www.rfsmediaoffice.com
June 06-12, 2015
Weekly Summary
Revolutionary Forces
of Syria Media Office
Southern Front Factions
seize Brigade 52 in
Dara’a and storm alThaaleh airbase in AsSuwayda
The Free Syrian Army
gains control of two
villages in Hama
countryside
Revolutionaries of the
Joint Operations Room
capture Mount al-Afai’e
in eastern al-Qalamoun
FSA battalions fight
back ISIS in the
northern Aleppo
countryside
Exclusive: an interview with the
head of the Political Office
of Fastaqim Kama Umert
Gathering
DAMASCUS and
its Countryside
Damascus
Jobar
Ajnad al-Sham fighters used
light and medium weapons to
thwart regime forces’ attempts
to infiltrate into one of Jobar’s
fronts amid clashes between both
sides in the area, while al-Islam
Army destroyed a regime 14.5
mm gun in the neighbourhood.
Al-Tadamon and Al-Qaboun
Clashes broke out between alAbabeel Army of the Southern
Front and regime forces
reinforced with pro-regime militias
in Nisreen street of al-Tadamon.
Moreover, clashes broke out
between the FSA and regime
forces at in the outskirts of alQaboun near regime’s Special
Forces HQ front and at alBaladiyeh checkpoint front.
Damascus Countryside
Al-Qalamoun
Revolutionary battalions of the
Joint Operations Room gained
control of Mount al-Afai’e in
eastern al-Qalamoun following
clashes with ISIS; several ISIS
militants were killed and others
escaped while several ISIS vehicles
were destroyed. This comes after
revolutionaries started a battle
to capture al-Mahseh area from
ISIS. Fateh al-Qalamoun Army was
able to destroy a Hezbollah gun
at al-Thallajeh point in the rural
areas of Fletah using a Kornet
missile, in addition to a bulldozer
using a guided Fagot missile.
Moreover, revolutionary fighters
used artillery to bomb regime’s
al-Qanater checkpoint on the
outskirts of al-Zabadani; six Assad
troops were reportedly killed. A
number of regime soldiers and
pro-regime militiamen were killed
during clashes with Tahrir al-Sham
Army in Hafir al-Fawqa town in
western al-Qalamoun. Meanwhile,
Abdal al-Sham Brigade of the
FSA targeted Brigade 104 of the
Republican Guards in Wadi Barada
using 120 mm mortar shells
inflicting losses among regime’s
ranks.
Dara’a and
Al-Quneitra
Dara’a
Eastern countryside
After a battle that lasted for
eight hours only against regime
forces, Southern Front Battalions
of the FSA captured regime’s
Brigade 52, a major army unit in
Syria. Southern Front Battalions
also gained control of the towns
of Zakham and eastern al-Mleha
destroying several regime
vehicles including tanks; more
than seventy regime troops were
reportedly killed. The FSA downed
a regime MiG warplane in the area
while the First Army used rocket
launchers to target the regime’s
Radar Battalion in the town of
Nahitah.
Northern countryside
Southern Front Factions foiled
regime’s struggle to infiltrate
from the direction of Deir al-Adas
(al-Alaqiyeh hill). Meanwhile,
al-Mutazbillah Brigade attacked
Assad militias positioned in alSaru checkpoint to the west of
Atman using tanks, Shilka vehicles
rocket launchers, and 14.5 mm
guns. The Brigade destroyed a
bulldozer in the area as well. In
the meantime, the First Army
of the FSA attacked regime’s
12 Brigade and 175 Regiment
located on the outskirts of Izraa
using rocket launchers.
Al-Quneitra
FSA forces mortared regime
locations in al-Ba’ath city and
used heavy machine guns to
attack Assad troops based in Tal
al-Buzaq. Fierce clashes broke
out between the FSA and regime
forces supported by pro-regime
militias at Um Batneh front,
Masahara, and Tal Kuroum front.
As-Suwayda
A number of Southern Front
Factions of the FSA started a new
battle in As-Suwayda countryside
near the eastern countryside of
Dara’a to gain control of alThaaleh airbase and al-Dara town.
The new battle comes after the
FSA seized Brigade 52 in the
city of al-Hirak in addition to the
towns of Rakhm and al-Mleha
in the eastern countryside of
Dara’a. The participating factions
are Al-Yarmouk Army, al-Furqan
Brigades, al-Muhajireen and al-
Ansar Brigades, al-Haq Brigade,
al-Zaidi Chivalry Division, al-Omari
Brigades, the First Army, the
Artillery and missile Regiment in
addition to other factions.
