Hello and welcome to the 660th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham entered the remaining areas belonging to Al-Jabhat al-Wataniya lil-Tahrir (National Liberation Front) in western Aleppo, after an agreement with Harakat Nour al-Deen al-Zenki regarding the latter’s withdrawal from the area towards areas under the control of the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army in northern Aleppo. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham also captured Dayr Simeon north of Darat Izza from the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (Al-Jaysh al-Watani al-Suri (Syrian National Army)), which retreated towards Jinderes in Afrin region.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham besieged Al-Atarib in western Aleppo, which remained neutral in the recent clashes and is currently defended by local forces. According to reports, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham addressed the people of Al-Atarib several times telling them to hand over the locality, with unconfirmed reports suggesting that there are negotiations between the two regarding a peaceful handover. However, reports also suggest that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has been intensively shelling Al-Atarib since besieging it.

Approximate situation in western Aleppo. Source: Emmanuel

Idlib:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham entered Tell Manas, Al-Ghadfa, and Maasran near Maarat al-Numaan after an agreement with Al-Jabhat al-Wataniya lil-Tahrir.

Al-Qaeda affiliated Hurras al-Deen released a statement mourning the death of its prominent figure, Iyad al-Tubasi (Abu Jalibib al-Urduni), who was killed on the 29th of December 2018 in southern Syrian near the border with Jordan. Hurras al-Deen also named two other figures/commanders who were killed with Al-Tubasi; Abu Zakaria and Salman al-Tunisi.

Approximate situation in greater Idlib area. Source: Suriye Gündemi English

Hama:

Improvised explosive device wounded ten civilians in Al-Qusour district of Hama city. Two of the ten civilians were seriously wounded.

Deir al-Zour:

Syrian Democratic Forces made additional advances against the Islamic State in Al-Shafaah and now control majority of the locality. However, the Islamic State targeted a group of Syrian Democratic Forces and allied elements near Al-Shafaah. According to reports, one element of the Syrian Democratic Forces was killed and another wounded, while two individuals belonging to the British Army (probably the Special Air Service) were also wounded in the incident.

Syrian Democratic Forces’ Media Center released a report regarding today’s engagements with the Islamic State in the governorate;

Heavy clashes took place between our forces and terrorist organization’s members, in Hajin city and its surrounding area, this occurred after an attack by terrorists who used all the sorts of heavy and light weapons including Doshka. However, the attack came after fighters seized on one tunnel, used by terrorists, where many terrorists were killed inside that tunnel. Meanwhile, our fighters launched an attack on the terrorist organization’s locations, so heavy clashes occurred as a result in this axis, many terrorists were killed and wounded, further, our forces went forward and controlled many new points. Urgently, the engineering military teams worked in demining the mines that were planted by the terrorist organization in the area that they liberated. On the other side of this axis, our fighters launched another attack on the terrorist organization’s points, this caused many killed and wounded members within the terrorists, however, our fighters controlled a big amount of Ammo and weapons, this was coincided with many raids of the international airstrike on terrorists locations. The separate clashes are still continues in all the front-lines of this axis, till the moment of preparing this outcome report.. However, some of our fighters were wounded in different degrees during the clashes, where they were transferred to hospital to receive treatment. The last outcome of the clashes: The number of killed terrorists: 71 The terrorists lose: destroying terrorists’ locations: 83, destroying mortars locations: 8, destroying cars: 9, cutting military roads that were used by terrorists: 15, destroying trenches: 2, destroying motorbikes: 2, destroying fixing location of PKC:1. The international coalition airstrike shells: 129 SDF Media center

Approximate situation in eastern Deir al-Zour. Source: IWN

Daraa:

Unknown gunmen assassinated two former commanders of the Free Syrian Army; Omar al-Sharif (commander of Jaysh al-Yarmouk) and Mansour Ibrahim al-Hariri (commander of Firqat Fallujah Hawran) on a road near Kharab al-Shahm. The two commanders previously signed a reconciliation agreement with the Syrian government and joined the Syrian Arab Army.

Afghanistan

Balkh Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) seized an Afghan National Security Forces’s post in Balkh district, reportedly killing two elements in the process.

Logar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 12 and arrested one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Charkh district.

Ghazni Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted an Afghan National Army’s armored vehicle, killing two and wounding five elements in Qarabagh district.

Paktika Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed two motorcycles in Surobi district.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed five and wounded nine elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Arghandab district.

Helmand Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed three and wounded two elements of the Afghan National Police in Yakchal area of Jerashk district.

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

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed seven and wounded eight elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed a vehicle and a motorcycle in Khakrez and Maywand districts.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Al-Emarah News stated that the group overran an Afghan National Security Forces’ military base in Khozobi area of Spin Boldak district. According to Al-Emarah News, 15 elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed, as well as an armored personnel carrier and two vehicles destroyed in the encounter. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized five assault rifles, two PK machine guns, two RPG launchers, and a DShK heavy machine gun from the base.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers reportedly killed 12 elements of the Afghan National Security Forces in Jogram, Khaki Chopan, and Baibanak areas of Maywand district.

CJTF-OIR :

CJTF-OIR announced a change in their publishing policy. Now one strike report will be published each week on Mondays.

Amaq Agency:

Other:

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