Hello and welcome to the 406th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

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Aleppo:

Three rebel battalions; Katibat Sayf al-Islam, Katibat Saed ibn Meadh, and Katibat Mohammed Fayiz al-Ahmad announced their joining of Jaysh Halab al-Shahba (Jaysh Ibna al-Shahba according to some), which operates in western Aleppo. Interestingly enough, Jaysh Halab al-Shahba reportedly announced its dissolution on the 27th of February. The group was presumably dissolved due to Jabhat Tahrir Suriya threatening to attack it, as it allegedly harbored elements and commanders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Now that Jabhat Tahrir Suriya and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham signed a permanent ceasefire agreement, the group is back on the rebel scene. One of the three battalions that joined Jaysh Halab al-Shahba, Katibat Mohammed Fayiz al-Ahmad operates in northern Hama. According to Jaysh Halab al-Shahba’s leader Captain Amin, the newly-joined battalions consist of around 500 fighters.

Raqqa:

Left over Islamic State’s improvised explosive device killed one and wounded three civilians in Al-Tawasuiyah street of the city of Raqqa. The incident occurred as the individuals were working on removing rubble from one of the buildings on the street.

Idlib:

Several assassinations took place in Idlib governorate today, all conducted by unknown gunmen, with several reports accusing Jund al-Aqsa’s cells of conducting the assassinations. Unknown gunmen wounded the head of the media department in Idlib’s education department, Mohammed Haj Ali near Al-Nayrab, north of Idlib. Haj Ali was reportedly wounded several times in the chest. Unknown gunmen assassinated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s commander, Abu al-Ward Kafr Battikh and several other elements of the group north of Maarat al-Numaan. Jaysh al-Ahrar’s commander, Abu Salim Binnish was assassinated by unknown gunmen in an area close to Al-Sawaghiya in the vicinity of Binnish.

Unknown gunmen opened fire on a Turkistan Islamic Party’s military vehicle on the road between Armanaz and Millis. Casualties from the incident are not confirmed, with several reports suggesting that three elements of the Turkistan Islamic Party were killed. Unknown gunmen killed three elements of Kataib Hamza ibn Abdul Matlab near the city of Maarat Misrin. Kataib Hamza ibn Abdul Matlab’s elements were evacuated from Zabadani in Damascus governorate to Idlib two years ago.

Hama:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham backed by Hurras al-Deen (Religious Guards / Guardians of Religion) and several other factions launched an attack against the Syrian Arab Army in northern Hama. According to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Ibaa News Agency, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allies managed to capture the village of Al-Hamamiyat from the Syrian Arab Army so far. Hurras al-Deen, which is participating in the attack, is a recently formed organization, made up of seven rebel factions with several Al-Qaida’s figures in its Shura council. Several other factions that are supposedly taking part in the attack are; Ansar al-Tawhid (remnants of Jund al-Aqsa), Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Izza, and Jabhat al-Inqaz al-Muqatila

Situation in northern Hama, before Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched the attack. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army and allies made additional advances against the Islamic State in Al-Maadhaniyah district of Al-Hajar al-Aswad, reportedly capturing scrap (Al-Kharda) plant and making advances in factories areas.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency stated that a Syrian Arab Army’s lieutenant and two other elements of the army were killed in clashes with the Islamic State in Al-Tadamon and Al-Yarmouk camp, south of Damascus. Similarly, the agency released another statement claiming that an Islamic State’s sniper killed two elements of the Syrian Arab Army in Al-Qadam district.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Ibaa News Agency stated that the group repelled another Syrian Arab Army and allies’ attack on the 30th Street in Al-Yarmouk camp. The agency also stated that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was able to retrieve body of one Syrian Arab Army’s element killed in the failed attack.

Approximate situation in southern Damascus. Source: Suriyak

Quneitra:

Improvised explosive device targeted a civilian vehicle on the road between the villages of Al-Aisha and Al-Rafid. The vehicle was carrying family members of the commander of the Free Syrian Army’s Liwa Suqour Anzah, Abu Saqr. The explosion wounded four sons of Abu Saqr, and one of them was transferred to a hospital in Nawa for treatment.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) overran three Afghan National Army’s checkpoints in Chaghatak area of Almar district, as part of the newly-launched spring offensive ‘Operation Al-Khandaq’. Nine elements of the Afghan National Army were killed and 15 wounded, while one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was killed and two wounded in the encounters. Similarly, an Afghan Local Police’s checkpoints in Chichakto area of Qaysar district was overran by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Jowzjan Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s commander Allah Dad and three other elements of the group were killed by the Afghan National Security Forces’ artillery shelling in Faizabad district.

Balkh Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 27 and wounded 36 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Chahar Bolak and Dawlatabad districts, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Afghan National Security Forces reportedly cleared 14 villages in Chahar Bolak, Dawlatabad, and Chimtal districts from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as part of the Operation ‘Nawid 6’, which was launched five days ago and is aimed at destroying Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s bases in the province.

Kunduz Province:

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

Kapisa Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four and wounded one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Nijrab district.

Laghman Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 14 and wounded five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Alishang district.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed an element of the Islamic State in Shinwar 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

Logar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested two individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Baraki Barak district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed deputy of Logar Province, Qamaruddin Shakib in Mohammad Agha district. Four individuals were also wounded in the incident.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured an element of the ‘National Directorate of Security’ in Sabari district.

Badghis Province:

Afghan National Army’s commander Abdul Momin and another element of the army surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with their weapons in Ab Kamari district.

Herat Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed five and wounded four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed a camp in Shindand district.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 36 and wounded 15 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed three motorcycles in Giro and Qarabagh districts, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked an Afghan National Police’s foot patrol in Farah Rod district. Two elements of the Afghan National Police were killed and one wounded, while one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was killed in the encounter.

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

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 14 and wounded ten elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khas Urozgan and Tarinkot districts. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers targeted Afghan National Army’s elements in Kotwalo and Speni Khawri areas of the city of Tarinkot, killing and wounding seven soldiers.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 19 and wounded 16 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Daychopan district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran five Afghan National Army’s checkpoints in Daychopan district, as part of the newly-launched spring offensive named ‘Operation Al-Khandaq’. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Al-Emarah News stated that 15 elements of the Afghan National Army were killed and seven wounded in the encounters, while the remaining elements withdrew from the checkpoints. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized a PK machine gun, a DShK heavy machine gun, and two assault rifles from the checkpoints.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and destroyed an Afghan National Army’s armored personnel carrier on the road towards Shinkay district in Seuyrie district. Two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were killed and one wounded in the encounter.

Nimruz Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed an Afghan National Army’s armored vehicle at a checkpoint in Shahwali area of Delaram district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and arrested four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed a drug factory and two vehicles in Kajaki and Lashkar Gah districts.

National Directorate of Security conducted an operation against an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s camp in Nahri Saraj district. Three commanders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were arrested in the operation; Abdul Wassi, Abdul Siemi, and Hafiz Mohammad Haq. Furthermore, the National Directorate of Security seized large quantities of weapons, equipment and ammunition, including two VBIEDs, three motorcycles, and RPG launcher, a PK machine gun, and three grenades.

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

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed an Afghan National Army’s armored personnel carrier in Mandozo area of Maywand district. Similarly, an Afghan National Army’s armored personnel carrier was destroyed by an improvised explosive device in Maywand district.

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:

Somalia:

Islamic State’s fighters assassinated a member of the ‘National Intelligence and Security Agency’ in the city of Mogadishu, capital of Somalia.

Other:

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