Abu Suhaib Al Tunisi †[12] (Jabhat Fatah commander) Mohammad Yusuf al-Sabihi †[12] (Jabhat Fatah commander) Amjad Abdul Hakim al-Balkhi †[12] (Jabhat Fatah commander) Abu al-Mossana al-Shami †[12] (Ahrar al-Sham senior commander) Baslan Fou'az Al-Masri †[3] (Sadqa Wa'dah Movement chief commander)
The Quneitra offensive (September 2016) was launched by Syrian rebel forces, during the Syrian Civil War, in order to capture the government-held town of Hader, Quneitra Governorate.
The offensive
On 10 September, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly the al-Nusra Front), along with Ansar Bait al-Maqdis and Ahrar al-Sham, launched an offensive at the town of Khan Arnabah on the border with the Golan Heights.[21] Hours later, the rebels took one checkpoint[22] and a hill, but according to pro-government sources, failed to capture another hill and were repelled by pro-government forces.[2]
Meanwhile, the fighting caused stray shells to land at the northern Golan Heights and in response, Israel bombed a Syrian Armyartillery position in Quneitra.[23]
The next day, the rebels made advances at the village of Homirat,[24] seizing a large part of its eastern flank,[25] mainly Tal Al-Hamirat hill. At the same time, the main rebel attack towards Hader, at the Tal Taranjeh hilltop, was repelled[9][26] after a three-hour battle. Rebel forces also reportedly suffered heavy losses after entering a minefield near Tal Gren hill. This included the destruction of two BMPinfantry fighting vehicles.[27]
On 12 September, the Army reportedly recaptured all positions they had previously lost, including Tal Al-Hamirat.[10] Later in the day, despite the official start of a country-wide cease-fire, the rebels launched a new, much larger, assault.[28] The rebels once again assaulted Tal Taranjeh hill, but were again beaten back after 10 hours of fighting.[29]
On 14 September, a new rebel attack on Tal Taranjeh was beaten back by the Syrian Army.[3] Despite the official ceasefire, both sides continued to shell each other during 17 September,[31] with one stray mortar shell hitting Israeli occupied territory. This led the Israeli Air Force to retaliate by striking the Golan Regiment's positions near Hader.[32] Hours later, the rebels launched a new attack on the government-held Battalion 4 Hill, which was repelled.[4] On 20 September, it was revealed that Al-Humriyah hill was recaptured by the rebels and was being bombarded by the army positions in Tuloul al-Hamar.[33][11]
Aftermath
A new rebel assault on Hader in November was also repelled, with 19–80 rebels and at least 10 soldiers killed.[34][35]
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