Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2018)

Main article: Timeline of the Syrian civil war

The following is a timeline of the Syrian Civil War from January to April 2018. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian Civil War.

January 2018

2 January

Main article: Beit Jinn offensive

• The Syrian Army and allies made advances on the Beit Jinn area, capturing 3 villages and hilltops, in western Ghouta.^[1][2][3]

4 January

• Russian Air Force airstrikes killed 25 civilians in Eastern Ghouta.^[4]

5 January

Main article: Southern Damascus campaign

• Jaysh al-Islam fighters attempted to infiltrate ISIL positions in the orchards between Yalda and Hajjar As-Aswad, to the immediate south of Damascus city.^[5]

7 January

• The Syrian Army lifts the siege of Harasta vehicle base, which had been besieged by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham and Al-Rahman Legion since 29 December 2017.^[6]

11 January

Main article: Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–February 2018)

• The Syrian army captures 34 villages, including Um-Miyal^[7] after advancing south of Aleppo towards the Abu al-Duhur Airbase, reaching a distance of about 6 km from its forces in the eastern countryside of Idlib.^[8]

17 January

• Several international newspapers (e.g. the Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat, the French Le Monde and the Italian La Repubblica) report on the publication of a civil peace initiative, the Code of Conduct for Syrian Coexistence as a result of years-long secret negotiations between Syrian tribal leaders, representatives of Alawites, Sunnis and various clans and Syrian communities.^[9][10][11]

20 January

Main article: Operation Olive Branch

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the beginning of a military operation to capture Afrin and subsequently Manbij from Kurdish forces (Rojava).^[12] It is the first major military operation by Turkey in Syria since Operation Euphrates Shield.
• Syrian Army forces capture the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib governorate.^[13]
• The civilian death toll of the Rif Dimashq offensive rose to 200 over the first 48 hours, and the number of hospitals struck rose to seven - the highest 48 hour death toll since the 2013 Ghouta chemical attack.^[14][15]

22 January

• Afrin offensive: Turkish forces - TAF/TSK and their Syrian National Army (SNA) allies - announce the capture of seven villages, although the Kurdish YPG recaptured two of them.^[16]

27 January

• Afrin offensive: As Turkey's Afrin intervention entered its second week, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu urged the US to 'immediately withdraw' its military personnel from Manbij in northern Syria that's held by the Kurds.^[17]

February 2018

3 February

• A Russian Su-25 fighter jet is shot down by a MANPAD while on a patrolling mission over the ″de-escalation zone″ in the Idlib governorate. The pilot, Roman Filipov, safely ejected via parachute but died on the ground in a brief exchange of fire with militants on the outskirts of Saraqib. HTS claimed responsibility for the downing.^[18] In response, the Russian Ministry of Defence released alleged footage of airstrikes on HTS territory in the area of the crash site.^{[citation needed]}
• In response to the SAA offensive on the East Idlib front, 11 rebel groups announced the formation of a unified operations room, Dahar al-Ghaza ("Defeat the Invaders"), to counter the Syrian Army and allies' recent advances. The new operations room included Ahrar al-Sham, the Free Idlib Army, Faylaq al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zenki, Jaysh al-Izza, Jaysh al-Nukhba, and Jaysh al-Nasr, among others.^[19]

5 February

• SAA forces reported the capture of Buyud al-Saffaf, Abu al-Kheir, Abu Khanadiq, Rasm al-Kibar, Tell al-Shur, Malihah Saghirah, Rasm al-Mafkar, and Khirbat Umm Rujum from ISIL in northeastern Hama.^[20]

6 February

• Airstrikes on residential areas of Douma reportedly killed at least 31 civilians, according to the UN.^[21]

7 February

• Syrian Army forces have recently seized a total of 76 towns and locations from ISIL forces in Idlib Governorate, closing out an ISIL pocket of resistance.^[22]
• According to American military sources, Syrian pro-government forces initiated an offensive against US-backed SDF territory east of the Deir ez-Zor deconfliction line, near a Conoco gas field. The US-led coalition conducted strikes against the pro-government forces in support of the SDF.^[23] According to one US official, more than 100 pro-government fighters were killed, while about 500 troops participated in the attack; no Americans were injured or killed during the engagement.^[24][25] At a news briefing, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White claimed the US is "not looking for a conflict with the regime."^[26] According to a source close to the Syrian Army, approximately 25-30 Al-Baraka tribesmen were killed in the airstrikes. The Al-Baraka tribesmen are also from the Euphrates River Valley and considered locals.^[27] The Russian government later admitted several dozen of its citizens died or were injured during the engagement.^[28]

