Battle of Zabadani The Battle of Zabadani took place in January through February 2012 , during the Syrian civil war . During the initial stages of the battle , the rebel FSA took control of the town . However , less than a month later , the Army retook control of Zabadani , forcing rebel fighters to withdraw towards the Lebanese border . Battle . First phase . The battle began when the city was stormed by the Syrian army on 7 January . This operation followed large - scale anti - government protests in the city and in the wider Rif Dimashq Governorate . An anti - government activist group claimed that 12 civilians including three children were killed when the town was bombarded by tanks in the initial operation . Zabadani was once again stormed by the Syrian army on 13 January . However , their attack was repelled by the Free Syrian Army ( FSA ) , which held control of large parts of the city . The Syrian army held its positions on the outskirts . Amateur video footage obtained by Reuters showed armed FSA fighters patrolling empty streets . On 18 January , both sides agreed to a ceasefire . It was also agreed that the Syrian army would leave the city and that the FSA would remove its forces from the streets . A senior opposition figure , Kamal al - Labwani , said " I think stiff resistance and defections among the attacking forces have forced the regime to negotiate . We will see if it will stick to the deal " . He claimed that 30 loyalist soldiers and an unknown number of defected soldiers had been killed during the battle on 13 January . The ceasefire was temporarily broken on 30 January , when an FSA fighter was killed by government troops . However , by the end of the day , the situation at Zabadani still remained tense but calm . A top Iranian Revolutionary Guard official said that Hezbollah forces took part in the fighting in Zabadani in January . Second phase . On 4 February , it was reported by activists that the Syrian army was shelling the area with mortars and firing on FSA troops with heavy machine guns , and had started to storm Zabadani ' s outskirts . The Local Coordination Committees of Syria said that 300 armored vehicles , including 100 tanks were involved in the offensive . This report could not be verified independently . The SOHR , another activist source based in London , said to the AFP that hundreds of armored vehicles assaulted the city of Zabadani on 6 February . According to activist videos Zabadani was still under shelling on 7 February . On 8 February , activists said that at least 10 residents had died from the shelling in recent days , and state media reported that four members of the special forces were killed outside of Zabadani . They claimed that a number of opposition forces were killed in the clash . It was also reported that during the fighting , a foreign jihadist , Abu Hamza al - Shami , was also killed . Two days later , several activists sources reported that the Syrian army took control of Madaya , a city located just a few kilometers south of Zabadani which was , according to the same activists , surrounded and under a renewed shelling from the army . The Local Coordination Committees said that the army was heavily pounding the city for a 6th day in a row with 150 shells hitting the city , killing seven people and injuring 40 . They added that the Syrian army was located as close as 300 meters south of the city entrance . The Committee estimated that 300 armored vehicles and 30 , 000 soldiers were involved in the battle , but it could not be confirmed and was highly unlikely . On 11 February , the Syrian army entered Zabadani after a renewed shelling and seized parts of the town . An exiled Syrian activist in Jordan said that a ceasefire had been agreed in Zabadani and that the army entered the city . It stipulates that the army would not pursue the rebels if they hand over their stolen weapons . He added that 100 people were killed in the bombardment of the city . A video was shown of a government tank in flames . On 13 February , activists reported that the Syrian army was conducting attacks and arrests in Zabadani and Madaya . A contact of Irish Times journalist told that the army had arrested some rebel fighters and allowed others to flee , with ongoing house to house conducted . Many residents fled to Bludan were the red cross sent an aid convoy . Footage of Zabadani was published on 13 February , on the Syrian State TV , showing interviews with residents and some of the weapons seized . A pro - rebel resident said that the Syrian army broke a deal by sending soldiers to take over the city and said that dozens of people suspected of being rebels had been captured . Journalist John Ray and his cameraman made a video report about the battle , showing footage of the fighting and the advance of the Syrian army . The Army advanced from the city toward the hillsides where rebels were hiding , progressing and trapping the rebels against the Lebanon border . The opposition - affiliated L . C . C . claimed that the Syrian army had arrested 250 members of the opposition . A Lebanese smuggler told that the Syrian army had successfully cut the rebels supply lines in the city . Aftermath . Renewed fighting . A month later on 12 March , clashes were reported once again in Zabadani , with many being wounded . On 27 March , the military shelled the town again , which killed four residents . Two days later on 29 March , more fighting was reported in the town . May stalemate . In May , much of Zabadani was once again reportedly out of government control , with army checkpoints on the roads leading into and out of the city and security forces guarding government buildings in the town , but not venturing outside to such places as the central square . Around 450 FSA fighters were in the orchards outside of Zabadani , but they didn ' t have a presence in the town itself . Instead , opposition activists were reporting from within the city via walkie - talkies and organizing protests .