Qalamoun offensive (May–June 2015)
Part of the Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian Civil War and
the Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon

Battle of Western Qalamoun (2013–2017)
  Syrian Government & Hezbollah control
  Lebanese Government & Hezbollah control
  Syrian Opposition control
For a war map of the current situation in Rif Dimashq, see here.
Date4 May – 21 June 2015
(1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Qalamoun Mountains, Syria and Lebanon
Result

Hezbollah-led victory

  • Pro-Syrian government troops capture most of the mountainous border region[1][2] and push the rebels to the outskirts of Arsal[3]
Belligerents

Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Hezbollah

Amal Movement[4]

Army of Conquest Qalamoun[5]

Islamic Front
Free Syrian Army

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (limited cooperation with al-Nusra Front until 12 May;[6] in conflict since 12 May)[7]
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Ghassan[8]
Col. Median[8]
Ali Khalil Alian †[9]
Marwan Mughniyeh †[10]

Abu Malek al-Tali (al-Nusra Emir of Qalamoun)[11]
Abu Massab[11]
Abu Sahib[11]
Abu Maria Al-Qahtani[7]

Islamic State Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi (ISIL Emir of Qalamoun)[7]
Islamic State Abu Balqis al-Baghdadi †[12]
Islamic State Abdullah al-Iraqi (POW)[7]
Islamic State Abu al-Baraa (POW)[7]
Units involved

1st Armoured Division[13]
3rd Armoured Division[8]
Republican Guard

National Defence Forces		 Unknown
Strength
6,500[15]
2,250[15]

1,500–4,000[11][16]

1,500[16]
Casualties and losses
75 killed[8][17][18]

244–300 killed (pro-Syrian gov. claim)[8][19]
42+ killed (SOHR claim)[20][21][22]

Islamic State 48 killed,[23] 47 captured[7][24]

The Qalamoun offensive (May–June 2015) was an offensive led by the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah,[5] supported by the Syrian Army, during the Syrian Civil War,[25][26][27] against the al-Nusra Front and other Syrian opposition forces entrenched in the mountains of the Qalamoun region.

Background

In mid-November 2013, the Syrian military, backed by Hezbollah, launched an offensive against the rebel-held Qalamoun Mountains in an attempt to cut rebel supply lines to Damascus from Lebanon.[28] The strategic region had been used by rebel forces as a rear base for its operations around the capital Damascus.[29] The battle was primarily led on the rebel side by the al-Nusra Front.[30] By late April 2014, the last major rebel stronghold in the region fell to the Syrian Army, as it secured all of the towns in the region.[31] However, 3,000 rebels retreated into the mountains to conduct guerrilla hit-and-run attacks.[32]

From June through August 2014, a new Syrian government offensive against remnant rebel forces led to the rebels coming under siege.[33] Over the following months, the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant maintained a foothold in the region's rugged terrain. Over 20 FSA factions merged into the Gathering of Western Qalamoun group, while by the end of the year, six eastern Qalamoun FSA brigades formed the Mujahideen Shura Council.[34] At the same time, the arrival of an ISIL expeditionary force lead to a wave of FSA defections into ISIL numbering in the hundreds, further boosting the Islamic State's presence in the region, which reached approximately 1,000 fighters. Al-Nusra maintained 600 militants in Qalamoun's eastern areas, forging an alliance with ISIL in the region.[34]

The offensive

Prelude

Between 25 and 28 March 2015, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah captured two hills near the town of Flitah and several others in the Zabadani region. The fighting left 30 rebels dead. The Lebanese Army seized some positions on the outskirts of Arsal from jihadist fighters.[35][36] By 3 April, the Syrian military had advanced on three axes towards Zabadani, securing the western and eastern approaches to the city, and relatively paralyzing the defending rebels. Fifteen al-Nusra fighters attempting to reinforce the rebels in Zabadani were killed trying to breach the cordon.[37]

In mid-April, opposition forces captured a strategic hill overlooking Flita that had been held by Hezbollah fighters.[38] At this time, Hezbollah was preparing for a new offensive, considered to be a decisive battle for Qalamoun,[35] while the rebels were making efforts to unite different warring opposition groups in an effort to take control of the Qalamoun region.[38] However, ISIL and al-Nusra were still competing to win over communities in the Arsal area and the rebels in both Zabadani's mountains range and in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains switched from offense to defense. They were preparing trenches, tunnels, bunkers, and barricades, in anticipation of a possible battle in the spring.[37]

