Hello and welcome to the 328th 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 three 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 Surkah village in Rajo subdistrict, and Al-Amoud (Dikmah Tash) village and Jabal Serghaya in Sharran subdistrict. YPG repelled attacks on Shikurza village and the surrounding hills. Two elements of the YPG were captured in the vicinity of Bulbul.

Syrian Democratic Forces’ YPG disabled Turkish Armed Forces’ M60A3 Patton tank with an anti-tank guided missile in the vicinity of Bulbul. However, reports suggest that Turkish Armed Forces didn’t suffer any casualties in the incident.

General Staff of the Republic of Turkey announced death of a Turkish Armed Forces’ element due to YPG ‘s mortar shelling in Afrin region. This announcement brings Turkish Armed Forces’ death toll in the operation ‘Olive Branch’ to 15 soldiers.

Syrian Democratic Forces’ YPG reportedly targeted a vehicle west of Azaz with a rocket/missile. One civilian was killed and four wounded by the targeting of the vehicle. The wounded individuals were transferred to hospitals in Turkey.

Turkish Armed Forces’ convoy entered Syria through Kafr Lusin and reached Al-Eis in the southern Aleppo countryside, in order to establish an observation point. However, Hezbollah and IRGC -affiliated militias shelled Turkish Armed Forces in Al-Eis area from their positions in Al-Hader and Tell Aran areas. The shelling wounded two elements of Turkish Armed Forces and prompted Turkey to fire several surface-to-surface missiles on Hezbollah and IRGC ‘s positions in Al-Hader and Sheyghdalah dam areas. Turkish Armed Forces’ observation point in Al-Eis is an undesirable development for Hezbollah and IRGC , as it stops any possible offensive in the southern Aleppo aimed at breaking the siege of Fuah and Kafraya in Idlib governorate.

Approximate situation in Afrin region. Source: Lucio Cienfuegos

Idlib:

Yesterday’s rebel attacks on Syrian Arab Army’s positions in the eastern Idlib governorate were repelled and all of the captured localities recaptured. However, rebel operations room Dahar al-Ghaza, backed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham started a new attack in the same area. The new attack started with a Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s SVBIED against the Syrian Arab Army’s positions on Tell al-Sultan front. Reports suggest that the rebels captured Tell al-Sultan, Tawil al-Halib, Al-Mushayrifah, Tellat al-Bindira, and air defense battalion (abandone battalion) in the new attack, however, these localities should be considered as disputed for now, as clashes still continue in the vicinity and situation can change any moment.

Islamic State clashed with the Syrian Arab Army east of Sinjar in the southern Idlib. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, five Syrian Arab Army’s tanks and three BMPs were destroyed in the clashes.

Hama:

Syrian Arab Army reportedly captured Buyud al-Saffaf, Abu al-Kheir, Abu Khanadiq, Rasm al-Kibar, Tell al-Shur, Malihah Saghirah, Rasm al-Mafkar, and Khirbet Umm Rujum from the Islamic State in the northeastern Hama.

Approximate situation in the northeastern Hama. Source: Emmanuel

Deir al-Zour:

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that an Islamic State’s suicide attack targeted Syrian Democratic Forces’ elements in the vicinity of Al-Bahra village. According to the agency, 15 elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces were killed and three vehicles destroyed in the suicide attack.

Islamic State launched an attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces’ positions near Al-Tanak oil field in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Amaq Agency claimed that six Syrian Democratic Forces’ elements were killed and a vehicle seized in the attack.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Arbeen, Beit Sawa, Hazeh, Ain Terma, Zamalka, Hammouriyah, and Harasta in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), nine civilians were killed and 30 wounded by the targeting of the aforementioned localities in the East Ghouta.

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Harasta, Mushafa al-Shurta (Police Hospital), and Bab Touma, Al-Dhaghour, and Al-Duwaileah neighborhoods of the city of Damascus. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, one civilian was killed and four wounded by the shelling of Bab Touma, while one civilian was killed and nine wounded by the shelling of Mushafa al-Shurta.

Syrian Arab Army made advances against Faylaq al-Rahman and captured several buildings in Al-Nufous area of Al-Ghubair district on Arbeen front.

Faylaq al-Rahman stated that 14 elements of the Syrian Arab Army were killed in ambush on Ain Terma front in the East Ghouta. Faylaq al-Rahman’s spokesman Wael Alwan confirmed the group’s statement and stated that Syrian Arab Army’s elements were preparing to launch an attack on Ain Terma front.