Southern Front Factions reached
the vicinity of the airbase
following violent clashes forcing
Assad forces to retreat from
the Forth Company, the first
defense line inside the airbase;
dozens of regime troops were
reportedly killed and many regime
military vehicles were destroyed.
HOMS
Al-Tawheed Army used artillery, Grad missiles, and mortars to
bomb regime checkpoints in different areas of the northern
countryside. Furthermore, violent clashes broke out between alTawheed Army and regime forces reinforced with local and foreign
militias at the southern front of the city of Talbiseh in the northern
countryside. The Army’s fighters destroyed regime fortifications
in Huwsh Hajjo east of Talbiseh using SPG-9 guns, and regime
fortifications in Mallouk army base using BMP vehicles. Al-Thwar
Army mortared regime troops positioned in Akrad Addasniyeh area.
In the meantime, sporadic clashes took place between revolutionary
forces and Assad troops at Hawsh al-Zibaleh front. FSA battalions
targeted Shabiha locations in Qubbat al-Kurdi and Tal al-Dera in the
northern countryside using homemade missiles.
In addition, Southern Front
Factions captured regime’s alKum checkpoint and the village of
Sekaka.
HAMA and IDLIB
HAMA
FSA battalions took control
of the villages of al-Tuloul alHumr and Edoun in the southern
countryside while al-Sham Front
bombed regime checkpoints in
al-Zyara area in al-Ghab Plain
with homemade launchers. The
First Coastal Division attacked
regime militias’ positions in
al-Bahsah and Furo in al-Ghab
Plain using mortars and heavy
machine guns inflicting losses
among regime’s tanks. Moreover
the Artillery Regiment of Sukor
al-Ghab Gathering of the FSA
mortared regime’s Tal A’awar
checkpoint achieving direct hits,
while revolutionary forces fired
Grad missiles regime troops
positioned in Joureen army
base. Meanwhile, revolutionary
battalions targeted regime
troops positioned in the Tank
Battalion north of the city
of Mourek in the northern
countryside using 120 mm
mortars.
IDLIB
Al-Fateh Army and the FSA
gained control of “Ariha-Jisir
al-Shugour” highway after
LATTAKIA
The First Coastal Division of the
FSA seized Syriatel hill in the area
of Jibb al-Ahmar following clashes
with regime forces that left several
soldiers killed. The Division also
used tanks and mortar shells to
target regime locations in al-Sukkari
Observatory and Jibb al-Ghar in
the vicinity of al-Nabi Yunus hilltop;
a number of regime troops were
reportedly killed. Moreover, the First
Coastal Division of the FSA used
14.5 mm guns to target regime
premises on al-Jalta hilltop, and
used SPG-9 guns to target regime
premises in the village of Doreen.
Ansar al-Sham Battalions targeted
Assad troops stationed in the
village and Mount of Doreen using
Jahannam launchers and heavy
machine guns. Meanwhile, Asifat alHazm Division targeted regime and
Shabiha locations in the village of
Kafraya using heavy weapons.
destroying all regime checkpoints
along the highway; dozens of
Assad soldiers were killed and
wounded while others managed
to flee. The new battle resulted
in gaining control of more than
ten strategic locations and
destroying more than twenty
regime vehicles including fifteen
tanks. Moreover, al-Fateh
fighters seized a number of
regime military vehicles including
tanks and arrested fifteen regime
troops, including a captain, who
were hiding near the village of
Mahambel in Idlib countryside.
ALEPPO
The City
The Free Syrian Army targeted
regime forces’ locations at Sulaiman
al-Halabi front using 14.5 mm
guns and mortars amid clashes
in the area. Division 16 of the
FSA used homemade Jahannam
launchers and mortars to target
regime and pro-regime Shabiha
militias in al-Khalidiyeh and alAshrafiyeh. Meanwhile, Thuwar
al-Shamal Battalions bombarded
regime troops positioned in in alAmiriyeh neighbourhood and the
traffic police station in Bab Jineen
neighbourhood with homemade
Jahannam launchers. Furthermore,
Nour Eddin Zinki used homemade
Jahannam launchers to target
Hezbollah locations at Arrashideen
front in addition to a building
housing regime troops at Salah
Eddin front. The First Regiment
of the FSA attacked regime
fortifications at Karam al-Tarab
front using homemade launchers.
