The Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017), were military confrontations between Syrian rebel factions led by Ahrar al-Sham and their allies on one side and the al-Qaeda-aligned Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (which disbanded in 28 January and joined Tahrir al-Sham) and their allies on the other. After 7 February, the clashes also included Jund al-Aqsa as a third belligerent, which had re-branded itself as Liwa al-Aqsa and was attacking the other combatants. The battles were fought in the Idlib Governorate and the western countryside of the Aleppo Governorate.
Quick Facts (January–March 2017), Date ...
Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017) |
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Part of the Syrian Civil War, and the Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War |
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/FSA_vs_JFS_conflicts_in_January_2017.png/300px-FSA_vs_JFS_conflicts_in_January_2017.png) Map of region of Idlib and western Aleppo where the conflict took place |
Date | 20 January – 9 March 2017 (1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days) |
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Location | |
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Status |
HTS victory over Liwa al-Aqsa and FSA groups
- Jabhat Fateh al-Sham captures Anadan, Kafr Hamra, Halfaya, and Hayyan[1][2][better source needed]
- Ahrar al-Sham captures multiple villages in northern Jabal Zawiya,[3] and Saraqib[4][better source needed]
- Jund al-Aqsa captures 17 towns and villages,[5] including Kafr Zita, Taybat al-Imam and Morek[6]
- Tahrir al-Sham recaptures al-Tamanah, Kafr Zita, Khan Shaykhun, Morek, and 13 other villages from Jund al-Aqsa[7][8][9]
- Local civilians expel Ahrar al-Sham from Kafr Nabudah[10][better source needed]
- Jund al-Aqsa forces withdraw from Idlib Province to join ISIL in the Raqqa Governorate[9][11]
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Belligerents |
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Ahrar al-Sham[12][13]
Suqour al-Sham Brigade (part of AAS since 26 January)
Sham Legion (splintered into 3 groups as of 2 March)[14][15][16][better source needed]
Jaysh al-Islam[17][better source needed] (some members joined AAS on 26 January)[18]
Ajnad al-Sham[5]
Saraya al-Ghuraba[5]
Free Syrian Army |
Tahrir al-Sham[19]
Turkistan Islamic Party[17]
Jund al-Aqsa (Until 7 February) |
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
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Commanders and leaders |
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Abu Ammar al-Omar[20] (Ahrar al-Sham general commander)
Rawad al-Khalifa †[21] (Ahrar al-Sham commander)
Lt. Col. Muhammad Bakr[22]
(Army of Mujahideen commander, resigned)
![Syrian opposition](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg.png) Capt. Tariq Jadou [23]
(Army of Victory military commander)
![Syrian opposition](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg.png) 1st Lt. Mohammed Dukhan [23]
(Army of Victory commander)
![Syrian opposition](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg.png) Lt. Col. Ammar Dayoub [24]
(Free Idlib Army commander)
Mustafa Abu al-Hadid [23]
(Central Division commander)
Saddam al-Mohammed [23]
(FSA commander)
Eagle Abu Qusay Hussein Khalil [23]
(FSA commander) |
Abdul-Rahim Attoun[25] |
"Karmo"[25] |
Units involved |
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Ahrar al-Sham
Free Syrian Army
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Unknown |
Unknown |
Strength |
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Several thousand fighters |
400 Zenki fighters[31] |
Up to 2,100 militants[9] |
Casualties and losses |
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250 captured[32] (160–197 executed)[33][23] |
107 killed[34][35] |
52 killed[35] |
2+ civilians killed[22] |
Jund al-Aqsa was part of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS) until 23 January; it also became known as Liwa al-Aqsa since 7 February. The group was allied with HTS until 13 February, when clashes erupted between the two groups
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