Key Facts
- Conflict
- Part of the Syrian Civil War
- ISIL besieged
- 17 July 2015
- ISIL expelled from most of city
- 28 July 2015
- City fully cleared
- 1 August 2015
- Duration
- Approximately 2–3 weeks of active combat
Strategic Narrative Overview
ISIL's offensive initially made inroads into the city, exploiting the divided control between Syrian government forces and YPG fighters. Rather than clash with each other, the two factions coordinated against the common threat. By 17 July, YPG-led forces had encircled ISIL militants inside the city. Joint pressure from YPG and the Syrian Army forced ISIL out of most of Hasakah by 28 July, leaving only two small pockets near the Al-Zuhour District and the southern entrance.
01 / The Origins
Hasakah, the capital of Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria, was a divided city during the Syrian Civil War, with separate zones controlled by the Syrian Armed Forces and the Kurdish YPG. ISIL, seeking to expand its territorial control across eastern Syria, launched an offensive in mid-2015 aimed at capturing the strategically significant city and eliminating both rival armed presences there.
03 / The Outcome
On 1 August 2015, the last ISIL fighters were expelled from Hasakah, completing the city's clearance. Control reverted to the Syrian Armed Forces and the YPG in their respective zones. The battle demonstrated that government and Kurdish forces could cooperate tactically against ISIL, though underlying tensions between the two sides in northeastern Syria remained unresolved.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
2 belligerents
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.