Hello and welcome to the 360th 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 Suraiyil and Jabal Kashkadar – Beit Awbasi in Bulbul subdistrict, Kafr Safra in Jindires subdistrict, and Kafr Miz, Maryamin, and Anab in Sharran subdistrict.

Leader of Al-Jaysh al-Watani al-Suri’s (Syrian National Army) Al-Faylaq al-Awl (First corps/legion), Lieutenant Wael al-Mousa was killed in today’s clashes with the YPG in Afrin region. Al-Mousa was reportedly one of the commanders in the battle of Jinderes. Al-Mousa defected from the Syrian Arab Army and was one of the founders of the Free Syrian Army’s Liwa Samarqand.

Syrian Democratic Forces sent a military and aid convoy from Al-Tabqa to Afrin, through Syrian Arab Army-held territory. According to the reports, seven buses transported between 250 and 300 elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces to Afrin region. Two trucks carried weapons and ammunition, while four trucks carried food and medical supplies.

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

Idlib:

Faylaq al-Sham mediated a 48-hour truce between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Jabhat Tahrir Suriya (Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat Nour al-Deen al-Zenki) in Aleppo and Idlib governorates.

Syrian National Coalition’s president, Riad Saif resigned from his position as the president of the coalition, due to health issues. Syrian National Coalition appointed deputy chairman of the coalition, Abdul Rahman Mustafa as Saif’s successor.

Deir al-Zour:

Left over Islamic State’s improvised explosive device wounded three civilians in the Syrian Democratic Forces-held city of Gharanij in the eastern Deir al-Zour.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that a sniper killed an element of the Syrian Arab Army at the outskirts of the city of Al-Bukamal (Albu Kamal) in the eastern Deir al-Zour.

Damascus:

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

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Harasta and Jaramana, as well as Bab al-Salam, Al-Qasaa, and Bab Touma areas of the city of Damascus. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, two civilians were killed and three wounded by the shelling of Jaramana.

Syrian Arab Red Crescent in cooperation with the ‘International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent’ and the United Nations, delivered a humanitarian aid convoy to the city of Douma in the East Ghouta, consisting of 13 trucks.

Syrian Arab Army reportedly made advances in the farms area east of Hammouriyah and Saqba in the East Ghouta.

Demonstrations against rebel factions were held in Hammouriyah and Kafr Batna in the East Ghouta.

Commander of the Syrian Republican Guard’s 358th Battalion, Colonel Shadi Alloush was killed in today’s clashes with the rebel factions in the East Ghouta. Separately, Faylaq al-Rahman’s Chief of Staff, Abu Ali al-Shaghouri was killed in today’s clashes with the Syrian Arab Army on Ain Terma-Jobar front in the East Ghouta.

Jaysh al-Islam released a statement stating that the group reached an agreement with the United Nations’ delegation, regarding the release and transportation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s elements to Idlib.

Approximate situation in the East Ghouta. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Daraa:

Free Syrian Army’s Al-Firqat al-Awl Musha (1st Infantry Division) appointed a new leader of the division, Muhammad al-Jabawi, after the previous leader, Qassem Najm resigned from the position due to inability to achieve objectives under the “poor conditions” in Daraa. Captain Yahya al-Khatib was appointed as Al-Jabawi’s deputy.

Iraq

Salah al-Deen:

Islamic State launched an attack against Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) on a road in Al-Kuwaiti area of Al-Ishaqi. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency stated that three elements of Al-Hashd al-Shaabi were killed and seven wounded in the attack. Separately, Islamic State’s improvised explosive device damaged a vehicle belonging to Al-Hashd al-Shaabi in Al-Aksa area of Al-Ishaqi.

Afghanistan

Kunduz Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) in Imam Sahib district.

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

Takhar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan launched a large-scale operation against the Afghan National Security Forces in Khwaja Ghar district, reportedly overrunning 12 posts in the district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan claimed that 29 elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed and three wounded in the operation. Takhar governor’s spokesman, Sunatullah Timur stated that nine elements of the Afghan Local Police and seven elements of the Afghan National Army were killed in encounters with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khwaja Ghar district. Timur also stated that nine elements of the Afghan Local Police and four elements of the Afghan National Army were killed in the aforementioned district.

Kapisa Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested three individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Tagab district.

Kabul Province:

Islamic State’s element conducted a suicide attack in Dasht Burji area of the 6th Police District in Kabul, targeting civilian gathering in the area. Afghan Ministry of Interior stated that seven civilians were killed and 14 wounded by the attack, while other sources suggest that seven civilians were killed and 20 wounded. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency officially claimed responsibility for the attack in Kabul.

Laghman Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed an element of the Afghan Local Police in the city of Mihtarlam, capital of Laghman Province. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an assault rifle from the killed element.

Nangarhar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan Local Police’s post in Ghani Khel area, reportedly killing one and wounding one element of the local police.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device wounded three elements of the Afghan National Army in Spin Ghar area.

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

Paktia Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Zurmat district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed a group of Afghan National Army’s elements in Lazha Mangal district, reportedly killing one and wounding two soldiers. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was also wounded in the encounter.

Badghis Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed ten and wounded eight elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Qadis district.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed seven and wounded one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Andar district. Separately, three elements of the Afghan National Army were wounded in an encounter with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Shalgar district.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed five 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

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Tarinkot district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Kala Ragh area of Chora district. Seven elements of the Afghan National Army were reportedly killed in the clashes for the checkpoint, while the remaining elements withdrew from the checkpoint. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized four PK machine guns, four assault rifles, a radio, and large quantities of ammunition from the checkpoint.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed nine and wounded nine elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Mizan district. Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed a vehicle, nine motorcycles, and several weapons depots and ammunition caches in the district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 14 and wounded four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed six motorcycles in Kajaki, Nawa-I-Barakzayi, Nad Ali, and Sangin districts.

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

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 39 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Maywand and Spin Boldak districts, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

CJTF-OIR :

Between the 2nd and the 9th of March 2018 CJTF-OIR has conducted 18 strikes in Syria. CJTF-OIR ‘s main focus in Syria at the moment is Deir al-Zour-Albu Kamal region where they did 17 strikes supporting SDF ‘s operations against IS destroying seven IS supply routes, three IS construction vehicles, a weapons cache, a command and control center, an IS transportation vehicle, a front end loader, a staging facility, four IS motorcycles and a UAV.

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

Amaq Agency:

Other:

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