Hello and welcome to the 347th 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 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 Abu Kab and Hajilar villages in Jindires subdistrict, Hajiku Fawqani, Hajiku Tahtani, and Dumilia in Rajo subdistrict, and Amranli camp in Sharran subdistrict.

Turkish Armed Forces also stated that at least 58 elements of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel were “neutralized” today and 1931 since the start of the operation ‘Olive Branch’.

Turkish Land Forces’ artillery shelled areas around Rajo and Jindires, as well as villages of Qantara, Murimin, and Al-Aruba. Reports suggest that three elements of the National Defense Forces were killed by the shelling in Rajo area. Syrian Arab News Agency stated that one civilian was killed and four wounded by the shelling of Qantara, Murimin, and Al-Aruba villages.

Yesterday’s reports about the Syrian Democratic Forces’ YPG handing over the city of Tell Rifaat to the Syrian Arab Army were false, the locality remains under the control of the YPG .

Jabhat Tahrir Suriya (Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat Nour al-Deen al-Zenki) captured Batbou and Kafr Nasah in the western Aleppo from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. However, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham recaptured Batbou village. Reports suggest that a civilian was killed and seven wounded during the clashes between the two in the village of Batbou.

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

Idlib:

Jabhat Tahrir Suriya captured Maarat Misreen, Ram Hamdan, Armanaz and Kali from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Five civilians were killed during the clashes between the two sides in Maarat Misreen. Jabhat Tahrir Suriya also briefly captured Hazanu from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, but the locality was recaptured by the latter hours after its capture. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham captured Maaret al-Sin from Jabhat Tahrir Suriya.

Jabhat Tahrir Suriya’s (Ahrar al-Sham’s) leader, Hassan Soufan called on Faylaq al-Sham to join the current fighting against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib governorate.

Katibat Aswad al-Islam and Katibat al-Bitar defected from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and joined Jaysh al-Ahrar, due to the infighting between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Jabhat Tahrir Suriya in Aleppo and Idlib governorates. The two aforementioned groups operate in Taftanaz and its surroundings.

Hama:

Katibat al-Murabitin defected from Ahrar al-Sham (Jabhat Tahrir Suriya), due to the infighting between Jabhat Tahrir Suriya and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Aleppo and Idlib governorates. Katibat al-Murabitin operates in the city of Morek.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery, Syrian Arab Air Force, and Russian Air Force targeted Douma, Harasta, Zamalka, Beit Sawa, Hammouriyah, Al-Shifuniyah, Awtaya, Kafr Batna, Saqba, Ain Terma, and Hazeh in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), at least 27 civilians were killed and dozens wounded by the targeting of the aforementioned localities.

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Jaramana and Al-Mezzeh 86, Barzeh, Al-Duwaileah, Bab Sharqi, Al-Zablatani, Al-Abassiyin, Bab Touma, and Al-Joura areas of the city of Damascus. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, seven civilians were wounded by the shelling of the aforementioned areas. Syrian Arab Army’s Brigadier General Riyad Mohammed Ahmed was reportedly killed by the shelling of Al-Duwaileah in Damascus. However, several sources suggest that the general was killed by a sniper.

Quneitra:

Syrian Arab Army and National Defense Force repelled rebels’ attack on Al-Baath city. Reports suggest that rebels lost two armored vehicles in the failed attack.

Iraq

Salah al-Deen:

Islamic State’s improvised explosive device destroyed Iraqi Federal Police’s vehicle in Al-Ishaqi area.

Baghdad:

Iraqi Security Forces conducted operations in Albu Mufraj area, south of Baghdad. Security forces found eight improvised explosive devices and six 120 mm mortars.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

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

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan Local Police’s checkpoint in Khair Abad area of Dawlat Abad district, killing two and wounding two elements of the police in the process. Afghan Local Police’s commander Murad is one of the two wounded elements.

Kunduz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan killed Afghan Local Police’s commander Gul Agha and wounded another element of the police in Imam Sahib district.

