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Deir ez-Zor offensive (January 2017)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War
The situation in Deir ez-Zor as of 16 January 2017   Syrian Government control  ISIL control
Date 14 January 2017 – present (8 years, 1 week and 3 days) Location Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria Result Ongoing ISIL cut the road to Deir ez-Zor Airport, splitting the government-held areas of Deir ez-Zor into two parts
Belligerents
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant	Syrian Arab Republic  Russia
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Issam Zahreddine Mohammad Khaddour
Units involved
Military of ISIL Wilayat al-Khair	Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Arab Army Republican Guard: 104th Airborne Brigade 17th Reserve Division: 137th Artillery Brigade Syrian Arab Air Force National Defense Forces Russian Armed Forces Russian Air Force
Strength
14,000 (pro-government claim)	4,000 Syrian soldiers
Casualties and losses
157 killed (per SOHR) 500 killed (per Al-Masdar News)	84 killed (per SOHR)
66 civilians killed (per SOHR)

The Deir ez-Zor offensive (January 2017) is a military operation launched by the military of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the Syrian Armed Forces to capture the city of Deir ez-Zor on 14 January.

Background

Deir ez-Zor is the capital of Deir ez-Zor Governorate and lies in an oil-rich region. The city has been besieged by ISIL since 2015. The offensive came amid the group losing large amounts of territory in the Raqqa offensive as well as the Turkish military intervention in Syria, while Iraqi forces were advancing in its Iraq headquarters in Mosul.

The offensive

ISIL began the offensive on 14 January, launching its heaviest assault yet on Syrian Arab Army-held areas of the city. At least 12 soldiers and two civilians were killed in the attack, while 20 ISIL fighters were killed in air strikes according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The aim of the attack was to cut the road between Deir ez-Zor Airport and the city. SAA however launched a counter-attack and repelled ISIL's attack. The group advanced around the city's cemetery and in points around the airbase during the day.

ISIL continued its offensive on the next day and launched VBIEDs on checkpoints controlled by pro-government forces. They then shelled Tallat al-Brouk district and the town of Bagheliya, reportedly capturing both after pro-government forces evacuated. At the same time, they also stormed and captured Sakan al-Jahiziya neighborhood on the highway between the city and Damascus. ISIL also advanced along the Jam’eyyat al-Rowwad and captured a strategic mountain overlooking the city. SOHR meanwhile stated ISIL had captured Assad Hospital, but according to local sources, the army recaptured the Assad Hospital and Al-Masdar News cited local sources stating that ISIL never captured it. The Syrian Army backed by the Syrian Arab Air Force later launched a counter-attack in the following night and managed to repel ISIL away from its frontlines. More than 80 people including 28 pro-government fighters, at least 40 ISIL fighters and 14 civilians were reported killed according to SOHR by the end of the second day.

ISIL launched another attack on 16 January and succeeded in cutting the road linking the airbase to the city, leaving the government enclave split in two. The group also captured the al-Jaryah residential project. Heavy clashes were also reported around the provincial cemetery and a road junction known locally as the Panorama Roundabout, and later this day, ISIL reportedly captured the cemetery. The clashes forced the United Nations to suspend food airdrops to the city.

The Syrian Army and its allies, backed by the Russian Air Force and Syrian Arab Air Force, launched a counter-attack and clashed against ISIL on 17 January. On January 18, clashes were reported to take place to the northwest of Deir ez-Zor, near Tal Barouk and the university housing area. Meanwhile, the Syrian and Russian airforces were reported to bomb the cemetery area and Mount Tharda. ISIL captured the power plant to the west of the airbase during the day. The group set tires and barrels of crude oil on fire to create a smokescreen in order to prevent airstrikes on their positions. It also executed 10 soldiers it had captured.

ISIL clashed with the Army in al-Rasafa, al-Ommal, al-Mowazzafin, al-Jabilah and Rashdiyyah districts as well in the area around the airbase and the Panorama Roundabout on 19 January. It advanced in al-Mowazzafin, al-Ommal and Rasafa as well as around the airbase. Syrian Army managed to capture several points in the cemetery and Panorama Roundabout in a counter-attack on 21 January.

On 22 January, the Army repelled ISIL assault in the Panorama area on the southern front of the city of Deir ez-Zor. A counter-attack was later launched by them and their allies, helping them to advance around the cemetery and the surrounding hills, including capturing the strategic cemetery hill.

