Hello and welcome to the 325th 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 clashed with the Syrian Democratic Forces’ Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (People’s Protection Units) in Rajo subdistrict, as neither side made advances in Afrin region today. Yekîneyên Parastina Gel targeted Liwa Ahrar al-Sharqiya’s vehicle carrying elements with anti-tank guided missile in the hills area adjacent to Rajo. One element of Liwa Ahrar al-Sharqiya was killed and four wounded in the attack, the event and casualties were confirmed by Liwa Ahrar al-Sharqiya’s commander Abu Jaafar.

Turkish Armed Forces conducted strikes over six targets in Afrin region. Turkish Armed Forces also stated that at least 12 elements of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel were “neutralized” today and 823 since the start of the operation ‘Olive Branch’.

Syrian Democratic Forces’ Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (People’s Protection Units) shelled Hatay in Turkey’s Hatay Province and Kilis in Turkey’s Kilis Province. According to the reports, six civilians were wounded by the shelling of Hatay, while shelling of Kilis was limited to material damage. Turkish Armed Forces targeted Qustal Miqdad village in Bulbul subdistrict. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, one civilian was wounded by the targeting of Qustal Miqdad.

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army and Syrian Democratic Forces’ Manbij Military Council clashed in the village of Al-Hosheriye, northeast of Manbij.

Demonstrations were held in Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army-held Azaz, Marea, and Ihtaimlat in northern Aleppo, in support of the joint Turkish Armed Forces-Free Syrian Army operation ‘Olive Branch’ (AR: Ghasin al-Zaytun, TR: Zeytin Dalı). The biggest demonstration was in Azaz, where around 2000 people, along with Turkish delegation and local institutions raised Free Syrian Army’s and Turkey’s flags and carried olive branches.

Syrian Arab Army reportedly captured Tell Aloush, Khirbet al-Wakad, Ziyarat al-Matakh, Tell Touqan, Ruwaydah, Tell Ruwaydah, and Zammar from the rebel factions in the southern Aleppo governorate.

Approximate situation in Afrin region, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Tomasz Rolbiecki

Approximate situation in the southern Aleppo – southern Idlib region. Source: Suriyak

Idlib:

Syrian Arab Air Force and Russian Air Force conducted air raids over Saraqib, Jisr al-Shughur, Al-Ghadfa, Tell Mardikh, Khan al-Sabel, Muharim, Maar Dibsah, Al-Nabaris, Kafr Amim, Al-Sheikh Idris, Al-Rusafa, Jarjanaz, and Abu Maki in Idlib governorate. Reports suggest that one civilian was killed by the air raids over Al-Ghadfa, and one by the air raids over Maar Dibsah. Similarly, reports suggest that three civilians were wounded by the Russian Air Force’s air raids over Jisr al-Shughur.

Demonstrations were held in the city of Binish demanding that the rebel factions open fronts/start battles against the Syrian Arab Army, in order to stop the latter’s advances towards Saraqib and other areas in the governorate. Demonstrators also chanted slogans against the rebel factions and asked the factions to provide them with weapons to defend themselves. Demonstrators stormed Syrian Salvation Government’s police station in the city and destroyed the banner of it. The police station was opened on the 24th of December. During the demonstrations, Free Syrian Army’s flag was raised at one of the entrances to the city. However, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham appealed to the local institutions and elders to remove the flag, in order to avoid creation of tensions between rebel factions.

Deir al-Zour:

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that a suicide attack targeted Syrian Democratic Forces’ gathering in the village of Al-Bahra, northwest of Hajin. According to the agency, 15 elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces were killed and wounded in the attack. Separately, Amaq Agency reported that nine Syrian Democratic Forces’ elements were killed by several improvised explosive devices in the vicinity of the city of Gharanij in the eastern Deir al-Zour.

Situation in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Source: Emmanuel

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Douma, Arbeen, Harasta, Madyara, Hammouriyah, Kafr Batna, and Beit Sawa in the East Ghouta. According to the reports, four civilians were killed and several wounded by the targeting of Douma, while two civilians were reportedly killed by air raids over Arbeen.

Rebel factions in the East Ghouta shelled Al-Duwaileah district at the southeastern outskirts of Damascus city. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, two civilians were wounded by the shelling.

Quneitra:

Israeli Defense Forces reportedly shelled Syrian Arab Army-held Tellat Qurs al-Nafl, in the vicinity of Hader. However, several sources reported that the shelling was done by the Free Syrian Army and wounded three elements of the Syrian Arab Army.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 30 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban), including four local commanders in Khaja Sahib Posh district, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

Afghan National Security Forces took complete control of Qara Sheikhi region in Khaja Sahib Posh district from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, after a year of group’s presence in the region. According to the reports, 25 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s elements were killed and 23 wounded during the clashes in Qara Sheikhi region. Among the 25 killed elements are Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s deputy governor of Khaja Sahib Posh district Molavi Ghiath al-Deen (Islam Yar), and Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s commanders Malayar Mohammad (Basmalah Ako), Damlah Atiqullah, Damla Asadullah, Mullah Basir, and Mullah Seifullah. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s commander Mullah Yousef Haqiyar was wounded in the clashes.

Balkh Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported that two elements of the Afghan Local Police were killed and three wounded in infighting that occurred in Kishindih district.

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

Kunduz Province:

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

Baghlan Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s tank in Puli Khumri district, killing two and wounding one soldier.

Kunar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded one element of the Islamic State in Wata Pur district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s post in Wata Pur district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, 12 elements of the Afghan National Army were killed in the raid.

Kabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Army in Surobi district.

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

Maidan Wardak Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed a vehicle in Saydabad district.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle and killed three elements in the city of Khost. Separately, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Army in the city of Khost.

Ghazni Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Army in Deh Yak district.

Afghan National Army’s element surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with his weapon in the city of Ghazni.

Paktika Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as seized two motorcycles and large quantities of weapons and ammunition in Wazakhwa district.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded seven elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Bala Buluk district.

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

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Nad Ali district.

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

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Shura council in Maywand district. The killed elements were identified as Molavi Pacha, Molavi Baqi, Haji Adam Khan, and Haji Nasr.

CJTF-OIR :

Between the 26th of January and the 1st of February 2018 CJTF-OIR has conducted 41 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 nine construction vehicles, three VBIEDs, three IS headquarters, seven fighting positions, nine IS-held buildings, a UAV, four weapons caches, an IS van, seven pieces of IS construction equipment, two mortars, two IS supply routes, three IS headquarters, two staging facilities, an IS motorcycle, three artillery pieces, two tactical vehicles and damaging two IS-held buildings.

Other area where one strike occurred is Al-Shadaddi destroying an IS fighting position. Full report on CJTF-OIR strikes conducted in both Syria & Iraq can be found here.

Amaq Agency:

Other:

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