Syrian War Daily – 3rd of December 2017

Hello and welcome to the 264th installment of the SWD.

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Free Syrian Army’s Al-Jabhat al-Shamiya (The Levant Front) opened negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces regarding the release of prisoners in exchange for SDF‘s fighters. The front’s spokesman, Baraa al-Shami stated that they started negotiations to free FSA‘s fighters and civilians detained by the SDF in Afrin and Manbij.

Raqqa:

During the removal of the rubble in Al-Badu neighborhood in Raqqa, bodies of six civilians were found. The civilians were supposedly killed by a CJTF-OIR‘s airstrike on the city, two months ago.

Idlib:

Vehicle-Borne improvised explosive device exploded in the city of Idlib, in the vicinity of the industrial zone, near Al-Mihrab roundabout. Syrian Civil Defense’s (The White Helmets) element in Idlib, Abu Ahmed said that the explosion of a pickup killed four and injured two civilians.

Explosion occurred at the headquarters of the Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Nasr in the village of Tramla, southern Idlib. The explosion occurred as the fighters were dismantling a “hell cannon” (improvised mortar), in which a shell got stuck. The explosion killed two and wounded two fighters of the group.

Hama:

Syrian Arab Army’s shelling of rebel-held area near Al-Zara thermal power plant seriously wounded Free Syrian Army’s fighter. SAA also targeted Harbinafsah with 25 shells and reportedly wounded a civilian in the locality.

Homs:

Syrian Arab Army conducted a shelling of several localities in the rebel Northern Homs pocket, such as Talbiseh and Al-Ghantu. One fighter of the newly-formed Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh Homs was killed by the shelling of Talbiseh, the group’s main area of operations.

Deir al-Zour:

Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the CJTF-OIR‘s airstrikes took control of the village of Dranj from the Islamic State. Clashes continue between SDF and IS in Abu Hammam and Al-Kashkia villages.

Syrian Arab Army’s Tiger Forces reportedly captured eight localities from the Islamic State in the direction of Al-Bukamal (Albu Kamal) from Al-Mayadeen. Eight localities reported as captured by the SAA today are; Al-Jadalah, Qusur Umm Saba, Sifsafa, Ajrama, Salihiya, Wadi al-Waroud, Maen al-Sabkha, and Al-Shamar al-Layih. After these advances, SAA reached outskirts of Al-Qataa.

Syrian Democratic Forces reported the capture of the entire eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour from the Islamic State, with the help of CJTF-OIR and the Russian Air Force. However, this statement is incorrect as the Islamic State still maintains presence in several areas in the eastern Deir al-Zour governorate.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported a suicide attack against the Syrian Arab Army west of Al-Salihiyah village. The suicide attack destroyed a tank and three vehicles, according to the Amaq Agency. Furthermore, IS reportedly destroyed SAA‘s BMP with an anti-tank guided missile, also west of Al-Salihiyah.

Approximate situation in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Source: Emmanuel

Damascus:

Ahrar al-Sham’s spokesman for the East Ghouta, Mundhir Fares stated that the Syrian Arab Air Force mistakenly targeted Syrian Arab Army’s positions in the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ in Harasta.

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery shelled Harasta, Madaya, Mesraba, Saqba, and Hammouriya in the East Ghouta. Syrian Civil Defense reported death of a civilian in Harasta due to the shelling.

Rebel shelling of Damascus and its vicinity wounded five civilians. Twelve shells hit Harasta and wounded two civilians. Three people were wounded by the shelling of Deir Ibrahim al-Khalil street in Keshkul neighborhood.

Islamic State’s sniper killed an element of the Free Syrian Army in Yalda, southern Damascus, according to the Amaq Agency.

Daraa:

Free Syrian Army’s Jaysh al-Thawra released a statement appointing a new general commander of the group, after the term of Suleiman al-Sharif (Abu Kanan) ended. The group appointed Ahmed Ibrahim al-Qasim as the new general commander of the group. Al-Qasim was one of the first defectors from the Syrian Arab Army and was the commander of the Liwa Abad al-Rahman Jbab, part of the Jaysh al-Muetaz Biallah.

