The Battle of the Shaer gas field occurred in mid-July 2014 during the Syrian Civil War when jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) attacked and captured the field from government forces, which was followed by an Army counter-attack. It was one of the deadliest battles up-to-date in the war between fighters of the militant group and government troops.[5]
On the evening of 16 July 2014,[10] ISIS gathered a small force of 100 veteran militants equipped with small arms and pick-up trucks and launched an assault on the Shaer field, located in the desert region of Palmyra in Homs province. The field was defended by about 400 SAA troops and NDF militia, equipped with tanks and artillery and backed up by on-call air support from the nearby Shayrat Airbase. The attack started with a suicide bombing via VBIED, followed by assaults on Army checkpoints. After 12 hours of fighting,[5] the militants captured all eight military checkpoints and secured the gas field.[10] A total of 363 SAA troops and NDF militiamen present at the start of the attack were killed, wounded, or captured, with only 30 managing to escape to the nearby Hajjar field.[4] Days later, it was reported that some of the military officers committed betrayal at the start of the attack.[11] After the raid, ISIS posted online a video purportedly showing two rocket launchers and two tanks that they captured[5] and the bodies of 50 people lying in an open desert space, many apparently executed.[12]
It was determined 270 people on the government side, including 11 civilian workers, were killed,[9] with at least 200 of them executed after being captured.[2] Another 200–250 government fighters and workers remained captured or missing,[2][8] while 21–27 ISIS militants were killed.[5] Government supporters branded the killings of the POWs as a "massacre" and the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights condemned the killings with the SOHR director stating: "The Observatory condemns summary execution as a war crime, regardless of which side it is committed by in the Syrian conflict. Summary execution is a war crime — whether of civilians or combatants. They are prisoners of war and must not be executed."[9]
Soon after, the military launched an attempt to recapture the gas field, which included air strikes.[10] The next day, Syrian special forces joined the battle as government troops recaptured parts of the Shaer field.[13] 11–20 soldiers[2][14] and 30–40 ISIS fighters were killed during the day's clashes.[6]
On 19 July, government aircraft withdrew from the field due to heavy militant fire from 23-mm heavy machine guns,[2] while the fighting settled into hit-and-run attacks[6] after government forces managed to recapture large areas of the gas field but were still trying to take control of the surrounding areas.[14] Later, it was reported 60–65 soldiers were killed during the day, ether by friendly fire airstrikes or in fighting against ISIS.[15][16]
On 20 July, government forces pushed ISIS out of the gas field and secured it, while fighting continued on its outskirts.[15] According to another source, the Islamic State was still in control of the gas field, despite efforts of the Army.[17] The next day, new government reinforcements arrived at Tiyas airbase, east of Homs city,[18] while more fighting left six soldiers dead.[17]
On 26 July, the Army secured the gas field, as well as the surrounding hills.[19] The capture of the field came after ISIS forces retreated. According to the military, this was achieved due to a "precise operation in which dozens of terrorists were killed." The ISIS itself claimed they retreated after destroying the field's equipment and capturing at least 15 tanks and dozens of rockets which were used to guard the field, thus achieving their goal. An ISIS spokesman characterized the battle as a successful raid: "We pulled out because it was no longer good for us to stay. The goal was to get the tanks and rockets present at the field and we did. There is no point in staying there and becoming an easy target for the regime and its warplanes."[1]
In late October, ISIS once again attacked the gas field[20] and after three days of fighting captured the field,[21] as well as the Hayyan Gas Company.[22] only to be lost to the SAA on 6 November, when the Army retook the Shaer gas field and Syriatel Hill from ISIL.[23][24]
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For other uses see Battle of the Shaer gas field The Battle of the Shaer gas field occurred in mid July 2014 during the Syrian Civil War when jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIS attacked and captured the field from government forces which was followed by an Army counter attack It was one of the deadliest battles up to date in the war between fighters of the militant group and government troops 5 Battle of the Shaer gas field July 2014 Part of the Syrian Civil WarShaer gas fieldDate16 26 July 2014 1 week and 3 days LocationPalmyra region Homs Governorate SyriaResultBoth sides claim victoryTerritorialchangesSyrian government forces recapture the gas field 1 BelligerentsIslamic State of Iraq and the LevantSyrian Arab Republic Syrian Armed Forces National Defense ForceCommanders and leadersHassan Abbous IS emir of Homs 2 UnknownUnits involvedDawoud Brigade 2 Local NDF militia Army Special ForcesStrength100 per ISIL 2 000 per SAA 2 3 370 gas field garrison 4 Unknown number of reinforcementsCasualties and losses51 67 killed 5 6 347 361 killed 7 200 executed 2 200 250 captured missing mostly civilian workers 6 8 15 tanks capturedseveral tanks and APCs destroyed 11 civilian workers 9 Contents 1 Battle 2 Aftermath 3 See also 4 ReferencesBattle editOn the evening of 16 July 2014 10 ISIS gathered a small force of 100 veteran militants equipped with small arms and pick up trucks and launched an assault on the Shaer field located in the desert region of Palmyra in Homs province The field was defended by about 400 SAA troops and NDF militia equipped with tanks and artillery and backed up by on call air support from the nearby Shayrat Airbase The attack started with a suicide bombing via VBIED followed by assaults on Army checkpoints After 12 hours of fighting 5 the militants captured all eight military checkpoints and secured the gas field 10 A total of 363 SAA troops and NDF militiamen