WEEKLY REPORT 53-54
August 18, 2015
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Cheikhmous Ali, Allison Cuneo, Kyra Kaercher, Katherine Burge, LeeAnn Barnes Gordon, and Erin Van Gessel
DOWNLOAD: REPORT
* This report is based on research conducted by the “Safeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative,” funded by the US Department of State. Monthly reports reflect reporting from a variety of sources and may contain unverified material. As such, they should be treated as preliminary and subject to change.
Executive Summary
In Year 2, ASOR CHI will shift to producing reports every two weeks.
During the most recent reporting period, reported cultural heritage damage in Syria and Iraq showed signs of an increase with the release of new information on ISIL deliberate destructions of heritage places. Tragically, two prominent heritage professionals lost their lives in Syria. On August 18, Khaled al‐Asa’ad (83), former Director of Palmyra Antiquities, was publically executed in Tadmor by ISIL militants. Al‐Asa’ad was famous for his life‐long study of Palmyra (Tadmor) and service to the DGAM. On August 12, Qassim Abdullah Yehya (37), a DGAM Deputy Director, was killed in a rocket attack on the Damascus Citadel reportedly launched from the suburb of Douma — the attack also allegedly targeted the National Museum. Other DGAM employees were reportedly injured in the attack. Yehya was especially known for his important work in the conservation of mosaics. On August 7, a regime airstrike caused serious damage to the Khan Assad Pasha in Maarat al‐Nu’man and damage was reported to the Daraa National Museum.
In Iraq, tumultuous political conditions and rapid government restructuring have the potential of adversely impacting an already stressed State Board of Antiquities and Heritage and exacerbating the existing unstable situation for cultural heritage assets and infrastructure. On August 9, ISIL released images of deliberate destructions of Sufi Shrines and graves in the area of Fallujah on the internet.
Key points from this report:
- ISIL executes Syrian archaeologist Khalid al‐Assad, former Director of Palmyra Antiquities.
- Syrian DGAM Deputy Director Qassem Abdullah Yahya killed in a rocket attack on the Damascus Citadel.
- Airstrike caused substantial damage to the Khan Assad Pasha in Maarat al‐Nu’man.
- Daraa National Museum in southern Syria continues to suffer combat damage.
- Airstrike damage to the Tadmor Museum was reported.
- ISIL’s “Bureau of Propaganda for the District of Fallujah” posted 19 photos showing the destruction of multiple Sufi shrines and graves in the Fallujah, Iraq area.