Hello and welcome to the 292nd installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

New military group, Khafafish al-Layl (Night Bats) appeared in TFSA -held northern Aleppo, with a “mission” to hunt Islamic State’s elements in the region that were involved in attacks against civilians and Free Syrian Army. Khafafish al-Layl already conducted the first operation against the Islamic State’s elements in Al-Bab, killing four elements of the group who were involved in killing of civilians. Three out of four killed IS’ elements were identified as; Makarim Faisal al-Jajan, Tariq Jamil Assayyan, and Hussein Omar al-Jaiz. The group threw bodies of the killed elements behind a garage in the city of Al-Bab.

Idlib:

Syrian Arab Army captured Al-Khuwayn al-Kabir from the rebel factions in the southern Idlib. Syrian Arab Army captured the locality twice today, as the rebels were able to recapture it, before Syrian Arab Army captured it again.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s element was killed as he was dismantling improvised explosive devices on the road in Kafr Lusin.

Approximate situation in the greater Idlib area, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Rr016

Deir al-Zour:

Syrian Democratic Forces captured Al-Marsam Gharbi and Subhiya villages from the Islamic State in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Syrian Democratic Forces reportedly killed 15 fighters of the Islamic State and destroyed an SVBIED and two vehicles, during the clashes for Subhiya village.

Islamic State conducted an SVBIED attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces’ gathering northeast of Al-Bahra. The SVBIED operation was conducted by an Islamic State’s fighter from Germany, Abu Ammar al-Almani. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency claimed that the SVBIED killed around 50 elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

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

Damascus:

Ahrar al-Sham captured Al-Hadayiq neighborhood and Al-Basher hospital in Harasta from the Syrian Arab Army, tightening the siege of the latter-held areas of ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ and Technical Institute. Syrian Arab Army reportedly tried to open negotiations with Ahrar al-Sham regarding the evacuation of SAA ‘s elements from the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ under the supervision of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. However, reports emerged about SAA breaking siege and reestablishing contact with the besieged units. Syrian Arab Army’s commander of the Al-Joulan artillery regiment in the 4th Armoured Division, Captain Saleh Hassan was killed in the clashes with Ahrar al-Sham on Harasta front.

Faylaq al-Rahman reportedly joined the battle for the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ in Harasta, by attacking Syrian Arab Army from Arbeen. Faylaq al-Rahman allegedly made advances spanning a kilometer (half a mile) towards the base, also allegedly killing and capturing several SAA ‘s elements. However, reports emerged denying Faylaq al-Rahman’s participation in the battles for the base in Harasta. Reports are based on the strained relationship between Faylaq al-Rahman and Ahrar al-Sham, as the former currently imprisons dozens of latter’s fighters.

Approximate situation in Harasta, depicting Ahrar al-Sham’s siege on SAA -held parts of ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ and Technical Institute. Source: Nors For Studies

Daraa:

Free Syrian Army and IS-linked Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid clashed on Saham al-Jawlan axis in the southwestern Daraa.

Two Free Syrian Army’s factions, Firqat Ahrar Nawa and Firqat al-Shahid Jamil Abu al-Zein, released a statement giving fighters of the IS-linked Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid amnesty till the end of January. The statement said that the amnesty applies only to the members of the group that didn’t commit murder. The factions pledged to preserve the safety of the fighters that surrender, their families and their property. The factions also pledged not to hand over the fighters to any local or international body, if proven that they didn’t participate in killings and looting. The statement ends by saying that the two factions seek to work to reintegrate Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid fighters into society and return them to normal life, by giving them training courses with experienced specialists.

Iraq

Diyala:

Islamic State’s sniper killed an element of the Iraqi Federal Police in Zaghniyeh al-Kabira area of Al-Waqf asin, northeast of Baqubah, according to the Amaq Agency.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) launched a large attack against the Afghan National Security Forces in Lawlash district during the night. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured Qazat, Sanjatak, and Lashi areas, as well as a key checkpoint in the aforementioned district. Three elements of the ANSF were wounded in the clashes, while the remaining elements withdrew from the areas.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Security Forces’ vehicle in Daish area of Andkhoy district, causing casualties among the elements on board.

Afghan National Army’s element defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Gandab area of Chilgazy district. The defected element handed over an assault rifle, a radio, and binoculars to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Balkh Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested seven individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Chimtal district. Furthermore, ANSF destroyed a vehicle, two motorcycles and several weapons depots and ammunition caches in the district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Police’s elements in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of Balkh province. The explosion killed and wounded four elements of the national police.

Takhar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured Afghan Local Police’s checkpoint in Yangi Qala district, killing one and capturing another element of the local police. Furthermore, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized a vehicle and five motorcycles from the checkpoint. One fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was wounded in the clashes.

Kapisa Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed a fighter of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed a motorcycle in Alasay district.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded another fighter of the Islamic State in Achin district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s elements in Bihsud district, killing one and wounding three policemen.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded six fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Zana Khan district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed a group of Afghan National Army’s soldiers in Shalgar district. The ambush resulted in killing of three soldiers. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized two assault rifles.

Paktika Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s tank, killing three and wounding two fighters on a road in Wor Mamay district.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Shamagah area of Farah city, killing three and wounding two elements of the national police. One of the two wounded elements is commander Nour Muhammad.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Karwangah area of Farah district, killing three soldiers.

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khas Urozgan district, killing ten and wounding eight fighters of the group, as well as destroying a vehicle, five motorcycles and several weapons depots and ammunition caches.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in the vicinity of Haji Shafea area of Khas Urozgan district. Five elements of the Afghan National Police were killed and wounded and an armored personnel carrier destroyed during the clashes for the checkpoint.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Force killed three and wounded one fighter of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Daychopan district.

Several Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive devices targeted Afghan National Security Forces’ reinforcements coming from Kandahar province to Ab Cheniy Killi area of Zabul’s Atghar district. The explosions destroyed ANSF ‘s armored personnel carrier and another vehicle, as well as caused several casualties.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed three soldiers of the Afghan National Army in Salim Agha area of Mizan district and in Shinkay district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded another fighter of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Marjah district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed four elements of the Afghan National Police in Gaimak Ghondi, Shamalani Ghondi, and Rod Pul areas of Garmsir district.

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed a motorcycle in Maruf 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:

Other:

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