Hello and welcome to the 147th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Raqqa:

Syrian Democratic Forces and Islamic State clashed in several districts of Raqqa, the latter allegedly lost more than 40 fighters during the clashes.

Situation in Raqqa. Source: Qasion News Agency

Idlib:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a huge anti-IS operation in Idlib and Sarmin, over 1000 HTS ‘ fighters reportedly participated. HTS asserted control over 15 localities in Idlib and 10 more in Sarmin, used by the sleeper cells, and arrested more than 100 individuals affiliated with the Islamic State, including an official/prominent figure, Abu Sulayman al-Rusi. Arrested individuals have been accused of planning suicide/terrorist attacks against the civilians in Idlib.

According to the unconfirmed reports, today’s operation by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was focused on Islamic State’s fighters that arrived from Deir al-Zour / Raqqa recently, in an agreement with HTS . Dispute between the two sides led to today’s events. Some of the IS’ fighters that returned to Idlib are ex-members of Jund al-Aqsa (Liwa al-Aqsa), and members of Liwa David (David’s Brigade), who defected to IS from Idlib, three years ago. More detailed/researched version of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s operation can be read here.

Another IS’ official arrested today is Abu Ibrahim al-Iraqi. Abu Ibrahim was arrested in Al-Dana, along with seven other IS’ fighters.

VBIED exploded in Maarat al-Numaan, without any reports about casualties.

Homs:

Syrian Arab Army reportedly captured Tal al-Allam from the Islamic State, east of Mushrifah al-Gharbiya. Islamic State launched a counterattack in the area, by sending an SVBIED against SAA ‘s position on Talat al-Mushrifiyah. SVBIED attack allegedly resulted in death 20 of SAA ‘s soldiers, and was followed by an IS’ attack, which allegedly managed to capture the hill from SAA .

Syrian Arab Army captured several points on Jabal al-Qalyat, near Al-Hail gas field, from the Islamic State. On Jibab Hamad front, SAA captured several hills overlooking IS-held Al-Baghiliyah.

Amaq Agency reported death of six SAA ‘s soldiers due to an Islamic State’s raid, north of Arak.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army launched another attack on Faylaq al-Rahman-held Ain Terma, once again, the attack was backed by the Syrian Arab Air Force. SAA & allies allegedly besieged and killed a group of rebel fighters during today’s attack. Faylaq al-Rahman claimed destruction of SAA ‘s T-72 tank with an anti-tank guided missile.

Daraa:

Rebel group operating in Al-Maliha al-Gharbiya, Katibat Aswad al-Islam, officially joined Ahrar al-Sham, as confirmed by the latter’s statement.

Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid reportedly damaged rebels’ bulldozer at the outskirts of Hayt village.

Iraq

Nineveh:

Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured Al-Midan/Maydan neighborhood in the Old Mosul district from the Islamic State. IS has now been contained to Al-Qulayat area, which is being cleared by the Iraqi forces. Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, arrived in east Mosul, in preparations to deliver an official statement regarding the complete liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State.

According to Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, IS downed an Iraqi reconnaissance drone over Al-Midan neighborhood, and killed eight Iraqi troops during the clashes in the Old Mosul district, as well as, damaged a bulldozer. Amaq also released a statement claiming that the Iraqi shelling of IS-held areas in west Mosul, resulted in death of 100 people and injury of around 220, during the past two days.

Fifth day of clashes between Al-Hashd al-Shaabi and Islamic State, in and around Imam Gharbi village, reportedly resulted in death of 10 former’s fighters and destruction of five vehicles, including a Humvee.

CJTF-OIR :

On the 8th of July 2017 CJTF-OIR has conducted 18 strikes in Syria. CJTF-OIR ‘s main focus in Syria at the moment is Raqqa region where they did 12 strikes supporting SDF ‘s operations against IS destroying seven fighting positions, two vehicles, a front-end loader, an ISIS communications tower and communications equipment.

Other areas where six airstrikes occurred are Abu Kamal (Al-Bukamal) and Deir al-Zour, destroying three IS oil separator tanks, five oil tankers, two well-heads, 11 IS oil stills, three oil still tanks, and a pump jack. Full report on CJTF-OIR strikes conducted in both Syria & Iraq can be found here.

Other:

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