Hello and welcome to the 293rd installment of the SWD.

Military events/news are listed below by the governorates:

Idlib:

Rebel factions reportedly agreed to form a new joint operations room in the southern Idlib, in an attempt to stop Syrian Arab Army’s advances in the region. The operations room will reportedly consist of; Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham, Turkistan Islamic Party, Jund al-Malahim, Jaysh al-Ahrar, Jaysh al-Izza, Jaysh al-Nasr, Free Idlib Army, Harakat Nour al-Deen al-Zenki, Jaysh al-Nukhba, Al-Jaysh al-Thani, and Ajnad al-Kavkaz. For now, formation of the operations room wasn’t officially announced.

VBIED exploded near the Idlib Central Prison on the road between Idlib and Salqin. Three guards of the prison belonging to the Syrian Salvation Government were wounded by the explosion.

Approximate situation in the southern Idlib – northern Hama region, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Qasioun News Agency

Deir al-Zour:

Syrian Democratic Forces announced in a statement killing of the Islamic State’s Hussein Abu al-Walid, who is responsible for the planning of the twin bombing of Qamishli on the 27 of July 2016, which killed at least 65 individuals and wounded dozens more. Islamic State’s Amaq Agency claimed responsibility for the bombings by announcing that the explosions targeted Asayish (security forces) headquarters.

SDF‘s statement states that Abu al-Walid initially joined Jabhat al-Nusra (now Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), before defecting to the Islamic State in 2013. After defecting, Al-Walid received leadership position as an official of Al-Hisbah forces for several regions. Al-Walid then moved to Al-Raqqa, as one of the Islamic State’s “princes” and he was in charge of planning suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices’ attacks against civilians, according to the SDF‘s statement. After SDF took control of Al-Raqqa, Al-Walid fled to Deir al-Zour governorate. SDF located Al-Walid in Al-Basira village and conducted an operation on the 10th of October 2017, which led to the killing of Al-Walid.

Damascus:

Syrian Arab Air Force targeted Madyara, Harasta, Arbeen, and Mesraba in the East Ghouta.

Ahrar al-Sham launched a new attack against Syrian Arab Army’s positions in ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ (Vehicle Department/Management) and Technical Institute in Harasta. The attack started with a tunnel bomb in the vicinity of the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ on Arbeen axis. During today’s clashes, Ahrar al-Sham allegedly killed more than 20 elements of mostly the Syrian Republican Guard, as well as of the Syrian Arab Army. Director of the Vehicle Department and Syrian Arab Army’s Major General Hassan al-Kurdi was wounded in today’s clashes, along with Brigadier General Mohsen Baiti.

Reports suggest that Ahrar al-Sham is in control of the majority of the ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ (Vehicle Department/Management), while the SAA‘s elements are besieged in Rahba 446 and Technical Institute areas. According to the reports, around 350 elements of the Syrian Republican Guard and Syrian Arab Army are currently besieged, as the SAA is attempting to lift the siege through the tunnels and by sending reinforcements to the city of Harasta.

Rebel Police Command of Damascus and its countryside reported death of one of its elements in the East Ghouta.

Evacuation agreement between the rebel faction in Beit Jinn pocket and Syrian Arab Army was frozen due to rebel factions not complying with it. Rebel factions still hold their position in Al-Talawul al-Humur area, from where they agreed to withdraw in the agreement. Rebels also reportedly refuse to withdraw from Sheikh Abdullah shrine, which has significance to the Druze community. According to the agreement between the two parties, the last batch of rebels was supposed to be evacuated after the rebels handed over Al-Talawul al-Humur and withdrew from Sheikh Abdullah shrine.

Approximate situation in Harasta, depicting Ahrar al-Sham’s siege on SAA-held parts of ‘Army Armored Vehicle Base’ and Technical Institute, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Qasioun News Agency

Daraa:

Two Free Syrian Army’s factions, Liwa Shuhada Inkhil and Al-Wiyat Mujahidi Hawran clashed in the city of Simlin, near Inkhil. The clashes erupted when Liwa Shuhada Inkhil entered Simlin in search of Yasser al-Badieah, leader of Al-Wiyat Mujahidi Hawran, who is accused of executing Liwa Shuhada Inkhil’s leader Zahir al-Zamil yesterday. Liwa Shuhada Inkhil declared Simlin as a military zone and asked civilians to leave it. Curfew was announced in the nearby Inkhil, as the clashes between the two factions continue.

Islamic State-linked Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid attempted to infiltrate positions of the Free Syrian Army’s Liwa al-Karama in the city of Al-Muzayrib. However, elements of Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid were targeted by Liwa al-Karama’s improvised explosive device, which killed six and wounded 10 fighters.

