Palmyra offensive (2017)

Palmyra offensive (2017)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and the Russian military intervention in Syria

Situation in southern Syria from 6 February to 30 April; Government advances are shown at the top of the map.
Date13 January – 2 March 2017
(1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Result

Syrian government victory

Belligerents

Syria
 Russia
Allied militias:
Hezbollah
Liwa Zainebiyoun


CJTF–OIR
Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan
(Operations chief commander)
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hassan Sultan
(5th Corps commander)
Col. Gen. Andrey Kartapolov
(Russian forces commander)
Maj. Gen. Pyotr Milyukhin (WIA)
Abu Shaher al-Hassan 
(ISIL emir)
Units involved
Military of ISIL
Strength

4,900+ soldiers

  • 1,000 reinforcements from Latakia (since 11 February)
  • 900+ Military Shield reinforcements (since 23 February)

Unknown

(Some armoured vehicles)
Casualties and losses
115 killed
18 killed (10 soldiers and 8 PMC)
283+ killed (per SOHR)
1,000+ killed and wounded (per Russian MOD)

The Palmyra offensive in 2017 was launched by the Syrian Arab Army against the armed forces of the Islamic State (IS) in the Eastern Homs Governorate in January 2017, with the goal of recapturing Palmyra and its surrounding countryside. ISIL forces had retaken the city of Palmyra in a sudden offensive from 8 to 11 December, after previously being expelled from it by Syrian government and Russian forces in March 2016. On 2 March 2017, the Syrian Army alongside Russian reinforcement, succeeded again in recapturing the beleaguered city of Palmyra.