Syrian Arab News Agency reported that around 100 people in Shara village, Al-Lajat area, settled their cases with the Syrian government. Out of those 100 people, 40 were reportedly the fighters of the Free Syrian Army’s Al-Wiyat al-Omari.

Jordanian Security Forces freed a Jordanian citizen kidnapped by the rebels in the southern Syria. The abducted civilian was transported to his family in Irbid Governorate, Jordan. The rebels reportedly tortured the individual and demanded ransom for his release. However, Jordanian Army’s General Command did not release the name of the rebel group that kidnapped the individual nor where the kidnapping took place.

Iraq

Diyala:

Islamic State’s sniper killed Iraqi Army’s soldier in Al-Waqf area northeast of Baqubah, according to a statement from the Amaq Agency.

Salah al-Deen:

Iraqi Security Forces foiled a suicide attack in Al-Tarmiyah area. The attacker was arrested, his explosive belt defused and a grenade and a pistol seized.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Afghan National Security Forces’ operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) killed five IEA fighters in Dawlat Abad district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Army’s positions in Almar district. The attack resulted in the injury of two ANA‘s elements.

Kunar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces wounded three IEA fighters during the clashes between the two in Neupaz district.

Badghis Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan kidnapped five people from Qadis district. However, one of the kidnapped individuals was killed by the IEA after he was identified as a police officer.

Maidan Wardak Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 12, wounded five and captured one IEA fighter in the province.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces’ operations against the Islamic State in the province, resulted in six dead IS’ fighters and one wounded.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousef Ahmadi announced that the Islamic State’s deputy leader in Afghanistan, Abdul Razaq Mehdi defected to the IEA. Razaq Mehdi was responsible for the communication and coordination of IS’ fighters between Iraq and Afghanistan. Razaq Mehdi reportedly called all fighters of IS to join IEA.

Islamic State’s fighters assassinated an element of Afghan National Police in the city of Jalalabad.

Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device exploded in the city of Jalalabad, killing six and injuring 13 civilians.

Herat Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted anti-insurgency operations in Dizq village, Ghoryan district. The operations were conducted two days after an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s assassination attempt was foiled in the area. Security Forces reportedly killed a group of IEA fighters and seized three assault rifles, a number of pistols and ammunition.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan launched an attack against the Afghan National Army in Dizk region, reportedly killing six ANA‘s elements. One IEA fighter was killed in the attack.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed nine, wounded four IEA fighters and destroyed a vehicle.

Khost Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Jaji directorate. The operations resulted in death of eight IEA fighters.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed seven and wounded seven IEA fighters, as well as destroyed two vehicles in Farah district.

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces’ operations in Deh Rawud district killed 14 IEA fighters and wounded another six, as well as destroyed a vehicle and two IEA positions.

Zabul Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol, killing two and wounding one ANA‘s element in Mizan district. Another improvised explosive device targeted a foot patrol between the center of Shamizu directorate and Zarku checkpoint, killing one and wounding two ANA‘s elements.

Afghan National Army’s soldier surrendered himself to the fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Shah Joy district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Garmsir district, killing four IEA fighters, wounding another one and destroying three vehicles, 10 positions and several weapons depots and ammunition caches.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Army’s checkpoint in Jerash directorate. The raid resulted in death of three ANA‘s elements and destruction of a checkpoint.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan launched an attack on Afghan National Army’s checkpoint and continued to clash with ANA‘s reinforcements in Jerash district. IEA reportedly killed four ANA‘s elements and destroyed two vehicles in the attack.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive devices between Jerash and Sengin districts killed and wounded six ANA‘s elements.

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted the vehicle of the commander of the second police station in Kandahar, known as Nani. The explosion destroyed the vehicle, wounded Nani and killed two of his bodyguards.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Shah Wali Kot district, killing two and wounding two ANA‘s elements.

Six Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive devices targeted Afghan National Army’s convoy between Salami and Arug points in Khakrez district. Four ANA‘s vehicles were destroyed by the explosions and elements on board killed or wounded.

CJTF-OIR:

CJTF-OIR announced a change in their publishing policy. Now two strikes reports will be published each week, on Mondays and Fridays.

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Amaq Agency:

Other:

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