Operations begin

Syrian Army self-propelled howitzers firing during operations in Qalamoun

Early on 4 May,[39] the al-Nusra Front and allied Islamists launched a preemptive attack against SAA and Hezbollah forces, and by the next day captured several positions.[40] The aim of the assault was to capture the border-crossing into Lebanon near Assal al-Ward.[41] At the same time, Hezbollah ambushed an al-Nusra convoy near Tfail, killing 15 and wounding 30 militants.[42]

On the morning of 6 May, heavy fighting erupted along the border near Assal al-Ward. On 7 May, Hezbollah launched a series of limited and quick operations from the Lebanese side of the border, while Syrian Army operations commenced from the Syrian side. Two days after the fighting at Assad al-Ward started,[43] the Syrian Army and Hezbollah seized control of a number of hilltops overlooking Assal al-Ward, reportedly killing dozens of rebels[44] and securing the town.[45] Hezbollah fighters advancing from Assal al-Ward linked up with fighters coming from the outskirts of the Lebanese village of Brital.[16] In addition, government forces separated rebels at Zabadani from those in the mountains, severing their logistical lines, and putting both under separate blockades.[43]

On 9 May, a military source claimed government forces captured three villages in the Jour Al-'Anib area.[46]

Rebels abandoned their camps in a hurry in the face of the Hezbollah advance and left groceries, medicines and other supplies which littered their camps.[16] Thousands of retreating rebels were expected to flee towards the Lebanese town of Arsal,[47] after pulling back first to the outskirts of Ras al-Maara.[48] The withdrawing militants also reportedly left behind 150 heavy machine guns (from 12.7 to 23 mm caliber) and anti-tank rockets (firing range from 3.5 to 5 kilometers).[47] The quick collapse and retreat of some 2,000 al-Nusra Front fighters was attributed to a "lack of sufficient experience in direct fighting", according to a Salafist sheikh who maintained contacts with al-Nusra and ISIL.[11]

On 11 May, the Army and Hezbollah captured the Al-Barouh hill outside Al-Juba, taking total control of the outskirts of the village,[49] and seized the border-crossing at Ma'br Al-Kharbah.[50] In addition, military sources reported government troops captured five small villages in the region.[51] Hezbollah advances were also confirmed by the pro-opposition SOHR group.[52]

Despite the fighting taking place over the previous week, an all-out battle had reportedly not yet started,[11] with some predictions of it happening in the second half of the month.[43] ISIL forces, entrenched six kilometers away near Arsal, had also not yet joined the fighting. However, ISIL commanders from Iraq were reportedly brought in for the upcoming battle with Hezbollah.[11]

On 12 May, al-Nusra and its allies vowed to "eradicate" ISIL in the Qalamoun region,[53] after ISIL reportedly "betrayed" their rebel allies and attacked several of their bases in the border area,[54] as well as blocking rebel transport routes.[53] According to Mario Abou Zeid from Beirut's Carnegie Middle East Center, Syrian Intelligence directed its operatives within ISIL in Qalamoun to launch probing skirmishes against FSA forces to test their defenses, and in an attempt to distract them from the main battle.[55]

Meanwhile, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah reportedly seized more areas between Ras al-Maara and the Lebanese village of Nahleh.[53] During their operations, Hezbollah used unmanned drones.[56] According to the SOHR, eight Hezbollah militants were killed in the Qalamoun mountains between 11 and 12 May.[57] The retreating rebels were reportedly concentrated on the mountain's highest hilltop, Tallat Mussa. Still, the day's fighting was lighter due to intermittent rainfall and fog.[58]

