2013 Hama offensive

Part of the Syrian civil war

Frontlines in Hama Governorate during the offensive.

Syrian Government control Opposition control Contested

For a war map of the current situation in Hama, see .

Date

25 April 2013 – 15 June 2013
(1 month and 3 weeks)

Location

Hama Governorate, Syria

Result

Syrian Army victory

Rebels temporarily capture 10 villages, including four Alawite ones
Syrian Army captures Halfaya and 20–23 other villages, including most of the ones previously captured by the rebels

Belligerents

Syrian National Coalition

Free Syrian Army

Sunni jihadists

Syrian Arab Republic

Syrian Armed Forces

Commanders and leaders

Kassem Saadeddin

Unknown

Units involved

Unknown

17th Mechanized Division(Reserve)

Strength

8,000 fighters

2,300 soldiers
1,000 militia

Syrian Government control Opposition control Contested

Syrian Army victory

Syrian National Coalition

Syrian Arab Republic

The 2013 Hama offensive was a military operation launched by Syrian rebels during the Syrian Civil War in the eastern part of the province of Hama, in an attempt to open up a new front, after rebel attacks in the governorate had stalled. The rebels managed to capture 10 villages during their offensive. However, the Army soon retaliated and reversed all of the rebels gains, as well as capturing the town of Halfaya, which the rebels captured during their previous offensive, five months earlier.

On April 25, rebel forces launched an attack in Hama city, where heavy clashes erupted for the first time in months as rebels tried to relieve pressure on their forces under attack from government troops elsewhere in the country. The next day, clashes occurred in the neighborhood of Tariq Halab between the Army and the rebels. Video footage emerged of several soldiers being burned alive in an armored vehicle.

On 10 May, a cease-fire agreement between government and rebel forces in Halfaya broke down. Heavy shelling of the town started in which 25 people were reportedly killed. Government forces tightened the siege on Halfaya and the town of Aqrab, shutting down communications in the area. The shelling of Halfaya and Aqrab was seen as preparation to storm the towns.

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Wikipedia