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Battle of Qalamoun
Part of the Syrian civil war
Date 15 November 2013 – ongoing (11 years, 2 months and 2 days) Location Qalamoun Mountains, Al-Nabk District, Syria Result Ongoing Syrian Army captures Qara Rebels temporarily capture most of Deir Attiyeh, with the Army recapturing it six days later
Belligerents
Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Armed Forces File:Leb.tif Hezbollah	Al-Nusra Front Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Free Syrian Army
Commanders and leaders
	Salim Barakat  †
Strength
Unknown number of Army troops 15,000 Hezbollah fighters (opposition claim)	25,000–30,000 rebels
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Qalamoun started on 15 November 2013, with air strikes on the town of Qara, in the strategic Qalamoun region, in an attempt by the Syrian Army to cut rebel supply lines to Damascus from Lebanon. The strategic region had been used by rebel forces as a rear base for its operations around the capital Damascus. For its part, government forces had been using the nearby highway to link Damascus with the central Homs province and had multiple weapons depots in the area.

Capture of Qara

Between 15 and 17 November, 1,200–1,700 families, 90 percent of Qara, evacuated from the town over the border into the Lebanese town of Arsal, after the Syrian Army issued a warning that they were going to attack rebel forces in the area. In preparation for the offensive, thousands of Hezbollah fighters positioned themselves opposition the Qalamoun region on the Lebanese side of the border.

On 15 November, the military launched its offensive against Qara and the next day multiple air strikes hit the rebel-held town. Fighting was also raging near the towns of An-Nabk and Rima. The clashes led to the closure of the Damascus-Homs highway. Rebel forces in the area mobilised to counter the Army offensive.

On 17 November, government forces moved into the hills around Qara and were attempting to storm the town itself as more air strikes were conducted. Artillery was also used to hit the town. By the afternoon, government forces were not able to advance in the city despite repeated attempts and the constant bombardment.

On 18 November, government troops continued the offensive, capturing key positions in Qara, according to the the pro-government al-Watan daily newspaper. The Air Force carried out several raids on al-Qalamoun and Yabroud mountains, as pro-government press sources claimed that the Army controlled large parts of Qara. A man who fled Qara into Lebanon described the attack on the town and stated "Qara is finished". Middle East security officials stated there were few signs yet of a massive Syrian armour build-up needed for an all-out assault on Qalamoun. They speculated that the government may conclude that dwindling rebel supplies from Lebanon would mean an all-out assault is not worth the cost.

On 19 November, government forces took full control of Qara. Rebels retreated from the town towards An-Nabk and Deir Attiyeh.

Rebel attack on Deir Attiyeh

On 20 November, a series of suicide attacks occurred against government forces in An-Nabk and Deir Attiyeh. A suicide car bomber targeted a military checkpoint while another blew up near a security headquarters, both on the outskirts of An-Nabk. In another incident, two Saudis tried to blow up the hospital in Deir Attiyeh but were stopped by government soldiers. In the attack on the checkpoint seven soldiers were killed and five wounded, while several soldiers died in the attack on the hospital. After the Saudi bombers exploded, five rebel fighters entered the hospital in an attempt to destroy medical equipment and kidnap a wounded Army officer and the Ikhbariya al-Suriya television crew. However, they were beaten back by the Army and the officer and crew were saved. Meanwhile, eight rebels were killed in fighting in the countryside around Deir Attiyeh.

On 22 November, rebel forces, led by jihadists from ISIL and Al-Nusra Front, mostly seized the largely Christian town of Deir Attiyeh. Only the Bassel hospital and a small hill remained under Army control.

On 25 November, the Army started deploying troops in Deir Attiyeh, in preparation to recapture the town. The next day, the Air Forces hit Al-Nabk, killing seven people, including three children. Meanwhile, the Syrian Health Minister, Saad al-Nayef, accused the rebels of committing a "massacre" in Deir Attiyeh, killing "five doctors, five nurses and two ambulance drivers." Opposition activists confirmed five doctors and four nurses were killed in the clashes at the main hospital.

On 27 November, four Hezbollah fighters were killed in fighting in the Qalamoun region, one of them the nephew of the Lebanese Caretaker Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan, a top Hezbollah official.

On 28 November, the Army recaptured Deir Attiyeh, with fighting continuing in the surrounding countryside.

References

1. ^ "Syrian army takes town along north-south highway: state media". Reuters. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
2. ^ "Syrian media claims troops capture key town". The Daily Star. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
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4. ^ Syria rebels take key town from army
5. ^ Syrian troops capture western town
6. ^ Syrian forces 'retake Deir Attiyeh'
7. Syrian troops besiege strategic town amid fierce fights Xinhua, 18 November 2013
8. "Hezbollah deploys 15,000 troops for anticipated Qalamoun battle". Al Arabiya. 31 October 2013.
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22. Liz Sly. "Syria fighting in Qalamoun triggers new exodus of refugees to Lebanon". The Washington Post.
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26. Damascus Countryside
27. Yacoub, Khaled. "Syria rebel chieftain killed; Assad forces bomb besieged town". Reuters.
28. ' + val.created_at + '. "Syria rebel chieftain killed; Bashar Assad forces bomb besieged town". Ndtv.com.
29. Fuel crisis in Damascus as fighting blocks key highway
30. Suicide Bombs Hit Syria Troops North of Damascus
31. Suicide bombers hit Syria troops near Lebanon: Monitor, SANA
32. Reef Dimashq
33. Syria rebels press advance around Damascus and Aleppo
34. Syria opposition, regime reject compromise ahead of talks
35. Syrian troops capture town near Lebanon border
36. Nephew of a top Hezbollah official killed in Syria

• 2013 in Syria
• Battles of the Syrian civil war
• Battles involving Hezbollah