Capture of Tallat Mussa

On 13 May, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah took full control of Tallat Mussa[21][59][60] after capturing at least nine rebel positions during heavy exchanges of artillery and rocket fire along the ridge between Al-Juba, Ras al-Maara and Assal al-Ward. Earlier in the day, Army troops, backed up by Hezbollah, seized half of the outskirts of Ras al-Maara and advanced toward the highlands of Jabal al-Barouh which is linked to Tallat Mussa. Surviving rebel fighters were pushed towards the outskirts of Arsal.[61] The night of the assault on Tallat Mussa, temperatures reached zero degrees Celsius as it rained and hailed.[62] Before taking the mountain top, Syrian Army soldiers had to climb up the slopes under heavy mortar and sniper fire.[8] According to the SOHR, 36 rebels, 18 Hezbollah and 13 NDF fighters were killed during the fighting,[21] while Lebanese security sources put the death toll at 53 rebels and four Hezbollah fighters.[61] The capture of the hilltop was described by Elijah J. Magnier, the AL RAI Chief International Correspondent, as the beginning of the long-announced battle.[63][64] The Syrian Army also claimed to have captured the hills of al-Jerafah, Sin al-Sakhrey, al-Reya, Ouqbet al-Faseh, and all of the barrens of Ras al-Maara.[65][66]

Fighting for the Jubbah Heights and Tal Thaljah

On the next day, Hezbollah swept areas around Tallat Mussa for any remaining pockets of rebels,[67] as it entered the final stage of the offensive.[68] Hezbollah clashed with militants at Jabal al-Barouh,[67] while it took control of the Ras al-Marra-Arsal border-crossing, which was the last border entry into Qalamoun from Lebanon,[68] as well as Dahr al-Hawa Hill, which overlooks Arsal and Younin.[67][69] In addition, the SAA and NDF launched an attack on al-Nusra reinforcements coming from the Jubbah Heights.[68] On the same day, ISIL and the al-Nusra Front engaged in fierce clashes along the Lebanese side of the border, after ISIL attempted to infiltrate al-Nusra positions in al-Zamarani and Wadi Ajram. ISIL's first attack wave around 5 P.M. was repelled by heavy artillery fire, but in the evening, ISIL launched a second attack that led to fierce fighting.[67] The second attack was also eventually repelled, with ISIL fighters retreating to the north.[70]

On 15 May, Hezbollah captured Jabal al-Barouh.[70][71] In the evening, al-Nusra's frontline at Ras Al-Marra reportedly collapsed, after Hezbollah, in coordination with the SAA and NDF, captured the Ras Al-Marra barrens. In addition, Jabal Al-'Arteez was also seized.[13] A victory speech by the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was announced for the following day to mark the end of the offensive.[72]

On 16 May, Nasrallah said that Hezbollah had managed to expel rebel forces from Qalamoun, but that the battle for the region continued, since opposition fighters continued to be entrenched in certain areas.[1] During the day, after reaching a "point of desperation", al-Nusra attacked and recaptured the Ras al-Marra border-crossing, after which it assaulted Tallat Mussa but was repelled.[73]

On the next day, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah reportedly reached the area of al-Fakhte, on the eastern outskirts of Arsal,[74] while rebel fighters were fortifying their positions at the Jubbah Heights, in preparation for an attack in the coming days.[75] The Lebanese Army also shelled rebel positions near Arsal to prevent any possible attacks, after fears that retreating rebel fighters would regroup near Arsal grew, after they had withdrawn towards the outskirts of Flita and Ras al-Maara.[76]

On 19 May, the SAA and Hezbollah captured the Flita barrens and the Flita-Arsal border-crossing, which al-Nusra captured the previous week. Following this advance, government troops started to prepare for the final assault on the heavily fortified Jubbah Heights.[77] According to the Hezbollah-run Al-Manar TV, the offensive had destroyed or dismantled 40 rebel bases and four operations rooms, with only one operations room remaining near Flita.[78] On 20 May, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah captured a number of hilltops on the southern outskirts of Flita. Some rebels retreated toward Arsal, while others fled toward Jarajeer.[79]

On 21 May, the Army and Hezbollah advanced further, capturing additional peaks and fully besieging the al-Nusra Front in a small portion of the mountains, as they were in full control of all of the border crossings in the Qalamoun region by this point[22] and had regained 310 out of 780 square kilometers of Lebanese and Syrian territory seized by rebels.[62] Two days later, Al-Manar reported the Army and Hezbollah had captured the Sadr al-Bustan hilltop.[80]

