2012 Hama offensive | |||||||
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Part of the Syrian civil war | |||||||
Frontlines during and following the offensive Syrian Government control Opposition control |
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Belligerents | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Kassem Saadeddin | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~1,000 fighters | 2,000 soldiers | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
132 killed | 111 killed | ||||||
90–200 civilians killed |
Syrian Government control
Offensive stopped
The 2012 Hama offensive was a military operation during the Syrian civil war launched by the Syrian armed opposition on 16 December 2012 with the intent of taking control of Hama Province. The offensive was stopped after the Syrian Army launched a counter-offensive, leaving the rebels in control of only half a dozen towns and villages in the north of the province.
With the Hama province largely controlled by Army Forces, the FSA launched an offensive on 16 December, to capture the province and Hama city itself and by the same time, cutting the principal supply route of the Army in Aleppo.
The rebel military council of Hama announced the start of the offensive on 16 December, giving government troops in the province an ultimatum to surrender to the Free Syrian Army within 48 hours. Within two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Qassem Saadeddine, a member of the Free Syrian Army military command, claimed that government troops had already been cleared from the small towns of Halfaya, Kafr Nabudah, Hayalin, Hasraya, al-Lataminah, Taybat al-Imam and Kafr Zita, leaving the rebels in control of the rural western part of Hama province and all areas north of Hama city. Rebels had advanced 40 kilometres (25 mi) south from Maarrat al-Nu'man and Jisr ash-Shugour, encountering little resistance. It seemed that rebels had overrun army lines north of Hama city within 48 hours. Government positions in Khan Shaykhun and Mhardeh were reportedly under attack by rebel forces.