Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (September–December 2017)

1 September

 * Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have seized full control of the Old City in Raqqa from ISIL.

2 September

 * The Russian Aerospace Forces reported they had destroyed a large convoy of twelve ISIL trucks with ammunition and weapons in Deir ez-Zor province.
 * The British Ministry of Defense confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that British troops had left Syria in late June 2017 and halted their FSA training program.

3 September

 * Syrian Army forces captured the city of Uqayribat from ISIL, the last stronghold of the group in Hama Governorate.

5 September

 * The Syrian Army, aided by Iranian-backed militias, as well as by Russian advisers and Russian airstrikes, break the three-year siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor by ISIL by reaching the Brigade 137 desert base.
 * In conjunction with the offensive, Russian frigate Admiral Essen in the Mediterranean Sea launched cruise missiles at Islamic State targets near Deir ez-Zor destroying command and communications posts, ammunition depots, a repair facilities for armored vehicles and killed many fighters.

6 September

 * The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria issues its report on the April 2017 Khan Shaykhun chemical attack. They reported that it was the gravest of 27 chemical attacks by the Assad government.
 * Staffan de Mistura, the U.N especial envoy for the Syrian conflict said that the Syrian opposition must accept it has "failed to win the war", but that the government "cannot announce victory".

7 September

 * Israeli jets bomb a suspected chemical weapons depot near the city of Masyaf, Hama Governorate, killing at least two Syrian Army soldiers.

9 September

 * The Syrian Army breaks the nine month long siege of Deir ez-Zor Airport by ISIL.
 * The Syrian Democratic Forces announce an offensive against ISIL in the north of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate.

10 September

 * Syrian Democratic Forces claim they advanced 50km and reached an industrial zone miles to the east of Deir ez-Zor city as part of their offensive against ISIL in the northern and eastern parts of the Deir ez-Zor province, while pro-government forces regained full control of the highway from Deir ez-Zor to Damascus, putting SDF and pro-government forces within 15km of each other.
 * At least 34 civilians, including nine children, have been killed in a Russian air raid on Euphrates River ferries near Deir ez-Zor city, according to the Syrian Observatory on Human Rights.

11 September

 * Russian warplanes continued with their aerial campaign on the eastern province, with at least 19 civilians were killed in an airstrike on the ISIL-held village of al-Khrayta, near Deir Ezzor city on Monday, AFP reported. SOHR said that “Two sets of strikes 30 minutes apart hit civilians sheltering in tents along the Euphrates and boats on the river”.
 * Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah declared that the ´Syrian war was won´.

13 September

 * At Russia's request, US air forces allowed a convoy carrying ISIL fighters to reach al-Mayadin in ISIL-held territory in eastern Syria after being bused from the Lebanese border as part of an evacuation agreement brokered by Hezbollah and the Syrian government.

14 September

 * A United States coalition spokesman stated that US-backed SDF forces will not go into Deir Ezzor city, but will leave it clear to Russian and government forces.

15 September

 * The representatives of Iran, Russia and Turkey reached an agreement for the implementation of a “de-escalation zone”, in the Idlib Governorate. Turkish government-linked Yeni Safak newspaper said in an unsourced report that the three countries planned to divide the Idlib region in three, with Turkish forces and opposition fighters in the northwest region bordering Turkey. The deal takes place amid pro-government media reports that "around 9,000 militants" from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham attempt to wrest control from other rebel groups.


 * Ahmad Abu Khawla, commander of the SDF's Deir ez-Zor Military Council, stated that it will not allow government forces to cross the Euphrates.

16 September

 * Russian aircraft reportedly bombed SDF positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, injuring 6 SDF fighters, according to US-led Coalition sources. Russia denied responsibility.

17 September

 * Syrian Army troops seized a suburb of the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, cornering the Islamic State forces in Deir al-Zor with the intention of encircling ISIL forces.

18 September

 * Syrian Army forces cross the Euphrates river in the Deir ez-Zor governante.

19 September

 * Rebels led by HTS launch an offensive in Hama and Idlib against the government and its allies, code-named “Oh Servants of God, Be Steadfast”.

20 September

 * Syrian Tiger Forces advanced against ISIL in the northwest Deir ez-Zor Governorate and closing in Syrian troops in southeast Raqqa Governorate, according to a military source close to the government; the towns of al-Tabni, al-Turayif, al-Buwytiyah, Khan Zahra and al-Masrab were captured from ISIL forces.

21 September

 * Russian and Syrian warplanes launch airstrikes in the south of Idlib, killing three civilians and wounding several others.
 * A prominent Syrian opposition activist, Orouba Barakat, and her journalist daughter, Hala Barakat, a US citizen, were found dead in their Istanbul apartment late Thursday.

22 September

 * The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) reported an agreement between the Syrian Army forces and ISIL militants on the East Hama region. The truce included the evacuation of ISIL members and their families out of the villages they control. This followed 18 days of clashes that left over 305 ISIL fighters and 138 pro-government forces dead.

23 September

 * There were multiple Russian airstrikes in Hama Governorate and Idlib Governorate, including the targeting of a Faylaq al-Sham headquarters in the area of Tal Mardiqh, killing 50 fighters according to rebel sources, and attacks on Khan Sheikhoun, Jisr al-Shaqour, Saraqeb and Kafr Sajna.
 * SDF captured the Conoco gas field, a major gas field in Deir Ezzor province, from ISIL.

