Hello and welcome to the 280th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Syrian Interim Government’s military councils of several towns northwest of Aleppo announced merger into a single, unified military council under the leadership of Omar al-Awar. The military councils which are a part of the new council are Anadan, Hraytan, Kafr Hamra, Hayan, Bayanoun, Ratyan, and Al-Layramoun.

Raqqa:

Two left over Islamic State’s improvised explosive devices killed two civilians in the city of Raqqa. One of the incidents occurred in Al-Rumaila neighborhood, while the location of the second incident is unknown.

Idlib:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham received orders from the Syrian Salvation Government to raid and close Syrian Interim Government’s headquarters of the Ministry of Health in the city of Maarat al-Numaan. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham also closed several Ministry of Health and Ministry of Higher Education’s offices across the Idlib governorate, as well as closed an office of the Ministry of Agriculture in the city of Saraqib. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the deputy minister of Local Administration and Humanitarian Aid, Ahmed Qusoum was arrested during the raids.

Hama:

Syrian Arab Army and National Defense Forces reportedly captured Tell Aghar from the rebels in the northern Hama.

Approximate situation in the northern Hama. Source: Emmanuel

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery shelled Ain Terma, Douma, Al-Nashabiyah and Harasta in the East Ghouta.

Rebels from the East Ghouta shelled Al-Adashriya neighborhood in Al-Zablattani area of Damascus, killing three and wounding five civilians.

Approximate situation in Beit Jinn pocket. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Daraa:

Free Syrian Army’s Firqat al-Haqq foiled an assassination attempt on one of its commanders in the city of Daraa. Engineering team of the rebel Al-Bunyan al-Marsous operations room dismantled and safely detonated an improvised explosive device planted on the vehicle of the Firaqt al-Haqq’s commander. Firqat al-Haqq released a statement accusing Syrian Arab Army of trying to assassinate the commander.

Iraq

Diyala:

Islamic State’s fighters conducted operations against the Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) near Al-Eazim area. According to the Amaq Agency, three Al-Hashd al-Shaabi elements were killed in the operations, including a commander.

Baghdad:

Iraqi Joint Operations announced the end of the cleaning operations in Matibija area and its surroundings by the Iraqi forces from Salah al-Deen, Samarra and Tigris. The cleaning operations, which started on the 16th of December were conducted by the Iraqi Army, backed by Al-Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi Air Force. Forces from Salah al-Deen axis combed 19 villages and defused seven improvised explosive devices. Forces from Samarra axis combed 12 villages and defused five improvised explosive devices. Forces from Tigris axis defused five improvised explosive devices, destroyed five tunnels, destroyed four motorcycles and found bodies of three IS’ fighters.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (Taliban) improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Shahi area of Khan Char Bagh district, killing Afghan National Army’s commander.

Baghlan Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s fighter managed to infiltrate Afghan National Army’s ranks in Belkhmi directorate and assassinate an important commander, Bhadri, along with one of his bodyguards. Another Afghan National Army’s commander was reportedly wounded. The fighter that carried out the assassination safely returned to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s positions.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 13 and wounded nine fighters of the Islamic State, during the operations in Achin district. Furthermore, an ammunition cache and a drug factory were destroyed in the operations.

Maidan Wardak Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device killed Afghan National Army’s soldier in Baqer Khel area of Saydabad district.

Badghis Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Army’s elements in Nour Khail directorate of Muqur district, killing two soldiers.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured an element of the Afghan National Army in Rabatk area, Qadis district.

Ghazni Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Kutah Sanki directorate, killing two policemen.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s armored vehicle in Tassn area of Dehurk directorate, killing three and wounding two soldiers.

Paktika Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Karma directorate of Mata Khan district. The raid resulted in the injury of three elements of the Afghan National Police.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Berkuti area of Argun directorate. The explosion killed two and wounded three soldiers.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s armored vehicle in Naalak area of Bala Buluk district.

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed nine and wounded three fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Tarinkot district.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, killing six and wounding two fighters of the group, as well as destroying several weapons depots and ammunition caches.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Arghandab district, killing one soldier.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 19 and wounded six fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Nad Ali district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan captured Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Lashkar Gah district, killing eight policemen in the process.

SVBIED exploded in the city of Lashkar Gah, killing two and wounding 31 people. Helmand governor’s spokesman, Omar Zawak confirmed that the incident took place.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Bashran Dasht directorate of Lashkar Gah district. The explosion killed two soldiers.

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 in Al-Zuhur neighborhood, Rafah city.

Other:

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