Fighting ISIS in Syria: Operation Euphrates Shield and the lessons learned from the al-Bab Battle

Ömer Faruk Cantenar and Cyprian Aleksander Kozera

Small Wars and Insurgencies, 2022, vol. 33, issue 3, 350-381

Abstract: This paper analyses the Operation Euphrates Shield (OES) al-Bab battle and presents the lessons learned. OES started with a mixed force of Free Syrian Army, Turkish special forces and armoured units. During the operation, the aims and the force structure gradually changed, yet not the command structure. When OES aimed to capture al-Bab, ISIS employed conventional active defence strategy. The OES commander’s insistence on employing special forces increased own casualties and al-Bab was seized only after resorting to a conventional urban attack. OES presents tactical and operational lessons for the militaries on structure and execution of operations against an irregular adversary employing conventional means.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2021.1875308

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