[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.

[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.

[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.