10 February

• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called for international action after "one of the bloodiest periods of the entire conflict", mainly in Eastern Ghouta and Idlib. The UN Human Rights Office received reports indicating that at least 277 civilians were killed between 4 and 9 February – 230 in pro-government airstrikes – with a further 812 civilians injured.^[21]
• An Israeli Air Force F-16I fighter jet was shot down in northern Israel when it was hit by Syrian Air Defense. Both pilots were wounded but ejected and landed in Israeli territory.^[29]
• A Turkish Helicopter was shot down by the SDF/YPG south of Omeran village during the Afrin offensive.^[30]

12 February

• The Kurdish YPG claimed to have had shot down a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UCAV reconnaissance drone over Qodeh village in Afrin.^{[citation needed]}
• An Israeli army assessment claimed that half of Syria's aerial defense systems were destroyed in the retaliatory air force sortie during the 10 February airstrikes.^[31]

13 February

• The "Defeat the Invaders" Idlib rebel alliance announced the ISIL pocket in the region had been dissolved after some 400 people (ISIL fighters, their families and wounded) gave themselves up in the village of Khwein al-Kabir.^[32][33]

15 February

• Afrin offensive: The Syrian National Army and Turkish forces announced the capturing of five villages from the YPG.^[34]

16 February

• Afrin offensive: Turkey allegedly launches a chemical attack against Kurdish forces in Afrin, which leaves 6 people wounded.^[35][36]

18 February

Main article: Rif Dimashq offensive (February 2018)

• In preparation for a new ground offensive into Eastern Ghouta, the SAA launch air raids and artillery strikes into the rebel-held enclave.^[37]
• In Idlib, Ahrar al-Sham and Nour al-Din al-Zenki merge and form the Jabhat Tahrir Suriya (Syria's Liberation Front/SLF) rebel group.^[38]

19 February

Main article: Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict

• Heavy clashes erupt in the Aleppo and Idlib Governorates between the Syrian Liberation Front and Tahrir al-Sham.
• In East Ghouta, monitors and activists reported 72 airstrikes, 97 civilian mortalities and 500 injuries in the first 24 hours of the Rif Dimashq offensive. Five hospital were reportedly struck and put out of service.^[39]

20 February

• Afrin offensive: A convoy of a pro-Syrian government militia called "Popular Forces" entered Afrin to support the YPG but was hit by Turkish artillery "warning shots", forcing the convoy to retreat.^[40][41]

22 February

• By the fifth day of the Rif Dimashq offensive (February 2018), monitors reported 38 deaths, making a total of over 300 killed in pro-government air strikes in East Ghouta.^[42][43] Doctors Without Borders said at least 13 hospitals and clinics were damaged or destroyed over the previous days.^[43]
• The Syrian government assumes control of Sheikh Maqsood, Ashrafiya, Haidariya, Baaeydin and Holluk neighborhoods in North Aleppo after the YPG/YPJ garrison there deploy to Afrin.^[44]

23 February

• Airstrikes and artillery attacks on the Eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus killed at least 46 people on Thursday, according to Agence France-Presse, bringing the six day death toll to over 400.^[45] The UN was unable to reach an agreement on a ceasefire resolution, due to Russian blocking.^[46][47]
• The Kurdish YPG called on the Syrian army to intervene in Afrin, to supplement pro-government militia already there.^[48]
• Ahrar al-Sham and Suqour al-Sham rebels attack positions of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) alliance in Idlib, according to SOHR.^[49]

25 February

• Turkish President Erdogan claims a total of 2,021 YPG militants have been "neutralized" since the launch of the Afrin intervention. The Turkish government uses the term "neutralized" to refer to enemies both captured and killed. In turn, according to the Turkish Army, 32 Turkish soldiers have been killed and 183 others wounded since the beginning of the Afrin operation.^[50]
• The SAA begins its ground assault on East Ghouta on multiple fronts.^[51]

March 2018

3 March

• The Syrian National Army and Turkish Armed Forces (SNA/TSK) captured the town of Rajo from the YPG along with capturing Ramadiyah and Hamelika villages in the Jinderes district during the ongoing Afrin offensive.^[52]