On 25 May, Hezbollah and the 20th and 128th Brigades of the 1st Armored Division captured the western hills of Tal Thaljah, after al-Nusra made an attempt to counterattack the advancing Syria government forces on the hilltop, but was repelled.[81] The battle for Tal Thaljah was the bloodiest for Hezbollah with six of their fighters dead as they fought uphill with no air cover due to bad weather.[82] With this advance, government forces were in nearly total control of the Qalamoun Mountains on the Syrian side of the Syria-Lebanon border,[81][83] and thus concluded their offensive. Afterwards, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah began redeploying their forces to the city of Al-Zabdani, to the southwest of the region.[82][84] On 29 May, pro-government Al-Masdar News reported that the Syrian Army and Hezbollah had captured 90% of the Qalamoun Mountains, with the remaining 10% located on the Lebanese side of the Syria-Lebanon border[85] and under ISIL control.[86]

Hezbollah advances at Arsal, Flita and Jarajeer

On 30 May, clashes renewed between Hezbollah, backed by Syrian troops and NDF, against rebel fighters in the mountains.[87]

On 3 June, Hezbollah reportedly captured three hilltops east of Arsal and were advancing towards a strategic peak.[88] Four days later, Syrian Army and Hezbollah forces made advances in the Flita countryside and the western barrens of Qalamoun, taking control of several strategic areas[89][90] and pushing the rebels out of the Flita area.[19] Pro-government troops captured the Al-Hamra-Qusair crossing, which links Flita and Arsal. Retreating rebels were forced to flee to an ISIL-controlled area. Meanwhile, Hezbollah fighters reportedly captured several peaks in the outskirts of Arsal, with Al-Nusra fighters withdrawing to a Syrian refugee camp and an amusement park in Wadi al-Hosn.[91] Syrian Army and Hezbollah advances in the western rocky barrens continued the next day,[92] as they captured the strategic hill that overlooks Jaroud Jarajeer at Qurnah Shab'ah. They then overpowered the retreating rebels at Wadi Al-Khashiyah, forcing them to withdraw from the Jaroud Jarajeer valley.[93]

On 9 June, Hezbollah came into conflict, for the first time since the start of the offensive, with ISIL militants.[94] The fighting started early in the morning when ISIL launched a surprise attack on four Hezbollah posts on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek. 48 militants and eight Hezbollah fighters were killed.[23] The next day, Nasrallah stated the Syrian Army and Hezbollah were in control of the major parts of the mountain range, after defeating the Al-Nusra Front, and had begun a battle against ISIL.[95] The same day, Hezbollah made more advances in the Qalamoun wastelands against the Al-Nusra Front,[96] specifically towards the outskirts of Jarajeer,[19] as nine of their fighters were killed.[96]

As of 13 June, al-Nusra Front fighters were surrounded in the outskirts of Arsal. Fighting also continued near Jarajeer, where Hezbollah captured the Shmeis al-Hsan Heights.[19] On 16 June, Hezbollah secured the areas of Tallet Ras Al-Kosh and Qornat Ras Al-Shabah on the outskirts of Jarajeer,[97] which were the last remaining rebel-held hills in that area.[98]

As of 21 June, the battle for the Qalamoun mountains had concluded, with only a small area remaining under rebel control.[99] ISIL and al-Nusra Front fighters continued to hold the Jaroud Qarah area on the Syrian side of the border and the Arsal barrens on the Lebanese side.[15] With the majority of operations ending, Syrian Army and Hezbollah units started to redeploy to the Zabadani front.[99]

Aftermath

On 23 June, the 20th and 128th Brigades of the Syrian Army's 1st Armored Division, in coordination with Hezbollah and the NDF, advanced to the Jaroud Qarah area and launched an assault on ISIL defensive positions, which was the last ISIL-controlled part of the Qalamoun mountains in Syria.[15]

On 4 July, Hezbollah and the Syrian Army launched an offensive against Zabadani[100] and by 15 July, they were advancing towards the town's center[101] and had effectively encircled rebel forces in Zabadani.[102]

On 24 September, a ceasefire was signed between the warring parties upon which the rebels would withdraw from Al-Zabadani within a six-month period, while surrendering all heavy weaponry. The agreement would be overseen by the United Nations office in Damascus.[103][104][105]