Fastaqim Kama Umert Gathering
of the FSA used artillery to bomb
regime locations at Seif Addawleh
front
Northern countryside
Free Syrian Army battalions
thwarted ISIS attempts to storm al-
Wah’shiyeh Majbal al-Isment area
in the outskirts of the village of
Tal Qarah; ten ISIS militiamen were
reportedly killed. Additionally, ISIS
militants attempted to storm the
Infantry Academy after regime
forces positioned in the Central
Prison of Aleppo distracted the
FSA to protect ISIS. Assad forces
targeted the Infantry Academy with
tanks, artillery and machine guns
but the FSA was able to survive
the hits and foil ISIS’s attempts
to storm the area. Division 13
destroyed an ISIS tank and a 23
mm gun at al-Bal front in the area
of Souran while revolutionaries
destroyed another tank at Asheikh
Reeh front.
In the meantime, al-Shamia Front
destroyed two vehicles in the
outskirts of Um al-Qura village
using tanks while some ISIS
militants were killed after Division
111 bombed their locations in the
village with RPGs. Sukor al-Jabal
Brigade destroyed an ISIS 23 mm
gun at Esenbel front while more
than ten ISIS militiamen were killed
after al-Shamia Front targeted their
premises in the village of Esenbel
with Katyusha missiles while FSA
fighters mortared ISIS locations in
the village of al-Bal. Fierce clashes
took place between Fastaqim Kama
Umert Gathering of the FSA and ISIS
at Um Hawsh front where many ISIS
members were killed. Meanwhile, alShamia Front bombed regime bases
at Bashkoy front using homemade
launchers as Infantry Division
111 targeted regime locations
at Handarat front using mortars.
Finally, sporadic clashes broke out
between revolutionary battalions
and Assad troops reinforced with
local and foreign militias at Dahret
Kaferhamra front of the northern
countryside.
Southern Countryside
Thuwar al-Sham Battalions gained
control of the village of Haddadeen
in the southern countryside
following fierce clashes with regime
forces. Sukor al-Jabal Brigade of
the FSA mortared Assad troops
positioned in Khan Touman front.
Al-Raqqqa
Thuwar al-Raqqa Brigade of the
FSA announced that Burkan alFurat Operations Room captured
dozens of villages on the
outskirts of Tal Abyad and Salouk
following violent clashes against
ISIS; several ISIS militiamen were
killed while several others were
wounded and captured. Moreover,
two ISIS vehicles were destroyed
including a vehicle equipped
with a Dushka gun. Some of the
villages that were captured are
Abu Surra, Shwehan, Shwehan
Foqani, Naheet, Hemar, al-Bu’a,
Fre’an, al-Atshanah, Zinar al-Kurd,
Sof al-Wah’shiyeh , Raseem, Kuli,
Barkafar, Jelek, Jawaz, Maqar and
eastern Asal, Beir Asi, Qaisoum,
and Sweidiyeh Jourtank Beir Kinno,
Qaz Ali, al-Maboujeh, Kour Hasan,
Khirbat al-Bakhar, Um Hawaysh
and Shaba.
Additionally, depots were
found along with labs for
manufacturing explosive devices
while revolutionaries managed to
capture a group of ISIS militias
most of them are foreigners; many
ISIS militants were reportedly
killed. The Room also announced
capturing an ISIS emir near
the village of Abu Surra in the
vicinity of Tal Abyad following
fierce clashes. In the meantime,
International Coalition warplanes
intensified their raids on the city
of al-Raqqa countryside targeting
some ISIS convoys including a
convoy inside Division 17 north
of the city reinforced with heavy
vehicles to support the northern
countryside fronts.
Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office (RFS)
Exclusive: an interview with the head of the Political Office of
Fastaqim Kama Umert Gathering
“The revolution flag has real presence in Aleppo, and
forming an operations room reflects the strong will of the
revolutionaries”
Many factions in Aleppo start operating then fall apart
soon for certain reasons or circumstances. Do you
think this confusion affects operations on the ground?
What is the solution in your opinion?
Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media
Office correspondent in Aleppo met
with the head of the Political Office of
Fastaqim Kama Umert Gathering, Dr.
Zakarya Malahifji, and had this exclusive
interview with him about the military
work in northern Syria in general, and in
Aleppo in particular. Dr. Malahifji talks
about the militias fighting with Assad as
well as the importance of the operations
room in the city. He also talks about the
grand battle of Aleppo in addition to
other issues.
I do not think this is strange since factions start
forming in small groups of people who trust each other
and use guerilla warfare tactics. They later expand
and become larger forming military organized factions
that use open war tactics. This process faces financial,
geographical, administrative and other obstacles, which
apply not only to the situation in Aleppo, but also to
the situation in Syria in general.
