Hello and welcome to the 257th installment of the SWD .

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Idlib:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham handed over the control of the Idlib Central Prison to the Ministry of Justice of the Syrian Salvation Government (Not to be confused with the Syrian Interim Government). The Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government Mohammed Al-Sheikh, Minister of Justice Ibrahim Mohamed Shasho, and Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim al-Jarak, all attended the handover of the prison. The Minister of Justice, Ibrahim Mohamed Shasho stated that improving the situation of the prisoners is the main priority, even by the means of expanding the prison. At the time that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took control of the prison from Jaysh al-Fatah, the prison had more than 400 inmates, down to 250 during the handover.

Russian Air Force conducted an airstrike over Al-Mashad village, reportedly wounding two civilians, as well as causing significant material damage to a number of buildings.

Hama:

Islamic State took control of Abu Ajwah and Anabz villages from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as the latter withdrew to Qasr Ibn Wardan. However, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham managed to recapture Abu Ajwah village and allegedly killed 20 Islamic State’s fighters in the process. As the clashes between HTS and IS started in Abu Ajwah and Anabz, more than 200 civilian families fled from the localities towards the camp for the displaced in Sinjar. The official at the camp for the displaced in Sinjar appealed to humanitarian and relief organizations to provide support to the displaced civilians of the Hama governorate, especially since the winter is approaching.

Deir al-Zour:

Syrian Arab Army captured Ghuraybah from the Islamic State, reducing the latter’s pocket southeast of Al-Mayadeen to just two localities, Al-Quaraya and Al-Ashara.

Situation in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Source: Emmanuel

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s Brigadier General, Ali Mohamad Badran was killed in the clashes with the Ahrar al-Sham on Harasta front.

Syrian Arab Air Force carried out a dozen of air raids over rebel-held localities in the East Ghouta, reportedly causing a significant number of casualties among the civilian population. The city of Mesraba was targeted the most, with reports indicating at least 14 people were killed and 30 wounded, as the air force hit residential areas, including a market. Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets) reported death of five civilians in Madyara and two more in Douma.

Rebel shelling of Al-Maydan neighborhood in the city of Damascus wounded four civilians and caused material damage to several buildings.

Syrian Arab Red Crescent and United Nations postponed a humanitarian convoy consisting of nine trucks destined for Al-Nashabiyah in the East Ghouta. The reasons for postponement are shelling in the area and overall unstable security situation.

Daraa:

Unknown gunmen released a volunteer from the International Rescue Commitee in Tel al-Sannin area, after he was detained for four days. The volunteer was reportedly beaten and deprived of food and water during his detainment. According to the brother of the released volunteer, gunmen demanded a 60,000 dollars ransom, which the family refused to pay.

Iraq

Nineveh:

Iraqi Air Force carried out several airstrikes on Islamic State’s positions in Al-Jazira and Tal al-Banat areas, allegedly killing around 40 IS’ fighters, including a prominent IS’ figure, Iyad al-Jumeily, also known as Abu Yahya al-Ansari.

Diyala:

Islamic State’s sniper killed an Iraqi Army’s soldier in Al-Eazim area, according to the Amaq Agency.

Baghdad:

Iraqi Security Forces carried out operations in Al-Dhayban area, west of Baghdad. Security forces found 14 improvised explosive devices, which were safely detonated in a controlled explosion.

Displaced families from Al-Bawaebid, Al-Karaghul, and Al-Halabsa areas returned to their homes, under the direct supervision of the Baghdad Operations Commander and the commander of the Iraqi Army’s 6th Infantry Division, Major General Jalil al-Rubaei. The families were allowed to return to their homes, after the security forces removed improvised explosive devices planted by the Islamic State, in the aforementioned areas of Al-Kheirat subdistrict of Al-Karma 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:

Afghanistan:

Clashes between the Islamic State and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) have spread to Shirzad directorate after the former made large advances against the latter in Khukhianu (Khujianu) directorate, Nangarhar province.

Other:

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