Battle of Harem

Part of Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013) of the Syrian Civil War

FSA soldiers on a truck

Date	17 October – 24 December 2012 (2 months and 1 week)
Location	Harem, Syria
Result	Rebel victory

Belligerents

Syria

National Coalition

Free Syrian Army
Joint Military Councils

Commanders and leaders

Local Shabiha commander †

Cmdr. Basil Eissa †
(Commander of the Idlib Martyrs' Brigade)

Cmdr. Mohaned Eissa

Abu Said
(Commander of Al-Haq Brigade)

Maj. Abu Osama
(Army defector)

Maj. Mohammed al-Ali
(Army defector)

Units involved

Infantry Border Guard Brigade

99th Army Regiment
111th Army Regiment

Idlib Martyrs' Brigade

Sihem al-Haq Brigade

Strength

600 soldiers and militiamen

500 FSA fighters

Casualties and losses

78 killed, 230+ captured

43 killed

Syria

National Coalition

Infantry Border Guard Brigade

Idlib Martyrs' Brigade

The Battle of Harem was fought between the FSA and the Syrian Army, from the 17 October to the 25 December 2012. The fight occurred during the Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013) of the Syrian Civil War.

The first time rebel forces launched a major attack against the town was on 2 September 2012. The fighting continued the whole next day as well. On that occasion, rebels took control of six of the seven roads leading into Harem and killed a pro-government militia commander. They also burned a dozen homes of suspected militia members in the town, in retaliation for the burning of the houses in their villages.

On 17 October, the rebels launched an offensive to capture the town of Harem, which dominates a strategic route to the city of Aleppo. Harem was also seen as a possible new rebel supply route from Turkey.

By the end of October, 4,000 civilians, along with pro-government militias, had taken refuge in the old fortress and were in fear of a massacre if the opposition started to bombard the castle. Dozens of wounded Syrian soldiers died of their injuries due to the shortage of supplies, while wounded rebel fighters were transported across the border to Turkey in ambulances. Rebel units withdrew to the edges of the town, while holding on to some parts inside Harem, after an attack on the local headquarters of the political security section was repelled by security forces and Army units that were sent from Salqeen as reinforcements. Dozens of people, including civilians, were killed. During the fighting for the town, government Sukhoi-22 jets were bombarding rebel positions, with an 80 percent hit-rate.

...
Wikipedia