Hello and welcome to the 269th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Syrian Arab Army reportedly destroyed three Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s vehicles on the road between Ramlah and Rasm al-Siyala, southwest of Khanasir. The explosion of three vehicles killed ten Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s fighters.

Al-Hasakah:

CJTF-OIR sent another shipment of weapons to the Syrian Democratic Forces, in support of their operations against the Islamic State. Several truckes were spotted entering Syria through Semalka crossing with Iraq and on their way towards the city of Al-Qamishli.

Idlib:

Russian Air Force carried out four air raids over Zarzur village, near Al-Tamanah. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), the air raids killed five and wounded three civilians. The wounded individuals were transferred to a hospital in Maarat al-Numaan.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ambushed the former element of Liwa al-Aqsa (Jund al-Aqsa), Hussein Sheheber at the outskirts of Iblin village. Clashes erupted between the two parties and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham failed to kidnap Sheheber.

Hama:

Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Izza shelled a camp of the Russian Armed Forces near the city of Halfaya. Jaysh al-Izza’s spokesman, Lieutenant Mahmoud al-Mahmoud stated that the artillery targeted the Russian camp south of Halfaya, in response to the Russian Air Force’s bombing of Khan Sheikhun (Shaykhun). Al-Mahmoud also stated that they do not have information regarding the casualties from the shelling.

Deir al-Zour:

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency released a statement about Islamic State’s suicide attack targeting Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of Dranj, south of Al-Omar fields. According to the Amaq Agency, 15 SDF ‘s fighters were killed, three Humvees and another three vehicles destroyed, as well as a bulldozer.

Situation in the eastern Syria, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Peto Lucem

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery shelled Harasta, Ain Terma, and Jisreen in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, 13 shells fell on Harasta and wounded a number of civilians. The shelling of Ain Terma and Jisreen was only confined to material damage.

Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device exploded in Al-Buqya neighborhood of Babila, wounding a civilian. The target of the explosion was the leader of Kataib Aknaf Bayt al-Muqdis, Abu Ahmed Mushir. Mushir stated that the unknown individuals planted two improvised explosive devices in his car. One of the explosive devices was dismantled, while the other exploded and wounded a civilian. Mushir added that according to the preliminary information, the Islamic State is responsible for the attempted assassination and the explosion.

Rebels from the Jabal al-Sheikh operations room based in Beit Jinn pocket destroyed Syrian Arab Army’s weapons depot in the city of Al-Makroussa.

Iraq

Nineveh:

Iraqi Army, backed by Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) resumed their operations against the Islamic State in the western desertous part of governorate, as a part of the larger operation to clear Nineveh, Salah al-Deen and Anbar desertous areas from the Islamic State. In the initial push, the Iraqi Army’s 7th Infantry Division, 8th Infantry Division, and 9th Armored division captured 10 villages and cleared more than 7000 square kilometers (2700 square miles) from the Islamic State, according to the Iraqi Joint Operations.

The second update from the Iraqi Joint Operations stated that the Iraqi forces cleared 35 villages and 4300 square kilometers (1660 square miles) from the Islamic State in the western Nineveh.

Kirkuk:

Islamic State reportedly kidnapped Al-Hashd al-Shaabi’s fighter near Daquq, south of Kirkuk.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Afghan National Security Forces’ operations in Ghormach district killed three fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban).

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan assassinated a senior commander of the Afghan National Army, Shamsuddin in Shirin Tagab district.

Kunduz Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations in Imam Sahib against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, killing 12 of the latter’s fighters and wounding additional ten, as well as destroying two headquarters and six positions. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s version of the events in Imam Sahib district states that the clashes broke out in the district after ANSF tried to advance in several areas, such as; Kergan Tuba, Gargzu, Biggam, and Ismael Qashlaq. According to the IEA , ANSF weren’t able to advance in the region, as the clashes between the two still continue in the district. IEA stated that eight ANSF ‘s elements were killed and wounded in the clashes, as well as two IEA fighters wounded.

Badghis Province:

Afghan National Army and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan clashed for several hours in Ab Kamari district, resulting in the injury of two former’s elements and one of the latter’s.

Kunar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces wounded two fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan during the operations in the province.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces’ operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Hisarak and Khogyani districts resulted in death of 12 IEA fighters, including IEA commander for Hisarak district. Furthermore, six IEA fighters were arrested.

Islamic State’s sniper killed Afghan National Army’s soldier in Achin district.

Improvised explosive device exploded in a mosque in Momand Dara district, during the Friday prayers. The explosion killed the mosque’s imam and wounded eight people.

Paktia Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan during the operations in Jaji Ariob directorate.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed a vehicle and injured five elements of the Afghan National Police.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Qalandar district. The explosion killed one and wounded one ANA ‘s soldier.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Andar district and killed four IEA fighters, as well as wounded additional four.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Anar Dara district, killing one soldier and wounding four.

Zabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Security Forces’ military convoy in Shinkay district. The ambush killed two ANA ‘s soldiers and one ANP ‘s element, as well as destroyed three vehicles.

Helmand Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed two and wounded two elements of the Afghan National Army in Kogiano directorate.

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers targeted Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Bouldek directorate, killing one soldier.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Army’s soldier in Maruf district. The attackers captured the soldier and also seized his weapon and a motorcycle.

CJTF-OIR :

Between the 4th and the 7th of December 2017 CJTF-OIR has conducted 14 strikes in Syria. CJTF-OIR ‘s main focus in Syria at the moment is Deir al-Zour-Albu Kamal region where they did 14 strikes supporting SDF ‘s operations against IS destroying three IS fighting positions, 17 IS watercraft, an improvised explosive device, an IS line of communication, two IS headquarters, a heavy weapon, an IS motorcycle, and two IS vehicles.

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

Amaq Agency:

Egypt:

Islamic State assassinated an alleged spy working for the Egyptian Army in Al-Ahrash neighborhood, northern Rafah.

Somalia:

Islamic State’s fighters assassinated a member of the National Intelligence and Security Agency in Afgooye, Lower Shebelle province.

Other:

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