Key Facts
- Duration
- November–December 2016
- Total killed
- ~1,200 (incl. 600+ civilians)
- Rebel casualties from gov't shelling
- Majority of civilian deaths in rebel-held east
- Killed by rebel shelling (gov't side)
- At least 149
- Code name
- Operation Dawn of Victory
Strategic Narrative Overview
The offensive, codenamed Operation Dawn of Victory, saw Syrian forces supported by Russian air power push into eastern and southern Aleppo district by district. Intense fighting accompanied by heavy bombardment steadily compressed rebel-held territory. Rebel forces also shelled government-controlled areas and struck an enclave held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, but were unable to halt the government's advance.
01 / The Origins
By late 2016, Syrian government forces and allied groups had besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo for months. A prior moratorium on Russian air strikes temporarily paused the assault, but when that moratorium ended, Russia resumed intensive air and cruise missile strikes across northwestern Syria, enabling the Syrian Armed Forces to launch a decisive offensive to retake the city's rebel-controlled districts.
03 / The Outcome
Government forces captured all remaining rebel-held areas of Aleppo, ending years of divided control. Surviving rebel fighters and civilians were evacuated under negotiated agreements. The fall of eastern Aleppo was widely described as a turning point in the Syrian Civil War, significantly strengthening the Assad government's position and dealing a severe blow to the armed opposition.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.