Second Siege of Wadi Deif

The Second Siege of Wadi Deif refers to the siege of two Syrian Army bases, Wadi Deif and Hamadiyah (both just outside Maarrat al-Nu'man), by rebel forces, during the 2014 Idlib offensive of the Syrian civil war. The first siege of these two bases was broken by the Syrian Army on 18 April 2013. During this siege, rebels detonated several 'tunnel bombs' underneath Army positions surrounding the bases, which are similar to the tactics used during the First World War.

Background
On 5 March, rebels launched an offensive in Idlib Governorate to lift the siege of Khan Shaykhun and cut the supply lines to the Wadi Deif and Hamadiyah army bases. On 23 March, rebels advanced towards Khan Shaykhun resulted in both the lifting of the siege of the town and cutting the supply line to Syrian Army bases further north in the province. On 4 April, rebels cut off the second supply line to these two bases by capturing Aboulin town and al-Salhiya village.

Siege
On 15 April, 6 rebels were killed while no less than 40 were injured, and the connection was lost with 25 rebels after an ambush by Syrian Army units around Al-Hamedya base.

On 14 May, rebels detonated a tunnel bomb underneath the Wadi al-Deif military base, destroying the western entrance of the base completely. According to opposition sources, rebels killed nearly one hundred soldiers that day. According to the SOHR, tens of pro-government fighters were killed and wounded by the explosion.

Rebel progression in Idlib continued in early July focusing on the area surrounding the Hamidiyah Army Base. Immediately west of the army base are four checkpoints: Hanajak, Tafar, Dahman, and al-Midajin Checkpoints form an arc, insulating Hamadiyah Army Base from the west to the north.

On 7 July, rebels raided the Taraf Checkpoint southwest of the Hamadiyah Army Base as part of an operation entitled “The Battle of One Army.” After targeting a number of regime tanks with TOW missiles, rebels stormed the checkpoint and seized a number of T-55 tanks. The checkpoint was used by the rebels as a staging point to continue their offensive northwest toward the Dahman checkpoint, before being completely demolished to prevent the Army from reoccupying it. Rebels also advanced 600 meters north towards the Dahman checkpoint located northwest of the Hamadiyah Army Base and captured it on 9 July. After capturing the checkpoint and a quantity of supplies inside, rebels destroyed it, again in an attempt to prevent regime forces from reoccupying the position. On 16 July, rebels attacked the al-Midajin Checkpoint located north of the Hamadiyah Army Base and the smaller, Hanajak checkpoint located immediately west of the Hamadiyah Army Base. Hanajak fell to rebels with little resistance. Clashes continued between rebels and soldiers as rebels attempted to continue their advance towards the Hamidiyah Army Base.

On 15 October, rebels detonated three tunnel-bombs under Hamidiyah base and al-Dahrouj checkpoint. Opposition activists claimed that at least 35 pro-government fighters were killed in the blasts. The rebels were able to capture the Gerbal Abo Ya’rob checkpoint that day. Two rebels and at least five soldiers were killed in the clashes.