Rebel capture of Jisr al-Shughur fighters in Jisr al-Shughur On 22 April, rebels (organised by the newly created
Battle of Victory operations room) launched an offensive against the de facto provincial capital of Idlib governorate,
Jisr al-Shughur, threatening to cut off government access to a major highway linking Idlib to Latakia. Other objectives in this offensive were the Brick Factory base (Al-Qarmeed), near
Mastouma, and the
Al-Ghaab Plain in Hama governorate, where FSA units were tasked with spearheading the cutting of
Syrian Arab Army supply lines from the west. marking the beginning of the operation. A
BMP packed with explosives was also detonated at a checkpoint in the north of Jisr al-Shughur. By the next day, rebels had captured one checkpoint near the Mastouma base and four checkpoints around Jisr al-Shughur, The rebels reportedly also advanced near the city's sugar plant and captured a hill near the Brick Factory base. Later that day, rebels captured the strategic Tal Hekmah checkpoint near the road between Jisr al-Shughur and Ariha. Meanwhile, the Syrian Air Force conducted at least 40 airstrikes in Idlib. Later, an opposition source reported that the rebels controlled the three highest points near the town of
Furayqah (Tal Muntar, Tal Hamkah and Tal Mantaf), but the road between Jisr al-Shughur and Ariha was still not cut. However, government reinforcements arrived and recaptured the Tal Hekmah checkpoint. According to the
SOHR, since the start of the offensive, 43 rebels, including 13 Chechens, had been killed, government casualties numbered 30 Meanwhile, pro-government sources placed the rebel death toll at 100, with 47 soldiers dying as well. Throughout the first few days of the offensive, FSA brigades such as Fursan al-Haq and the 1st Coastal Division (including notable gunner Osama Abo Hamza) used anti-tank
TOW missiles against a number of SAA armored vehicles in the al-Ghaab Plain. and later, according to a tweet by a pro-government media figure, a
VBIED was detonated at the Ayn Sibeel checkpoint before an al-Nusra Front-led rebel force captured most of the city, with fighting continuing and air-strikes hitting rebel positions. The national hospital and one checkpoint specifically remained under government control at this point, according to one tweeter, as clashes continued in the southwestern part of the city. Meanwhile, the Syrian Army claimed that it had captured the village of Kurin. Soon after, rebels fully secured Jisr al-Shughur, except for the hospital where soldiers were still holed up. Clashes also still continued in the vicinity of the city from the south and east. 60 bodies of government fighters were reportedly seen on the streets. The Syrian Air Force launched 30 airstrikes around the city after its fall. After the seizure of Jisr al-Shughur, rebels captured five villages in the Al-Ghaab Plain and seized the village of
Eshtabraq near Jisr al-Shughur, while 27 people, including 20 rebels were killed by airstrikes on the captured city. The next day, government sources claimed troops loyal to the government recaptured the sugar plant Government sources also said the SAA recaptured a village in the Al-Ghaab Plain and opening a corridor from the sugar plant to the soldiers besieged at the hospital in Jisr al-Shughur. Pro-opposition activist Cédric Labrousse reported that more than 90 were killed on both sides, while the SOHR reported 10 rebel deaths at the base, including the two suicide bombers, and seven tanks, six cannons and a large quantity of ammunition being seized by the rebels. Three SAA tanks were reportedly destroyed as well. After the fall of the Brick Factory base, 14 airstrikes struck the area. Later, the SAA recaptured the village of Ghaniyah in the Al-Ghaab Plains, while three other villages were contested. According to pro-government sources, the SAA also recaptured a village at Jisr al-Shughur, but lost it again two days later. As of 28 April, rebels besieged the hospital where soldiers were still continuing to fight. On the same day, a military source reported that Syrian government troops launched a counterattack on the Brick Factory in Idlib. Video footage emerged of Col. Hassan conducting a phone call to Damascus pleading for reinforcements while surrounded by his troops. According to Elijah J. Magnier from the AL RAI newspaper, Damascus had given the order to retake Jisr al-Shughur at all costs. Meanwhile, rebels blew up a bridge in an attempt to block Hama-based government fighters