Syrian War Daily – 1st of March 2018

Hello and welcome to the 352nd 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 three 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 Kharab Suluq, Haidar, and Janki, as well as three surrounding hills in Rajo subdistrict.

Turkish Armed Forces announced death of eight of its elements and injury of additional 13, due to engagements with the Syrian Democratic Forces’ YPG in Afrin region. This announcement brings Turkish Armed Forces death toll in the operation ‘Olive Branch’ to 41 elements.

Syrian Arab Red Crescent in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent delivered a humanitarian aid convoy to Afrin region, consisting of 29 trucks.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reportedly recaptured Al-Tawamah, Kafr Halab, Reef al-Muhandisin, Urum al-Saghra, and Al-Sheikh Aqil from Jabhat Tahrir Suriya (Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat Nour al-Deen al-Zenki). The two sides are currently clashing in Al-Fawj 46 (46th Regiment) area. Before Hayat Tahrir al-Sham recaptured Reef al-Muhandisin, a weapons depot exploded in the locality targeting Jabhat Tahrir Suriya’s elements. Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets) reported that they recovered bodies of eight individuals, while the reports claim that 20 were killed and eight wounded in the explosion.

Approximate situation in Afrin. Source: Operation Olive Branch

Idlib:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reportedly recaptured Kafr Yahmul, Zardana, Hazara, Deir Hassan, Ram Hamdan, Hazano, Maarrat Misrin, Tell Sandal, Maarat al-Naasan, and Kitan from Jabhat Tahrir Suriya. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham also reportedly captured Tarmanin and Tell Adeh, however, reports suggest that Jabhat Tahrir Suriya recaptured both localities. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Ibaa News Agency reported that six elements of Jabhat Tahrir Suriya were captured in Ram Hamdan.

Approximate situation in Idlib governorate. Source: Peter Bucci

Hama:

Syrian Arab Air Force conducted air raids over Al-Buwayda, Lahaya, and Morek in the northern Hama. Reports suggest that two elements of the Free Syrian Army’s Al-Jaysh al-Thani (Second Army) were killed and three wounded by the air raids over Lahaya.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Army’s artillery and Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Hammouriyah, Kafr Batna, Saqba, Douma, Harasta, Arbeen, Jisreen, Zamalka, Al-Nashabiyah, Awtaya, Al-Ashaari, Beit Sawa, and Al-Shifuniyah in the East Ghouta. According to the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets), four civilians were killed by the targeting of Douma, while tree civilians were killed by the targeting of Beit Sawa. According to other reports, four civilians were killed by the targeting of Al-Shifuniyah.

Rebel forces in the East Ghouta shelled Harasta, as well as Al-Shaalan, Bab al-Salam and Abu Rummaneh areas of the city of Damascus. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, one civilian was wounded by the shelling of Bab al-Salam area.

Syrian Arab Army reportedly captured air defense battalion north of Awtaya in the East Ghouta.

Jaysh al-Islam’s spokesman, Hamza Birqdar stated that the group launched a counterattack against the Syrian Arab Army on Hawsh al-Dawahirah front in the East Ghouta. Birqdar shared footage showing four killed Syrian Arab Army’s elements, while the reports claim that 15 elements were killed in the encounter.

Syrian Arab Army-affiliated Liwa al-Quds sent a military convoy to the East Ghouta, in order to participate in the battles in the area.

Situation in the East Ghouta. Source: Emmanuel

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (Taliban) sniper killed Afghan National Security Forces’ commander Nissar Ahmad in Gandab area of Chilgazy district.

Jowzjan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces reportedly foiled Islamic State’s attack in Dzerab district, by targeting the elements preparing to launch the attack. Islamic State reportedly prepared a suicide attack to spearhead the attack, but the targeting reportedly triggered the suicide belt, which exploded among the Islamic State’s elements. According to the reports, 27 Islamic State’s elements were killed and dozen wounded by the explosion of the belt. Reports also suggest that among the 27 killed elements are ten fighters from Uzbekistan, six from Tajikistan, and two from France.

Kunduz Province:

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

Takhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed five and wounded 11 elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as seized two motorcycles and several weapons depots and ammunition caches in Darqad district. One of the five killed elements is the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s deputy governor of Khawajah Bahawodin district, Ali Ahmad. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported heavy clashes in Darqad district and stated that 13 elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed and 15 wounded in the clashes.

Baghlan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed nine, wounded 11, and arrested three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Burka and Tala wa Barfak districts. Afghan National Security Forces also destroyed three vehicle and seized several weapons depots and ammunition caches.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan Local Police’s checkpoint in Puli Khumri district. Afghan Local Police’s commander Karam Batoor was killed in the encounter, while the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized weapons and ammunition from the checkpoint.

Kapisa Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Tagab district.

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two elements of the Islamic State in Achin district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed and killed two elements of the Afghan Local Police in Bati Kot district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized a motorcycle and an assault rifle from the encounter.

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

Herat Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy in Mir Haidar area of Shindand district. According to the reports, two elements of the Afghan National Security Forces were killed, four wounded and a tank destroyed in the encounter.

Ghazni Province:

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

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed two elements of the Afghan Local Police in Muqur district.

Farah Province:

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

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed six, wounded five, and arrested three elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as well as destroyed four vehicles and several weapons depots and ammunition caches in Jerashk district.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Security Forces’ armored personnel carrier in Tori Shah area of Jerashk district.

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

Kandahar Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan arrested 17 elements of the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army, as well as the spokesman for Urozgan Province’s governor in Urdo Balagh area of Shah Wali Kot district. According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the prisoners have been transferred to a safe location and their cases have been forwarded to the Islamic Emirate’s judicial commission.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Seyah Sang Dara area of Khakrez 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:

Egypt:

Islamic State’s improvised explosive device reportedly destroyed Egyptian Army’s M60 Patton tank, south of Al-Arish.

Other:

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