Iraq

Salah al-Deen:

Islamic State launched an attack against Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) positions in Al-Farahatia area near Al-Ishaqi. According to the Islamic State’s Amaq Agency, 15 elements of Al-Hashd al-Shaabi were killed and wounded and two vehicles destroyed in IS’ attack.

Islamic State’s improvised explosive device destroyed Al-Hashd al-Shaabi vehicle, killing an element in Al-Sukariat area west of Baiji, according to the Amaq Agency.

Baghdad:

Iraqi Security Forces arrested Islamic State’s element involved in Camp Speicher massacre, where at least 1500 Shia Iraqi Air Force recruits were killed in 2014. Islamic State’s element was arrested in Abu Ghraib, infamously known for harboring radical sleeper cells.

Afghanistan

Faryab Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (Taliban) improvised explosive device destroyed Afghan National Army’s tank in Jar Kala area of Dawlat Abad district, causing casualties among the elements on board.

Afghan National Army’s soldier was killed by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Karez area of Chilgazy district.

Sar-e Pol Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two and wounded four fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the city of Sar-e Pol.

Balkh Province:

Afghan Local Police’s element was killed in the clashes with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Dawlatabad district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized an assault rifle from the killed element.

Laghman Province:

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

Nangarhar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic State in Achin, Shinwar, Surkh Rod, and Haska Meyna (Deh Bala) districts. Afghan National Security Forces killed 11 fighters of the Islamic State and arrested another two, as well as destroyed a fighting position and a VBIED. One of the two arrested Islamic State’s fighters is from Pakistan.

Islamic State’s inghimasi (suicide fighters) killed 10 elements of the Afghan National Army in Achin district, according to the Amaq Agency.

Logar Province:

Afghan Local Police clashed with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Mohammad Agha district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported killing of six police’s elements in the clashes, including a commander. Furthermore, IEA destroyed a vehicle and seized six assault rifles in the clashes.

Khost Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Army’s elements in Nadir Shah Kot district, wounding two soldiers.

Ghazni Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed two and wounded four fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the city of Ghazni.

Afghan National Army launched an attack against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Shalgar district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan repelled the attack, killing three and wounding five soldiers in the process.

Paktika Province:

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper assassinated Mohammad Hanif, element of the National Directorate of Security in Khoshamand district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized Hanif’s cell phone, which contains sensitive information.

Farah Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Khaki Safed district, killing nine and wounding seven fighters of the group, as well as destroying two vehicles, a weapons depot and an ammunition cache. Furthermore, 30 improvised explosive devices were defused during the operations.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s improvised explosive device targeted Afghan National Army’s foot patrol in Karwanagah area of Farah district, killing a soldier.

Urozgan Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed a fighter of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and destroyed a fighting position in the city of Tarinkot, capital of Urozgan Province.

Zabul Province:

Afghan National Security Forces killed one and wounded another fighter of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Mizan district.

Helmand Province:

Afghan National Security Forces conducted large-scale operations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Jerash and Marjah districts, killing 21 and wounding four fighters of the group.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy arriving to assist in the operations in Koro Charrahi, Darab Charrahi and Haji Haidar areas of Marjah district. Three ANSF‘s armored personnel carriers were destroyed in the clashes, one of the three APCs was destroyed by an improvised explosive device. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reportedly booby-trapped a checkpoint in the area and withdrew from it to bait ANSF‘s elements. IEA detonated the checkpoint when ANSF entered it, killing 11 and wounding seven elements of the ANSF. One of the killed ANSF‘s elements was identified as Esmatullah Barakzai, commander in the Afghan National Army’s 4th Corps. Two IEA fighters were killed and another four wounded in the clashes.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raided Afghan National Police’s checkpoint in Takhta Pul area of Garmsir district, killing two policemen.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed Afghan National Army’s vehicle in Jerash district on the road towards Sangin districts. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reportedly killed or wounded Afghan National Army’s elements in the vehicle.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed one and wounded another element of the Afghan National Army in Basharan area of the city of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand Province. Similarly, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s sniper killed an element of the Afghan National Army in Tori Shah area, between Jerash and Sangin districts.

Kandahar Province:

Afghan National Security Forces’ convoy heading from Zabul province towards Maruf district of Kandahar province, came under the attack of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Amandi area of the aforementioned district. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan destroyed an armored personnel carrier, causing casualties among the elements on board. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan claimed that eight armored personnel carriers of the same convoy were destroyed in Arghistan and Maruf districts.

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:

Other:

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