from reaching Jisr al-Shughur. On 29 April, rebels seized the Musbin area, which links Ariha and Saraqeb. A military source confirmed the loss of the Musbin Quarry, but asserted that the SAA was still in control of the village and its hill. A fourth rebel attack in four days against the hospital was also repelled. By the end of the day, the hospital was still under control by government troops. The clashes around the hospital left 14 al-Nusra fighters and "dozens" of government soldiers dead and wounded. By this point, around 5,000 soldiers were holed up at the Mastouma military base, east of Ariha, in Ariha itself, and on the hills surrounding it. The FSA Falcons of al-Gab unit blew up three bridges in an attempt to prevent their potential retreat and used TOW missiles supplied by the United States specifically for this operation. The clashes resulted in the death of at least five rebels and five Hezbollah fighters. Military sources additionally stated that Syrian government troops seized a part of Qastoun. The next day, Syrian government troops advanced around Tall Ma'er tab'i, after an attempted rebel attack was repelled and captured the nearby Tall SyriaTel hill. Government forces also said they advanced from
Ghanya towards
Eshtabraq. In addition, pro-government sources said the SAA started an operation to encircle the rebel-held Al-Sirmaniyah. On 4 May, the seventh rebel attack in seven days on the National Hospital was repelled, according to pro-government sources. Rebel forces continued attacking Ariha and Mastouma, as well as Ankawi and Ghab in an attempt to cut off the M4 highway linking Latakia to Idlib and Aleppo, forcing SAA units to defend a weak 30-mile W-shaped defensive line. Rebels reportedly advanced in the Hosh Msibin and Bothayna areas after they destroyed two tanks and recaptured Tal SyrianTel. On 6 May, government forces launched an attack on the al-Alawin checkpoint and rebels positions on the hills surrounding Frikka, while the Syrian Air Force conducted more than 50 air raids in the area. Government troops (including non-Syrian militia) advanced in this area. Meanwhile, rebels claimed to have captured the last hill near Ariha, Tal Ma'ar Tab'i, while the Syrian Arab Army stated the rebel attack on the hill was repelled before nightfall. On 7 May, the Syrian Army claimed the Tiger Forces managed to recapture the sugar plant near Jisr al-Shughur, after seizing the village of Qarta. where it was later reported by the military that the Army captured both the al-Alawin checkpoint and Malta Hill. According to the SOHR, 14 government soldiers and officers, including the Syrian Brigadier General Kemal Dib, were killed in Jisr al-Shughur. The next day, government forces were confirmed to had seized three points between the al-Alawin checkpoint and Frikka hills, while 24 airstrikes were reported. Two of the locations were the villages of Frikka Al-Abeed and Sheikh Elias, They also reportedly captured Tal Hataab, near Frikka, amid 20 airstrikes in the region. On 10 May, the rebels launched a new assault on the National Hospital, after a second car bomb was detonated. Rebels managed to enter one of the hospital buildings during the assault, but their attack was repelled, while the Air Force conducted 33 airstrikes throughout the area, of which 22 were around the hospital. The Syrian Army advanced towards the town, but their push towards Jisr al-Shughur hospital was temporarily halted and the rebels managed to recapture three checkpoints, before they were pushed back again during the fighting that continued early into the next day. The clashes at the hospital and attacks on the relief column left 40 rebels and 32 soldiers dead. Elsewhere, the SAA captured Al-Mushayrafat and its hill (Tal Sheikh Al-Khataab), north of Frikka. At the same time, rebels took the Zeizun thermal plant in the al-Ghaab plain, after damaging several government vehicles. Later during the night, rebel forces were forced to retreat from the plant, but were still in control of the nearby village of Zeizun. The thermal plant sustained severe damage during the fighting, according to one social media poster. On 11 May, clashes continued in and around the hospital and near the sugar plant, where rebels destroyed a tank and government forces recaptured two checkpoints. 14 airstrikes struck rebel positions throughout the day. On the same day, around 20 rebels from the FSA's 101st Division were killed after a failed attack on the village of Kafr Najd, near Ariha.
