East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016)
| East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign and the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
Jaish al-Fustat[4]
|
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Wael Alwan (Al-Rahman Legion spokesman)[5] |
 Qais a-Shami (JaI spokesman)[5] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 500–700 fighters on both sides and 12 civilians killed[6][7] | |||||||
The East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016) was an armed conflict between the rebel coalition of Jaish al-Fustat, consisting of the al-Nusra Front and al-Rahman Legion, and the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam, that occurred in the rebel-held territories east of Damascus. Tensions between the two groups took place since March 2016, when the Rahman Legion expelled Jaysh al-Islam in Zamalka after absorbing the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union in February.[8]
Prelude – Clashes in Jisreen
[edit]On 18 April 2016, the al-Rahman Legion launched an attack on Jaysh al-Islam headquarters in the town of Jisreen, capturing the headquarters.[9]
Open conflict
[edit]Fighting starts
[edit]On 28 April, the Rahman Legion and Jaish al-Fustat attacked Jaysh al-Islam positions in six towns in eastern Ghouta, including Qaboun and Zamalka,[10] resulting in the former's air defence brigade defecting to Jaysh al-Islam. Ahrar ash-Sham denied involvement in the conflict and remained neutral. Due to the fighting, the residents of East Ghouta demonstrated, calling for an end of rebel infighting.[4]
Attack on Misraba and ceasefire
[edit]On 8 May, Jaish al-Fustat, Jabhat al-Nusra, and al-Rahman Legion attacked the Jaysh al-Islam-held village of Misraba. By this time, Jaysh al-Islam mainly controlled the northern areas of East Ghouta, while Jabhat al-Nusra controlled the south.[11] Jaysh al-Islam also raided several pharmacies, and a doctor was killed by stray bullets. By the next day, a ceasefire agreement was signed which mandated Jaysh al-Islam to withdraw from Misraba, which was then to be controlled by a neutral police force.[5] Still, despite the declared ceasefire, fighting continued and by 17 May, more than 500 fighters on both sides and a dozen civilians had been killed in the fighting in East Ghouta.[6] A new ceasefire agreement was declared on 24 May 2016.[2]
Aftermath
[edit]In mid-June, a new round of fighting left more than 30 fighters dead on both sides.[12]
On 22 July, during a new government offensive in East Ghouta, the Al-Rahman Legion attacked the Jaysh al-Islam-held "Office of Damascus Countryside" in Saqba, resulting in the deaths of nine rebels.[7]
Between 26 April and 1 May 2017, more than 95 rebels were killed during clashes between Jaysh al-Islam, Tahrir al-Sham, and the Rahman Legion. Jaysh al-Islam fighters opened fire on demonstrators who called for an end to the infighting. The clashes led to Syrian Army advances in eastern Damascus.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Aron Lund, Showdown in East Ghouta, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, may 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c Tomson, Chris (24 May 2016). "Breaking: Rebel factions sign peace deal with each other in East Ghouta, Damascus". Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Aron Lund, Syria: East Ghouta Turns on Itself, Again, The Century Foundation, may 1, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "'Shameful' rebel infighting in East Ghouta leaves residents 'in a state of shock'". Syria:direct. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "East Ghouta infighting over, for now: 'People are tired of both sides'". Syria:direct. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Syria rebel clashes 'leave 52 dead' in Eastern Ghouta". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ a b Charkatli, Izat (22 July 2016). "Rebel infighting returns to eastern Ghouta". al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Rebel allies fight each other in east Damascus: monitor". Now News. 1 March 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "Rebel forces fight one another in rural Damascus". Al-Masdar News. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "Extremist rebels of Faylaq Al-Rahman captures strategic point from Jaysh Al-Islam in rural Damascus". ABNA. 30 April 2016.
- ^ "Rebels storm Misraba village as insurgent infighting engulfs East Ghouta". Al-Masdar News. 8 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 February 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ user3. "أكثر من 30 مقاتلاً قضوا في هجوم لمجموعات من فيلق الرحمن وجبهة النصرة بمنطقة جسرين". Retrieved 2 August 2016.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Syrian rebels 'fire on protesters' calling for end to infighting". Middle East Eye. 1 May 2017.