present at the start of the attack were killed wounded or captured with only 30 managing to escape to the nearby Hajjar field 4 Days later it was reported that some of the military officers committed betrayal at the start of the attack 11 After the raid ISIS posted online a video purportedly showing two rocket launchers and two tanks that they captured 5 and the bodies of 50 people lying in an open desert space many apparently executed 12 It was determined 270 people on the government side including 11 civilian workers were killed 9 with at least 200 of them executed after being captured 2 Another 200 250 government fighters and workers remained captured or missing 2 8 while 21 27 ISIS militants were killed 5 Government supporters branded the killings of the POWs as a massacre and the pro opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights condemned the killings with the SOHR director stating The Observatory condemns summary execution as a war crime regardless of which side it is committed by in the Syrian conflict Summary execution is a war crime whether of civilians or combatants They are prisoners of war and must not be executed 9 Soon after the military launched an attempt to recapture the gas field which included air strikes 10 The next day Syrian special forces joined the battle as government troops recaptured parts of the Shaer field 13 11 20 soldiers 2 14 and 30 40 ISIS fighters were killed during the day s clashes 6 On 19 July government aircraft withdrew from the field due to heavy militant fire from 23 mm heavy machine guns 2 while the fighting settled into hit and run attacks 6 after government forces managed to recapture large areas of the gas field but were still trying to take control of the surrounding areas 14 Later it was reported 60 65 soldiers were killed during the day ether by friendly fire airstrikes or in fighting against ISIS 15 16 On 20 July government forces pushed ISIS out of the gas field and secured it while fighting continued on its outskirts 15 According to another source the Islamic State was still in control of the gas field despite efforts of the Army 17 The next day new government reinforcements arrived at Tiyas airbase east of Homs city 18 while more fighting left six soldiers dead 17 On 26 July the Army secured the gas field as well as the surrounding hills 19 The capture of the field came after ISIS forces retreated According to the military this was achieved due to a precise operation in which dozens of terrorists were killed The ISIS itself claimed they retreated after destroying the field s equipment and capturing at least 15 tanks and dozens of rockets which were used to guard the field thus achieving their goal An ISIS spokesman characterized the battle as a successful raid We pulled out because it was no longer good for us to stay The goal was to get the tanks and rockets present at the field and we did There is no point in staying there and becoming an easy target for the regime and its warplanes 1 Aftermath editMain article Battle of the Shaer gas field October November 2014 In late October ISIS once again attacked the gas field 20 and after three days of fighting captured the field 21 as well as the Hayyan Gas Company 22 only to be lost to the SAA on 6 November when the Army retook the Shaer gas field and Syriatel Hill from ISIL 23 24 See also edit nbsp Asia portal Palmyra offensive May 2015 References edit a b Syria retakes Homs gas field from hardline group Reuters Archived from the original on 7 October 2014 Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b c d e f g h Syria fights to free gas field from Islamic State sacbee Archived from the original on 27 July 2014 Retrieved 25 October 2014 Toll Climbs in Fight for Syrian Gas Field WSJ 21 July 2014 Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b ISIS SEIZES GAS FIELDS STRENGTHENS ITS PRESENCE IN SYRIA dailysabah com Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b c d e Reports At least 115 Syrian troops workers killed in Islamic militants seizure of gas field Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b c d Syria aims to retake gas field BelfastTelegraph co uk Retrieved 25 October 2014 270 killed 16 17 July 11 20 killed 18 July 1 2 Archived 2014 07 27 at the Wayback Machine 60 65 killed 19 July 3 4 6 killed 21 July 5 total of 347 361 reported killed a b Clashes have been going on 48 hours in the Shaer gas field a b c Jihadists kill 270 in Syrian gas field massacre AsiaOne Archived from the original on 20 July 2014 Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b c Scores killed after ISIS seize Syria gas field Retrieved 25 October 2014 Ongoing clashes for 48 hours for the Shaer gas field Syrian army clashes with ISIS near Deir al Zor airport The Daily Star Newspaper Lebanon Archived from the original on 17 June 2018 Retrieved 25 October 2014 Syrian Troops Seek to Retake Jihadi Held Gas Field ABC News Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b Battle for Syria gas field after jihadists execute hundreds NGO Archived from the original on December 22 2015 Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b The killing of 65 of the regime s forces in Shaer gas field 60 Syria soldiers dead in battle with jihadists GlobalPost Retrieved 25 October 2014 a b Islamic State thwarts Syrian government forces on two front Archived from the original on 27 July 2014 Retrieved 25 October 2014 6 barrel bombs on Nawa and continuing clashes at Shaer gas field Syria Regime Forces Retake Gas Field from Jihadists Naharnet Retrieved 25 October 2014 ISIS attack on Syria oil field kills 30 monitor The Daily Star 29 October 2014 Archived from the original on 17 June 2018 Retrieved 29 October 2014 ISIS gain control in Shaer gas field and regime forces torture 12 men to death in Homs Syrian Observatory For Human Rights IS militants take control over Hayyan Gas Company in Homs Syrian Observatory For Human Rights Syrian government forces retake gas field from Islamic State monitor Retrieved 14 November 2014 sohranas The regime forces re capture the Sha er gas field Syrian Observatory For Human Rights Retrieved 14 November 2014 34 33 15 N 38 17 00 E 34 5542 N 38 2833 E 34 5542 38 2833 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First Battle of Sha 27ir amp oldid 1206208506, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
