Hello and welcome to the 359th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

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Aleppo:

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish Air and Land Forces captured six 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 captured Jindires in Jindires Subdistrict, “Black Prison” (Al-Sijn al-Aswad) in Rajo subdistrict, Shawarighat al-Jawz on Maryamin front, and Hulubi Kabir, Maarisatah, and Zaghour camp in Sharran subdistrict. Commander of the Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Sharqiya, Zarqawi Khasham was killed by an improvised explosive device in the newly-captured city of Jindires.

Syrian Democratic Forces’ YPG shelled Free Syrian Army-held Marea in the northern Aleppo. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), two civilians were wounded by the shelling. Separately, Free Syrian Army and Turkish Land Forces’ artillery shelled Tarnada neighborhood of the city of Afrin. According to the reports, the shelling killed four civilians.

Yesterday’s reports about Hayat Tahrir al-Sham capturing Kafr Naha from Jabhat Tahrir Suriya (Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat Nour al-Deen al-Zenki) were false, as the latter was able to repel the attack on the locality. However, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham managed to capture Khan al-Asal in the western Aleppo from Jabhat Tahrir Suriya. Today’s clashes between the two sides in Urum al-Kubra killed three and wounded three civilians.

Situation in Afrin region, according to the official operation ‘Olive Branch’ account (Pink areas = newly-captured territory). Source: Amaliyat Ghasin al-Zaytun / Zeytin Dalı Harekatı

Raqqa:

Left over Islamic State’s improvised explosive device killed one and wounded one civilian in Al-Idkhar neighborhood of the city of Raqqa.

Idlib:

Uzbek Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad shelled Syrian Arab Army and allies-held villages of Fuah and Kafraya, northeast of Idlib. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, the shelling killed two and wounded one civilian.

Free Syrian Army’s factions in Maar Tahroma announced the formation of a military council, in order to secure the locality from the infighting between Jabhat Tahrir Suriya and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The newly-formed military council consists of; Katibat al-Mashour, Katibat al-Shahid Turki al-Assaf, Katibat Saif al-Haqq, Liwa Shuhada Maar Tahroma, Liwa Khitab Maar Tahroma, Katibat al-Furqan, and Katibat Abdullah al-Mubarak. Commander of the council, Mashour al-Taweel called on Jabhat Tahrir Suriya and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to end the infighting between the two sides, and focus fighting against the Syrian Arab Army, in order to ease the pressure on the East Ghouta and stop the rumored Syrian Arab Army’s offensive in the western Hama.

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

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Zamalka, Hammouriyah, Jisreen, Arbeen, and Saqba in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), 11 civilians were killed by the targeting of Jisreen. Syrian Civil Defense also stated that three of its elements were killed and five wounded by today’s targeting of localities in the East Ghouta.

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Harasta and Jaramana, as well as Al-Qazaz, Rukn al-Deen, Al-Qaboun, and Al-Abbasiyin areas of the city of Damascus. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, three civilians were wounded by the shelling of the aforementioned localities.

Syrian Arab Army reportedly captured Aftris air defence battalion, Jisreen farms, Hawsh Al-Ashaari, and Hawsh Qubaybat from the rebel factions in the East Ghouta.

National Defense Forces’ war correspondent, Hassan Ali Badran was killed while covering clashes with the rebel forces on Al-Muhammadiyah front in the East Ghouta. Badran’s father, Syrian Arab Army’s Brigadier General, Ali Mohamad Badran was killed in the clashes with Ahrar al-Sham on Harasta front in the November of 2017.

Jaysh al-Islam’s spokesman, Hamza Birqdar stated that the group launched a counter-attack against the Syrian Arab Army in the farms area near Al-Shifuniyah. According to Birqdar, 20 elements of the Syrian Arab Army were killed and a tank destroyed in the counterattack. Birqdar also stated that the group repelled Syrian Arab Army’s attack on Al-Rayhan front, reportedly killing more than 20 elements of the Syrian Arab Army. Hamza Birqdar also shared footage reportedly showing destruction of a Syrian Arab Army’s tank with Konkurs anti-tank guided missile on Al-Rayhan front

Jaysh al-Islam released the former commander of disbanded Jaysh al-Ummah, Ahmed Taha Abu Subhi. Abu Subhi was arrested by Jaysh al-Islam in the January of 2015. Jaysh al-Islam released Abu Subhi, as a gesture in an attempt to promote rebel unity in the East Ghouta, amid Syrian Arab Army’s offensive on the region.

Approximate situation in the East Ghouta. Source: Global Event Map

Iraq

Salah al-Deen:

Islamic State ambushed Iraqi Federal Police’s elements on the road between Tikrit and Samarra. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, two elements of the Iraqi Federal Police were killed and three wounded in the ambush.

Afghanistan

Balkh Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) assassinated Afghan National Army’s commander, Gul Mohammad in Zari district.

Kunduz Province:

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

Parwan Province:

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

Laghman Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed seven elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Alingar district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device wounded an element of the Afghan National Army in Dawlat Shah district.

Nangarhar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked the center of Momand Dara and checkpoints adjacent to it, reportedly killing three and wounding six elements of the Afghan National Army. Separately, two elements of the Afghan National Police were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Ghani Khel area.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and wounded two elements of the Afghan National Army in Bati Kot 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’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Saydabad district.

Logar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided two Afghan National Police’s posts in Charkh and Mohammad Agha districts. The raids reportedly killed three elements of the Afghan National Police.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device killed an element of the Afghan National Army in Sabari district.

Badghis Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s tank in Jah Khwaja area of Murghab district. The explosion reportedly killed Afghan National Army’s commander Chamto and five elements who were accompanying him in the tank.

Herat Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Shindand district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported that four elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed and six wounded, as well as a tank destroyed during the clashes in Joy Ghazi area of Shindand district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Army in Zaman Abad area of Pashtun Zarghun district.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Andar district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and destroyed Afghan Local Police’s vehicle, as well as killed two elements of the local police in Deh Yak district. Separately, Afghan National Police’s element was killed in an ambush in the city of Ghazni.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces and Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan clashed for several hours in Pusht Rod district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, three tanks were destroyed in the clashes, as well as 12 elements of the Afghan National Security Forces killed and 14 wounded.

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

Helmand Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s post in Trikh Zabar area of Marjah district. Eight elements of the Afghan National Army were reportedly killed and one arrested during the clashes for the post, while the remaining elements were forced to retreat from the area. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized two PK machine guns, two RPG launchers, and nine assault rifles from the post.

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

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three, wounded two, and arrested eight elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Maywand district.

Four Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s elements conducted suicide attacks in the area of the Afghan National Police’s headquarters in Spin Boldak district. The elements were reportedly wearing military uniforms and split into two groups, with one group entering the headquarters and the other group entering Shahra base. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported that the attacks destroyed two armored personnel carriers and two pickups, as well as killed dozen and wounded several elements of the Afghan National Police. Kandahar Security Department’s spokesman stated that six elements of the Afghan National Police were killed in the attacks.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Sarfari area of Arghandab district, reportedly killing two soldiers.

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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