Hello and welcome to the 434th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

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Aleppo:

Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device exploded in a market area at one of the entrances to the city of Al-Bab. Reports suggest that four civilians were wounded by the explosion.

Raqqa:

Syrian Democratic Forces conducted a special operation against the Islamic State’s elements, who were still hiding in the governorate. Syrian Democratic Forces captured several elements in the operation, including prominent figure of the group Adrian Lionel Kayali (Abu Osama al-Fransi) and his wife. Syrian Democratic Forces’ Press Office released a statement regarding the operation:

After conducting investigations and follow-up, special units of the Military Intelligence، that belong to Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF) carried out a special operation on Saturday, 19 May 2018, led to arressting a group of ISIS terrorrists that was headed by Adrian Lionel Kayali whose nickname is Abu Osama, he has been arrested with his wife. The trrorrist Abu Osama is considered one of the most dangerous terrorrists in ISIS ranks and had a role in launching the terrorrist attacks that hit paris in November 2015, and also took apart in the attacks that hit Niece city in 14 July, 2016 . Adrian Kayali / Abu Osama is from French origin, was born in 1983, and converted to Musilim reliegen in 2003, and was influnced by jihdist idologey, he was arrested in France in 2010 on charges of belonging to terrorist organizations and later was released, then he joined ISIS ranks and crossed to Syria on th 6 of March, 2015 through Tel Ebyad border gate which was considered the official border between Turkey and ISIS. After the terrorists had lost many cities including Reqqeh province where Abu ossama was hidden there looking for a way to escape into Turkey, then Europ, our forces was able to arrest him.

Idlib:

Syrian Salvation Government, which operates in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-held areas, asked civilians to register their vehicles in the ‘Directorate of Transport’, so that it is possible to control and find out the license plates. Syrian Salvation Government’s “suggestion” comes as a response to the recent waves of assassinations, kidnappings, and improvised explosive device attacks in the governorate. The government also called on preachers in mosques to guide and encourage civilians to register their vehicles.

Jabhat Tahrir Suriya clashed with an Islamic State’s sleeper cell in Kafr Najd village, as the latter was caught planting improvised explosive devices in the area by the former’s elements. Two elements of the Islamic State’s cell were killed, while two elements of Jabhat Tahrir Suriya were wounded in the clashes. After this incident, Jabhat Tahrir Suriya reinforced its checkpoints in the city of Ariha.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham released media activist / reporter Ahmad al-Akhras, who was arrested along with Rami al-Raslan by the group on the 29th of April in the city of Darkush, on the charges of filming in an area without permission from the security forces. Al-Raslan who was arrested with Al-Akhras was released a day after being arrested.

Hama:

Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Izza and the Syrian Arab Army clashed on Al-Lataminah front, with both sides reporting that they repelled the other side’s infiltration attempt on the front. Two elements of the Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Izza were killed and six wounded in the clashes, while the Syrian Arab Army’s casualties are unknown.

Homs:

Unknown missiles, reportedly launched by the Israeli Air Force targeted a military airport in the governorate. Syrian Arab News Agency stated that explosions were heard in the vicinity of Al-Dhaba airport. The agency also stated that the Syrian air defense intercepted the missiles.

Daraa:

Improvised explosive device targeted a vehicle of Jamal al-Labad, member of the Al-Sanamayn’s reconciliation committee. Al-Labad and two other individuals were wounded in the incident. Reports suggest that Al-Labad will be transferred to a hospital in Damascus for treatment. Similar incident occurred on the 3rd of May, when an improvised explosive device targeted a market near Al-Barid checkpoint in the city of Al-Sanamayn, killing one and wounding eight civilians, including Al-Labad.

Situation in Daraa governorate. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) conducted coordinated attacks against the Afghan National Security Forces’ positions in Tapa Qashlaq, Dasht Buz, Chyan and Chaqti areas of Juma Bazar district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Al-Emarah News stated that the group overran two military bases and ten checkpoints, as well as destroyed three armored vehicles, killed three and wounded three soldiers. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an armored vehicle, a PK machine gun, an RPG launcher, two assault rifles, and large quantities of ammunition from the overran bases and checkpoints.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran a key Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Gorzad area of Shirin Tagab district. Four elements of the Afghan National Army were killed and five wounded in the encounter. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized three armored vehicles, a field artillery, a DShK heavy machine gun, five RPG launchers, six PK machine guns, and six assault rifles from the checkpoint.

Afghan National Security Forces reportedly withdrew from a military base and two checkpoints in Islam Kala area of Shirin Tagab. After the withdrawal, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured the base and two checkpoints, as well as a large surrounding area.

Several Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive devices destroyed four Afghan National Army’s armored vehicles in Koh Sayyad area of Shirin Tagab district.

Kunduz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan killed one and wounded one element of the ‘National Directorate of Security’ in Imam Sahib district.

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

Sar-e Pol Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran an Afghan National Army’s post in Sozma Kala district, killing at least two soldiers in the process.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed an element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khogyani district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed an Afghan National Police’s vehicle in Surkh Rod district. Four elements of the Afghan National Police were killed in the explosion.

Seven elements of the Afghan National Army surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with their weapons in Khogyani, Ghani Khel, Spin Ghar, and Hisarak districts.

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

Maidan Wardak Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran an Afghan National Army’s post in Saydabad district. Eight elements of the Afghan National Army were reportedly killed in the encounter. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized three heavy machine guns and large quantities of ammunition from the post.

Ghor Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six and wounded four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Chahar Sada district.

Residents of Baidak Malmi, Bagh Malmi, Ashlan and Taghman villages in Chahar Sada district pledged their allegiance to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The aforementioned villages contain more than 400 families.

Ghazni Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Al-Emarah News stated that the group seized five Afghan National Army’s posts in Gelan and Deh Yak districts, killing 14 and wounding seven soldiers in the process. According to the Al-Emarah, the areas captured by the group contain more than 7000 houses. However, Afghan Ministry of Defense stated that the Afghan National Security Forces killed 42 and wounded 31 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as seized an RPG launcher and seven improvised explosive devices in Gelan, Qarabagh, and Ghazni districts.

Paktika Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an Afghan Local Police’s post in Jani Khel district, killing four and wounding three policemen in the process.

Afghan National Police’s element surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with his weapon in Sharana district.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces continued cleaning operations in Bala Buluk district against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Afghan National Security Forces killed seven elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, including commander Mullah Mohammed, as well as wounded three elements, including commander Mawlavi Sayed Ahmed.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s shelling of Farah airbase reportedly destroyed a helicopter.

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

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed seven and wounded two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Chora district.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Arghandab district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Jerashk district.

NATO-led Operation Resolute Support targeted an important Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s meeting in Musa Qala district. Resolute Support released a press release regarding the event:

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Task Force-Southwest, under U.S. Forces-Afghanistan authorities, confirmed a ground-based rocket artillery strike using the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, against a command and control node for high-level Taliban leaders in Musa Qala district, May 24. The structure was a known meeting location for prominent Taliban leaders, where they planned and facilitated attacks against Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, who are supporting election security in the area.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed and wounded seven elements of the Afghan National Security Forces in Nad Ali and Nawa-I-Barakzayi districts.

Approximate situation in Helmand 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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