Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016)

Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016)
	Part of the Syrian Civil War and Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War
Date	13 March 2016
Location	Maarat al-Numaan and Khan Shaykhun, Idlib Governorate, Syria35°38′N 36°40′E / 35.633°N 36.667°E
Result	Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa victory Al-Nusra Front fully captures Maarat al-Nu'man and Khan Shaykhun; Majority of Division 13's leaders captured;
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army	Al-Nusra Front; Jund al-Aqsa
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Ahmed al-Saud; (Division 13 chief commander); Maj. Musa al-Khalid; (Division 13 commander); Zahir al-Ahmed (POW); (56th Infantry Brigade commander); Capt. Ali al-Salloum (POW); (Victory Brigade commander); Zakaria Quitaz; (Division 13 media official)	Abu Mohammad al-Julani; (Jabhat al-Nusra Emir)
Units involved
Division 13 Victory Brigade; 56th Infantry Brigade;	Unknown
Strength
Entire division: around 1,000 fighters	Unknown
Casualties and losses
7 killed, 40+ captured	4 killed
	Location within Syria

On 13 March 2016, jihadist fighters from Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa launched an overnight attack against the Free Syrian Army's 13th Division headquarters in the town of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 over local protesters and demonstrations.