Hello and welcome to the 295th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Left over Islamic State’s improvised explosive device killed one and wounded three children close to Al-Rai roundabout in the city of Al-Bab. The wounded individuals were transferred to Turkish hospitals for treatment.

Idlib:

Syrian Arab Army captured Rajm al-Mushraf, Mushrifat Khanazir, and Umm Sahrij from the rebel factions in the southern Idlib.

Approximate situation in the southern Idlib – northern Hama region. HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Qasioun News Agency

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery shelled Arbeen and Ain Terma, while the Russian Air Force targeted Harasta, Arbeen, and Madyara in the East Ghouta. One civilian was reportedly killed and five wounded by the shelling and air raids over Arbeen. Similarly, a civilian was reportedly killed and 10 wounded by the air raids over Harasta.

Ahrar al-Sham-led offensive in Harasta released a video statement for the Syrian Republican Guard and Syrian Arab Army’s elements currently besieged in the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ and Technical Institute in Harasta. The video statement offered besieged elements the last chance to surrender and be exchanged in the future for the prisoners held by the Syrian Arab Army. If the besieged elements refused the offer, the video statement threatened to kill all of them. The video statement was also read by an imam in a mosque in Harasta.

Two Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s figures, Abu Muhammad bin Laden and Abu Omar were reportedly killed by the Syrian Arab Army in Harasta. Similarly, Ahrar al-Sham killed Syrian Republican Guard’s commander of the 402nd Battalion, Brigadier General Ibrahim Yunus in Harasta.

Jaysh al-Islam recaptured four points in and around Al-Nashabiyah, which Syrian Arab Army captured on the 30th of December. Jaysh al-Islam’s spokesman Hamza Birqdar stated that Jaysh al-Islam repelled Syrian Arab Army’s attacks on Hazrama, Al-Zariqiyah, Al-Nashabiyah, Al-Bilaliyah and Beit Naim fronts. According to Birqdar, 40 Syrian Arab Army’s elements were killed and two T-72 tanks destroyed during the clashes which lasted for four days.

Islamic State’s sniper killed an element of the Syrian Arab Army in Al-Tadamon neighborhood in the southern Damascus, according to the Amaq Agency.

Quneitra:

Rebel “Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office” reported death of a Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s fighter, due to wounds sustained in clashes with the Syrian Arab Army around Hader.

Iraq

Baghdad:

Iraqi Security Forces conducted operations in Al-Halabsa and Al-Khairat areas, west of Baghdad. Security Forces found and dismantled several improvised explosive devices.

Iraqi Security Forces arrested two elements of a radical sleeper cell in Abu Ghraib area, west of Baghdad.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) launched attacks on Afghan National Security Forces’ positions in Mala Aarefi and Kolani areas of Kohistan district. One element of the ANSF was killed and five wounded in the clashes, while one element of the IEA was killed and another wounded.

Balkh Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested five individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Chimtal district.

Kunduz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy in the province, destroying a tank and another vehicle with RPGs. Two ANSF ‘s elements were also killed in the ambush.

Kabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in the city of Kabul, killing five soldiers.

Laghman Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, including two commanders in the province. Furthermore, five individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were arrested.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted large-scale operations against the Islamic State in Achin district, killing 23 fighters of the group and destroying a vehicle, as well as a weapons depot.

Six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were killed by the Afghan National Security Forces in Bati Kot district. One of the killed IEA elements was identified as Khan Muhammad Zakhami, local IEA commander.

Logar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan targeted Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in the city of Pol-e Alam, capital of Logar Province, killing two soldiers. Similarly, two elements of the Afghan National Army were killed in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s ambush in the city of Pol-e Alam.

Paktia Province:

Two elements of the Afghan Local Police were killed in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s ambush in Zurmat district.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s tank in Nadir Shah Kot district.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested a wounded Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s fighter in Andar district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan clashed with the Afghan National Security Forces in Shalgar district. The clashes reportedly resulted in destruction of two ANSF ‘s tanks and killing of six elements.

Paktika Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed elements of the Afghan National Police in Janikhel district, killing two policemen. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized two assault rifles from the killed elements.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces reportedly withdrew from a checkpoint in Mala Aman Kala Ghondi area of Pusht Rod district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan claimed that the withdrawal occurred due to the fear of the group’s attack.

Nimruz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s armored personnel carrier in Kandaharyano area of Delaram district. Similarly, another IEA improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s pickup in the same area.

Helmand Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stated that Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy retreated from Marjah district. The convoy reportedly arrived 11 days ago from Lashkar Gah and Nad Ali to Marjah in order to assist in the operations. According to the IEA , the convoy retreated due to heavy loses, as the group claimed that IEA attacks, sniper attacks and improvised explosive devices destroyed 11 armored personnel carriers and a truck, as well as wounded 33 and killed 72 elements of ANSF , including five commanders; Asad Popal, Esmatullah Barakzaiy, Abdul Rehman, Bahadur Khan and another commander of the 4th Corps. IEA also stated their own casualties from the clashes, which are 16 killed and 13 wounded elements.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reportedly ambushed the aforementioned retreating Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy in Marjeh district, destroying two vehicles and killing and wounding six elements.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed two elements of the Afghan National Security Forces in Safar area of Garmsir district.

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces destroyed Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s vehicle in Shah Wali Kot district.

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:

Egypt:

Islamic State’s improvised explosive device reportedly killed several elements of the Egyptian Army, including a captain, and wounded additional number of elements in Sabika area, western Al-Arish.

Other:

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