Iraq

Diyala:

Islamic State raided Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) positions in Al-Saadia area, killing five elements according to the Amaq Agency. Similarly, Islamic State conducted an operation against the Iraqi Army in Al-Katoun area in the western Baqubah, reportedly killing one and wounding one soldier.

Baghdad:

Iraqi Army’s 6th Infantry Division found and safely detonated 39 left over Islamic State’s improvised explosive devices in Al-Shiha, Al-Sultan, and Al-Maamir areas, west of Baghdad. Several wanted individuals were also arrested.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) and destroyed a vehicle in Khaja Sahib Posh district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran and reportedly destroyed Afghan National Security Forces’ center of General Malik in Faizabad area of Shirin Tagab district. Afghan National Security Forces’ commander Abdul Mearoof was killed and another element wounded in the clashes, as well as two tanks destroyed.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan arrested an element of the Afghan Local Police in Yaka Toth area of Pastun Kot district. Separately, 11 elements of the Afghan Local Police defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Pashtun Kot and Qaysar districts.

Kunduz Province:

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

Badakhshan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s elements from Tajikistan and destroyed two vehicles in Warduj district.

Kabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces foiled a VBIED attack on the Russian embassy in the city of Kabul. The VBIED reportedly contained a ton of explosive materials.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan killed two elements of the Afghan National Police in the city of Kabul.

Laghman Province:

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

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 25 elements of the Islamic State in Achin district, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

Islamic State clashed with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Islami (Army of Islam) militia in Balkh Valley area of Achin district. Lashkar-e-Islami is based in Khyber area of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas. According to the reports, five elements of the Islamic State and three elements of Lashkar-e-Islami were killed in the clashes, as well as four former’s and three latter’s elements wounded. This is the first time that Islamic State and Lashkar-e-Islami clashed with each other.

Islamic State assassinated an element of the Afghan National Police in the city of Jalalabad, capital of 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

Logar Province:

Four elements of the Afghan National Army were reportedly killed in clashes with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the city of Pol-e Alam, capital of Logar Province.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 33 and wounded 16 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Deh Yak and Zana Khan districts, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Among the 33 killed elements are two Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s local commanders, Yerez and Abdul Wassi. Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed a vehicle, nine motorcycles and several weapons depots and ammunition caches.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Qarabagh district, killing a commander and wounding a soldier.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s tank in Qarabagh district, killing three and wounding two soldiers. Similarly, Afghan National Army’s tank was hit by a landmine, which resulted in injury of four soldiers on board.

Paktika Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Police in Wor Mamay district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an assault rifle from the killed element.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured Afghan National Police’s checkpoint on Herat-Kandahar highway and killed two elements of the police in the process and forced the remaining elements to withdraw from the checkpoint. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized two assault rifles and seven RPG launchers from the checkpoint.

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

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces wounded three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed three vehicles in the city of Tarinkot, capital of Urozgan Province.

Zabul Province:

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

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 13, wounded three, and arrested seven elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Sangin, Garmsir, and Nahri Saraj districts. Furthermore, Afghan National Security Forces destroyed three vehicles, a motorcycle, three IED factories, and 30 improvised explosive devices.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s suicide bomber surrendered to the Afghan National Security Forces in the city of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand Province. The suicide bomber was reportedly supposed to conduct a suicide attack in the city, but he refused to do it and surrendered to the authorities.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran two Afghan Local Police’s checkpoints in the vicinity of Tangano Godar area of Nawa-I-Barakzayi district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, 12 elements of the Afghan Local Police were killed in clashes for the two checkpoints, while the remaining elements withdrew from the checkpoints. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also destroyed a vehicle and two motorcycles, as well as seized two PK machine guns, two RPG launchers, seven assault rifles, and large quantities of ammunition from the two checkpoints.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed two elements of the National Directorate of Security in Washir district.

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

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed an officer of the Kandahar Governor’s office in Shkar Pur Darwaza area in the city of Kandahar. Similarly, Afghan National Army’s element was ambushed and killed and his motorcycle seized in the 11th 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 improvised explosive device destroyed Egyptian Army’s bulldozer south of the city of Al-Arish. Separately, Islamic State’s sniper ambushed and killed two elements of the Egyptian Army in Al-Kilo 17 area, west of Al-Arish.

Yemen:

Islamic State’s sniper killed two elements of Ansar Allah (Houthis) in Al-Dahra area of Qaifa directorate, northwest of Al-Bayda.

Other:

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