8 March

• SNA/TSK forces captured the town of Jindires from the YPG, giving them control of one of the largest settlements in Syria's northwest Afrin region.^[53] They also captured the villages of Shawaghat al-Juz, Maarsat al-Khatib, Hallubi Kabir and Hallubi Saghir, and the "Mafraq al Jatt" crossroads, cutting off the Nubl-Kafrjana-Afrin highway.^[54][55]

9 March

• SNA/TSK forces seized control of the Maydanki dam and its western bank in Afrin. The dam serves as a water supply to Afrin city.^[56]

11 March

• The Syrian army captures 59% of the rebel-held eastern Ghouta enclave^[57] and divides it into three separate pockets^[58]

15 March

• Tens of thousands of civilians evacuated the eastern Ghouta suburbs in one of the largest single-day exoduses of civilians since the start of the Syrian war.^[59] A similar scale of displacement occurred in Afrin.^[60][61]
• There was renewed government bombing of Daraa, a "de-escalation zone".^[62][63]

18 March

• On the 58th day of the Turkish-led Afrin offensive, Afrin city is captured by SNA/TSK forces - punctuated by Turkish and Free Syrian Army flags and banners raised above the city. De-mining operations begin as there were reports of the city being pillaged as military sites and civilian homes and businesses were looted by militants.^[64][65]

28 March

• The Syrian Arab Army prepares to attack Douma in eastern Ghouta unless the Jaysh al-Islam insurgent group agrees to hand over the area.^[66]

29 March

• President Donald Trump announced that the United States will be leaving Syria "very soon".^[67]
• President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting with representatives of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria and plans to send soldiers to SDF-held areas at the Euphrates river.^[68]

30 March

• Some U.S. commanders interviewed by NBC News warned that recent firings and distracting domestic political tumult within the Trump administration could jeopardize the Special Forces mission against ISIL in Syria.^[69]
• One British and one American servicemen were killed by an IED explosion in Manbij along with five other soldiers being injured.^[70]

April 2018

4 April

• A summit on achieving a lasting ceasefire in Syria is held in Ankara, Turkey by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ankara summit is particularly significant in that Russia and Iran support the Assad government and Turkey's president has supported the Free Syrian Army.^{[citation needed]}

7 April

• At least 41 people were reportedly killed in a chemical attack in Douma.^[71]

14 April

See also: Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)

• About 100 buses evacuated the last batch of rebels and civilians from Douma,^[72][73] following which Russian and Syrian government forces took complete control of Douma ending the four years long Siege of Eastern Ghouta.^[74][75][76]
• The United States, France, and the United Kingdom carried out a series of military strikes against the Syrian Government of Bashar al-Assad.
• The SAA declared eastern Ghouta to be fully liberated after the last batch of Jaysh al-Islam rebel fighters evacuated Douma. Syrian forces promptly began mine-clearing operations in the city.^[77]

19 April

Main article: Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)

• The SAA and allied Palestinian militias launch an offensive to dislodge ISIL from their pocket in southern Damascus.^[78]

22 April

• As a part of an evacuation deal, rebels in East Qalamoun surrendered their weapons to the SAA in exchange for safe evacuation to rebel-held northern Syria, dissolving the rebel pocket of resistance there.^[79] The government flag was raised in Jayrud two days later as the last batch of rebels evacuated, signifying government control in the former rebel enclave.^[80]

