The 2017 Mayadin offensive was a

military offensive An offensive is a military operation that seeks through an aggressive projection of armed forces to occupy territory, gain an objective or achieve some larger strategic, operational, or tactical goal. Another term for an offensive often used b ...

launched by the

Syrian Arab Army " (''Guardians of the Homeland'') , colors = * Service uniform: Khaki, Olive * Combat uniform: Green, Black, Khaki , anniversaries = August 1st , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles = 1948 Arab–Israeli War Six-D ...

against members of the

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant An Islamic state is a state that has a form of government based on Islamic law (sharia). As a term, it has been used to describe various historical polities and theories of governance in the Islamic world. As a translation of the Arabic term ...

(ISIL) in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, following the breaking of the three-year siege of the city of

Deir ez-Zor , population_urban = , population_density_urban_km2 = , population_density_urban_sq_mi = , population_blank1_title = Ethnicities , population_blank1 = , population_blank2_title = Religions , population_blank2 = ...

. The Mayadin offensive, conducted by Syrian Army troops, was conducted with the aim of capturing ISIL's new

de facto ''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...

capital of Mayadin, and securing the villages and towns around it. The offensive was concurrent with the Raqqa campaign conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIL'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. 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 The Euphrates () is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia ( ''the land between the rivers''). Originating in Turkey, the Eup ...

by boat near Mayadin. The next day, the Republican Guard, 4th Mechanized Division and 5th Legion made more steady advances, putting them within six kilometers of the city. Syrian soldiers pushed into the city on 6 October from the west. The following day, government sources claimed roughly half of Mayadin was taken by the Syrian Army, while the airport was also taken. Throughout the day, a wave of Russian airstrikes against ISIL positions near Mayadin and close to the Iraqi border reportedly killed 180 ISIL militants, including a large number of foreign fighters. By 8 October, ISIL forces were reportedly encircled within the city. However, the next day, an ISIL counterattack managed to push back Syrian Army troops from Mayadin, with 38 soldiers being killed. On 10 October 2017, fighting began in the suburbs in preparation to storm the city, according to a source citing SANA. On 11 October, the Syrian Army started encircling Mayadin, with the city surrounded by the following day. The Syrian Army then pushed into the western and northern parts of the city, capturing four neighborhoods. On 14 October 2017, the Syrian Army captured Mayadin city. 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. By 17 October, all besieged land between Deir ez-Zor and Mayadin along the Euphrates was captured by the Tiger Forces.

Aftermath

By 20 October, Syrian Army had crossed the Euphrates, capturing the village of Dhiban, just hours later reaching the outskirts of massive Al-Omar Oil Field complex, the largest such in Syria, which in pre-war era contributed to one-quarter of Syria's oil production. In a surprise move ISIL 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 Syrian Army advanced southwards from Mayadin, capturing the city of Al-Quriyah.http://www.syriahr.com/?p=244713 مفاوضات تجري بين وجهاء وتنظيم “الدولة الإسلامية” لتسليم الأخيرة معظم شرق الفرات إلى قوات سوريا الديمقراطية

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mayadin offensive, 2017 Conflicts in 2017 Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2017 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 involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant October 2017 events in Syria Deir ez-Zor Governorate in the Syrian civil war

The offensive

Aftermath

See also

References