2016 al-Bukamal offensive

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Al-Bukamal Offensive
Part of the Syrian Civil War and the American-led intervention in Syria
Date 28–29 June 2016
(1 day)
Location Al-Bukamal District, Deir-Ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
Result ISIL victory[4]
Belligerents

Syrian opposition Authenticity and Development Front

Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

CJTF-OIR

 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders

Syrian opposition Khazal al-Sarhan
(New Syrian Army commander)

Syrian opposition Mozahem al-Saloum (NSA spokesman)[2]		 Unknown
Strength
Syrian opposition Several hundred fighters[5] Unknown
Casualties and losses
40 killed, 15 captured (ISIL claim)[6] 20 killed (NSA claim)[7]
Timeline
Civil uprising
in Syria (March–August 2011)
Start of insurgency (September 2011 – April 2012)
Cease-fire and civil war (May 2012 – December 2013)
Rise of the Islamists (January–September 2014)
United States-led intervention (September 2014 – September 2015)
Russian intervention (September 2015 – March 2016)
Civil war continues (March 2016–present)

The 2016 al-Bukamal offensive also known as Operation Day of Wrath was launched on the town of al-Bukamal on the Syrian–Iraqi border led by the US-backed New Syrian Army (NSA). A simultaneous assault took place towards the town of al-Qa'im on the Iraqi side of the border, conducted by the Iraqi Federal Police.[8]

The offensive[edit]

On 28 June 2016, the rebels launched the offensive from al-Tanf and captured: the village of al-Sukkariya (north of al-Bukamal), the nearby Hamdan Military Airfield, the Ayshat al-Khayri hospital (in northern al-Bukamal) and several positions in the desert between the Tanf border crossing and al-Bukamal. NSA troops were airlifted to the area by three Coalition helicopters and the advance was aided by FSA fifth column members inside the city.[3] ISIL then proceeded to cut power and communications in the city, followed by digging trenches around it.[5]

On the next day, ISIL recaptured the airbase, pushed the rebels back from the outskirts of al-Bukamal and attacked the supply lines of the NSA through the empty desert. Islamic State fighters had encircled the rebels in a surprise ambush. They inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels and weapons had been seized by the jihadists. The rebels retreated to the outlying desert.[9][10] The offensive was described as a "crippling defeat" for the rebels.[4][11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ISIS on alert as rebels advance near Syria-Iraq border". Now News. 29 June 2016. 
  2. ^ a b "US-Backed Syrian Rebels Move Toward IS-Held Town Near Iraq". Associated Press. 28 June 2016. 
  3. ^ a b c "ISIS on alert as rebels advance near Syria-Iraq border". Now News. 29 June 2016. 
  4. ^ a b US BACKED NEW SYRIAN ARMY SUFFERS CRIPPLING DEFEAT
  5. ^ a b "Syria rebels battle IS at Iraqi border, aim to cut 'caliphate' in two". Reuters. 29 June 2016. 
  6. ^ In video: ISIS overruns US-backed fighters in Eastern Syria
  7. ^ "The Day of Worth Operation". New Syrian Army. 30 June 2016. 
  8. ^ Leith Fadel. "US begins new operation to drive ISIS away from Iraq-Syria border". almasdarnews.com. Retrieved 2016-06-28. 
  9. ^ "Islamic State forces Syria rebels to retreat from border area". Reuters. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  10. ^ In video: ISIS overruns US-backed fighters in Eastern Syria
  11. ^ IS repels advance by US-backed Syria rebels near Iraq border
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