Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012)

Rif Dimashq First offensive (August–October 2012); اشتباكات ريف دمشق
	Part of the Syrian Civil War (Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign)
	; Frontlines in Rif Dimashq from August to October 2012 Syrian Government control Opposition control Contested For a war map of the current situation in Rif Dimashq, see here.
Date	15 August – 7 October 2012; (1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day)
Location	Rif Dimashq, Syria
Result	Partial Syrian Army victory Syrian Army seizes more than half a dozen rebel-held towns north, west and south of Damascus; Rebels retain control of the Ghouta area, east of Damascus; Rebels launch their own offensive in mid-November;
Belligerents
Syrian government	Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army; Ahrar ash-Sham; Al-Nusra Front; ;
Commanders and leaders
Maher al-Assad (WIA)	Unknown
Units involved
Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Army Republican Guard; 3rd Armoured Division; 4th Armoured Division; Elements of other divisions; ; Lijan Militias; ; Syrian Police; Shabiha;	Free Syrian Army Damascus Military Council; ; Al-Nusra Front Foreign fighters; ;
Strength
40,000+ soldiers	Unknown; 750–1,000 fighters
Casualties and losses
Unknown	1,500 fighters killed
	930 civilians killed (opposition claims)

The Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012) (Arabic: اشتباكات ريف دمشق) was a Syrian Army offensive in the Rif Dimashq Governorate during August–October 2012, as part of the Syrian Civil War.