The al-Dumayr offensive was a military offensive launched in April 2016 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant near the town of al-Dumayr, east of Damascus, Syria. The attack is notable for the abduction of hundreds of cement plant workers by ISIL.^[4]

Quick Facts Date, Location ...

Al-Dumayr offensive (April 2016)
Part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign of the Syrian civil war
Date 4–16 April 2016 (1 week and 5 days) Location Al-Dumayr, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria Result Syrian Army victory
Belligerents
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant	Syrian Arab Republic Army of Islam[1]
Commanders and leaders
Abu Jihad al-Shami	Unknown
Units involved
Military of ISIL	Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Army National Defence Forces Qalamoun Shield Forces[2]
Casualties and losses
35 killed[citation needed]	20 killed[citation needed]
18 civilians killed by airstrikes[3] 250–300 cement plant workers kidnapped by ISIL[4] (170 released, 4 executed)[5]

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On 4 April, ISIL attacked areas around the city of al-Dumayr, northeast of Damascus, resulting in 250–300 cement plant workers being abducted from a factory by ISIL.^[6] ISIL reportedly massacred 175 of them afterwards, while 75 escaped.^{[citation needed]} Druze employees were murdered while non-minority Muslims were released.^[7][8]

On 6 April, ISIL launched an attack on the Dumayr Airbase, outside the town, sending five car bombs and killing 12 Syrian soldiers.^[9] The attack was repelled by the Syrian Army and the National Defence Forces.^[10] Due to a partial ceasefire, the Syrian Armed Forces reportedly allowed some Jaysh al-Islam militants from Ghouta to cross into al-Dumayr in order to fight ISIL. The Syrian Air Force also hit ISIL targets in the front with the rebels.^[1]

On 9 April, a new ISIL attack on the airport and power plant was reportedly repelled,^[11] after which the airport was declared secured.^[12]

On 11 April, a Syrian Air Force plane was shot down by ISIL near the airbase.^[13] Two days later, yet another attack on the airbase was repelled, although Army checkpoints outside the base had sustained heavy damage.^[14]

On 14 April, the Army launched a counter-attack, quickly recapturing several hilltops,^[15] and by the following day, they had retaken control of the Khan Abu Shamat base and the Badia cement plant.^[16][17] On 16 April, the military continued to advance and recaptured the Battalion 559 base, Al-Sini Factory, Al-Safa Station and the triangle Baghdad-Palmyra-Jordan checkpoint, ending the ISIL offensive.^[18][19]