Hello and welcome to the 318th installment of the SWD.
Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:
Aleppo:
Syrian Democratic Forces’ Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (People’s Protection Units) recaptured Sheikh Khurus, Kurni, and Bali Kuy from the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army in Bulbul subdistrict of Afrin.
Turkish Armed Forces conducted strikes over 23 targets in Afrin region. The strikes were conducted by 13 Turkish Air Force’s warplanes. According to the reports, seven civilians were killed by the airstrike at the outskirts of Mabatli village. Turkish Armed Forces also stated that at least 343 elements of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel were “neutralized” since the start of the operation ‘Olive Branch’ (AR: Ghasin al-Zaytun, TR: Zeytin Dalı).
Turkish Land Forces’ artillery shelled Yekîneyên Parastina Gel’s positions on Jabal Birsaya, north of Azaz.
Unknown gunmen assassinated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s commander of Aleppo sector, Atiyah Allah (Abu Osama Tal Aran) in Kafr Karmin, west of Aleppo. However, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s commander Edi Abu Faisal stated that Abu Osama was killed by an improvised explosive device, which targeted his vehicle in Al-Abizmu. Abu Osama was a prominent commander, who participated in several battles in the southern Aleppo.
Approximate situation in the northern Aleppo. Source: Syrian Civil War Map
Raqqa:
Left over Islamic State’s improvised explosive device killed two civilians in the city of Raqqa, as they were inspecting their homes in the city.
Idlib:
Reports about the Syrian Arab Army capturing Abu al-Duhur on the 23rd of January were false, as the locality is still under the control of the rebel factions. This is the second time pro-Syrian Arab Army sources falsely reported the locality as captured.
Deir al-Zour:
Islamic State launched an attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces in the vicinity of Al-Bahra village, northwest of Hajin. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency reported that five elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces were killed and wounded in the attack, as well as an element killed by an Islamic State’s sniper in the same area.
Yesterday’s large attack by the Islamic State against the Syrian Arab Army north and northwest of the city of Al-Bukamal (Albu Kamal) reportedly killed 12 elements. Six of the 12 killed Syrian Arab Army’s elements were reported to be Lieutenants, and identified as; Yusuf Tarad al-Dankawi, Alaa Hussein al-Muhammad, Hassan Saleh Mohammed, Khalid Shehadeh al-Dahou, Bilal Fahd Hamoud, and Mohsen Salim al-Salim.
Situation in the eastern Deir al-Zour. Source: Emmanuel
Damascus:
Islamic State reported complete capture of Al-Zein neighborhood south of Damascus, after clashing with Jaysh al-Islam-led rebels in the neighborhood. Islamic State said that the complete capture of the neighborhood came after the capture of strategic Al-Bina al-Abyad. According to the Islamic State, 19 rebel fighters were killed during the clashes for Al-Zein neighborhood.
Daraa:
Two fighters of the Free Syrian Army’s Liwa Ahfad al-Rasul were wounded by an improvised explosive device, which targeted their vehicle in Daraa al-Balad area of the city of Daraa. One of the fighters was seriously wounded and transferred to a hospital in Tell Shihab, as the group is awaiting approval from Jordan to transfer the fighter to a hospital in Jordan. Syrian Arab Army was accused of planting the improvised explosive device which wounded the fighters.
Rebel Sad al-Bagha operations room released a statement giving the elements of Islamic State-affiliated Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid the last chance to surrender. According to the statement, Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid’s days are numbered and the battle to fully eliminate the group is coming.
Iraq
Diyala:
Islamic State’s improvised explosive device damaged Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) vehicle in Albu Jamea area, southwest of Qara Taba.
Salah al-Deen:
Islamic State raided Iraqi Army’s positions in Al-Thair village, north of Al-Mashahada area. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, three Iraqi Army’s elements were killed in the raid.
Afghanistan
Faryab Province:
Afghan National Security Forces killed two and wounded seven elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) in Khaja Sahib Posh and Kohistan districts.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and wounded two elements of the Afghan National Police in Arab area of Pashtun Kot district.
Kunduz Province:
Approximate situation in Kunduz province, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni
Samangan Province:
National Directorate of Security’s figure, Abdul Ghaffar defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Darah Sof district. Similarly, Afghan Local Police’s commander along with ten of his elements defected to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Darah Sof district.
Baghlan Province:
Afghan National Security Forces killed five and wounded six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed eight fighting positions in the province.
Kapisa Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Security Forces’ vehicle and killed six elements in Afghani area of Nijrab district.
Nangarhar Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan Local Police’s elements in Karli area of Lal Pur district, killing one and wounding one policeman. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan Local Police’s position in Fatah area of the same district, wounding one policeman.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan Local Police’s elements, killing two and wounding one policeman in Karbur area of Hisarak 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
Maidan Wardak Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Army’s elements in Kilil area of Saydabad district. Afghan National Army’s commander of a checkpoint, Nour al-Hadi and his bodyguard were killed in the encounter.
Paktia Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Korogh Kal area of Zurmat district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also engaged Afghan National Police’s reinforcements arriving at the checkpoint, reportedly destroying an armored personnel carrier and killing several policemen in the encounter at the checkpoint.
Badghis Province:
Two Afghan Local Police’s elements surrendered to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Mirghayat area of Qadis district.
Paktika Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan launched an attack on Afghan Local Police’s elements in the province. Five elements of the Afghan Local Police, including commander Salem, were killed in the encounter.
Farah Province:
Afghan National Security Forces killed 11 and wounded six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Pusht Rod district. Among the 11 killed elements are two Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s local commanders, Mullah Nazar and Sayed Mullah.
Approximate situation in Farah province, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni
Urozgan Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Police’s vehicle in Chora district, killing two policemen.
Zabul Province:
Afghan National Security Forces killed eight and wounded six elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed eight fighting positions in the province.
Helmand Province:
Afghan National Security Forces arrested five individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Nawa-I-Barakzayi and Kajaki districts.
Approximate situation in Hemland province, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni
Kandahar Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Zangtoun area of Shah Wali Kot district, killing four and wounding three soldiers.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s snipers targeted Afghan National Army’s checkpoint, killing and wounding five soldiers in Khakrez district.
CJTF-OIR:
Between the 19th and the 25th of January 2018 CJTF-OIR has conducted 60 strikes in Syria. CJTF-OIR‘s main focus in Syria at the moment is Deir al-Zour-Albu Kamal region where they did 60 strikes supporting SDF‘s operations against IS destroying 12 IS supply routes, three IS equipment vehicles, 20 fighting positions, three IS vehicles, two command and control centers, two staging facilities, a VBIED, three weapons caches, two IS headquarters, an IS motorcycle, an IS construction vehicle, three IS-held buildings, a munitions storage, an ammunition truck, three pieces of IS construction equipment, two front-end loaders, a road grader and two IS lines of communication.
Full report on CJTF-OIR strikes conducted in both Syria & Iraq can be found here.
Amaq Agency:
Other:
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