Al-Tanf offensive (2016)

Al-Tanf offensive (2016)
Part of the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War
Date3[2] – 5 March 2016
(2 days)
Location
Al-Tanf, Homs Governorate, Syria
Result

FSA victory

  • Rebels capture the Al-Tanf border post and immediate surroundings
Belligerents

Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army Supported by:
CJTF–OIR

 ISIL
Commanders and leaders
Syrian opposition Khazal al-Sarhan
(New Syrian Army commander)		 Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
(Leader of ISIL)
Units involved

Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

Military of ISIL
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Al-Tanf offensive was a two-day offensive launched by the Free Syrian Army backed by the U.S.-led Coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), aiming to recapture al-Tanf, Syria. Al-Tanf had been captured by ISIL from the Syrian Government in May 2015 and had been used by ISIL to shift militants and resources across the border.[3]

On 3 March 2016, Syrian rebels took the offensive to capture al-Tanf, and after several hours of fighting captured the border post.[4][5]

ISIL counter-attacked several hours later, and recapturing the post.[6] Fighting continued until the next day, in which the rebels repelled ISIL fighters and recaptured the post.[7]

References

  1. ^ "CIA Funded and SOF Trained: The New Syrian Army Hits the Ground". Sofrep. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  2. ^ "New Syrian Army will 'liberate eastern Syria' from IS". The New Arab. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Syrian rebels seize Iraq border crossing from Islamic State: monitor". Reuters. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  4. ^ Konjunktion (10 March 2016). "Wenn im Westen aus IS-Terroristen plötzlich wieder "Rebellen" werden". Neopresse - Unabhängige Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Syrian rebels seize Iraq border crossing from ISIS". Al Arabiya. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  6. ^ "The "Islamic State" regain control of the al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq, hours after losing control of it". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Syria Rebels take border crossing from IS". Business Insider. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.