For the previous offensive, see Central Syria campaign (2017).
2017 Mayadin offensive
Part of the Eastern Syria campaign and the
Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war
Date 4–17 October 2017
(1 week and 6 days)
Location
Mayadin District, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
Result Decisive Syrian Army Victory
Territorial
changes		 Syrian Army captures the city of Mayadin, IS's new de facto capital city, on 14 October[1]
Belligerents

Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Russia		 Islamic State Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Syria Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan
(Operations chief commander)		 Unknown
Units involved

Syrian Armed Forces

  • Syrian Army
    • Republican Guard[2]
    • 4th Armoured Division[2]
    • 5th Corps[2]
    • Tiger Forces[3]
  •  Syrian Air Force

Russian Armed Forces

  • Aerospace Forces
  • Special operations forces advisors
 Islamic State Military of the Islamic State
Casualties and losses
38+ killed (per SOHR)[4] 180+ killed (per Russia)[5]

The 2017 Mayadin offensive was a military offensive launched by the Syrian Arab Army against members of the Islamic State (IS) in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, following the breaking of the three-year siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor. The Mayadin offensive, conducted by Syrian Army troops, was conducted with the aim of capturing IS's new de facto capital of Mayadin, and securing the villages and towns around it.[2][3]

The offensive was concurrent with the Raqqa campaign conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against IS's former de facto capital city and stronghold in Syria, as well as the Western Anbar campaign in Iraq.

The offensive

The Syrian military advanced within 10 kilometers of ISIL's stronghold of Mayadin on 4 October.[6] Concurrently, pro-opposition monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that Russian or Syrian airstrikes killed between 38 and 67 civilians who were crossing the Euphrates by boat near Mayadin.[7] The next day, the Republican Guard, 4th Mechanized Division and 5th Legion made more steady advances, putting them within six kilometers of the city.[2]

Syrian soldiers pushed into the city on 6 October from the west.[8] The following day, government sources claimed roughly half of Mayadin was taken by the Syrian Army,[9] while the airport was also taken.[10] Throughout the day, a wave of Russian airstrikes against IS positions near Mayadin and close to the Iraqi border reportedly killed 180 IS militants, including a large number of foreign fighters.[5] By 8 October, IS forces were reportedly encircled within the city.[11][12] However, the next day, an IS counterattack managed to push back Syrian Army troops from Mayadin, with 38 soldiers being killed.[4]

On 10 October 2017, fighting began in the suburbs in preparation to storm the city, according to a source citing SANA.[13] On 11 October, the Syrian Army started encircling Mayadin,[14][15] with the city surrounded by the following day.[16] The Syrian Army then pushed into the western and northern parts of the city,[17] capturing four neighborhoods.[18]

On 14 October 2017, the Syrian Army captured Mayadin city.[1] On the next day, elite Syrian Tiger Forces pushed through much rural territory of Mayadin and made advances towards town of Al-Asharah, reaching its outskirts.[19] By 17 October, all besieged land between Deir ez-Zor and Mayadin along the Euphrates was captured by the Tiger Forces.[3]

Aftermath

By 20 October, the Syrian Army had crossed the Euphrates, capturing the village of Dhiban, and just hours later reaching the outskirts of the massive Al-Omar Oil Field complex, the largest such oil field in Syria, which in the pre-war era had contributed one quarter of Syria's oil production.[20] In a surprise move, IS fighters defending Al-Omar Oil Field launched a powerful counterattack on the government bridgehead at Dhiban, forcing government forces to retreat back to the west bank of the Euphrates. During the same day, the Syrian Army advanced southwards from Mayadin, capturing the city of Al-Quriyah.[21]

See also

  • Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)
  • Battle of Raqqa (2017)

References

  1. ^ a b "Breaking: Syrian Army liberates ISIS capital city". Al-Masdar. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Deir Ezzor update: Syrian Army within striking distance of ISIS capital - map". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2017-10-05. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2017-10-07.
  3. ^ a b c Andrew Illingworth (17 October 2017). "Breaking: Elite Syrian forces liberate all of western Euphrates bank from Deir Ezzor to Al-Mayadeen". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b "After killing about 40 members of the regime and getting them away of Al-Mayadin city… the "Islamic State" organization carries out counterattacks to break up the regime forces and kill more of their members". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Russia: 180 ISIL fighters and mercenaries killed in air strikes in Syria". 7 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  6. ^ "The Latest: Al-Qaida-linked group denies leader was wounded". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Airstrikes in eastern Syria leave scores dead on the banks of the Euphrates River". Syria Direct. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Syrian forces enter one of Islamic State group's last strongholds - France 24". 6 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  9. ^ "BREAKING: Elite Syrian Army troops capture 50 percent of ISIS capital city". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2017-10-07. Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2017-10-07.
  10. ^ "Syrian Army liberates Al-Mayadeen Airport to cut key terrorist supply line". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2017-10-07. Archived from the original on 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2017-10-07.
  11. ^ Arab, The New (8 October 2017). "Syrian regime 'completely encircle' IS in al-Mayadeen, despite 'mass escape' of jihadi leaders from city". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Syrian army encircles IS in al-Mayadin: Syrian military source". Reuters. 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  13. ^ "VIDEO: Syrian Forces combat ISIS in Al-Mayadeen suburbs - Muraselon". 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Latest map of Al-Mayadeen battle in Deir Ezzor". Archived from the original on 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  15. ^ "Avoiding entering a lost battle in Al-Mayadin…the regime forces wrap around the capital of "Al-Khair State" advancing to Mahkan desert in the east of it and shelling the east of the Euphrates River violently". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  16. ^ "The regime forces and Russian forces besiege the "capital of al-Khair State" and close all land roads with the city's countryside". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Syrian government troops push on into IS stronghold town". Fox News. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  18. ^ "The most violent clashes are taking place in Al-Mayadin and the regime forces under the command of the Russian forces take the control of 4 neighborhoods there about 72 hours after they were expelled from the west of the city". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  19. ^ Leith Fadel (15 October 2017). "Syrian Army advances past Al-Mayadeen to new town in Deir Ezzor". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  20. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army reaches Al-Omar Oil Field in east Deir Ezzor". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2017-10-20. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  21. ^ http://www.syriahr.com/?p=244713 مفاوضات تجري بين وجهاء وتنظيم “الدولة الإسلامية” لتسليم الأخيرة معظم شرق الفرات إلى قوات سوريا الديمقراطية