Hello and welcome to the 304th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Syrian Arab Army captured over a dozen of localities from the rebel forces in Jabal al-Hoss region, south of Al-Safira. Some of the localities that the Syrian Arab Army captured are; Umm Ankush, Al-Salihiya, Burj Hussain Dahr, Tell Sawmeah, Jubb Atnash Fawqani, Jubb Atnash Tahtani, Suhur, Al-Hardana, Al-Asadiya, Rasm al-Amish, Huwayr al-Hoss, Al-Banawi, Jubb al-Amaa, Al-Amiriyah, Abu Julus, Burj al-Samaa, Tell Anbar, Abu Abdah.

Turkish Armed Forces’ convoy came under attack today when artillery shells targeted the vicinity of it in Hayan, northwest of Aleppo. According to the reports, shelling came from Ratyan, which is under the control of the Syrian Arab Army. One Turkish soldier was reportedly wounded by the shelling.

Several commanders of the Free Syrian Army fled from the TFSA -held areas towards SDF -held Manbij, in order to assist the latter in its fight against the Islamic State in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Two of the defected commanders were identified as; Issam al-Dabbab (Abu al-Haytham), former commander of Jaysh Mutah and Abu Shaq al-Ahwaz, commander of Liwa al-Ahwaz, part of the Free Syrian Army. Both commanders reportedly participated in Turkey-led Euphrates Shield operation against the Islamic State in northern Aleppo. Spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Military Council of Manbij and its countryside, Sharfan Darwish confirmed that several elements of the Free Syrian Army arrived in the city of Manbij.

Demonstrations were held in front of the national hospital in Manbij, after two civilians from the Arab Popna tribe were found dead in the village of Qabr Imo, east of Manbij. Popna tribe accused Syrian Democratic Forces of torturing and killing the two civilians. The tribe ordered a general strike on the 14th of January against the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Approximate situation south of Al-Safira. Source: Salaar Ali

Raqqa:

Unknown gunmen wounded head of the Raqqa’s reconstruction committee and former deputy chairman of Raqqa’s civil council, Ibrahim al-Hassan in his house in Hamam al-Turkman village, north of Raqqa. Al-Hassan was shot four times in the back and transferred to a hospital in Tell Abyad. Due to the seriousness of his injury, Al-Hassan was transferred from a hospital in Tell Abyad to a hospital in Manbij.

Idlib:

Yesterday’s report about the Syrian Arab Army recapturing all of the localities that rebels captured in the southern Idlib was false, as the rebels managed to keep control of Al-Zarzour, Umm al-Khalakhil, and Mushayrifah Shamaliyah. However, the three aforementioned localities were recaptured by the Syrian Arab Army today from the rebel factions.

Syrian Arab Army captured Hamidiyat, Hamidiyat Shadad, and Aljakia from the rebel factions at the outskirts of Abu al-Duhur airbase.

Rebel factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reportedly launched a counterattack against the Syrian Arab Army in the southern Idlib. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham conducted at least two SVBIED attacks against the Syrian Arab Army, without information about the casualties nor impacts from them, while the pro- SAA sources reported that both SVBIED s were destroyed before reaching Syrian Arab Army’s positions. Reports suggest that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led rebel factions captured Al-Khuraybah and Rubayah from the Syrian Arab Army in the vicinity of Abu al-Duhur airbase. However, these reports were denied by pro- SAA sources which stated that the rebel attack was repelled. The two aforementioned villages should be considered as disputed for now.

Commander of the Syrian Arab Army’s 5th Corps, Colonel Izzedine Yaghi (Abu Shuaib) was killed in the clashes with the rebel factions in the southern Idlib. Yaghi was the commander of the 5th Corps’ Katibat al-Radad.

Islamic State killed an element of the Syrian Arab Army and captured another element, as well as a vehicle in the vicinity of Abu al-Duhur airbase

Approximate situation in southern Idlib – northern Hama region. Source: Emmanuel

Hama:

Syrian Arab Army’s commander in the Air Force Intelligence Directorate and the Northern Region Branch, Colonel Wissam Jahjan was killed in the clashes with the rebel forces on Maan front in the northern Hama.

Deir al-Zour:

Syrian Democratic Forces captured half of the city of Gharanij from the Islamic State in the eastern Deir al-Zour. This information was reported by the spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Al-Jazeera Storm (Asifat al-Jazeera) operation, Laila al-Abdullah. Al-Abdullah also stated that Syrian Democratic Forces are around three kilometers (two miles) from the city of Hajin, as the clashes continue with the Islamic State.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported suicide attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces’ operations room in the city of Gharanij. According to the Amaq Agency, 20 elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces were killed in the suicide attack, as well as six vehicles destroyed. Separately, Islamic State’s Amaq Agency claimed that Islamic State’s snipers killed five elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the city of Gharanij.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that the Islamic State killed six and wounded several elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces, with an anti-tank guided missile at the outskirts of Al-Bahra village, northwest of Hajin.

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

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Beit Sawa, Douma, Awtaya, Saqba, Arbeen, Harasta, Madyara, Hazeh, and Kafr Batna in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), a civilian was killed due to the shelling of Beit Sawa, while one civilian was wounded by the shelling in Awtaya.

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Al-Qaimiriyah neighborhood of the city of Damascus, wounding three civilians and causing material damage in the neighborhood.

Syrian Arab Army captured a garage in the city of Harasta, after clashing with Ahrar al-Sham-led rebels in the locality.