After the implementation of the ceasefire, the besieging Hezbollah and the SAA troops redirected their attention towards the remaining parts of the Qalamoun Mountains still under rebel control, namely a smaller area in the Jaroud Rankous, located in southern Qalamoun, and larger area located in Jaroud Qarah, in northern Qalamoun. The Hezbollah also set itself out to recapture the Lebanese border-district of Arsal, from where the Jabhat Al-Nusra and ISIL have been receiving much of its reinforcement into the Qalamoun Mountains.[106]

Strategic analysis

Sami Nader, a professor in politics at the University of Saint Joseph in Lebanon stated regarding Iranian and Hezbollah involvement in the offensive; "they are in desperate need for an achievement to counter balance their losses; they need to sell it to their constituents in order to justify the continuing battle and involvement in Syria" adding that "Qalamoun is more of a media campaign than a real battle on the ground".[107] Hezbollah media relations chief Mohammed Afif stated regarding the Qalamoun fighting "this was a media battle in the first regard", and for the first time Western Media outlets were invited to report on a Hezbollah offensive, including; CNN, BBC News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal among others.[108]

Hezbollah analyst and author Nick Blanford stated that Hezbollah needed to show that "this is not our Vietnam, we are winning this war, we are defending the borders of Lebanon", concluding that Hezbollah alone was not enough to prop up the government any longer.[109] The Washington Institute for Near East Policy agreed with this assessment by stating that "even his [Assad's] most reliable Shiite allies may not be able to sustain him as the war's attrition increasingly highlights his demographic disadvantage".[26] In the opinion of Jeffrey White from WINEP, the Syrian Arab Army played a strictly supportive role in the fighting.[110]

