Rebel victory Army of Conquest[1] Shia militias Iran Syrian Arab Republic Russia Liwa al-Quds[8] Brig.

[27][28] In the afternoon of 1 April, rebel forces launched the offensive, targeting the strategic village of Tel el-Ais,[29] that overlooks the Damascus–Aleppo highway.

[32] After securing the village, the rebels proceeded to attack and seize the Jabal Al-'Eiss (Mount Eiss) area, with the Army withdrawing towards Hader.

[16] Meanwhile, elsewhere along the frontline, the rebels captured the villages of Abu Ruwayl, Hawbar and Birnah as the offensive started, however they were recaptured by the military by the following morning.

[39][non-primary source needed] At 10 p.m. that evening,[18] the Army counter-attack started and government forces reportedly captured several points on the eastern and northern perimeter of Tel el-Ais, coming to within a few hundred meters of the village.

[48] On 9 April, the rebels took control of the village of Khalidiyah, near Khan Tuman,[28][49] as well as two hilltops[50] and large parts of Zaytan, Birnah and al-Qal'ajiyyeh.

[51][52] Meanwhile, government forces intensified their shelling of Tel el-Ais and nearby Zorba, with over 100 mortars and rockets being fired at rebel positions, while Russian air-strikes continued.

[54][55][56] During the rebel assault on Khalidiyah and Khan Tuman, four Iranian commandos were killed, including two members of the 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade.

[66] The same day, the Army of Conquest militants, supported by Jund al-Aqsa and the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria (TIP),[2] advanced and captured the village of Khalidiyah, west of Khan Tuman and southwest of Aleppo.

[23][non-primary source needed] Overnight between 11 and 12 May, heavy Russian air-strikes hit rebel positions in the area of Khan Tuman.

[79] al-Nusra suicide bombers detonated car bombs near Khan Tuman, followed by an assault with heavy armour toward pro-government positions.

[82] The same day, the Sham Legion launched an anti-tank guided missile at a suspected Syrian Army position near the area, killing a Dagestani al-Qaeda commander in a friendly fire incident.

[12] On 14 June, al-Nusra led a fresh jihadist assault in the southern Aleppo countryside, targeting the villages of Khalsah and Zeitain, controlled by a number of pro-government forces.

[88] During the night of 17 and 18 June, the jihadist rebels led by al-Nusra imposed full control over the villages of Khalsah, Zeitan and Birnah, despite suffering heavy losses, including the death of a top commander.