Hello and welcome to the 332nd installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish Air and Land Forces captured seven localities from the Syrian Democratic Forces’ YPG in Afrin region, as a part of the operation ‘Olive Branch’ (AR: Ghasin al-Zaytun, TR: Zeytin Dalı). Free Syrian Army reportedly captured Nasiriya, Dokan, Ashkan Gharbi, Tellat Nasiriya, Juqla Fawqani, and Juqla Tahtani in Jindires subdistrict, as well as Sheikh Khalil village in Rajo subdistrict.

Approximate situation in Afrin region. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Idlib:

Islamic State travelled through the Syrian Arab Army-held areas from the northeastern Hama to the southeastern Idlib and engaged the rebel forces. According to the reports, Islamic State captured Umm al-Khalakhil, Luwaybidah, and Mushayrifah from the rebels.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Ibaa News Agency reported that the group repelled Syrian Arab Army’s attack on Tellat al-Syriatel on Tell Kalbah front in the eastern Idlib. The agency also stated that a tank was destroyed in the encounter.

Rebel operations room Dahar al-Ghaza arrested two individuals associated with the Islamic State at the outskirts of Al-Tamanah. The individuals were arrested as they were planting improvised explosive devices on a road near Al-Tamanah.

Turkish Armed Forces’ convoy entered Syria through Kafr Lusin and headed towards Saraqib, in order to establish an observation point in the area. Reports suggest that Turkish Armed Forces started preparing Tell Touqan for the establishment of the observation point.

Jabhat Ansar al-Deen released a bulletin stating that the group is “an independent, administrative and organizational group that does not belong to any external or internal party.” This bulletin indirectly suggests that Jabhat Ansar al-Deen separated from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Jabhat Ansar al-Deen also stated that it is “part of the Islamic project seeking to overthrow the tyrant, and an integral part of the Islamic nation.” If the separation of Jabhat Ansar al-Deen is true, only three large groups remain in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham; Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, Jaysh al-Sunnah, and Liwa al-Haqq.

Two factions of the Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Nasr, Al-Fawj 111 and Jabhat al-Inqadh released a statement announcing the defection and dissolution of Jaysh al-Nasr, due to an internal dispute with Major Muhammad Mansour, who is one of the leaders of the group and the group’s Tajammu Suqur al-Ghab. However, Jaysh al-Nasr’s official channels announced that the two defected factions only constitute a fraction of Jaysh al-Nasr and are not allowed to issue decisions on the group’s behalf. Jaysh al-Nasr will reportedly continue to conduct military operations against the Syrian Arab Army and its allies.

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

Hama:

Syrian Arab Army captured the remaining Islamic State-held territory in the northeastern Hama and cleared the group’s pocket in the region. Some of the localities that the Syrian Arab Army captured today are Mukhalaf, Jubb Halman, Rasm Jubb Halman, Rasm al-Dab, Al-Muwaylih, Abu Ajwah Gharbi, Abu Ajwah Sharqi, Tabarat Jarirat, Rasm Subul, Tell Shawih, Maar Janoubi, Maar Shamali, Suruj, Ajan Naejat, Kurij, and Artiwaziyat.

Jaysh al-Farouq released a statement announcing joining of the Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Nasr. According to the reports, Jaysh al-Farouq has several hundreds of fighters and operates exclusively in the northern Hama.

Deir al-Zour:

Spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Al-Jazeera Storm (Asifat al-Jazeera) operation, Laila al-Abdullah stated that the Syrian Arab Army and its allies attacked Syrian Democratic Forces’ positions in Al-Tabiyah and Jadidat al-Akidat in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Al-Abdullah also stated that the attack was repelled with the assistance of CJTF-OIR ‘s airstrikes. The airstrikes reportedly destroyed headquarters and most of the heavy machinery, as well as killed unknown numbers of elements. The clashes between the two stopped after CJTF-OIR conducted the airstrikes.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that four elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces were killed and two wounded by an anti-tank guided missiles in the village of Al-Bahra. Separately, Syrian Democratic Forces’ bulldozer was damaged by an improvised explosive device in Al-Bahra.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Douma, Arbeen, Harasta, Jisreen, and Zamalka in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), four civilians were killed and wounded by the targeting of Arbeen.

