Hello and welcome to the 313th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish Air and Land Forces started ground attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (People’s Protection Units) in Afrin region, as a part of the operation ‘Olive Branch’ (AR: Ghasin al-Zaytun, TR: Zeytin Dalı). Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army started attacks on multiple fronts, capturing Shankal and Adah Manli villages and four hills overlooking Sheikh al-Hadid area in Rajo Subdistrict, Hay Ughlu, Bali Kuy and Kurni villages in Bulbul Subdistrict. However, reports suggest that YPG managed to recapture Adah Manli and Shankal villages from the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army, these localities should be considered as disputed for now.

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army’s Faylaq al-Sham (Sham Legion) killed at least one and captured three elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Hêzên Xweparastinê (Self-Defense Forces) during the clashes for Adah Manli village.

Syrian Democratic Forces’ Yekîneyên Parastina Gel targeted and lightly damaged Turkish Army’s Leopard 2A4 tank with an anti-tank guided missile near the border between Turkey and Syria.

Turkish Armed Forces conducted strikes over 45 targets in Afrin region. The strikes were conducted by 32 Turkish Air Force’s warplanes. According to the reports, ten civilians were killed and wounded by the airstrikes on the area between Bini and Anabke villages.

Last night and today, Syrian Democratic Forces’ Yekîneyên Parastina Gel shelled city of Kilis in Turkey’s Kilis Province, causing material damage in Ahmed Rasim and Adrar neighborhoods. YPG also shelled city of Reyhanlı in Turkey’s Hatay Province today, reportedly killing one civilian and wounding at least 32, as well as causing material damage in the locality. Two civilians were reported as killed by the YPG ‘s shelling of Kaljibrin, south of Azaz in the northern Aleppo.

United States Department of State released a press statement expressing the concern about the situation in the Afrin region, due to the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army and Turkish Armed Forces’ new offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Yekîneyên Parastina Gel. However, the second part of the statement says:

We continue to be supportive of addressing the legitimate security concerns of Turkey as a NATO Ally and critical partner in the effort to defeat ISIS. However, we urge Turkey to exercise restraint and ensure that its military operations remain limited in scope and duration and scrupulous to avoid civilian casualties. We call on all parties to remain focused on the central goal of defeating ISIS. Now is the time for great nations to work together to secure a peaceful stability for the people of Syria.

Syrian Arab Army captured Duwayr Hawtah, Khirbet Fajr, Rasm Harmal, and Atshanah Shaqriyah from the rebel factions in the southern Aleppo, northeast of Abu al-Duhur airbase.

Approximate situation in the northwestern Afrin, showing today’s advances by the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army. Source: Suriye Gündemi

Idlib:

Syrian Arab Army captured Tabara al-Khashir, Rasm al-Jana, Shuwayhat Abu Issa and Umm al-Hutah villages from the rebel factions north of Abu al-Duhur airbase. Syrian Arab Army also made advances southwest of Abu al-Duhur airbase, capturing Istablat, Al-Haysah, and Suruj from the rebels. Syrian Arab Army and rebel factions clashed in Abu al-Duhur, with reports about the former making limited advances against the latter in the locality.

Approximate situation around Abu al-Duhur. Source: Emmanuel

Hama:

Syrian Arab Army captured Tutah and Aniq Bajrah villages from the Islamic State in the northern Hama.

Situation in northern Hama. Source: Suriyak

Deir al-Zour:

Islamic State conducted another SVBIED attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces, north of Al-Bahra village in the eastern Deir al-Zour. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, the attack targeted Syrian Democratic Forces’ operations room, killing and wounding around 20 elements of the group, as well as destroying three vehicles. Separately, Islamic State’s snipers reportedly killed two elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces northwest of Al-Bahra.

Approximate situation in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Source: Emmanuel

Daraa:

‘Hayat al-Islah fi Hawran’ mediated between two Free Syrian Army’s factions, Jaysh al-Thawra and Quwa Shabab al-Sunnah, which sporadically clashed in the village of Kharba yesterday, as the tensions between the two group’s rose, after Quwa Shabab al-Sunnah killed Jaysh al-Thawra’s element at one of its checkpoints in Bosra al-Sham. The two groups reportedly reached an agreement, which includes handing over the elements that killed Jaysh al-Thawra’s fighter to the ‘House of Justice in Houran’. The two sides also reportedly agreed on the name of the judge that will handle the case.

Syrian Arab Army’s Al-Firqat al-Tasea (9th Division) arrested several civilians from the Free Syrian Army-held Al-Sanamayn and threatened to shell the city, if the rebels do not fulfill the demands. Syrian Arab Army demands the hand over of the officer who was captured two days ago in the vicinity of the town, and also demands the surrender of the individuals that kidnapped the officer.

Iraq

Kirkuk:

Islamic State’s improvised explosive device killed an element of the Iraqi Army and wounded several others south of Daquq, according to the Amaq Agency.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Afghan Local Police’s element surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) in Pashtun Kot district.

Jowzjan Province:

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that 14 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were killed and another 20 wounded, during the clashes between the two in the province.

Kunduz Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 16 and wounded nine elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Archi (Dasht-e Archi) district. Furthermore, Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed two fighting positions, a motorcycle, and a weapons depot.

Approximate situation in Kunduz province, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni

Kapisa Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s tank and killed four soldiers in Shatrov area of Tagab district. Similarly, another Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s elements in the same area, reportedly killing three soldiers.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 15 and wounded one element of the Islamic State in Haska Meyna (Deh Bala) district. Furthermore, Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed a weapons depot. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency claimed that a United States’ soldier was killed and seven Afghan National Army’s elements wounded during the clashes in Haska Meyna (Deh Bala) district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle, killing three and wounding one soldier in Khogyani district.

Approximate situation in Nangarhar province (red = Afghan National Security Forces, blue = Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and yellow = Islamic State), HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni

Maidan Wardak Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan assassinated Afghan Local Police’s commander Mohammad Allah with an improvised explosive device in Nirkh district.

Logar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces wounded six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed an ammunition cache in Charkh district.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded two fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Andar and Qarabagh districts.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 44 and wounded 16 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khaki Safed district, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Dizydi area of the city of Farah. Three elements of the Afghan National Police and one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were killed in the initial encounter. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also engaged Afghan National Police’s reinforcements arriving at the attacked checkpoint, reportedly killing three and wounding four policemen, as well as destroying two tanks. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized two assault rifles from the checkpoint.

Approximate situation in Farah province, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni

Zabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan launched an attack against the Afghan National Army in Makarak area of Mizan district. Two soldiers of the Afghan National Army were killed in the encounter, while the remaining soldiers withdrew from the area.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol near Shen Quanatou area of Arghandab district, killing two soldiers.

Nimruz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Army’s patrol in Nalalan area of Delaram district. Seven elements of the Afghan National Army were reportedly killed in the clashes and a tank destroyed, while two fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were wounded.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed two vehicles, two improvised explosive devices, and an ammunition cache in Nahri Saraj district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Jerashk district, reportedly killing ten soldiers and destroying a tank in the process. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized four PK machine guns, two assault rifles, and large quantities of ammunition from the checkpoint.

Approximate situation in Hemland province, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six and wounded ten elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khakrez district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s army commander and killed him in Nooroshahr area of the Second District of the city of Kandahar.

CJTF-OIR :

CJTF-OIR announced a change in their publishing policy. Now two strikes reports will be published each week, on Mondays and Fridays.

Amaq Agency:

Other:

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