Syrian War Daily – 17th of January 2018

Hello and welcome to the 309th installment of the SWD.

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Aleppo:

Syrian Arab Army captured Batiha village from the rebel factions in the southern Aleppo governorate.

Syrian Democratic Forces’ Manbij Military Council and Turkey-Backed Free Syrian Army clashed for several hours in the vicinity of Al-Muhsenli village, northwest of Manbij.

Al-Mouqawamat al-Suriya (Syrian Resistance), formerly known as Al-Jabhat al-Shaebiat li-Tahrir Liwa Askandrun, released a statement today about pledging to aid Syrian Democratic Forces in Afrin area, in case of a Turkish Army and Turkey-Backed Free Syrian Army’s attack on Afrin. Syrian Resistance is an armed group loyal to the Syrian government and under the command of Mihraç Ural.

Ahrar al-Sham and Al-Jabhat al-Shamiyah conducted a raid in Suisal village against the group of individuals, who are responsible for kidnapping and torturing civilians in TFSA-held areas of northern Aleppo. Two individuals belonging to the group stated that they are a part of the Free Syrian Army’s Firqat al-Sultan Murad (Sultan Murad Division). Sultan Murad Division denied these claims and handed over one of its fighters for investigation to the security committee in the city of Al-Bab.

Syrian Democratic Forces conducted an anti-insurgency operation in the vicinity of Sarin, capturing ten elements of the Islamic State, who were planning to flee to Turkey through Turkey-Backed Free Syrian Army-held city of Azaz.

Situation in southern Aleppo. Source: Siruyak

Latakia:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery reportedly targeted the vehicle of the Free Syrian Army’s 1st Coastal Division, killing one and wounding two elements of the group on the road towards Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib governorate.

Idlib:

Islamic State reportedly captured Al-Juhman, Duwadiyah, Saraa, and Suraya villages from the Syrian Arab Army east of Sinjar, after yesterday’s statement by Amaq Agency about capturing seven Syrian Arab Army’s positions. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported destruction of a Syrian Arab Army’s tank and killing of one soldier with an anti-tank guided missile east of Abu al-Duhur airbase.

Approximate situation in the southern Idlib. Source: Syrian Civil War Map

Homs:

Syrian Arab Army clashed with the Free Syrian Army’s Katibat Hajar al-Khatib north of Al-Rastan in Northern Homs pocket. Reports suggest that three fighters of Katibat Hajar al-Khatib were killed in the clashes. Syrian Arab Army’s artillery also shelled the city of Al-Rastan, reportedly killing four civilians.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Harasta, Arbeen, Ain Terma, Douma, and Al-Nashabiyah in the East Ghouta. Local council of Harasta stated that over a dozen of civilians was seriously wounded by the targeting of Harasta, while Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets) reported that several civilians were wounded by the shelling of Douma.

Syrian Ministry of Defense’s correspondent, Major Walid Khail was killed as he was covering Syrian Arab Army’s operations against rebel factions in Harasta.

Faylaq al-Rahman’s security detachment released Abdul Karim Orabi (Abu al-Huda), who was arrested yesterday in Jobar, East Ghouta. Abdul Karim was immediately transferred to the hospital after his release, as his condition was described as bad.

Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported killing of one and injury of four elements of Jaysh al-Islam, after they were targeted by an RPG in Al-Zain neighborhood, south of Damascus.

Daraa:

Rebel “Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office” reported death of a Free Syrian Army’s fighter, due to wounds sustained in clashes with the Syrian Arab Army at the outskirts of Kafr Shams.

Iraq

Diyala:

Islamic State’s improvised explosive device killed and wounded seven elements of the Iraqi Federal Police in Al-Tabaj area northeast of Baqubah, according to the Amaq Agency.

Afghanistan

Balkh Province:

Afghan National Security Forces arrested two fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) in Chimtal district.

Kunduz Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted large-scale operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Archi (Dasht-e Archi) and Chardara districts. Afghan National Security Forces killed 13 and wounded eight elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed two bases, four fighting positions, and several weapons depots and ammunition caches in the operations.

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

Takhar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan Local Police’s checkpoint, killing two and wounding three elements in Ishkamish district.

Samangan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed an element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Darah Sof Payan district.

Baghlan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four and wounded five elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the province.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan repelled Afghan National Security Forces’ attack in Puli Khumri district, killing three and wounding three elements of the Afghan Local Police in the process. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan foiled Afghan National Security Forces’ attack in the same district, killing four and wounding seven elements.

Kunar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces wounded four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the province. All of the four wounded elements are reportedly from Pakistan.

Afghan National Police’s element surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with his weapon in Ghaziabad district.

Laghman Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Alingar district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy at the outskirts of the city of Mihtarlam, capital of Laghman Province, which resulted in heavy clashes between the two sides. Seven elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were reportedly killed and another two wounded, while one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was wounded in the clashes. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also reported that they destroyed a tank during the clashes.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed four Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s and two Islamic State’s elements in Achin and Sherzad districts.

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

Maidan Wardak Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol, killing one soldier in Saydabad district.

Logar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Army’s elements, killing one and wounding one in Mohammad Agha district

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle and killed five elements in Baraki Barak district.

Paktia Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy at the outskirts of the city of Gardez, capital of the Paktia Province. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, two supply trucks and three tanks were destroyed, as well as four Afghan National Security Forces’ elements killed and seven wounded in the clashes.

Two Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive devices killed an element of the Afghan National Army and wounded another two in Zazi district.

Badghis Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three and wounded one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed an ammunition cache in Muqur district.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed 13 and wounded four elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khaki Safed district. Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed two vehicles and several weapons depots and ammunition caches.

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

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two, wounded one and arrested one element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Nad Ali district. Furthermore, an IED factory, a motorcycle, and an ammunition cache were destroyed.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Khusgk Abie area of the city of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand Province. Eight elements of the Afghan National Police, including commander Asad were killed in the clashes, while the remaining elements withdrew from the checkpoint. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan destroyed two vehicles and seized a PK machine gun and six assault rifles from the checkpoint. One element of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was killed and another wounded in the encounter.

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

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed Afghan National Security Forces’ commander Bismillah Jan in the 5th Police District of Kandahar city. Similarly, two elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were also killed by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Kandahar.

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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