The problem is not in trying to form big military
institutions or factions; the problem is in continuously
failing to achieve that. I believe this confusion affects
our situation but not entirely since having separate
factions working within one operations room plays a
certain role. However, having a unified military body
would certainly be better. In case this military body
becomes one unified military institutions with real
criteria, the military work would certainly improve.
To sum up, the various factions that are formed or
dissolved affect the military work, but this does not
have much influence as long as there is alliance and
collaboration in a one operations room.
Hit and run battles take place on daily bases in
Aleppo. When will the battle to liberate the whole city
begin? And what do the revolutionaries of Aleppo lack
to start such a battle?
The two cities should not be compared with each
other, the situation is different in Aleppo and people
from the outside see the exterior, but the situation
from the inside is deeply complicated.
I hope our friends and brothers stand united
in supporting the battle of Aleppo for it needs
tremendous military and logistic support in order to
completely liberate the city. Revolutionaries have
a strong will, and forming Aleppo Operations Room
reflects this will. At the same time, we are working on
forming a civil administration for the city in addition
to reducing the regime’s barbarity by making strategic
plans to target the areas where regime shelling comes
from.
Do you believe that Aleppo Operations Room, which
includes all military factions in Aleppo, will play a
significant role in managing and directing the battle in
the coming days? On the other hand, will it fall apart
like the other factions?
I believe the Operations Room is serious and
determent and having all factions joining it proves
that; however, the current problem is the financial
one. There are administrative arrangements regarding
collaborating with the City Council as well as the Free
Police to maintain security and prevent theft, along
with other issues. Therefore, I believe the Operations
Room will continue on operating despite all obstacles
and challenges it faces.
We should also point out that the factions of Aleppo
are fighting both Assad regime and ISIS, and they
secure more than two million people living in the city
and its countryside.
The revolution flag is not adopted by many factions
operating in northern Syria, mainly in Aleppo and
Idlib, why is it not used by the military factions in your
opinion?
I disagree with you to some extent. The revolution
flag has real presence in Aleppo unlike in Idlib where
the situation is different. Most military factions in
Aleppo belong to the Free Syrian Army adopting the
revolution flag. For example, Fastaqim Kama Umert
Gathering, which is a key faction in Aleppo, adopts the
flag and it is present in our logos and headquarters.
Fastaqim Kama Umert Gathering is
one of the biggest operating factions in
Aleppo with more than 3,000 fighters.
The Gathering includes al-Salam
Brigade, Aleppo al-Shahbaa Brigade and
Aleppo the City Brigade, and is mostly
present inside Aleppo city and at some
of the northern countryside fronts
What about the militias fighting alongside the Assad
regime? Did they become less recently or is their
presence still the same in Aleppo?
Regarding the militias fighting alongside Assad in Syria,
they are mostly present in the city of Aleppo. They are
working hard to advance in the northern countryside
to open the road towards Nubbol and al-Zahraa which
house many of these militias such as Hezbollah, the
Palestinian al-Quds Brigade, the Iraqi Abo al-Fadil alAbbass Brigade in addition to Iranian militias. These
militias are also present in the city of Asheikh Najjar,
in the village of Bashkoy, and on the Central Prison
road. Moreover, there are Afghan and other east-Asian
mercenaries whose presence was documented by
some evidence in our position.
Civilian deaths
The number of
civilian deaths
by regime forces
during the past
week is 464
people, including
55 children, 34
women, and 14
who were tortured
to death.
Regime Violations
Assad regime committed several
heinous massacres against Syrians
during the past week mainly in
Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama.
Assad air force bombed in alJanudiyeh village of Idlib countryside
killing 60 people, 42 of them
documented by name and 18 were
unidentified yet. Moreover, nine
people, most of them are women
and children from one family, were
killed in Maarat al-Nouman in Idlib
after a regime barrel bombs attack.
Meanwhile, at least ten civilians were
killed in the town of Qastoun in
al-Ghab Plain of Hama countryside
following a regime barrel bomb
attack on residential areas, and ten
others were killed in al-Tuloul al-Humr
area in the southern countryside of
Hama following a regime airstrike.
Other massacres also took place in
Tal Rifa’at and Dahret Awad of Aleppo
killing dozens of people.
ISIS Violations
ISIS continued on violating the rights
of Syrians in the areas under its
control. This week Abdullah Matar
and Husein al-Ali were executed in
Deir Ezzor for smuggling food into
the besieged regime-controlled
neighbourhood of al-Jourah. A man
was also executed in al-Raqqa for
being part of the FSA.
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