Reactions

Foreign reactions

  •  Iran – Iranian foreign affairs adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Akbar Velayati, stated that "We are filled with pride and appreciation when we see that in recent days, the valiant Lebanese resistance (Hezbollah) has achieved great progress and excellent victories alongside the brave Syrian army," adding "We believe this will strengthen the axis of resistance, not just in Syria and Lebanon, but in the whole region".[111]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Nasrallah: Hezbollah making gains on Lebanon-Syria border". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Here is Hezbollah's Qalamoun battle, in one gif". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Hezbollah acting alone in Qalamoun: social affairs minister". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Reports of Amal Movement sending fighters to Syria". Syria Direct. 11 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 Joscelyn, Thomas (3 July 2015). "Al Nusrah Front, allies form new coalition for battle in Aleppo". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 4 July 2015. Jaysh al Fateh ("Army of Conquest") Qalamoun was formed in early May to fight Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group that supports Bashar al Assad's regime, and the Islamic State.
  6. ↑ Soghom, Vahik (20 April 2015). "How Far is Hezbollah Willing to Go in Syria?". Syria Comment. Retrieved 27 April 2015. Their limited cooperation [Jabhat al-Nusra and IS] in Qalamoun will not likely translate into cooperation elsewhere.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ali, Abdullah Suleiman (12 May 2015). "Jabhat al-Nusra launches war against IS in Qalamoun". Translated by Pascale Menassa. al-Monitor. As Safir. Retrieved 12 May 2015. Several areas of West Qalamoun have been witnessing since two days, a fierce wave of raids conducted by Jabhat al-Nusra against IS strongholds and checkpoints, and clashes erupted between both groups [...] As a result of the campaign, dozens of IS members, including leaders and emirs, were arrested. On the first day, about 47 members were detained, according to sources.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "'An army boot is placed on the face of the dead men': General Ghassan of the Syrian Army on the war against Nusra". The Independent. June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Senior Hezbollah commander reportedly killed". The Times of Israel. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Senior Hezbollah commander reportedly killed in Qalamoun clashes". albawaba. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "All-out battle in Qalamoun has not yet started". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Key ISIS commander killed in Lebanon-Syria border clash: report". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  13. 1 2 Leith Fadel (15 May 2015). "Jabhat Al-Nusra Collapses at the Ras Al-Marra Barrens in the Qalamoun". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (17 January 2017). "Quwat Dir' Al-Qalamoun: Shifting Militia Links". Syria Comment. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Leith Fadel (23 June 2015). "Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces Advance to Jaroud Qarah in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Hizbullah Fighters Escort Journalists on Tour of Qalamoun Mountains". Naharnet. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Three Hezbollah fighters killed in Syria". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  18. ↑ Leith Fadel (12 May 2015). "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Captures More Territory in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Qalamoun militants killed in Hezbollah, Syrian army advance". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  20. ↑ sohranas. "6 fighters from the rebels and Islamist groups killed in al- Qalamoun, and the battalions advance in the area". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  21. 1 2 3 Master. "85 killed during clashes in Qalamoun". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  22. 1 2 Leith Fadel (21 May 2015). "Syrian Armed Forces and Hezbollah Capture Large Swathes of Territory in the Qalamoun". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Nasrallah vows to 'finish' battle with ISIS in northeast Lebanon". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  24. ↑ Lucas, Scott (12 May 2015). "Syria Daily: Assad Regime — We Have Achieved Nothing with "Reconciliation"". EA WorldView. Retrieved 12 May 2015. The rebel coalition Jaish al-Fatah has declared war on the Islamic State in the Qalamoun region from the Lebanon border across Syria to the north of Damascus.
  25. ↑ "Syria regime 'to accept de facto partition' of country". Economic Times. AFP. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015. For now the regime's sole offensive movement is in Qalamun along the Lebanese border, but there its ally, Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah movement, is taking the lead in the fighting.
  26. 1 2 Schenker, David; Abdulhamid Alrifai, Oula (24 May 2015). "Hezbollah's Victory in Qalamoun: Winning the Battle, Losing the War". The Washington Institute for Near East Study. Retrieved 24 May 2015. the Hezbollah-led offensive in Qalamoun
  27. ↑ Barnard, Anne (16 May 2015). "Hezbollah Deploys Weapon, a Press Tour, on the Syrian Front". NYT. Retrieved 24 May 2015. But also on display was Hezbollah itself, its continuing organization and discipline despite mounting stresses, and its apparent sole control of parts of Syrian territory.
  28. ↑ "Fierce Syria clashes spark exodus to Lebanon". Al Jazeera.
  29. ↑ "Syria air force bombards town near Lebanon: monitor". Hürriyet Daily News.