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

Takhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested four individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Darqad district. Afghan National Security Forces also found and defused 19 improvised explosive devices.

Sar-e Pol Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed nine elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed a vehicle, 12 motorcycles, and several weapons depots and ammunition caches in the central part of the province. However, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stated that it repelled Afghan National Security Forces’ offensive in Naimdan area of Sheiram district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, one of its elements was killed and two wounded in the encounter.

Kunar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the province.

Kabul Province:

Islamic State conducted a suicide attack in the city of Kabul. Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs stated that one civilian was killed and six wounded in the attack. However, unofficial reports suggest that four civilians were killed and eight wounded by the explosion.

Laghman Province:

Islamic State killed five and wounded ten elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, during the clashes between the two sides in Alingar district.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four and wounded two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Goshta district. Separately, Afghan National Security Forces arrested a group of Islamic State’s elements in Achin 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

Paktia Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device killed two elements of the Afghan Local Police in Zurmat district.

Badghis Province:

Afghan National Security Forces retreated from a checkpoint in Qandelan area of Qala i Naw district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan entered the checkpoint and surrounding areas after the retreat.

Daykundi Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Manari area of Kijran district. Seven elements of the Afghan National Army and five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were wounded in the encounter.

Ghazni Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed Afghan Local Police’s commander in Khwaja Umari district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an assault rifle and a vehicle from the killed commander.

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

Paktika Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s tank in Zarghun Shar (Khair Kot) district, killing two and wounding three soldiers.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s military base in Kunsak area of Bala Buluk district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, 25 elements of the Afghan National Army were killed and two arrested in the encounter. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was killed and two wounded in the encounter. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized a tank, an armored personnel carrier, a pickup, 11 PK machine guns, 20 assault rifles, five RPG launchers, a sniper rifle, and large quantities of ammunition from the base. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan set the base on fire after looting it.

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

Urozgan Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s positions in Talani area of the city of Tarinkot, capital of Urozgan Province. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reportedly killed four and wounded two elements of the Afghan National Police in the raid.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device killed Afghan National Army’s commander Watan in Khas Urozgan district.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Arghandab district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported that it ambushed Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Haji Tarin Aka Kili area of Arghandab district, killing three and wounding four soldiers.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Security Forces’ armored personnel carrier in Surkh Sang area of Arghandab district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Jerashk and Lashkar Gah districts.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan conducted an SVBIED operation against the Afghan National Army’s military base in Matewki area of Nad Ali district. Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs stated that two soldiers were killed in the explosion. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan conducted another SVBIED operation against the National Directorate of Security’s center in Kartagan area of the 2nd Police District in the city of Lashkar Gah. The second explosion reportedly wounded nine individuals.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s checkpoint on the road towards the city of Lashkar Gah in Dobandi area of Jerashk district. Nine elements of the Afghan National Army were reportedly killed and one arrested in the encounter. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized two PK machine guns, an RPG launcher, and six assault rifles from the checkpoint.

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

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Ataa Karez area of Maywand district. Six elements of the Afghan National Army were reportedly killed during the clashes for the checkpoint.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed National Directorate of Security’s figure, Haji Gulalai in the 14th Police District of the city of Kandahar. Similarly, an element of the National Directorate of Security was ambushed and killed in the 9th Police District of Kandahar.

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:

Egypt:

Islamic State’s snipers killed and wounded six elements of the Egyptian Army, including two commanders, west of Al-Sheikh Zuwaid in the North Sinai Governorate.

Yemen:

Islamic State conducted a twin SVBIED operation in Al-Tahawi district of the city of Aden. The explosions killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians.

Other:

Intellectual credited property used may vary from an edition to edition.

Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below, constructive criticism is welcomed.

Syrian War Daily is looking for individuals willing to contribute to the project. If you are interested in contributing, please fill out the form on this page.

For those of you interested, you can follow us on an official Twitter account @SyrianWarDaily, or me personally on my twitter @joskobaric where I occasionally tweet some things.