Faylaq al-Rahman’s spokesman Wael Alwan stated that the group ambushed 30 elements of the Syrian Republican Guard, as they tried to infiltrate Arbeen, in order to lift the siege of the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ in Harasta. According to Alwan, 15 elements of the Syrian Republican Guard were killed in the ambush and six bodies are in the possession of Faylaq al-Rahman. Alwan also stated that Faylaq al-Rahman didn’t suffer any casualties in the encounter.

Islamic State launched an attack against Jaysh al-Islam in Al-Zayn neighborhood, located south of Damascus between Yalda and Al-Hajar al-Aswad. Islamic State’s attack started with a VBIED , allowing IS to capture seven buildings in the neighborhood. However, Jaysh al-Islam recaptured five of the seven captured buildings, as the clashes still continue in the neighborhood. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, five elements of Jaysh al-Islam were killed and 15 wounded in the clashes. Jaysh al-Islam is being assisted in the clashes by Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Ababil, Liwa Sham al-Rasul, and Firqat Dimashq.

Al-Suweida:

Last night, unknown gunmen opened fire at civilians near the Agricultural Institute in the city of Al-Suweida, killing two and wounding five civilians.

Iraq

Kirkuk:

Islamic State assassinated two elements of the Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) near Al-Abbasi west of Al-Hawijah, according to the Amaq Agency.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted large-scale operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) in Dawlat Abad and Pashtun Kot districts, killing 31 elements of the group, including three commanders. Furthermore, 26 vehicles were also destroyed in the operations.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan Local Police’s checkpoint in Karez area of Chilhazy district, killing four elements in the process, including a commander. Two elements of the local police were also wounded in the encounter, while the remaining elements were forced to withdraw from the checkpoint. Two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were also wounded. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an RPG launcher and two assault rifles from the checkpoint.

Jowzjan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and seized several weapons depots and ammunition caches in Shortepa and Qarqin districts.

Balkh Province:

Afghan National Army and Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan clashed for five hours in Shortepa district. Report suggest that five soldiers of the Afghan National Army were killed and six wounded, as well as a tank destroyed in the clashes. Two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were killed in the encounter.

Afghan Local Police’s element was wounded when the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided a checkpoint in Cahi district.

Kapisa Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device killed two and wounded one element of the Afghan National Security Forces in Tagab district.

Kabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Surobi district, killing and wounding four soldiers.

Laghman Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Haidar Ghar mountain area.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted large-scale operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Achin and Khogyani districts, killing 32 elements of the group and arresting 14 individuals suspected of belonging to the group. Furthermore, three Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s bases and a VBIED were destroyed during the operations.

Three elements of the Afghan Local Police were killed in the clashes with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Surkh Rod district.

Islamic State assassinated a commander of the Afghan Local Police and two elements of the police in Sheikh Misri 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

Logar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan clashed with the Afghan National Security Forces at the outskirts of Pol-e Alam city, capital of Logar Province, after the former ambushed latter’s convoy. Five elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed and seven wounded, as well as two tanks destroyed with RPGs during the clashes between the two sides.

Paktia Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in the city of Gardez, capital of the Paktia Province. Two Afghan National Army’s tanks were destroyed and three soldiers killed in the raid, according to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Afghan National Army’s soldier defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with his weapon in Zurmat district.

Herat Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy in Rodi Gaz area of Adraskan district, destroying a tank, killing three and wounding two elements of the Afghan National Security Forces. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was also killed. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy in Tangi area of Kushki Kuhna district. The ambush killed two and wounded three elements of the Afghan National Security Forces.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed two vehicles in Andar and Qarabagh districts.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s tank in Qarabagh district, killing two soldiers.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s element, who infiltrated Afghan National Police’s ranks, overran the police’s checkpoint in Chagab area of Farah district. The infiltrator killed six policemen before seizing a vehicle, two PK machine guns, an RPG launcher, and four assault rifles. After seizing the equipment, the infiltrator joined nearby Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s elements.

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

Zabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured two elements of the Afghan Local Police in Shah Joy district. The captured elements arrived in the district as reinforcements. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was wounded in the attempts to capture the two elements.

Nimruz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Army in the vicinity of Delaram district’s Bazar area.

Helmand Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Kochyano area of Nad Ali district. Nine elements of the Afghan National Police were killed in the clashes, while the remaining elements were forced to retreat from the checkpoint. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized a PK machine gun, two assault rifles, and an RPG launcher from the checkpoint.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan launched attacks on Afghan National Army’s checkpoints in Band Barq and Sar Band areas of Nahri Saraj district. Five soldiers of the Afghan National Army were killed, two wounded and an armored personnel carrier destroyed in the attacks. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was wounded in the encounter.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers targeted Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Qari Posti area of Nad Ali district, killing four policemen. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed three and wounded one element of the Afghan National Police in Zaqum Charrari area of Marjah district.

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

CJTF-OIR :

Between the 5th and the 11th of January 2018 CJTF-OIR has conducted 87 strikes in Syria. CJTF-OIR ‘s main focus in Syria at the moment is Deir al-Zour-Albu Kamal region where they did 87 strikes supporting SDF ‘s operations against IS destroying ten fighting positions, four IS supply routes, two VBIEDs, an IS observation post, three IS headquarters, six logistics centers, five IS command and control centers, two VBIED factories, 13 IS vehicles, an IS line of communication, two indirect fire weapons, and a recoilless rifle.

Full report on CJTF-OIR strikes conducted in both Syria & Iraq can be found here.

Amaq Agency:

Other:

Intellectual credited property used may vary from an edition to edition.

Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below, constructive criticism is welcomed.

Syrian War Daily is looking for individuals willing to contribute to the project. If you are interested in contributing, please fill out the form on this page.

For those of you interested, you can follow us on an official Twitter account @SyrianWarDaily, or me personally on my biased twitter @joskobaric where I occasionally tweet some things.