The Battle of Garel, a conflict of the Galactic Civil War, transpired in 3 BBY. During this time, the Galactic Empire's military initiated an offensive against Phoenix Cell located on the Outer Rim planet named Garel. The Empire discovered the rebels' base within the Garel City Spaceport because Ezra Bridger, a Padawan fighting for the rebellion, was overheard discussing their location. Agent Kallus from the Imperial Security Bureau, together with Admiral Kassius Konstantine commanding the Star Destroyer Relentless, spearheaded the assault on the rebels. Simultaneously, the Inquisitors known as the Seventh Sister and the Fifth Brother sought to capture Bridger and his Jedi Master, Kanan Jarrus. During the rebel retreat from Garel, at least one rebel transport was shot down and destroyed. However, thanks to the exceptional piloting skills of Captain Hera Syndulla aboard the Ghost, the Empire's tractor beam was neutralized, enabling Phoenix Cell to escape the planet and jump into hyperspace.
Following the events of the Duel in Hammertown, the Inquisitors identified as the Seventh Sister and the Fifth Brother learned of a rebel presence on the planet of Garel. They shared this crucial information with Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau and Admiral Kassius Konstantine. Kallus, a consistent adversary of the Spectres, urged collaboration among the various Imperial authorities to eradicate the rebels. Subsequently, he instructed Admiral Konstantine to relocate the Imperial fleet from Lothal to Garel. Leading up to the planned attack, Imperial authorities on Garel strategically withdrew stormtrooper patrols from Garel City to create a false sense of security for the rebels.
Before the Imperial offensive on Garel, an uprising occurred within an Imperial prison. Ephraim and [Mira Bridger](/article/mira_bridger], the parents of the Jedi rebel Ezra Bridger, were inspired by their son's earlier broadcast to instigate a prison breakout. The uprising successfully liberated numerous prisoners, including former Lothalian Governor Ryder Azadi, but the Bridgers tragically died during the escape. Concurrently, on Garel, Ezra experienced a Force vision depicting his parents and the impending Imperial assault.
Ezra communicated his vision to rebel leaders Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus. Hera and Kanan, having just received news of the prison uprising on Lothal, decided to share with Ezra information that Tseebo had previously conveyed to Hera. Tseebo had revealed that Ezra's parents were confined within a network of Imperial prisons, though their specific location was unknown. Hera later informed Ezra that Commander Jun Sato's contact in the Core had reported a mass breakout from an Imperial prison the previous night. Ezra then realized, through his vision, that his parents were likely involved. After using the Force to scan a list of escapees, Ezra identified "Prisoner X-10." The Empire had erased the prisoners' names and faces, concealing the fact that this prisoner was Governor Azadi.
Convinced of a connection between the prison uprising and his Force vision, Ezra resolved to travel to Lothal. Following intelligence received by Sabine Wren indicating the departure of the Imperial fleet above Lothal, the Spectres began preparations to leave Garel. While gathering supplies, Garazeb Orrelios and Chopper reported the absence of any patrols. However, Sabine, leveraging her experience as a former Imperial cadet, knew that the Empire routinely withdrew patrols before military operations, correctly suspecting an imminent Imperial attack on Garel.
Zeb and Chopper soon found themselves being chased by a stormtrooper patrol. Simultaneously, a fleet of Star Destroyers materialized above Garel City. While awaiting Zeb and Chopper's return, Hera instructed Sabine to disrupt the Imperials' tracking capabilities by sabotaging their jamming system. Zeb and Chopper successfully rejoined Kanan and Ezra in their hangar bay but were immediately confronted by stormtroopers led by Agent Kallus. Overwhelmed by anger, Ezra employed the Force to violently hurl Kallus against a wall.
Following Kallus were the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister, the latter attempting to provoke Ezra into a lightsaber duel. Before Ezra could respond, Kanan used the Force to disable the blast door controls, sealing the Inquisitors outside. Reunited, the Spectres boarded the Ghost and fought off a wave of stormtroopers. Once airborne, Hera ordered Phoenix Squadron to evacuate Garel. As the rebel fleet ascended into the skies above Garel, Admiral Konstantine ordered his crew to activate a tractor beam to ensnare the fleeing rebel ships. At least one rebel ship was struck by an Imperial laser blast and crashed into the streets of Garel.
Phoenix Squadron Commander Jun Sato and Rex's CR90 corvette Liberator were intercepted by Konstantine's Star Destroyer Relentless and ensnared by the warship's tractor beam. Meanwhile, Hera instructed Kanan, Ezra, and Chopper to depart for Lothal aboard the Phantom. The Phantom then exploited a brief opening in the Imperial formation to jump into hyperspace. Responding to Sato and Rex's distress signal, Hera piloted the Ghost towards the Relentless in an attempt to disable the tractor beam projector.
Just as Sabine had locked a torpedo onto the tractor beam projector, a TIE blast disrupted the ship's alignment, preventing her from firing. Undeterred, Hera executed a daring maneuver, ramming the Ghost into the projector, dislodging it from the Relentless' hull. The projector then collided with a TIE fighter. With the Liberator freed, the Ghost and the Phoenix rebel fleet successfully jumped into hyperspace.
Despite their best efforts, the Galactic Empire failed to capture the majority of the rebel fleet stationed on Garel. Most of the Phoenix rebel fleet escaped into hyperspace. However, the rebels sustained significant losses, including at least one destroyed ship. Upon learning of the Phoenix rebels' setbacks, Alderaanian Senator and rebel leader Bail Organa dispatched his adopted daughter Princess Leia Organa to deliver three Sphyrna-class Hammerhead corvettes to bolster the Phoenix forces. To conceal Alderaan's involvement with the rebels, Leia orchestrated a plan for the Spectres to steal the ships on Lothal.
Meanwhile, Ezra, Kanan, and Chopper located Prisoner X-10 on Lothal, discovering him to be Governor Azadi, a friend of Ezra's parents. From Azadi, Ezra learned of his parents' deaths, allowing him to find closure. Reunited on Lothal, the Spectres joined forces with Princess Leia and Azadi to steal the Hammerhead corvettes from an Imperial depot on Lothal.
In 2 BBY, prior to Grand Admiral Thrawn's attack on Atollon, Ezra referenced the assault on Garel as they received a warning about the Imperial fleet's departure from Lothal.
The battle that took place on Garel was first depicted in the Star Wars Rebels episode titled "Legacy," which premiered on Disney XD on December 9, 2015.