On 14 December, approximately 3,000 jihadist rebels[1] (mainly al-Nusra and Ahrar ash-Sham)[22] launched an offensive on the two bases and captured seven checkpoints on the first day.[4] Early the next morning, the al-Nusra Front, supported by Jund al-Aqsa and other Islamic fighters, captured the Wadi Deif base[23] and three checkpoints in addition to two tanks.[5] According to the SOHR, al-Nusra used U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW missiles, tanks and other heavy weaponry taken from the U.S. backed Syria Revolutionaries Front in the assault.[24][25] Later that day, rebels of the Ahrar ash-Sham[22] also captured the Hamadiyah base and the Tell Bansara and al-Naseh areas, forcing the Army to retreat from Hamadiyah to the villages of Basidah and Ma'ar Hattat.[26] A helicopter carrying Army officers took off from Hamadiyah base before it was captured.[27] At the end of the day, rebels captured Basidah after the Army retreated towards Ma’er Hattat.[28] Eventually, the Army also abandoned Ma'er Hattat and retreated towards the town of Mork through rebel-held territory. Some vehicles were reportedly hit by ambushes along the road, while dozens of soldiers managed to reach Mork in 10 vehicles. The Syrian Air Force conducted 42 airstrikes during the day.[7][29]