Hello and welcome to the 294th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Raqqa:

Syrian Democratic Forces’ Raqqa Internal Security Forces released 26 elements of the Islamic State, who were detained in the city of Raqqa. According to the Raqqa’s civil council, the elements were released on the occasion of the new year and after it was confirmed that they did not commit killings or other crimes during their association with the Islamic State. The released elements were detained for three months.

Idlib:

Syrian Arab Army reportedly captured Al-Zarzour, Rasm Sham al-Hawa, Niha, Duraybiah, Mushayrifat Khinzir, Qulayat al-Tuwaybah and Umm al-Khalakhil villages from the rebel factions in the southern Idlib. Commander in the Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Izza, Ayoub Sweileh was killed in the clashes with the Syrian Arab Army.

Commander of the Faylaq al-Sham’s Liwa al-Mujahideen, Alaa Najjar was killed by an improvised explosive device, which was planted in his car by unknown individuals, in the city of Al-Dana.

Approximate situation in the southern Idlib – northern Hama region. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Hama:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Ibaa News Agency reported destruction of a Syrian Arab Army’s T-72 tank with a Fagot anti-tank guided missile on Al-Rayhan front in the eastern Hama.

Deir al-Zour:

Syrian Democratic Forces fully captured Abu Hammam from the Islamic State in the eastern Deir al-Zour governorate. Leader of the SDF ‘s Deir al-Zour Military Council, Ahmed al-Khubail announced the capture of Abu Hammam and stated that 400 elements of the Islamic State were killed during the clashes in Abu Hammam, which lasted for a month. Al-Khubail also stated that the operations were slowed due to the bad weather and civilian presence in the locality.

Syrian Democratic Forces also captured the villages of Abu Hardub and Al-Nabaei from the Islamic State, killing 17 IS’ fighters during the clashes in the two localities.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported destruction of Syrian Arab Army’s 14.5 heavy machine gun with an anti-tank guided missile in Al-Abbas village.

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

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery shelled Ain Terma, Harasta and Douma, while the Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Harasta, Madyara, Arbeen and Ain Terma in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), four civilians were killed by air raids over Harasta. Media reporter and correspondent for the Orient News in the East Ghouta, Yaman al-Sayed was wounded by the air raid over Arbeen.

Rebel shelling of Harasta reportedly killed one and wounded two civilians. Similarly, a civilian was hit by a mortar shell in Al-Terba neighborhood of Jaramana.

Syrian Arab Army and Syrian Republican Guard continued to clash with Ahrar al-Sham in Harasta, mainly around the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’. Ahrar al-Sham reportedly captured a garage in Harasta, located between the rebel and SAA territory. Syrian Arab Army’s Brigadier General Habib Mehrez Younes was killed in the clashes with Ahrar al-Sham in Harasta.

Rebel factions in Beit Jinn pocket withdrew from Al-Talawul al-Humur area and handed it over to the Syrian Arab Army, as a part of the evacuation agreement between the two sides. However, rebels are still present in and around Sheikh Abdullah shrine.

Approximate situation in Harasta. Source: Toran Center

Daraa:

Two Free Syrian Army’s factions, Liwa Shuhada Inkhil and Al-Wiyat Mujahidi Hawran that clashed in the city of Simlin yesterday reached an agreement. The agreement was mediated by the House of Justice in Houran and several other factions. After the agreement was reached, Liwa Shuhada Inkhil withdrew from Simlin and returned to their headquarters.

Iraq

Salah al-Deen:

Islamic State’s improvised explosive device destroyed Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) vehicle carrying elements in the city of Samarra. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, three elements of Al-Hashd al-Shaabi were killed and another two wounded by the explosion.

Baghdad:

Iraqi Security Forces conducted operations in Ewdat al-Shukr area, south of Baghdad. Security Forces found 15 improvised explosive devices, a GRAD missile, 40 artillery shells, and three damaged Islamic State’s mortars. Iraqi Security Forces also found a women’s bag in Al-Siha district, containing four trinitrotoluene (TNT) “molds” and eight lighters and detonators. Furthermore, several wanted individuals were arrested during the operations.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) in Kohistan district, killing four, wounding two and arresting three fighters of the group. Furthermore, an ammunition cache was destroyed in the operations.

Kunduz Province:

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

Kapisa Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six and wounded two fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Nijrab district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also released their casualty numbers for the clashes in Nijrab district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, six elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed, eight wounded and two tanks destroyed.

Nangarhar Province:

NATO-led Operation Resolute Support released a press release announcing the death of a U.S. service member and injury of additional four, due to a combat engagement in Achin district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Police’s vehicle in the city of Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar Province. The explosion reportedly killed three and wounded two policemen.

Maidan Wardak Province:

Three soldiers of the Afghan National Army and an element of the Afghan Local Police surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with their weapons in Chaki Wardak district.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Tirazayi district, killing five soldiers, including a commander. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle carrying elements in the city of Khost, killing two and wounding three soldiers.

Herat Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Dah Gul area of Obe district, killing two and wounding one soldier.

Ghazni Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced killing of more than 38 elements of the Afghan National Security Forces and destruction of three tanks, during the clashes in Qarabagh district, which lasted for a couple of days.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted one of the tanks in the Afghan National Army’ convoy in Qarabagh district, killing five soldiers.

Paktika Province:

Afghan National Security Forces destroyed 60 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive devices in Sar Hawza district.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 13 and wounded six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Farah district. Furthermore, two vehicles, eight motorcycles and two weapons depots were destroyed.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy in Pusht Rod district, destroying one and damaging another tank. Four elements of the ANSF were killed in the ambush, including the Afghan National Police’s chief/commander Muhammad Ibrahim.

Afghan National Security Forces allegedly withdrew from a checkpoint in Tapi area of Pusht Rod district.

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed two vehicles, a weapons depot and an ammunition cache in the center of the province.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s pickup in Sari area of Chora district, killing two and wounding two soldiers.

Zabul Province:

Two Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive devices destroyed two Afghan National Army’s armored personnel carriers in Makarmak area of Mizan district and in Shah Joy district. The explosions killed at least four soldiers. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan destroyed Afghan National Army’s pickup with an RPG in Hazar Khelo area of Arghandab district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the province, killing eight and arresting four fighters of the group. Furthermore, ANSF destroyed four motorcycles and an ammunition cache, as well as seized 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of drugs.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s armored personnel carrier in Sarband area of Jerash district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed eight and wounded two elements of the Afghan National Army across the Helmand province. The incidents took place in Gaimak Ghondi and Rod Pul areas of Garmsir district and in Haji Haidar area of Marjah district.

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two and wounded one fighter of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the province.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed an alleged spy of the Afghan National Police Abdul Raziq and a member of the district council of Spin Boldak, Malak Haji in Nawi Kili area of Spin Boldak district. Both individuals were killed in the ambush.

Afghan National Army’s soldier defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 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:

Nigeria:

Islamic State launched an attack on the Nigerian Army’s barracks in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, nine soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed in the attack.

Other:

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