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Jaramana and Al-Zablatani, Al-Qashla, Al-Abbasiyin, and Al-Duwaileah areas of the city of Damascus. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, five civilians were wounded by the shelling of Al-Homsi neighborhood in Jaramana, while four civilians were wounded by the shelling of Al-Duwaileah neighborhood. Syrian Arab News Agency also reported that two civilians were wounded by the shelling of Al-Abbasiyin neighborhood.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (Taliban) improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan Local Police’s vehicle in Arkalik area of Qaysar district, wounding Afghan Local Police’s commander Muhammad and another element.

Takhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khawajah Bahawodin, Yangi Qala, and Darqad districts. Reports suggest that the Afghan National Security Forces completely cleared Khawajah Bahawodin district and six villages in Yangi Qala from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s presence.

Kunduz Province:

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

Kunar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Marawara district, wounding two soldiers.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two elements of the Islamic State in Achin district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan Local Police’s vehicle in Surkh Rod district, killing four and wounding one policeman.

Afghan National Army’s deputy commander Sayed Alam surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with his weapon in Khogyani district.

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 raided Afghan National Army’s post in Jalga district, killing one and wounding one element.

Logar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed an element of Haqqani Network in Baraki Barak district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s patrol, killing three soldiers in Mohammed Agha district. Separately, an element of the Afghan National Army was killed in Mohammad Agha district.

Paktia Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed eight and wounded five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Dand Aw Patan district. Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed two vehicles.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Army’s elements in Qalandar district. Three elements of the Afghan National Army were killed and one wounded in the ambush.

Badghis Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan arrested an element of the Afghan National Army in Ab Kamari district.

Herat Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Shindand district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy on Kandahar-Herat highway, killing seven and wounding two elements. Similarly, two elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed in an attack on a convoy in Koshak area of Shindand district.

Ghazni Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s post in Ghazni district, reportedly killing five and wounding one policeman. Similarly, three elements of the Afghan National Police were killed in a similar raid on a checkpoint in Ghazni district.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed one and wounded three elements of the Afghan National Army in Shamalgah area of the city of Farah. Similarly, an element of the Afghan National Army was killed by a sniper in Barangtot area of the city of Farah.

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

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 16 and wounded eight elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed several fighting positions and weapons depots and ammunition caches in Chora district.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Mizan district.

Two elements of the Afghan National Army were wounded during clashes with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Bakrozo area of the city of Qalat, capital of Zabul Province.

Nimruz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Security Forces’ supply convoy in Delaram district, reportedly destroying five fuel tankers, as well as killing two and wounding three elements.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed ten and wounded five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Nad Ali and Marjah districts.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s checkpoint on Kandahar highway in Yakchal area of Nahri Saraj district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, four soldiers of the Afghan National Army were killed in the encounter, while the remaining elements withdrew from the checkpoint. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized three PK machine guns, an assault rifle and a pistol from the checkpoint.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed three elements of the Afghan National Army at a checkpoint close to Abdul Qayum area of Jerashk district. Similarly, two Afghan National Army’s elements were killed by a sniper in Basharan area of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand Province.

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

CJTF-OIR :

Between the 2nd and the 8th of February 2018 CJTF-OIR has conducted 35 strikes in Syria. CJTF-OIR ‘s main focus in Syria at the moment is Deir al-Zour-Albu Kamal region where they did 40 strikes supporting SDF ‘s operations against IS destroying seven fighting positions, two staging facilities, three IS vehicles, four IS-held buildings, nine IS supply routes, three weapons caches, an IS motorcycle, a VBIED, a tunnel entrance, a command and control center, an ammunition storage facility, four IS staging areas, and an IS line of communication and damaging a mortar system.

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

Amaq Agency:

Other:

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