  30. ↑ "ISIS joins other rebels to thwart Syria regime push near Lebanon". McClatchy. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Syria rebels surrender in border town". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  32. ↑ "Events in Iraq makes Hezbollah vulnerable". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  33. ↑ "Hezbollah, Syrian regime battle rebels in northeast Lebanon". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  34. 1 2 "Syrian Jihadists Signal Intent for Lebanon". ISW. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  35. 1 2 "Syrian Army, Hezbollah seize two hilltops near border". Electronic Resistance. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  36. ↑ "Army seizes hilltops from militants in dawn raid". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Arsal officials negotiate for kidnapped resident - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  38. 1 2 "Syria rebels seize Hezbollah position near Lebanon border: sources". The Daily Star. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  39. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah Overwhelms Jabhat Al-Nusra in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  40. ↑ "Hezbollah assault on Qalamoun ruled out". TDS. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  41. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah Captures Strategic Points in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  42. ↑ "Hezbollah kills 15 Qalamoun militants in ambush: source". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  43. 1 2 3 "The battle at Qalamoun - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  44. ↑ "Hezbollah, Regime Forces Battle Sryian Rebels - Middle East - News - Arutz Sheva". Arutz Sheva. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  45. ↑ Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah Steamrolls Past Jabhat Al-Nusra in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  46. ↑ Leith Fadel (9 May 2015). "The Syrian Army and Hezbollah Expand Their Control Along the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  47. 1 2 "Thousands of Qalamoun jihadis likely to resettle near Arsal: reports". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "Syrian army, Hezbollah chase jihadis from strategic Qalamoun hilltop, 7 killed". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  49. ↑ "Hezbollah takes key hilltop in Syria". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  50. ↑ Alessandria Masi (12 May 2015). "Hezbollah, Syrian Army Make Strategic Gains Against Al Qaeda-Led Rebels In Battle Of Qalamoun". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  51. ↑ Leith Fadel. "The Syrian Army and Hezbollah Capture More Territory in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  52. ↑ sohranas. "Hezbollah advances in al- Qalamoun area, while the clashes re- erupt in al- Yarmouk camp". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  53. 1 2 3 "Nusra vows to eradicate ISIS from Qalamoun". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  54. ↑ "Syria Direct: News update 5-12-15". Syria Direct. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  55. ↑ Abou Zeid, Mario (11 May 2015). "Assad's Last Battle". Yahoo News Maktoob. Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  56. ↑ Alessandria Masi (12 May 2015). "Hezbollah Allegedly Using Drones Against Al Qaeda In Battle For Qalamoun". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  57. ↑ sohranas. "8 militiamen of Hezbollah killed in al- Qalamoun in the last 48 hours, and shells land on al- Yarmouk Camp". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  58. ↑ "Future slams Hezbollah over Qalamoun". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  59. ↑ "Hezbollah, Syrian army make big gains in border battle". Reuters. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  60. ↑ Elijah J. Magnier [@ejmalrai] (13 May 2015). "#BreakingNews: #Hezbollah took full control of the strategic hill of Tallat Mussa in #Qalamoun battle" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 May 2015 – via Twitter.
  61. 1 2 "Hezbollah, Syrian army seize highest Qalamoun peak: security source". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  62. 1 2 "Hezbollah fight 'hand-to-hand' in Qalamoun". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  63. ↑ Elijah J. Magnier [@ejmalrai] (13 May 2015). "#JN and Jaish al-Fath have establish a stronghold on the top of sides of the Mussa hill. This is the beginning of #Qalamoun battle +" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 May 2015 – via Twitter.
  64. ↑ Elijah J. Magnier [@ejmalrai] (13 May 2015). "The attack on Mussa hill, the most strategic in the area, gives the beginning of a vast military operation in the area by #Hezbollah +" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 May 2015 – via Twitter.
  65. ↑ "Activists: The Syrian Army gains control over al-Jerafah, Sin al-Sakhrey and al-Reya hills, and all over Ras Muaraa barrens after taking control over Mousa hill in al-Qalamoun al-Ghouta area in Damascus countryside". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  66. ↑ "Activists: The Syrian Army reassumes control over Ouqbet al-Faseh top in al-Qalamoun al-Gharbe area in Damascus countryside after severe clashes with "Conquering Qalamoun army," which resulted in casualties and injuries". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  67. 1 2 3 4 "Hezbollah targets rebel pockets around Qalamoun peak". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  68. 1 2 3 Leith Fadel. "Hezbollah Closes-Off the Last Border Entry in the Qalamoun". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  69. ↑ Elijah J. Magnier [@ejmalrai] (14 May 2015). "Surprisingly quick! #Hezbollah completed control of around 6sqkm Dahr al-Hawa hill overlooking #Arsal & Yanoun outskirts tt was under #JN [sic]" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 May 2015 – via Twitter.
