Hello and welcome to the 317th 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 captured two localities from 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). Free Syrian Army captured Abudane and Kurni villages in Bulbul subdistrict. At least one element of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel was killed during the battles for Kurni.

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army repelled Yekîneyên Parastina Gel’s attack on Adah Manli village in Rajo subdistrict. Six elements of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel were reported as killed in the failed attack. Yekîneyên Parastina Gel repelled Free Syrian Army’s attack on Sheikh Issa west of Marea, reportedly killing five rebels in the process.

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army captured one element of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel on Jabal Birsaya front, north of Azaz.

Situation in Bulbul subdistrict. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Hama:

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that an anti-tank guided missile destroyed a BMP and killed ten Syrian Arab Army’s elements near the village of Abu Mureij in the northeastern Hama.

Homs:

Commander of the Syrian Arab Army-affiliated Suqur al-Badiya militia, Ghadir Hafeh (Abu Yaroub) was killed along with several other elements by an improvised explosive device, which targeted their vehicle near the village of Arak, east of Palmyra. Abu Yaroub fought against the Islamic State in Deir al-Zour and Homs governorates.

Deir al-Zour:

Spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Al-Jazeera Storm (Asifat al-Jazeera) operation, Laila al-Abdullah officially announced that the Syrian Democratic Forces captured the city of Gharanij from the Islamic State in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Al-Abdullah also stated that clashes with the Islamic State continue around Al-Bahra and Hajin. However, Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that 15 Syrian Democratic Forces’ fighters were killed and wounded, as well as six captured in the Islamic State’s attack on Syrian Democratic Forces’ positions in Gharanij.

Two Islamic State’s improvised explosive devices targeted Syrian Democratic Forces’ foot patrol and killed six elements east of Al-Shaafa village, according to the Amaq Agency.

Islamic State launched a large attack against the Syrian Arab Army’s positions north and northwest of the city of Al-Bukamal (Albu Kamal). According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, Syrian Arab Army’s tank was destroyed in Al-Ramadi, while another one was damaged in Al-Salihiyah by anti-tank guided missiles.

Situation in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Source: Emmanuel

Damascus:

Free Syrian Army’s Firqat Dimashq and Ahrar al-Sham clashed with the Islamic State in Al-Salikha neighborhood and Daboul street between Yalda and Al-Tadamon in the southern Damascus. The rebel forces then launched an attack on Islamic State-held areas in Al-Tadamon neighborhood. Two elements of Ahrar al-Sham and one element of Firqat Dimashq were killed in the attack, while the Islamic State’s casualties remain unknown. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that the group repelled attack in Al-Tadamon and killed three rebel fighters.

Daraa:

Rebel Sad al-Bagha operations room repelled Islamic State-affiliated Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid’s infiltration attempt on Hayt from Tellat Yabla in the southwestern Daraa. Two elements of Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid were captured in the failed infiltration attempt. Similar Jays Khalid ibn al-Walid’s infiltration attempt on Hayt was repelled two days ago. Rebel Sad al-Bagha operations room consists of Liwa Ahfad ibn al-Walid, Jaysh al-Thawra, Firqat al-Haqq, Ahrar al-Sham, Quwa Shabab al-Sunnnah, and Firqat al-Hasm.

Iraq

Kirkuk:

Islamic State ambushed Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) and Iraqi Federal Police’s elements in the area west of Hawijah. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, four elements were killed and several wounded in the ambush, as well as five vehicles destroyed.

Afghanistan

Kunduz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) overran Afghan Local Police’s checkpoint in Zarhayr area, killing seven policemen in the process. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was killed and two wounded in the encounter.

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

Baghlan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed nine and wounded eight elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the province. Furthermore, four Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s fighting positions were also destroyed.

Kunar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Chapa Dara district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and Afghan National Police clashed in Nawa area of Sirkani district, with reports about the injury of two of the latter’s elements due to the clashes. One of the two wounded elements is Afghan National Police’s commander/officer Samiullah.

Nangarhar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan assassinated National Directorate of Security’s figure, Felder Rahimullah with an improvised explosive device, which targeted his vehicle in Doraari area of Surkh Rod district.

Islamic State assassinated an element of the National Directorate of Security in Jabhar area of the city of Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar Province.

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

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Police’s vehicle and wounded two policemen in Qalandar district.

Badghis Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran three Afghan National Army’s checkpoints in Kheyrnah area of Qadis district. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was killed in the encounter, while the Afghan National Army’s casualties remain unknown. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized two motorcycles and large quantities of ammunition from the checkpoints.

Herat Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported that Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy retreated from Ahehah area of Ghoryan district. The convoy arrived in the area seven days ago, in order to conduct the operations against the group. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the convoy was targeted by direct attacks and improvised explosive devices during its stay in the area. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan claimed that 11 elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed and 20 wounded during the seven days. Among the 11 killed elements is Afghan National Security Forces’ commander Mahmoud Khan.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s armored personnel carrier in Ghoryan district, killing two and wounding two soldiers.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted large-scale operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Pusht Rod, Khaki Safed, and Bala Buluk districts. Afghan National Security Forces reportedly killed 25 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, including six local commanders, and wounded 18 elements, as well as destroyed five vehicles and several ammunition caches.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed an element of the Afghan National Police in the 1st District of the city of Farah.

Two Afghan National Army’s elements defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Shib Koh district. The defected elements brought a Humvee, a DShK heavy machine gun, and an assault rifle to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Similarly, Afghan National Army’s element defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Pusht Rod district.

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

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 12 and wounded four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Chonaratu district. Furthermore, Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed several weapons depots and ammunition caches.

Zabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran and destroyed two Afghan National Army’s checkpoints in Arghandab district. Seven soldiers of the Afghan National Army were killed and five wounded in the encounter, while the remaining elements withdrew from the checkpoints. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an RPG launcher, three assault rifles, and large quantities of ammunition from the checkpoints.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed eight fighting positions and a VBIED in Nad Ali, Nahri Saraj, and Sangin districts.

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

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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