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2024 Homs offensive

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For other offensives, see Homs offensive.
Not to be confused with 2024 Hama offensive.

2024 Homs offensive
Part of Operation Dawn of Freedom and the 2024 Syrian opposition offensive during the Syrian civil war
Northwestern Syria offensive (2024).jpg

Map of the offensive in and outside of Homs city
  Controlled by the Syrian Arab Republic
  Controlled by the Syrian opposition
Date5 December 2024 – 8 December 2024
(3 days)
Location
Homs Governorate, Syria
Result Opposition victory
Territorial
changes		 Opposition capture Homs and multiple towns in the region[4]
Belligerents
Units involved

Military Operations Command

 Syrian Armed Forces

 Russian Armed Forces

Hezbollah Redwan force[9]
Strength
Unknown 2,000 fighters, 150+ APCs (Hezbollah)[10][11]

The 2024 Homs offensive was a military operation launched by forces of the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) and allied Turkish-backed[12] rebel groups in the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) during the 2024 Syrian opposition offensive, a phase of the Syrian Civil War. The operation was launched by the Military Operations Command following its capture of Hama on 5 December 2024 during the 2024 Hama offensive. The offensive ended in the city being captured by opposition forces on the night of 7/8 December after government forces abandoned the city.

Background

On 5 November 2024, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah weapon depots in Al Qusayr city.[13]

On 16 November 2024, a second round of Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah targets the al-Qusayr region occurred. Syrian military sites were also targeted. The strikes destroyed several bridges, including the one over the Orontes River that connects Qusayr and several towns in Homs’ eastern and western countrysides.[14]

On 27 November 2024, Syrian opposition groups led by Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an offensive on pro-government forces in northwestern Syria. This marked the first major offensive by any faction in the conflict since the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire.[15]

On 5 December, opposition forces captured Hama.[16][17] Upon hearing the news of the rebel advance, thousands of residents of Homs fled the city as opposition forces pushed closer.[18]

Offensive

Following the fall of Hama on 5 December 2024, opposition forces positioned themselves approximately 40 kilometers from the Homs city center. Government forces reportedly withdrew from al-Rastan, while the city of Talbiseh also fell from government control in the wake of opposition advancements. Opposition forces conducted drone strikes against the Syrian Arab Army's 27th Division near Tir Ma'la village.[8]

Al-Rastan bridge, which was damaged by a Russian Aerospace Forces airstrike to prevent HTS and allied forces from advancing.[2]

Local militant groups captured the engineering battalion facility of the SAA on al-Rastan's outskirts, where they acquired military vehicles and ammunition supplies. SAR-aligned warplanes conducted approximately ten strikes targeting the northern periphery of al-Rastan and areas surrounding the main bridge connecting Hama to Homs. The SAA also struck rebel positions in Talbiseh with artillery fire and missiles for the first time in several years. SAA authorities established earthen barriers along the Homs-Hama highway approaching Talbiseh in order to isolate Rastan and Talbiseh from Homs city. A significant SAA convoy of over 200 vehicles carrying weapons and ammunition was redirected to Homs city to reinforce positions in the Al-Waer district and near military educational facilities.[19] In an attempt to stop the rebel advances, the Russian Aerospace Forces launched an airstrike on the Al-Rastan bridge of M5 Motorway across Orontes River, which connects Homs and Hama.[2]

On 6 December 2024, opposition forces captured Al-Rastan, Talbiseh and Al-Dar al-Kabirah, and approached the outskirts of Homs. Meanwhile, pro-government forces withdrew from several towns north of the city, including Teir Maalah, Al-Zaafaraniyah, Al-Majdal, Deir Ful, Asilah, Farhaniyya, Al-Wazi’iya Al-Ghasibiyya, Al-Makramiyya and Izz al-Din.[20][21][22][23] By the afternoon, pro-government forces had reportedly completely withdrawn from Homs towards the city of Latakia, with only local pro-government gunmen remaining in the Shia majority neighborhoods of the city.[24] The Syrian Defense Ministry denied these reports[25] Government forces called an airstrike against the Al-Rastan bridge on the Homs-Hama highway known as the M45 highway in an attempt to cut off both Hama and Homs from the opposition forces and also to slow the rebels advances.[26][27] Airstrikes on Homs eastern suburbs killed 20 civilians.[28]

That day, Israeli airstrikes targeted two border crossings with Lebanon, Arida and Jousieh in Al-Qusayr countryside in south-western Homs, which were used as weapons transfer hubs for pro-government Hezbollah forces.[29]

Pro-government forces moved “large reinforcements” near Homs city that day and into the night of 7 December 2024.[30]

On 7 December 2024, HTS-led rebels had reached the outskirts of Homs city amid heavy fighting.[28] At least seven civilians were killed in airstrikes and artillery fire.[31] Hezbollah announced sending 2,000 fighters to Al-Qusayr, but had not yet clashed with rebel forces.[10] By afternoon, Reuters reported that rebels entered suburbs of the city from the north and the east.[32] By night, rebels took over Homs Central Prison in the northern part of the city, releasing hundreds of detainees.[33] Dozens of Hezbollah fighters from the elite Redwan force fled Homs after a decision made by the Syrian army that the city could no longer be defended.[9]

