The October Daraa offensive, code-named "wa al-Fajr wa Layali Asher"[15] ("By the Dawn and ten nights"), was a military operation launched by Syrian rebels during the Syrian civil war in Daraa Governorate, in an attempt to take control of Al-Harra and Al-Sanamayn.[16] This operation came after the successful rebel offensive in Quneitra province, which resulted in the rebels seizing the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan and the capture of a number of towns, villages and hills in Quneitra and Daraa provinces.
Failed army attack and rebel offensive
On 3 October, 23 soldiers were reportedly killed after a failed attempt to regain control over Deir al-Adas.[3] The next day, rebels announced the start of a military operation called "wa al-Fajr wa Layali Asher", which aimed to capture al-Harra town and its 1,075 meters high strategic hill and to besiege Army forces in al-Sanamayn and its surrounding barracks.[15] That day, between 18 and 60 rebels were killed.[13][17]
On 5 October, at least 30 soldiers and 29 rebels were killed at Tell al-Harrah and at its radar base.[12] The rebels captured the hill,[7]Zimrin village and the Oum El-Aaoussaj barrier in al-Harrah town. According to opposition sources, two army tanks were destroyed and one fighter jet was downed,[6] while rebels also managed to capture the Tell al-Ahmar and the security facilitity in the south of al-Harrah town and the al-Jadeera checkpoint east of it.[18] The base on the hill contained Center C, a spy facility run by a Russian special unit.[2]
The next day, rebels captured the village of Zimrin (east of Al-Harrah town), the two strategic hills surrounding it (Western Tell Zimrin and Northern Tell Zimrin),[19] and two checkpoints nearby.[5] That day, 16 rebels (including two commanders) and six members of the same family were killed.[14]
Aftermath
On 10 October, the Syrian Army started bombing al-Harrah town from the air and with ground-to-ground missiles, killing 20 civilians.[4]
On 15 October, the Syrian brigadier-general “Mahmud Abo Arraj”, commander of the Brigade 121 affiliated to the Seventh Division, fled his home in Damascus to the Syrian-Jordanian border after hearing he will be on trial and executed on charge of high treason due to "handing over al-Harrah Hill". He was likely killed in Rif Dimashq, but his body is still missing.[8]
On 17 October, rebels announced the start of a new battle called “Ahlo al-Azem", which aimed to capture the following Army checkpoints: Umm al-Mayazen al Tebeh, Al-Ma’esra checkpoint and Al-Kazeyyat checkpoint. These checkpoints are located along the Damascus-Jordan highway and are considered the biggest of their kind in the eastern area.[20] On 20 October, rebels captured the al-Jeser, al-Falahin gas station and al-Ma'sara checkpoints near Umm al-Mayazan after three days of fighting. Umm al-Mayazan village was captured by the rebels the next day after heavy fighting with pro-government troops, who withdrew from the village and reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels.[21] That same day, at least 8 civilians were killed after the Syrian Arab Air Force bombed the Nasib border town.[22]
On 23 October, rebels captured the Umm al-Mayathen checkpoint near Nasib border crossing.[23]
