2012 Hama offensive

Background

With the Hama province largely controlled by Army Forces, the FSA launched an offensive on 16 December, to capture the province and Hama city itself and by the same time, cutting the principal supply route of the Army in Aleppo.

The offensive

The rebel military council of Hama announced the start of the offensive on 16 December, giving Syrian government troops in the province an ultimatum to surrender to the Free Syrian Army within 48 hours. Within two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Qassem Saadeddine, a member of the Free Syrian Army military command, claimed that Syrian government troops had already been cleared from the towns of Halfaya, Kafr Nabudah, Hayalin, Hasraya, al-Lataminah, Taybat al-Imam and Kafr Zita, leaving the rebels in control of the rural western part of Hama Province, and all areas north of Hama city. Rebels had advanced 40 km south from Maarrat al-Nu'man and Jisr ash-Shugour, encountering little resistance. It seemed that rebels had overrun Syrian Army lines north of Hama city within 48 hours. Government positions in Khan Shaykhun and Mhardeh were reportedly under attack by rebel forces.

The rebels also made claims of fighting inside Hama city itself, with international analysts wondering if the Syrian Army was redeployed towards Homs and Latakia. However, this was not confirmed. According to the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), Syrian Government security forces reportedly set up checkpoints outside Hayalin, leading to doubts as to whether or not rebels had full control over the town, unlike the other places they captured in the operation. The rebels attacked and captured parts of the town of Morek in Hama's countryside on 20 December. In addition, their forces surrounded the Alawite towns of Ma'an and al-Tleisa.

A few days later, the LCC and SOHR reported that up to 300 civilians were killed by bombing from warplanes in the city of Halfaya, while queuing for bread at a bakery. The Syrian Government did agree that many women and children were killed, however they blamed rebel fighters who they say attacked the town. The Syrian Army managed to retake control of three Alawite villages by 26 December, including Ma'an, repelling the rebels who had entered them days earlier. On 29 December, six people were killed by the Syrian air force bombardment on the town of Kafr Nabudah, two of them were children. Also, one civilian was killed by the bombardment on the town of Taybat al-Imam. QamhanaAssad forces from Qamhana, attacked this same town a week later. The next day, the Syrian Army general command announced that their forces retook control of the strategic town of Morek. The Syrian Army reportedly shelled Halfaya on 31 December.

Aftermath

On 21 January 2013, SOHR said that a car bomb near the headquarters of a pro-government militia killed 50 people in the eastern suburbs of Hama.

On 22 January, the military launched an offensive, with the aim of recapturing territory lost during the rebel advance into northern Hama. 1,500 soldiers and 100 tanks were being used in the operation, and the focus was on the town of Kernaz in Mhardeh District, where up to 1,000 rebel fighters were based. By early February, the rebels were reportedly in fear of losing Kernaz and with it Kafr Naboudeh. This would leave the military in control of the whole north of Hama, reversing all previous rebel gains.

On 6 February, 54 government employees of a defense-related factory were killed in al-Buraq south of Hama city, when a mini-bus blew up at a bus stop.

On 7 February, the military recaptured Kernaz, after 16 days of fighting. Two days before, the Army had also regained control of the nearby town of Mughir, securing a corridor to Alawite villages in the west of the province.

References

References

1. "Assad still confident that he can control Syria". The Washington Post.
2. (8 February 2013). "''Syrian troops capture Karnaz'' (The News Pakistan)". The News International, Pakistan.
3. "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
4. "News". Syriahr.com.
5. Solomon, Erika. (23 December 2012). "Air strike kills dozens of Syrians waiting to buy bread". Reuters.
6. "Air strike on Syria bakery 'kills dozens' – Middle East". Al Jazeera.
7. AFP. (17 December 2012). "Syria's PM in first Aleppo visit since outbreak of fighting". Al-Arabiya.
8. SOHR. "Hama Province". Facebook.
9. (18 December 2012). "Syria Live Coverage: A Battle for Hama?". Enduringamerica.com.
10. (19 December 2012). "Rebels seize towns in central Syria". Reuters.
11. (18 December 2012). "Rebel gains (3.32 pm GMT)". Middle East Liveblog.
12. Miller, James. [http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/12/19/syria-live-coverage-the-insurgents-close-on-hama.html "Syria Live Coverage: The Insurgents Close on Hama"]. Enduringamerica.com. 2012-12-19.
13. Karouny, Mariam. "Syrian rebels fight for strategic town in Hama province". Reuters.
14. . (23 December 2012). ["At least 300 killed in regime airstrike near Syrian bakery"](http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/12/23/256715.html). *Al Arabiya*.
15. (24 December 2012). "Syria Live Coverage: "94 Killed" in Regime Airstrike on Bakery Queue". Enduringamerica.com.
16. (27 December 2012). "Syria's top military policeman switches sides". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
17. (30 December 2012). "Hama: 6 people were killed by the airforce bombardment on the town of Kafarnbouda". Facebook.
18. (5 January 2013). "مداخلة العميد الركن أحمد خالد بري". Orient News.
19. (31 December 2012). "Syrian troops regain control of central town in Aleppo".
20. "Syria backs plans to end conflict". The Nation.
21. "Moscow Is Sending Planes to Lebanon for 100 Russians Leaving Syria (Published 2013)".
22. "Syrian government offensive forces thousands to find shelter in caves, cars".
23. [http://world.time.com/2013/02/08/group-says-54-died-in-syria-military-factory-blast/ Group Says 54 Died in Syria Military Factory Blast]{{dead link. (July 2021)
24. "Syria regime retakes town as Damascus clashes rage". GlobalPost.