December 2014 ISIS Offensive

The December 2014 ISIS Offensive is an military operation launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on the Deir ez-Zor air base and surrounding areas.

Battle
On 3 December, ISIS launched an offensive in the direction of the Deir Ezzor military airbase. They reportedly managed to capture the al-Masemekeh Building after a suicide bomber detonated a car near it, killing 19 soldiers and NDF fighters according to SOHR. In the clashes that followed, 7 ISIS militants were killed, while ISIS seized two tanks, an APC, an artillery piece and machine guns. The next day, ISIS reportedly advanced further and captured Al Mari'iyah village and also captured parts of the al-Jafra village, while the Army reported that the 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard inflicted over 20 killed in ISIS ranks and seized 3 tanks. The same source named 17 ISIS casualties killed in fighting in the Al-Mari’ayyi area. The SAF conducted ten airstrikes on ISIS positions that day.

On 5 December, ISIS captured al-Jafra village. 37 ISIS militants and 30 soldiers were killed during the takeover. Meanwhile, 15 ISIS fighters were killed by coalition warplanes targeting a convoy in the al-Bokamal countryside. Later that day, the Army launched a counter-attack and recaptured parts of Al Mari'iyah village and regained control of the perimeter of the Deir-ez Zour air base from ISIS. The Army claimed that it had killed over 100 ISIS militants since the start of the ISIS offensive, while SOHR gave the number of 45. ISIS also managed to capture some positions and military equipment on the mountain overlooking the city.

During the early morning of 6 December, ISIS took control over the missiles battalion to northeast of the airport. At the same time, ISIS detonated a car-bomb at the main gate of the air base and managed to advance into the base, but this attack was eventually repelled due to heavy shelling and bombardment by the Army. ISIS also pulled back from the mountain overlooking Deir ez Zor after it was exposed to heavy aerial bombardment by the SAF, which reportedly used chlorine gas. Since the start of the offensive, 51 soldiers and 68 ISIS militants were killed, according to SOHR. Al-Masdar reported that over 200 ISIS fighters have been killed along with 43 Army soldiers since the start of the offensive.

On 7 December, the military stated ISIS forces had retreated south of the military airport. Later that day, they also reported no more fighting in the vicinity of the airport That night, an ISIL fighter blew himself up near the air base. According to SOHR, a number of soldiers were captured during the attack. At 11 P.M. on Sunday night, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) launched an attack on the Deir Ezzor Military Airport that was geared to break-through the Syrian Arab Army’s defenses on the eastern perimeter of the base. The Saudi ISIS member, Abu Ahmad Al-Jazrawi, led the charge with his Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) that he planned to crash into the eastern gates in order to open a pathway for his comrades to enter the Military Airport.

As Al-Jazrawi neared the eastern gates, he was berated with a barrage of gunfire from the guards at a military outpost that resulted in him losing control and tipping over his vehicle. Attempting to flee, Al-Jazrawi was killed by the gunfire from the military guards before the VBIED exploded – ISIS would assault the Military Airport following the explosion. For the 3rd time in 3 days, ISIS was unable to enter the Military Airport; this attack reportedly resulted in the death of 23 ISIS fighters, including Abu Bakr Al-Sheeshaani (Chechen) and Abu Dujaana Al-Tounisi (Tunisian).

The Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard unearthed a 26 meter tunnel under the Ba’ajeen School in the Deir Ezzor District on Monday morning. The tunnel contained a large supply of weapons, ammunition, medical supplies, and passports that were all confiscated by the 104th Brigade upon discovery. The 9 ISIS militants that refused to surrender to the 104th Brigade were reportedly killed during a brief skirmish.

Continuing their counter-offensive on Sakr Island (Hajeewa Sakr), the 104th Brigade – led by Brigadier General Issam Zahreddine – carried out a powerful attack on ISIS militants near the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The 104th Brigade reportedly destroyed 2 armed Hummers that originated in Iraq and a stolen bulldozer that was transported to the island from the mainland. According to a source in the 104th Brigade, over 70 ISIS militants have been killed on Sakr Island over the last 3 days.

ISIS has reportedly begun to withdraw their forces from the Al-Jafra Quarter following repeated attacks by the SAA and National Defense Forces (NDF) that have resulted in the depletion of militants in the area. The SAA and NDF have also continued their counter-offensive in the Al-Mari’yyah Quarter, killing scores of ISIS militants, while retaking multiple checkpoints that were captured during the advent of the enemy offensive.