24 September

 * Syrian government media and SOHR reported rebel shelling of President Assad's hometown Qardaha.
 * SOHR report heavy shelling and 40 deaths in the Idlib countryside.
 * Russian lieutenant general, Valery Asapov, is killed by mortar fire from ISIL near Deir ez-Zor.

25 September

 * The Syrian government reported that rebel shelling of Qardaha continued, while SOHR, Syria Civil Defence and other sources in rebel territories reported major government and Russian airstrikes in Idlib governorate, with at least 37 people in the town of Jisr al-Shughour and nearby areas. Russia denied it had bombed any civilians.
 * SDF forces said Russian warplanes struck their positions in the Conoco gas field in Deir al-Zor province, killing one and wounding two, although Moscow denied the claims.

26 September

 * The Syrian government says it will consider allowing some autonomy for Kurdish regions.

27 September

 * Russia conducted airstrikes on the villages of Qaina and Yaqobia, killing a child and injuring 5 more.
 * The city of al-Tamane'a is bombarded by five Russian warplanes with rockets, bombs and missiles wounding several and forcing others to flee.

28 September

 * Russian President Vladimir Putin holds talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey to discuss the setup and monitoring of a combat-free zone in Syria.
 * ISIL releases audio of their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urging his followers to attack against "crusaders and apostates".

1 October

 * The Islamic State seizes the town of Al-Qaryatain in the province of Homs in a surprise attack against government forces.

2 October

 * At least 10 people are killed and 20 are injured in a twin suiciding bombing on a police station in the Al-Midan neighborhood in Damascus.

3 October

 * ISIL releases a video of two Russian soldiers they claimed to have captured. However, Russia denies that they are their soldiers.

4 October

 * Suspected Russian fighter jets target rubber dinghies and family boats fleeing the town of Al-Ashara, killing at least 60 civilians.
 * Russian defence minister Igor Konashenkov claims that ISIL had undertaken several attacks on Syrian cities through US controlled areas.
 * Human rights group, Physicians for Human Rights, accuses the Russian and Syrian governments of attacking hospitals since April despite the "de-escalation" zones being agreed on. They also accused them of sending jets to raid three hospitals in September in the rebel-held Idlib province.

6 October

 * The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights states that Russian airstrikes killed at least 14 civilians including three children as they crossed the Euphrates river near ISIL-held Mayadin while fleeing the village of Mahkan.
 * Jaysh al-Islam militants launch a successful attack on the East Ghouta region in Damascus, regaining territory they lost to the Syrian government.

10 October

 * A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 crashes at the air base of Khmeimim in the Latakia province, killing both crewmen onboard.

11 October

 * 2 people are killed and another six are injured when three suicide bombers blew themselves up near the police headquarters in central Damascus.
 * Reports by The Sun mention that the CIA informed British intelligence agencies that British-born ISIL member, Sally Jones and her 12 year old son were killed in a drone strike in June while fleeing Raqqa.

12 October

 * The Turkish Army along Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army launch a operation on Idlib Governorate with the aim of repel Tahrir al-Sham from Idlib.

15 October

 * The Syrian Army captures Al-Mayaden, whist more fighting take place between the East Deir Ezzor city and the countryside of Deir Ezzor province.

16 October

 * Israeli jets destroy an anti-aircraft battery outside of Damascus after its planes were fired upon in Lebanese airspace.

17 October

 * The Syrian Democratic Forces have captured the Islamic State capital Raqqa after four months of fighting.

18 October

 * Major General Issam Zahreddine was killed by a land mine explosion during operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Deir ez-Zor.

22 October

 * Syrian Democratic Forces have captured the al-Omar oil field, the largest oil field in Syria from Islamic State forces.

3 November

 * Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Defense Minister, called Assad 'victorious' in the Syrian civil war and recalled that former enemies now "court" him. The Israeli Minister made this remarks at the Israeli news website Walla!.
 * The Syrian Arab Army captured Deir ez-Zor from ISIL.

7 November

 * Civil unrest is reported in Manbij, Al-Thawrah and western Raqqa because of forced conscription of young men carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

8 November

 * The Syrian Arab Army captured Abu Kamal. and directed its attack to the North of the city capturing the Hamdan Military Airbase.

13 November

 * The BBC reveals that a secret deal in mid-October allowed hundreds of ISIL fighters and their families, including some of their "most notorious members", to escape from Raqqa in a convoy that was between 6 to 7 km long which consisted of 100 ISIL vehicles and over 250 fighters. The United States government confirms that the deal with ISIL was made and that the evacuations took place.
 * Amnesty International releases a report concluding that forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad have committed crimes against humanity through their “starve or surrender” strategy and sieges that have devastated areas controlled by the opposition.

18 November

 * At least 14 civilians, including one young girl, were killed by Syrian government bombardment of the rebel-held eastern Ghouta region near Damascus according to SOHR.

19 November

 * The Syrian Army finally seizes Abu Kamal after an Islamic State counter-attack retook the city.

11 December
Russian President Putin announced the beginning of the withdrawal of the base of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in connection with the victory over ISIS.

28 December
Syrian Army captured town of Mushayrifah in Idlib.