The April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation was initiated by the Syrian Ba'athist government, in order to make gains against the rebels, prior to the implementation of the U.N. brokered ceasefire, planned for 10 April 2012. The ceasefire was officially announced by the Syrian Ba'athist government and other sides on 14 April 2012.

Background

Binnish throughout the Syrian civil war has been a major protest hub. It had been captured by the FSA. The Syrian Army then later assaulted Idlib city in March 2012 in a major operation. As early as March 23, it was reported Binnish was one of their next targets. Binnish is on a hill, so it is harder to assault. The Syrian Army had agreed to Kofi Annan's peace plan and to withdraw troops by April 10.

April Operation

On April 1, it was reported that the FSA was outgunned, so they were making homemade bombs to defend themselves. By April 3, the Syrian Army had retaken

Sarmin Sarmin ( ar, سَرْمِين, Sarmīn also spelled Sarmeen) is a town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located 15 kilometers southeast of Idlib. It has an altitude of about 390 meters. Nearby localities i ...

. CNN reported they were assaulting Binnish, Taoum, Sarmin, and

Taftanaz Taftanaz ( ar, تَفْتَنَاز, Taftanāz, also spelled Teftanaz) is a town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located 17 kilometers northeast of Idlib. Nearby localities include Ta'um and Binnish to the sou ...

with tanks and helicopters. On April 4, the Syrian Army was still shelling Binnish and Taftanaz. Citizens were reported to be fleeing Binnish, but could not flee Taftanaz because it was surrounded by the Syrian Army. 20 were reported killed in Taftanaz. On April 5, the Syrian Army announced a pause in fighting in Taftanaz for residents to collect the dead. Imagery released by Ambassador Robert Ford showed that the Army withdrew from Taftanaz after taking it, then took the nearby town of

Zardana Zardana ( ar, زردنا, also spelled Zerdana or Zirdana) is a village in northwestern Syria, administratively part of Idlib Governorate. The village lies in a relatively flat plain. Nearby localities include Taftanaz to the southeast, al-Fu'ah a ...

. On April 6, the Syrian Army started shelling the village of Killi. By April 7, it was reported at least 100 had been killed in Taftanaz and Killi. On April 8, the Syrian Army, with about 90 tanks backed by helicopters, assaulted the al-Rouge plain with the FSA being surrounded and shelled in the village al-Bashiriyah in the plain. On April 12, Khirbet al-Joz was reported to have been taken by the Syrian Army after two hours of clashes. On April 13, though, it was reported the FSA still held Khirbet al-Joz and shelling was ongoing.

Aftermath

References

External links

In Cold Blood
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Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. The group pressures governments, policy makers, companies, and individual human r ...

'', 10 April 2012.
They Burned My Heart
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'', 3 May 2012. {{DEFAULTSORT:Idlib Governorate operation 2012 Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2012 Idlib Governorate in the Syrian civil war Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian government Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army