Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016 – April 2017)

Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017)
	Part of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate campaign, inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war, and the International military intervention against ISIL
	; Map of the advances in Southern Syria from 6 February to 30 April; Rebel advancements during the campaign are shown in green.
Date	First offensive:; 29 December 2016 – 8 January 2017; (1 week and 3 days); Second offensive:; 15 March – 2 April 2017; (2 weeks and 4 days); Third offensive:; 20 – 30 April 2017; (1 week and 3 days)
Location	Syrian Desert, Syria As Suwayda Governorate; Rif Dimashq Governorate; Eastern Homs Governorate; Eastern Deir ez-Zor Governorate;
Result	Rebel victory Syrian opposition captures more than 1,800 square kilometres (~695 square miles) of territory from ISIL; Syrian government captures more than 300 square kilometres (~116 square miles) of territory from ISIL in north-eastern Suwayda Governorate; ISIL expelled from the Suwayda Governorate and the eastern slopes of the Qalamoun mountains;
Belligerents
Syrian Opposition; Supported by:; CJTF–OIR Jordan; United States; ;	Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Abu Hamza al-Tayeb; (Army of Free Tribes field commander); Capt. Ahmad Tamer; (Forces of Ahmad al-Abdo commander); Talas Salama; (Lions of the East Army general commander); Lt. Col. Muhannad Talaa; (Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo commander)	Unknown
Units involved
Free Syrian Army Southern Front Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo; Lions of the East Army; ; Army of Free Tribes; Revolutionary Commando Army; Al-Qaratayn Martyrs Brigade; ; Eastern Qalamoun only:; Jaysh al-Islam; Ahrar al-Sham; Authenticity and Development Front; Al-Rahman Legion; Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (pro-government claim);	Military of ISIL Wilayat Damascus; Wilayat Suwayda (until April 2017); ;
Casualties and losses
117 killed	21+ killed

The Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017) was a military campaign launched by Syrian rebel forces affiliated with the Free Syrian Army's Southern Front and their allies in the southern Syrian Desert and the eastern Qalamoun Mountains. The aim of the offensive was to expel the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant from the desert in southern Syria and to open a supply route between two rebel-held areas.