the rebel group. By the end of the battle, Division 13 abandoned all its posts in Maarat al-Nu'man and the bulk of its leadership fled toTurkey.[11] However, civilians opposed to the takeover took to the streets and stormed Nusra's HQ in the city, freeing some prisoners.[12] A total of 11 combatants died during the clashes.[5]
Unrest and civilian resistance against al-Nusra rule continued for coming months. On 12 June 2016, a demonstration took place in Maarat al-Nu'man against al-Nusra's authoritarianism, with protestors calling Ahmed al-Sharaa an "Iranian nark".[13]
From 6 to 8 June of the next year, clashes broke out betweenTahrir al-Sham andSham Legion in Maarrat al-Nu'man. The 13th Division and the Free Police joined the fighting on 8 June. By the evening of 8 June,HTS captured both the 13th Division and the Sham Legion's headquarters in Maarat al-Nu'man and killed Col. Tayser al-Samahi, the head of the Free Police in the town.[14] On 9 June, a ceasefire agreement was signed between theFree Idlib Army and Tahrir al-Sham in the town and the latter ordered the 13th Division to be disbanded.[15]
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