Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2018)

Main article: Timeline of the Syrian civil war

The following is a timeline of the Syrian Civil War from May to August 2018. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian Civil War.

May 2018

1 May

• The U.S. government announced the U.S.-led coalition's "operations to liberate the final ISIS strongholds in Syria"; the announcement said the U.S. would ensure that "populations liberated from ISIS are not exploited by the Assad regime or its Iranian supporters".^[1][2]

3 May

• United States freezes funding for White Helmets.^[3][4]

7 May

• A missile attack from Israel strikes depots and rocket launchers that likely belonged to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Al-Kiswah, killing nine people.^[5]

10 May

Main article: May 2018 Israel–Iran incidents

• The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched "extensive" air strikes against alleged Iranian military installations in Syria after 20 Iranian rockets were reportedly launched at Israeli army positions in the Western Golan Heights.^[6]

16 May

See also: Northern Homs offensive (April–May 2018)

• After an evacuation deal with the rebels reached earlier in the month^[7] the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) announced that 1,200 square kilometers of rebel territory in the north Homs-south Hama region was under control, according to Khaled Iskef on Twitter.^[8]

21 May

See also: Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)

• After the departure of 1,600 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters and their families from al-Hajar al-Aswad and the Yarmouk Camp, government forces regained full territorial control over Damascus' suburbs and countryside for the first time in nearly seven years. The deal entailed that the evacuation towards the Eastern Syrian Desert by ISIL forces would be allowed.^[9][10][11]

June 2018

12 June

• The SOHR reported that at least 13 civilians were killed by the U.S.-led coalition strikes in Tal al-Shayer.^[12]

22 June

• The Syrian government launches an offensive in the eastern part of the southern province of Daraa.^[13]

24 June

• The US government warned rebel forces in Daraa that they could not expect military support.^[14]

July 2018

July 6

• As a result of the Southern Syria offensive, which had begun in June, the Syrian Army backed by Russian forces reached the border with Jordan and captured the Nasib Border Crossing.^[15][16]

July 12

• About 30 civilians were killed in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zor in an air strike conducted by the U.S.-led coalition, according to the Syrian government.^[17] The incident was tentatively admitted to by the U.S. military.^[18]

July 24

• The Israel Defense Forces intercepted a Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet that they said had crossed about one mile into Israeli airspace. The IDF shot the aircraft down using two Patriot missiles.^[19]

July 31

• The Royal Jordanian Army attacked Islamic State militants near the Jordanian border at the Yarmouk Valley.^[20]

August 2018

August 1

• With the collapse of rebel factions in south Syria, and expectations of a future offensive in Idlib, multiple north Syria FSA factions announce a new coalition, the National Liberation Front.^[21]

August 2

• Russia criticized United States for not helping to fight against terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria, Russian General Staff Main Operations Directorate Colonel General Sergei Rudskoi said in statements, "The Russian Federation regularly reported information about the escalation and dire humanitarian situation in southwestern Syria to the guarantor countries of the southern de-escalation zone the United States and Jordan. However, no measures were taken to stabilize the situation by foreign partners".^[22]

August 4

Aziz Asber (Syrian Scientific Research Centre facility director in charge of the chemical weapons program) and his driver were killed in a blasts for a Sticky bomb, in the city of Masyaf. The Abu Amara Battalion claimed the attack, but authorities blamed Israel or other governments for this attack.^[23][24]

August 6

• The Syrian government launches an offensive in the Suwayda and Rif Dimashq Governorates against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.^[25]

References

1. Launching of Operations To Liberate Final ISIS Strongholds in Syria U.S. Department of State, 1 May 2018.
2. Syria: US-backed forces launch 'final' operation against 'Islamic State' strongholds Deutsche Welle, 1 May 2018.
3. "U.S. freezes funding for Syria's "White Helmets"". CBS News. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
4. "US Department of State cuts off funding for Syria's White Helmets — media". Retrieved 4 July 2018.
5. Karam, Zeina. "Syrian media report Israeli attack near capital Damascus". AP News. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
6. "Iranian forces fire rockets at Israeli military in first direct attack ever, Israel's army says". The Washington Post. 10 May 2018.
7. "Syrian government forces seize last rebel enclave in Homs". Yahoo News. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
8. "Syrian army statement: 1200 square kms in North Homs-South Hama back under SAA control". Khaled Iskef on Twitter, via syria.liveuamap. 16 May 2018.
9. The regime forces start sweeping Yarmouk Camp after the end of existence of ISIS and the exit of hundreds towards the Syrian Desert, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
10. Osama Moussa and Tom Rollins Yarmouk, A Palestinian Tragedy Plays Out In Syria, Mada Masr, 24 May 2018
11. Syrian cleric condemns 'flagrant looting' after regime captured Yarmouk, Al-Araby 24 May 2018
12. "More bombardment by the International Coalition raises to 11, the number of civilian casualties killed by their strikes during the last 24 hours south of al-Hasakah". 13 June 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
13. "Syrian Army Steps Up Attacks in Southwest, Jordan Concerned". Haaretz. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
14. You're on your own, US tells Syrian rebels, as Assad goes on offensive, Guardian 24 June 2018
15. "Rebels in southern Syria reach deal to end violence". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
16. "Сирийская армия взяла под контроль главный пограничный переход с Иорданией". 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
17. agencies, The New Arab & (13 July 2018). "Air strike kills 28 civilians in Syria's east". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
18. U.S. Coalition Says It 'May Have' Launched Syria Strike That Killed Scores of Civilians, According to Monitor Newsweek, 13 July 2018.
19. "Two Patriot missiles were launched at a Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet that infiltrated about 1 mile into Israeli airspace. The IDF monitored the fighter jet, which was then intercepted by the Patriot missiles". IDF spokesperson. 24 July 2018.
20. "Jordan army says several ISIL fighters killed in border clashes". Al Jazeera English. August 2, 2018. Military units used "all types of weapons" to shell a group of fighters who had come close to its side of the Yarmouk Valley in clashes that lasted nearly 20 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon, an army source told state news agency Petra.
21. AFP, Pulse News Agency International by (August 2018). "Syria rebel groups form new coalition as regime eyes Idlib". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
22. "Russia says the U.S. did nothing to help Syria, and now Israel and Jordan face ISIS". Newsweek. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
23. "Syrian conflict: Government scientist killed in blast". BBC News. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
24. "Syrian scientist killed in apparent car-bomb attack". Al Jaazera. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
25. "Masdar News – 6 August 2018". Retrieved 6 September 2018.^{[permanent dead link‍]}