Hello and welcome to the 342nd 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 11 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 Yeki Dam, Shaltah, Marsawa, Al-Nabi Houri, and Al-Jisr al-Roumani in Sharran subdistrict, Al-Biyadah, Tellat al-Qila, Diwan Tahtani, Batu Satouf, and Madaya in Jindires subdistrict, and point 687 on Jabal al-Samoud in Rajo subdistrict.

Turkish Armed Forces stated that at least 1641 elements of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel were “neutralized” since the start of the operation ‘Olive Branch’.

Kurdish Red Crescent reported that Turkish Armed Forces’ shelling of Afrin city and its surroundings killed one and wounded seven civilians.

Syrian Interim Government’s Al-Jaysh al-Watani al-Suri (Syrian National Army) announced formation of a military court and military police in the city of Al-Bab, with branches in Azaz and Jarabulus. The newly-formed military court will work on resolving differences between rebel factions, as well as work on prosecuting captured elements of the Islamic State, YPG , and Syrian Arab Army.

Approximate situation in Afrin region, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Tomasz Rolbiecki

Homs:

Syrian Arab Army destroyed Ahrar al-Sham’s vehicle with an anti-tank guided missile on the road between Haboub al-Riyah and Al-Halimuz villages in the Northern Homs pocket. Reports suggest that three elements of Ahrar al-Sham were killed and five wounded by the explosion of the vehicle.

Deir al-Zour:

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Major General Mostafa Zahedi was reported as killed in the clashes with the Islamic State in the eastern Deir al-Zour. However, several reports suggest that Zahedi was killed by CJTF-OIR ‘s airstrikes, which targeted Syrian Arab Army-affiliated militias in Jadida al-Akidat, Khasham, and Maret areas on the 7th of February. Zahedi was one of the most prominent commanders sent by Iran to Syria. Zahedi also fought in Iran–Iraq war in the 1980s.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Al-Shifuniyah, Awtaya, Kafr Batna, Harasta, Jisreen, Mesraba, Saqba, and Hammouriyah in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), 20 civilians were killed and over a dozen wounded in Hammouriyah, while four civilians were killed in Saqba. Syrian Civil Defense also stated that three civilians were killed in Jisreen, two in Mesraba, and one in Awtaya.

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Jaramana, Al-Sayyidah Zaynab, Harasta, and Bab Sharqi and Al-Amarah areas of the city of Damascus. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, six civilians were wounded in Al-Amarah and three in Al-Sayyidah Zaynab.

Rebel ‘Bianahum Zulimu’ operations room, led by Ahrar al-Sham reported that its forces launched an attack against the Syrian Arab Army and captured several positions on “hospital” front in Harasta. The operations room also reported that they killed several Syrian Arab Army’s elements and showed footage of captured weapons and ammunition.

Situation in the East Ghouta, as Syrian Arab Army prepares for an offensive in the region. Source: Emmanuel

Iraq

Kirkuk:

Islamic State’s elements ambushed Iraqi Security Forces in the southwestern part of Al-Riyadh area. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, 30 elements of the Iraqi Security Forces were killed and six vehicles burned in the ambush.

Afghanistan

Balkh Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (Taliban) improvised explosive device killed an element of the Afghan Local Police in Chimtal district.

Kunduz Province:

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

Laghman Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed seven elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Alingar district.

Afghan National Security Forces freed 30 prisoners from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s prison in Sangan Darah area of Alingar district. Three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were killed and two wounded in the encounter, as well as several arrested.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three elements of the Islamic State in Achin 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

Paktia Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device killed two and wounded two elements of the Afghan National Army in Zurmat district.

Badghis Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Gharchagay area of Qadis district. Afghan National Army’s commander Rahimullah was killed and three soldiers wounded in the raid. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was also killed in the encounter.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Army in Ghoroto area of Murghab district.

Herat Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy on Kandahar road in Aziz Abad area of Shindand district. Three elements of the Afghan National Security Forces and one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were wounded in the encounter.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s tank in Yaka Sah area of Gulran district, killing three and wounding two soldiers.

Ghazni Province:

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

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Deh Yak district, killing three and wounding two policemen. Similarly, two elements of the Afghan National Police were killed and three wounded in an attack on a checkpoint in Shalgar district.

Paktika Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed a vehicle in Barmal district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s checkpoint and wounded one policeman in the city of Sharana, capital of Paktika Province.

Farah Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy in Shorab area of the city of Farah, killing two and wounding 11 elements.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed Afghan National Police’s officer Abdul Razaq in the 4th Police District of the city of Farah. Similarly, Afghan National Army’s element was killed in an ambush in Ganj Abad area of Bala Buluk district.

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

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed a vehicle and several weapons depots anda ammunition caches in Chora district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s local commander in Nad Ali district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in the 2nd Police District of the city of Laskhar Gah, capital of Helmand Province. Eight elements of the Afghan National Police were killed in the encounter, while the remaining elements withdrew from the checkpoint. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also destroyed two vehicles during the clashes. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was killed and another wounded in the encounter.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed two elements of the Afghan National Army in Yakchal area of Nahri Saraj district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers killed three Afghan National Army’s elements in Abdullah Qaif area between Nad Ali and Marjah districts. Similarly, two elements of the Afghan National Army were killed by a sniper in Parchaw area of Nad Ali district.

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

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Shah Ghondan area of Khakrez district, after the latter’s elements withdrew from the checkpoint after a brief engagement with the attackers. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was wounded in the encounter.

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:

Russia:

Islamic State’s element opened fire in a Russian Orthodox church in Kizlyar city of Republic of Dagestan. According to the reports, five civilians were killed and five wounded in the attack. The attacker was killed by the security forces after committing the attack.

Other:

Intellectual credited property used may vary from an edition to edition.

Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below, constructive criticism is welcomed.

Syrian War Daily is looking for individuals willing to contribute to the project. If you are interested in contributing, please fill out the form on this page.

For those of you interested, you can follow us on an official Twitter account @SyrianWarDaily, or me personally on my twitter @joskobaric where I occasionally tweet some things.