References

1. "Breaking: Syrian Army takes control of key hill chain in west Damascus amid jihadist withdrawal". Al-Masdar News. 2 January 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
2. Syrian Army restores control over entire West Ghouta after six years of war Archived 2018-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, Al-Masdar
3. "Beit Jinn, Syria – between Israel's dilemma and Iran's opportunity". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
4. "Syria war: 'Russian strikes' kill 25 in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta". BBC News. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
5. "Battle erupts between ISIS and Syrian rebels in south Damascus". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2018-01-05. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
6. "After 8 days of being besieged by the factions, the regime forces opens a road to the Vehicle Department near Harasta and about 160 fighters and members were killed since the beginning of the attack". SOHR. 7 January 2018.
7. "HTS kicked out of northeast Hama after losing last stronghold to the Syrian Army". 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
8. "هجوم قوات النظام المتواصل جنوب حلب نحو مطار أبو الضهور يوسع سيطرتها إلى 34 قرية خلال أقل من 72 ساعة ويوصلها لمشارف بلدة مهمة". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). 12 January 2018.
9. "Syrie : des représentants alaouites et sunnites signent un " code de conduite pour la coexistence "". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
10. "Confidential Sunni-Alawite Meeting in Berlin Summarized in Eleven-Item Document". The Syrian Observer. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
11. "UNA CARTA PER LA PACE IN SIRIA - la Repubblica.it". Archivio - la Repubblica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-04-03.
12. "Erdogan: Operation in Syria's Afrin has begun". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
13. "Syrian army, allies capture Idlib air base: state TV". Reuters. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
14. It's not a war. It's a massacre': scores killed in Syrian enclave, Guardian, 20 February 2018
15. More bombs hit Syria's Ghouta, death toll highest since 2013, Reuters, 20 February 2018
16. "Syria offensive: Turkish troops 'capture villages' in Afrin". BBC News. 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
17. "Pressing Syria offensive, Turkey urges US pullback". AFP News. 27 January 2018.
18. "Russian fighter jet shot down in Syria's Idlib province". BBC. 3 February 2018.
19. "Syrian War Daily – 3rd of February 2018". Syrian War Daily.
20. "Syrian War Daily – 5th of February 2018". 5 February 2018.
21. UN rights chief urges international action as violence soars in Syria, OHCHR, 10 February 2018
22. "Syrian Army storms ISIL's last positions inside northeast Hama". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018."Breaking: Elite Syrian Army forces expel ISIS from 16 towns in lighting dash across northwest Syria". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018."Syrian Army storms ISIL's last positions inside northeast Hama". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018."Syrian Army plan for ISIS pocket in northwest Syria revealed – inside sources". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018."Breaking: Syrian Army overpowers ISIS in northeast Hama to liberate several areas". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018."ISIL's defenses fall apart in northeast Hama as Syrian Army troops liberate dozens of areas". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018."Breaking: Elite Syrian forces inches from splitting ISIS pocket in half after new big push across northwest Syria". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
23. "Unprovoked attack by Syrian pro-regime forces prompts Coalition defensive strikes". 7 February 2018.
24. "More than 100 pro-Assad forces killed in thwarted attack: U.S. official". 7 February 2018.
25. "US counter attack in Syria..." Lucas Tomlinson (Fox News Pentagon Correspondent). 8 February 2018.
26. "U.S. not looking for conflict with Syria's forces, Pentagon says". Reuters. 8 February 2018.
27. Details from the US bombing of pro-government forces in Deir Ezzor Archived 2018-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, Al-Masdar
28. Marc Bennets, Russia admits ‘several dozen’ of its citizens killed in Syria fighting, Guardian, Tue 20 Feb 2018 16.02 GMT Last modified on Tue 20 Feb 2018
29. Andrew Carey; Nicole Chavez. "Israeli F-16 jet crashes after Syrian fire". CNN. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
30. "Erdoğan, helikopterin düştüğünü açıkladı, Başbakan acı haberi verdi: 2 şehit". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2018-02-11.
31. "Israel says its airstrikes took out half of Syria's air defenses". Los Angeles Times. 12 February 2018.
32. "Syria's Idlib ISIS-free after 'surrender': Spokesman, monitor". Straits Times. 13 February 2018.
33. "Syria's Idlib ISIS-free after 'surrender': Spokesman, monitor". Retrieved 28 April 2018.