  70. 1 2 "Hezbollah, Syrian army seize control of new Qalamoun hill". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  71. ↑ Master. "Clashes, air strikes, and Human losses in Reef Dimashq". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  72. ↑ "Nasrallah to give Qalamoun 'victory' speech". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  73. ↑ Leith Fadel (17 May 2015). "Jabhat Al-Nusra Desperately Tries to Regain Territory in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  74. ↑ "Hezbollah, Syrian army kill 10 militants in fresh Qalamoun clashes". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  75. ↑ Leith Fadel (18 May 2015). "Hezbollah Secures Tal Al-Moussa in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  76. ↑ "Army pounds militant positions outside Arsal". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  77. ↑ Leith Fadel (19 May 2015). "Hezbollah Dominates the Faleeta Barrens in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  78. ↑ "Hezbollah, Syrian army destroyed 40 militant bases, 4 operations rooms in Qalamoun offensive". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  79. ↑ "Hezbollah, Syria army advance toward Qalamoun's Flita". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  80. ↑ "Hizbullah, Syrian Army Take Control of New Hilltop in Qalamoun". Naharnet. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  81. 1 2 Leith Fadel (25 May 2015). "Hezbollah Captures the Western Hills of Tal Thaljah in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  82. 1 2 Leith Fadel (27 May 2015). "Hezbollah's Bloodiest Day in the Qalamoun Mountains: 6 Fighters Killed at Tal Thaljah". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  83. ↑ Ahmad. "مقتل 9 عناصر من حزب الله اللبناني بينهم قيادي في القلمون". المرصد السورى لحقوق الإنسان. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  84. ↑ Leith Fadel (26 May 2015). "Syrian Army and Hezbollah Shifting Their Forces to Al-Zabadani in West Syria". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  85. ↑ Leith Fadel (29 May 2015). "The Syrian Army and Hezbollah Triumph Over Al-Qaeda in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  86. ↑ "Hezbollah Is 'Stronger Than Ever'". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  87. ↑ "The clashes renew in al- Qalamoun, and the helicopters target south of Damascus". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  88. ↑ "Hezbollah widens offensive in Syria border area, seizes hilltops". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  89. ↑ Master (7 June 2015). "Clashes continue in Qalamoun". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  90. ↑ sohranas (7 June 2015). "The regime forces and Hezbollah advance towards the western jrud of al- Qalamoun". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  91. ↑ "Hezbollah makes major gains on Arsal's outskirts". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  92. ↑ sohranas (8 June 2015). "New advancement for Hezbollah forces takes place in west of al- Qalamoun". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  93. ↑ Leith Fadel (8 June 2015). "Breaking: Syrian Army and Hezbollah Capture More Territory in the Qalamoun Mountains". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  94. ↑ "Syrian rebels capture army base in south-rebels, monitor". Reuters UK. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  95. ↑ "Hezbollah announces battle with IS on Syria-Lebanon border". AFP. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  96. 1 2 Master (10 June 2015). "9 Hezbollah killed in Qalamoun". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  97. ↑ "Syrian Army Makes Major Gains Against the Islamic State Amid Setbacks in Aleppo". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  98. ↑ Leith Fadel (16 June 2015). "Breaking: Hezbollah and the Syrian Armed Forces Capture Remaining Hills in Jarajeer". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  99. 1 2 Leith Fadel (21 June 2015). "Hezbollah Inching Closer to the Border of Israel". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  100. ↑ "Syrian army, Hezbollah lay siege to Zabadani". 4 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  101. ↑ "Syrian army, Hezbollah advance in city near Lebanese border". Reuters. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  102. ↑ Leith Fadel (15 July 2015). "Syrian Army and Hezbollah on the Edge of Downtown Al-Zabadani". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  103. ↑ "Syria army, rebels reach deal on Zabadani, Idlib villages: source". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon.
  104. ↑ Edward (25 September 2015). "Sponsored by the Turkish and Iranian and the guarantee of the international envoy, the terms of the agreement about Zabadani and Kafrayya and al-Fou'aa and their surroundings". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights.
  105. ↑ News Desk (25 September 2015). "Warring Sides in Syria Reach Deal on Al-Zabadani, Kefraya, Al-Fou'aa". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
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  107. ↑ Samaha, Nour (16 May 2015). "Nasrallah declares victory in Syria's Qalamoun". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 May 2015. The Iranians and Hezbollah are now in a declining phase across the region," Sami Nader, a professor in politics at the University of Saint Joseph in Lebanon, told Al Jazeera. "So they are in desperate need for an achievement to counter balance their losses; they need to sell it to their constitutents in order to justify the continuing battle and involvement in Syria [...] "Qalamoun is more of a media campaign than a real battle on the ground.
  108. ↑ Hashem, Ali (5 June 2015). "Hezbollah's media machine changes gears". Al Monitor. Retrieved 7 June 2015. In mid-May Hezbollah organized a tour for journalists to areas the organization captured on the Lebanese-Syrian borders. Western media outlets were invited including CNN, BBC, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among others. It was clear that the group wanted to reflect its achievement via non-affiliated media platforms [...] "this was a media battle in the first regard," explained Afif.
  109. ↑ Fordham, Alice (24 May 2015). "With Syria's Army Losing Ground, A Boost From Hezbollah". NPR. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  110. ↑ White, Jeffrey (28 May 2015). "The Crisis of the Assad Regime". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 29 May 2015. An exception is the current offensive in the Qalamoun area, which relies primarily on Hezbollah forces, planning, and determination. Regime forces are strictly in a supporting role here, providing airstrikes and artillery support but not engaged in serious ground combat.
  111. ↑ "Iran hails Hezbollah gains on Syria-Lebanon border". Yahoo News. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.

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