2012 Aleppo Governorate clashes

2012 Aleppo Governorate clashes
Part of the early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War
Aftermath of aerial bombardment by the Syrian Air Force in Azaz, 18 August 2012.
Date 10 February – 19 July 2012 (5 months, 1 week and 2 days) Location Aleppo Governorate, Syria Result Rebel victory FSA takes control of Azaz, al-Bab, Manbij, Jarabulus, Tell Rifaat, Anadan, Darat Izza, Atarib and other towns north of Aleppo city YPG takes control of Kobanî Culmination in the battle of Aleppo city
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army Aleppo Military Council[1] Al-Nusra Front[2] Foreign mujahideen[2] 19 July:  Syrian Kurdistan People's Protection Units	Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Arab Army Syrian Arab Air Force Security agencies Shabiha[3]
Commanders and leaders
Col. Obaid Mohammad Obaid[4] (Aleppo Military Council) Maj. Mohammed Hamadeen[5] (Free North Brigade, Aleppo Military Council) Col. Abdul-Jabar Mohammed Egeydi[6] (Amr ibn al-A'as Battalion) 1st Lt. Rifaat Khalil[7] (Muthanna ibn Haritha Battalion)	Unknown
Units involved
Free Syrian Army Free North Brigade[8][9] Darat Izza Brigade[10] Fursan al Jabal Brigade[11] Muthanna ibn Haritha Battalion[7] Ghuraba al-Sham Battalion[11] Dir al-Wafa Battalion[11] Amr ibn al-A'as Battalion[12] Halab al-Madina Brigade[13] Syrian Liberation Army	Syrian Army 6th Division 12th Armoured Brigade 11th Mechanised Brigade 80th Army Brigade 2nd Reserve Division 19th Mechanised Brigade Infantry Border Guard Brigade 99th Army Regiment 111th Army Regiment 15th Division 46th Army Regiment Syrian Air Force 4th Flying Training Squadron[2] Shabiha Berri clan militias[3]
Strength
6,000 fighters	18,000 soldiers 300+ tanks
Casualties and losses
441 fighters killed[14] 3 tanks lost	1,659 soldiers killed[14] 132 armoured vehicles destroyed 1 Su-22 jet bomber shot down 1 MiG-23 jet shot down 2 L-39 jet shot down 3 Mi-17 helicopters shot down.
at least 50 civilians killed[14]

The 2012 Aleppo Governorate clashes were a series of battles as part of the early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war in the Aleppo Governorate of Syria.

The clashes began following the twin bombings in Aleppo city on 10 February 2012, which were conducted by the jihadist anti-government organisation, the Al-Nusra Front. Over the next five months, major clashes left large parts of the rural countryside under rebel control, with the capital of the province, Aleppo city, still being firmly under government control. On 19 July, rebel forces stormed the city and a battle for control of Syria's largest city and economic hub had begun.