34. "Turkish army, Free Syrian Army liberate 5 villages in Syria's Afrin". Trend News Agency. 15 February 2018.
35. "Turkish army hit village in Syria's Afrin with suspected gas:..." Reuters. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
36. "Kurdish doctors report suspected Turkish gas attack on Syria's Afrin". english.alarabiya.net. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
37. "Syrian government air strikes kill 71 and wound 325 in 24 hours, monitor says". 19 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
38. "Syrian War Daily – 18th of February 2018". Syrian War Daily. 18 February 2018.
39. New Bombing Campaign Hits 5 Hospitals, Among Worst Days in Syrian History, ReliefWeb, 19 February 2018
40. "Pro-Syrian government fighters start to enter Afrin - Hezbollah media unit". February 20, 2018 – via uk.reuters.com.
41. "Pro-government fighters move into Syria's Afrin". Al-Jazeera. 20 February 2018.
42. Bombs continue to pound eastern Ghouta as UN pleads for ceasefire, Guardian, 22 February 2018
43. Syria's Ghouta residents 'wait to die' as more bombs fall, Reuters, 22 February 2018
44. Rudaw (22 February 2018). "YPG deployed to Afrin, leaving Aleppo for Damascus". Anadolu Agency.
45. Five-day assault on Syria enclave kills more than 400, Hasan Mohamed, AFP•February 23, 2018
46. U.N. Security Council to vote on Friday on demand for Syria truce, Reuters, 23 February 2018
47. World leaders urge Syria cease-fire as fighting escalates, AP, 23 February 2018
48. Kurdish YPG militia urges Syrian army to help it stop Turkey, Reuters, 23 February 2018
49. Rebel Infighting Rocks Syria’s Northwest, Syria Deeply, 23 February 2018
50. "One Turkish soldier killed in Syria's Afrin". Hurriyet Daily News. 25 February 2018.
51. "Fighting continues in Syria's eastern Ghouta despite UN resolution calling for ceasefire". CBC News. 25 February 2018.
52. "Turkey, Free Syrian Army clear town center in NW Syria". 3 March 2018.
53. "Turkish military seizes control of Jinderes town in Syria's Afrin region: Anadolu". Reuters. 8 March 2018.
54. "OliveBranch forces take control over "Mafraq al Jatt" in western Azaz. Means Nubl-Kafrjana-Afrin highway completely cut off". 8 March 2018.
55. "#OliveBranch forces captured Shurghat al Jhuz in northern Maryarmayn". Twitter. 8 March 2018.
56. "Turkey takes Afrin dam, nears city: media reports". Rudaw. 9 March 2018.
57. "قوات النظام تخنق حرستا وترفع سيطرتها إلى نحو 60 % من مساحة الغوطة الشرقية خلال 13 يوماً، و أعداد الخسائر البشرية تتصاعد لتصل لنحو 1150 شهيد مدني".
58. "Breaking video: Syrian Army besieges major Islamist stronghold in Damascus, slices East Ghouta into three". Al-Masdar News. 11 March 2018. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
59. Thousands flee violence in mass exodus from Syrian towns, AFP
60. Syrian Kurdish YPG says 10,000 people in Afrin displaced in two days, Reuters
61. Hundreds of families flee Syrian town of Afrin: Observatory, Reuters
62. Airstrikes on the third day on a row in areas in the eastern part of Daraa countryside, SOHR
63. U.N. adviser Egeland says 'tremendous battles' still loom in Syria, Reuters
64. "Turkish Forces Seize Syrian City of Afrin". 18 March 2018.
65. "Pro-Turkish forces pillage Afrin after taking Syrian city". Yahoo news. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
66. "Syrian army prepares 'huge' operation in last rebel bastion as pressure mounts".
67. "Trump says U.S. will leave Syria 'very soon' — despite his promises not to telegraph military moves".
68. "France's Macron vows support for northern Syrians, Kurdish militia".
69. "White House chaos jeopardizes war on ISIS, U.S. commanders warn". Retrieved 28 April 2018.
70. "US and British troops killed in Syria blast".
71. Loveluck, Louiusa. "Dozens killed in apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians in eastern Ghouta — rescue workers". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
72. "About 100 buses within a new batch launch from the outskirts of the Eastern Ghouta towards the Syrian North • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". April 14, 2018.
73. "Syrian army declares Ghouta rebel enclave fully retaken". Agence-France Presse. Straits Times.
74. "Western airstrikes unlikely to impact Assad's war machine". Associated Press. ABC News.
75. "Syrian army declares full control of Eastern Ghouta rebel enclave". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018.
76. Aboufadel, Leith (April 14, 2018). "East Ghouta officially under the Syrian Army's control after last militant convoy leaves Douma". Archived from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
77. "Syrian army announces eastern Ghouta free of militants: state media". Reuters. 14 April 2018.
78. "Breaking: Syrian Army, Palestinian forces launch offensive in southern Damascus". 19 April 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
79. "Rebels surrender weapons as part of evacuation deal in Damascus' Qalamoun region". Xinhua. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018.
80. "Syria regime retakes new region near Damascus: SANA". Agence France-Presse. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2018.