Renewed rebel advance and capture of Ariha As of 12 May, rebels were still holding a part of the hospital, while the fighting continued in and around it and near the sugar factory. and claimed to have killed at least 20 soldiers in the hit-and-run attack. Rebels also attacked and captured al-Kufayr village. At the end of the day, the rebels launched an assault against the village of Musbin, near Mastouma, and Jabal al-Arbaeen area, near Ariha, after a tunnel bomb was detonated under the al-Fanar military checkpoint. Rebels captured the Jabal al-Arbaeen area and Musbin, while at least 17 soldiers (including three commanders) and 11 rebel fighters (including three leaders) were killed. However, government forces were able to recapture one checkpoint overlooking Ariha overnight, but eventually retreated after rebels launched a second attack the next day. According to a military source, Musbin was still contested and rebels were not in full control. On 14 May, government forces recaptured the village of al-Kufayr, while Brig. Gen. Kemal Dib and Maj. Gen. Muheiddeine Mansour were killed in and near Jisr al-Shughur. At the end of the day, rebels recaptured large parts of Al-Mushayrafat, with fighting for the village continuing. On 17 May, according to an opposition source, more than 2,500 rebels attacked Mastouma and the nearby Ba'ath military camp. During the attack, an VBIED was detonated near the military camp, while rebels captured al-Moqbili village and advanced in Mastouma, where they captured at least 10 checkpoints and Mastouma hill. Meanwhile, the Syrian army claimed to have advanced towards Kufayr. On 19 May, after several days of violent clashes, rebels took control of Al-Mastumah, its military camp (which was the largest remaining Army base in Idlib in government hands) and Nihlaya after the SAA retreated towards Ariha. Syrian Army defenses "disintegrated", making Ariha endangered from the northern axis. A spokesman for Ahrar al-Sham claimed that the SAA had already begun withdrawing from Ariha as well. Government forces destroyed all warehouses with arms and ammunition before they retreated, according to one tweeter, with opposition media showing what it claimed to be footage of several destroyed and overturned army vehicles littered with dead bodies, after a convoy of retreating government troops was interdicted. The clashes led to the death of 16 rebels and 15 government fighters, while others were captured, and the destruction of a number of armored vehicles (including tanks). Several rebel attacks on Kafr Najd were repelled later that day. On 21 May, rebels advanced towards Ariha. The next day at 8:00 am, an estimated 150–500 government forces attempted a breakout at the besieged hospital in broad daylight and fled towards the government-controlled area south of Jisr al-Shughur. Some were killed, wounded and captured under withering opposition fire, with 3 generals and a colonel killed or captured en route. Rebels claimed to have killed 208 and captured 65 government fighters during the retreat, with figures given of not more than a dozen to 55 surviving. Meanwhile, pro-government sources reported that 127 soldiers out of the garrison of 170 had successfully escaped. Journalist
Robert Fisk found that "far less than half" of those who retreated from the National Hospital reached safety, with some subsequently dying of their wounds after reaching government lines. Syrian State TV declared the retreat a "victory" amid congratulations by most government supporters, while some voiced criticism. As of 23 May, SOHR documented the death of 261 Syrian soldiers and pro-government militia, including 90 officers (one Major General, 11 Brigadier Generals, 11 Colonels and three Lieutenant Colonels), since the beginning of the offensive in and near Jisr al-Shughur. On the same day, the Syrian troops attacked the rebel-held the village of Sirmaniyyah in the al-Ghab plain. On 28 May, rebels began a large assault on Ariha and were able to enter the eastern districts of the city, whilst fierce fighting continued near the town. Several hours later, opposition forces captured Ariha and Kafr Najd, as government troops retreated towards
Urum al-Jawz and
Muhambal on the Ariha–Jisr al-Shughur Highway. In the evening, the rebels also captured Ma'taram. At least 31 government forces were killed that day, including 13 soldiers who were executed by the rebels. The next day, rebels captured the villages of Orm al-Joz and Ein Orm al-Joz.
Fighting for the Ariha–Latakia highway On 4 June, the Army recaptured the villages of Tal A'our, Al-Zayadiyah and Sararif and,according to one blogger, the hills of Tall Ghazal and Tall al-Sahan. The next day, the Syrian Army advanced and seized the areas of Marj al-Zohour and the Zayzoun Dam, near the administrative border between Idlib and Hama. On the same day, the rebels launched a large-scale attack on the Sheikh Ali hill area and gained ground in the Basanqul forest, In addition, the rebels captured five villages near Basanqul. On 6 June, the rebels captured Basanqul and Mahambel. The rebels continued advancing that day and captured two checkpoints west of Mahambel, including the largest remaining barrier in Idlib. According to the SOHR, the Syrian Army lost 11 tanks and armoured vehicles during the new rebel assault. By the end of 6 June, an Ahrar al-Sham spokesman claimed that the Army of Conquest controlled about 99% of Idlib province. On 8 June, the SAAF conducted airstrikes on the village of al-Janodia, which reportedly killed 49 civilians, while Iranian officers were reported to had executed three Syrian Arab Army officers who retreated from the Mahambel and Basanqul checkpoints. On 13 June, the rebels launched an assault on the remaining government-held positions in Idlib, with the SOHR reporting that they captured Al-Mushayrifah, Jannat al-Qura, and Tal Sheikh Khattab, along the highway, although those locations were reported captured more than two weeks earlier. Rebels also advanced in the Sarafif area, which was recaptured by the Syrian Army on 4 June. By the next day, the Syrian Army had regained control over the areas it lost on the previous day, after the rebels retreated under heavy airstrikes and shelling. ==Aftermath – Syrian Army retreat from the Jisr al-Shugur area==