Military Wiki
Battle of Anadan
معركة عندان
Part of the Battle of Aleppo of the Syrian civil war
Date29 – 30 July 2012
LocationAnadan, Aleppo Governorate
36°17′34″N 37°02′51″E / 36.29285°N 37.04744°E / 36.29285; 37.04744Coordinates: 36°17′34″N 37°02′51″E / 36.29285°N 37.04744°E / 36.29285; 37.04744
Result FSA gains control of Anadan checkpoint
Belligerents
Syria-flag 1932-58 1961-63 Free Syrian Army Syria Syrian Army
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Rifaat Khali Unknown
Units involved
Unknown

Infantry Border Guard Brigade

  • 111th Regiment
Strength
150 fighters[1]
1 BMP-2[2]
130+ soldiers[3]
12 tanks[4]
1 helicopter[5]
Casualties and losses
4[6]-5[7] killed 6 killed,[8]
25 captured,[9]
1-2 tanks destroyed and
4-7 captured[10][11]

The Battle of Anadan (Arabic language: معركة عندان‎) was a ten-hour-long armed confrontation between the rebels of the Free Syrian Army and soldiers of the Syrian Army that occurred when FSA forces attempted to overrun a large army checkpoint in the area.[12] At the end of the battle, the FSA successfully seized the checkpoint.

Events[]

At dusk on 29 July, the Free Syrian Army commander in the area, Lieutenant Rifaat Khali, mobilized 150 fighters to seize control of the Anadan checkpoint, a strategic location linking the city of Aleppo 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the south with the Turkish border to the north, which the FSA used as a source for supplies.[citation needed]

The FSA surrounded the checkpoint as night fell and began an assault against the garrisoned troops and besieged them. A force of 50 fighters out of an initial 150 fighters took part at first, using RPGs, machine guns, and assault rifles.[13] The besieged government soldiers called in artillery strikes from batteries based in Aleppo city, which pounded areas surrounding the checkpoint, striking nearby villages where FSA fighters were located, in a last-ditch effort to force the FSA to disengage, but failed to do so. Three hours after the attack began, a loyalist helicopter arrived and circled the area, but had little effect on the battle. The lack of reinforcements for the government soldiers during the whole ten hours led to speculation that the Syrian army was under significant military pressure in other areas of Aleppo.[14]

An FSA operated BMP-2 armoured personnel carrier supported the fighters, as they assaulted the base, firing at least 70 rounds into the checkpoint.[15] After ten hours of fighting, some of the government soldiers were able to break out and flee. At least six of them were killed and 25 others captured. The FSA lost four fighters, and an unknown number were wounded.[16][17]

Aftermath[]

After seizing the checkpoint, the Free Syrian Army retrieved ammunition left behind by the defeated government forces. During the fighting, eight tanks were also captured, seven of which were still operational; the operational ones were intended for use in the Battle of Aleppo.[18] At least some of the captured tanks were deployed northwards to Azaz, where they were used to support an attack on a loyalist-held airbase.[19] The rebels, however, pulled back from their attack on the airbase within a day after failing to capture it.[20]

References[]

  1. http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-61251-Syria-rebels-seize-strategic-checkpoint
  2. http://news.sky.com/story/966624/syria-rebels-plan-own-assault-on-aleppo
  3. http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-61251-Syria-rebels-seize-strategic-checkpoint
  4. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/31/cnn-inside-syria-firefight-for-control-of-army-base/
  5. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/31/cnn-inside-syria-firefight-for-control-of-army-base/
  6. http://www.news24.com/World/News/Bashar-soldiers-fled-like-rats-rebels-20120730
  7. Number as a civil / military
  8. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/30/229245.html
  9. http://www.news24.com/World/News/Bashar-soldiers-fled-like-rats-rebels-20120730
  10. Syrian rebels seize strategic checkpoint between Aleppo and Turkey, according to rebel officer
  11. Syrian rebels seize military base outside Aleppo
  12. http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=522265&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17
  13. http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-61251-Syria-rebels-seize-strategic-checkpoint
  14. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/31/cnn-inside-syria-firefight-for-control-of-army-base/
  15. http://news.sky.com/story/966624/syria-rebels-plan-own-assault-on-aleppo
  16. http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=522265&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17
  17. http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-61251-Syria-rebels-seize-strategic-checkpoint
  18. http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=522265&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17
  19. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/30/world/meast/syria-unrest/
  20. Syria crisis: rows and more violence after Kofi Annan resigns - live updates
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