Daraa offensive (March–April 2016) | |||||||
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Part of the Syrian Civil War and the Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War |
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Belligerents | |||||||
![]() Alwiya al-Furqan ![]() al-Murabitin Brigade(since 28 March) |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
![]() (al-Nusra general commander of Daraa Governorate) ![]() (al-Nusra commander of Tasil) ![]() (commander of the Yarmouk Army) ![]() (Southern Front field commander) |
![]() (Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade emir) ![]() (Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade field commander) ![]() ![]() (Muthanna Movement emir) ![]() (Muthanna Movement second-in-command) ![]() (Muthanna Movement general commander) ![]() (Muthanna Movement field commander) ![]() (Muthanna Movement field commander) ![]() (Muthanna Movement commander in Daraa city) ![]() (Ansar al-Aqsa commander) ![]() (Ansar al-Aqsa commander) |
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Units involved | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
Unknown
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800–1,200+
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
93 fighters killed on both sides (per pro-Syrian gov. source) 25 civilians killed (several executed by ISIL) 8,200 civilians displaced |
Rebel victory
Unknown
800–1,200+
The Daraa offensive (March–April 2016) was a military operation of two Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-affiliated groups, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and the Islamic Muthanna Movement, against Syrian opposition forces in the Daraa Governorate.
The Muthanna Islamic Movement was accused of kidnappings of Daraa officials and FSA commanders, which the Movement denied. Several of the prisoners were freed by the Yarmouk Army later. Muthanna was also alleged to have cooperated with the Islamic State.
In midst of the Second Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin in 23 January 2016, against the Syrian Armed Forces, conflict erupted between the Muthanna Movement and the Yarmouk Army after the Movement blocked the road leading to the town. The Syrian Army was able to capture the town two days later.
First major clashes between ISIL and opposition forces already broke out a week before the offensive.
On 21 March 2016, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and the Islamic Muthanna Movement, both of which are Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant affiliates, stormed the towns of Tasil and Adwan after several hours-long fierce battles with the al-Nusra Front, Ahrar ash-Sham and the Martyr Raed al-Masri Brigade of the Free Syrian Army. At least two important al-Nusra military commanders were killed during the clashes: Abu Salah al-Masalma, general commander of Daraa Governorate, and Abu Adham, commander of Tasil. After suffering many casualties, opposition forces were eventually forced to retreat to Nawa. ISIL fighters went on to execute a number of residents in the captured towns, and broadcast an appeal over the local mosques' loudspeakers for the rebels to choose between “allegiance, surrendering their arms, or staying home.” In response to the ISIL takeover, many Tasil residents fled into the countryside. Afterwards, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade erected earth mounds around Tasil in order to fortify the town against rebel counter-attacks, and advanced further along the main road from Tasil to Nawa. ISIL forces also began to besiege al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham troops in the villages of Sahem al-Jolan and Heit al-Latin. Subsequently, large numbers of opposition reinforcements were sent to southwestern Daara in order to halt the ISIL incursions. On the same day, ISIL forces detonated a suicide car bomb in Kherab Shahen, and targeted Tel Jomo with heavy machine guns and mortars. However, while the Islamic Muthanna Movement's western main branch aligned itself with ISIL forces, its eastern branch in Daraa city pledged only to fight the government. Nevertheless, family members of al-Nusra leader Abu Salah al-Masalma attacked vehicles of the eastern branch after hearing of his death.