In a separate event, the US-backed Revolutionary Commando Army advanced in the eastern Homs countryside, opening a new front against the government. The rebels captured Palmyra, Al-Sukhnah and the villages of Karyetin and Al-Qaryatayn. The rebels also captured the strategically located mountains Mount Gurab and Jabal al-Ghurab.[1]

By the early morning of 8 December 2024, the Syrian rebels declared that they had fully captured the city of Homs, effectively cutting Latakia Governorate off from the rest of the country.[4] Rebels continued their advance into Homs Governorate and captured Al-Qusayr, after hundreds of Hebzollah fighters crossed back into Lebanon. Shortly after, the Israeli Air Force struck one of the Hezbollah convoys at the crossing.[34][11]

References

  1. ^ a b "US-backed Syrian Free Army takes control of Homs' Palmyra district from regime forces". Anaola Ajansi. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  2. ^ a b c Sedghi, Amy (6 December 2024). "Middle East crisis live: thousands of people flee Homs in central Syria as rebel forces push on". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2024. Russian bombing overnight also destroyed the Rustan Bridge along the key M5 highway, to prevent rebels from using this main route to Homs city, a Syrian army officer told Reuters.
  3. ^ George, Susannah (4 December 2024). "Iran is sending regional fighters to Syria. Can they save Assad again?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Syrian army quits Homs, cutting Assad off from coast". Reuters.
  5. ^ "Shaheen drones: The new rebel weapon in Syria's skies". Middle East Eye. 3 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Amid crashing battles in city's suburbs | "Joint forces" send military reinforcement to frontlines on outskirts of Hama city - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Counter25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b زايد, أغيد أبو (2024-12-05). "فصائل المعارضة تستعد للتقدم نحو حمص.. ماذا عن الجنوب السوري؟" [Opposition factions prepare to advance towards Homs...]. Alhal net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
  9. ^ a b "Dozens of Hezbollah fighters flee Homs as rebels close in, says Syrian army officer". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  10. ^ a b "Source close to Hezbollah says group sent 2,000 fighters to Syria". Alarabiya News.
  11. ^ a b "Hezbollah retreats from key city on Syria-Lebanon border, in major blow to group". The Times of Israel.
  12. ^ "Turkish-Backed Factions Reach Hama's Outskirts in Central Syria". North Press Agency.
  13. ^ "Israel claims targeting Hezbollah weapons depot in Syrian town of Al Qusayr". Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  14. ^ "Hezbollah's 'Statelet' in Syria's Qusayr Under Israeli Fire". Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  15. ^ "Following withdrawal of Iranian-backed militias and regime forces, Kurdish forces deploy in Aleppo international airport, Nubl and Al-Zahraa and take control of checkpoints". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Syrian rebels capture second major city as army withdraws from Hama". CNN. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Syrian opposition forces capture key city of Hama in fresh blow to Assad". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
  18. ^ "Thousands flee as Syrian rebels push on towards Homs". Reuters. 6 December 2024.
  19. ^ "قوات النظام تعزل مدينة حمص عن الريف الشمالي.. وطائرات حربية تستهدف أطراف مدينة الرستن قرب جسر رئيسي على طريق حمص-حماة" [Regime forces isolate Homs city from northern countryside.. and warplanes target outskirts of Rastan city near a main bridge on Homs-Hama road]. SOHR. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Despite warplanes' attempts to prevent progress, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and factions control the cities of Talbiseh and Rastan, north of Homs, amid the absence of regime forces" (in Arabic). SOHR. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Coinciding with the advance of the factions and their approach to the city of Homs... warplanes launch air strikes on the city of Talbiseh" (in Arabic). SOHR. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  22. ^ ""Deterrence of Aggression" factions approach the largest military college in Syria.. and 11 civilians killed and injured in airstrikes in the northern Homs countryside" (in Arabic). SOHR. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Thousands flee Syrian city Homs as rebels advance further". BBC News.
  24. ^ "Regime forces withdraw from Homs city, helicopters drop explosive barrels on outskirts of Deir Baalba neighborhood...and death toll in northern countryside rises to 5 as a result of violent escalation" (in Arabic). SOHR. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Syria's defense ministry denies report that government troops withdrew from Homs". Alarabiya News.
  26. ^ "Thousands flee fighting in Syrian cities of Homs, Hama". Voice of America. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  27. ^ "Syrian rebels claim to reach key city of Homs, extending rapid offensive against Assad". Reuters.
  28. ^ a b "Syrian rebels claim to reach key city of Homs, extending rapid offensive against Assad". Reuters.
  29. ^ "Israeli strikes hit two Syria border crossings with Lebanon, Lebanese minister says". Al Arabiya. 6 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Syria opposition group commander says no place for 'sectarianism'". Alarabiya News.
  31. ^ "Seven civilians killed near home in Russian, Syrian army strikes: Monitor". Alarabiya News.
  32. ^ "Syria opposition forces enter key city of Homs from north and east: Sources". Al Arabiya English. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  33. ^ "Syrian rebels capture Homs central prison, inmates freed". Gulf Times. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  34. ^ "Syrian rebels take over Al-Qusayr crossing, reports of Israeli strike in the area". Israel National News.
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