See also

• September 2016 Deir ez-Zor air raid
• Deir ez-Zor clashes (disambiguation)
  • Deir ez-Zor offensive (December 2014)
  • Deir ez-Zor offensive (January 2016)

References

1. ^ Josie Ensor (16 January 2017). "Islamic State launches major offensive to take Syrian city". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
2. ^ Raydan, Noam; Alakraa, Nour (17 January 2017). "Islamic State Gains in Remote Syria Outpost" – via Wall Street Journal.
3. "High-ranking Syrian general arrives in Deir Ezzor".
4. Antonopoulos, Paul (16 January 2017). "ISIS successfully splits Deir Ezzor enclave in two".
5. Fadel, Leith. Syrian Army, Hezbollah plan to liberate Deir Ezzor after Palmyra. Al-Masdar News. 12 March 2016.
6. ^ Violent clash associated with the escalation of airstrikes raise death toll to more than 300 in 9 days of the most violent attack on Deir Ezzor in a year
7. 500 ISIS terrorists killed in Deir Ezzor by Syrian Army: Reports
8. Continued bombardment raises to 66 at least, the number of civilian casualties in Deir Ezzor and its countryside within 10 days of the most violent military operations since a year
9. "IS gain ground in oil-rich Syria province". Middle East online. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
10. "Islamic State surrounds military airport in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria". The Guardian. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
11. "Islamic State assault on east Syria city of Deir Ezzor leaves 30 dead". Middle East Eye. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
12. ^ The “Islamic State” advances in new areas at Deir Ezzor and the intense raids on the city and its vicinity continue
13. "ISIS captures new areas in Deir ez-Zor amidst Syrian Army retreat". ARA News. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
14. The “Islamic State” organization controls a mountain overlooks Deir Ezzor city and gets closer to cutting its airbase’s supply
15. "رغم عشرات الضربات الجوية والصاروخية.. تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" يسيطر على مشفى الأسد جنوب المدينة خلال اليوم الثاني من هجومه على دير الزور، و4 شهداء جلهم مواطنات في قصف طائرات حربية على بلدة موحسن" (in Arabic).
16. "Joshua Landis on Twitter".
17. "Deir Ezzor battle reaches tipping point as ISIS attempts to capture airport". Al-Masdar News.
18. "Daesh attacks the Syrian regime-held city of Deir Ezzor". TRTWorld.
19. "Syria war: Islamic State advances in Deir Ezzor, scores dead". Middle East Eye.
20. With the siege’s 3rd year… the “Islamic State” organization cuts the supply roads between Deir Ezzor and its airbase, divides neighborhoods to eastern and western
21. "Islamic State stage fierce attack on Syrian army enclave". Reuters. Cyprus Mail.
22. "Russian jets nonstop bombing ISIS in Deir Ezzor City". al-Masdar.
23. "Fighting Forces UN to Suspend Food Airdrops to Besieged Syrian City". Voice of America.
24. "ISIS fights to capture new base in Syria". The Australian.
25. "Embattled Syria troops clash with IS in Deir Ezzor". Gulf Times.
26. "Syrian Army foils ISIS attack on key Deir Ezzor areas". al-Masdar.
27. The “Islamic State” organization enhances its control and locations in the vicinity of Deir Ezzor airbase with a new advancement in the area
28. "East Syrian city in the grip of fierce fighting". Agence France-Presse, Reuters. Arab News.
29. The “Islamic State” organization continues forcing the regime forces to retreat and achieves advancements in Deir Ezzor city despite the Syrian and Russian raids and intensive bombing
30. "Syrian Army turns the tables on ISIS in Deir Ezzor". Al-Masdar News.
31. "قوات النظام تصد محاولة تقدم لتنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" في دير الزور وارتفاع عدد قتلى الطرفين إلى أكثر من 230 في غضون 8 أيام" (in Arabic).
32. "Updates from the Front Lines: Dier Ezzor, January 22nd". Lima Charlie.
33. "Scores of terrorists killed as Syrian Army takes the fight to ISIS in Deir Ezzr". Al-Masdar News.

35°20′00″N 40°09′00″E / 35.3333°N 40.1500°E / 35.3333; 40.1500

• Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
• Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving the Syrian government
• Military operations of the Syrian Civil War involving Russia
• Military operations of the Syrian Civil War in 2017
• January 2017 events in Asia
• Deir ez-Zor
• Conflicts in 2017