| Battle of the Shaer gas field (2016) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theSyrian Civil War | |||||||
  Shaer gas field | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |  Syrian Arab RepublicSupported by:  Russia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Abu Baraa Al Jazrawi | Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown Syrian military unitRussian Naval Infantry[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 16 killed (1st day) | 34 killed (1st day) | ||||||
TheBattle of the Shaer gas field took place between theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Syrian government for the control over theShaer gas field (Sha'er gas field) during theSyrian Civil War. It is the third attack that was launched by ISIL on the gas field.
On 5 May 2016, ISIL once again captured the Shaer gas field that had been held by the Syrian government since theSecond Battle of the Shaer gas field.[2] 34 soldiers and 16 ISIL fighters were killed during the battle for the field.[3]
Four days later, ISIL attacked the nearby al-Mahr oil field, capturing al-Mahr hill, before the military recaptured the hill and repelled the attack on the field the following day.[4] The same day, 10 May, ISIL captured an abandoned military base near the T4 airbase, cutting the main supply route toPalmyra. Government troops recaptured the base and reopened the supply road.[5][6][7]
Mid-May, there were reports of explosions and a 4.4Richter magnitude scale earthquake that was believed to be caused by the entire field blowing up.[8][9]
On 30 May, government forces recaptured the Huwaysis area.[10][11]
In late June, ISIL was once again in control of the Huwaysis area.[12]
In early July, some media activists showed the first photos and videos of the preparation of blasting and explosion.
In September, pro-government forces regained control of the Huwaysis area.[13] but lost it again in aDecember offensive beforerecapturing it yet again in early 2017.
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