Hello and welcome to the 166th instalment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Raqqa:

Today SDF repelled a large-scale counter-attack on Nazlat Shehade neighbourhood south-west of Raqqa city. The ISIS counterattack resulted in 41 ISIS member killed and a large quantity of arms and ammunition seized by the SDF. The US-backed SDF control half ISIS’ self-declared capital city. The situation looks as follows:

The Islamic State attacked US-backed SDF east of Raqqa city resulting in clashes and an unknown number of people being abducted by the terrorist organisation, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Casualties can be found between both SDF fighters and displaced people. The Islamic State also claimed a suicide bombing on SDF forces in Raqqa.

Meanwhile, the Raqqa-Deir ez-Zor Tiger Forces Field Commander reported Syrian forces and allies to have reached the Sabkhah Axis south-east Raqqa governorate. Although, advances are mainly on close hills that establish fire control over the surrounding areas.

The Islamic State announced a counterattack against SAA and allies south of Rasafa in Raqqa governorate, no further information has been provided.

Idlib:

HTS released a decree announcing that the forming of any new factions in the Idlib area is forbidden under any name from the 27th of July 2017 onwards and that any individual or group which breaks off any current existing factions including HTS should leave without any weapons. The statement also warns all HTS branches that the judges’ decisions are final and any failure to comply will be punished.

Homs:

The SAA and allies had captured Um Khasm hill and al-Qulaylat mountain on al-Hayl field in the Sukhnah axis north-east of Palmyra city. Government forces are now closer to fully capture Al-Sukhnah, one of the last towns in the road to Deir ez-Zor. According to some sources, government troops launched a powerful attack on the Western outskirts of the aforementioned town.

Syrian Army also took control of the village of al-Bagilia in eastern Homs governorate killing dozens of ISIS fighters and destroying several vehicles. Skirmishes also took place in the surrounded areas and hills.

The following information must be considered a rumour until more reliable prooves are provided. The US-backed Maghawir al-Thawra commander called “Abu Housse” has reported defecting to government forces and stole several weapons and machine guns when defecting.

Damascus:

Clashes and air strikes occurred today in Eastern Gouta pocket as the SAA launched an assault on Zariqiyah front after shelling the area. Furthermore, a new front will probably be oppened by government forces in Irbeen after some airstrikes.

Hasaka:

ISIS propaganda announced, with a bunch of images and videos, what apparently looks like a successful raid on a Kurdish base in south Hasaka governorate.

Iraq

Anbar:

An IED destroyed a pro-government vehicle killing its 3 fighters in Sakaar Rutbah according to Amaq news agency. Also, the Islamic State claims 3 suicide bombing north-west of Heet city.

Salah al-Din:

The Islamic state claims a 2-man suicide raid on police headquarters in Al-Amiriyyah, south-east of Fallujah city. The suicide attack was carried by teen-fighters

Nineveh:

A 12 vehicle ISIS convoy was targeted by Iraqi forces south of Tal Abta killing multiple fighters, among them there were foreign fighters.

Amaq

Yemen

Islamic State claims to have broken the Houthis siege of Al-Zuhra area in south-west Al-Bayda governorate.

CJTF-OIR :

On the 27th of July 2017, CJTF-OIR has conducted 17 strikes in Syria. CJTF-OIR ‘s main focus in Syria is Raqqa region where they did eight strikes supporting SDF‘s operations against IS destroying six fighting positions, a supply cache, an ISIS communication headquarters, and an anti-air artillery system.

Other areas where nine airstrikes occurred are Abu Kamal (Al-Bukamal), Al-Shadaddi and Deir al-Zour, destroying 19 oil refinement stills, four well-heads, two oil storage tanks, two oil trailers, an ISIS tunnel, and suppressed a supply route. The full report on CJTF-OIR strikes conducted in both Syria & Iraq can be found here.

Other:

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