WEEKLY REPORT 71-72
December 9–22, 2015
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Allison Cuneo, Amr Al-Azm, Susan Penacho, Marina Gabriel, Kyra Kaercher, and Jamie O’Connell
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
During the reporting period, SARG and Russian airstrikes continued to target cultural heritage sites at an increasing rate, particularly in Aleppo, Idlib, and to a lesser extent Homs governorates. The Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights remain the most reliable sources on such airstrikes coupled with additional verification conducted by in-country sources. Multiple places of worship, particularly modern mosques, were severely damaged in these regions. In-country and media sources find it difficult to distinguish between Russian and SARG airstrikes: this ambiguity may be lowering inhibitions over the direct targeting of cultural assets — already fairly minimal given the extent and magnitude of damage to date — and in the future will likely complicate assigning responsibility for attacks within legal contexts. SARG barrel bombing caused severe damage to standing architecture within the UNESCO World Heritage site Ancient City of Bosra in Daraa Governorate. SARG barrel bombings from helicopters represent a manifestly direct form of targeting (aircraft hover above targets before dropping explosives). The current air campaign targeting houses of worship in predominantly Sunni areas will likely fuel reprisal attacks by Sunni belligerents on heritage sites affiliated with SARG, continuing and exacerbating a well- documented cycle of cultural destruction.
The Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums posted two reports on its website detailing extensive damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient Villages of Northern Syria — the site is comprised of several expansive parks containing famous standing architecture of Late Antiquity and the Byzantine period. Various sites have been heavily impacted by the conflict. Much of the damage stems from the intensive use and modification of sites by internally displaced persons. The DGAM also released information on archaeological looting at the site of Majduliyeh in the Quneitra Governorate of southern Syria. ASOR CHI has been receiving much information on the looting and trafficking of antiquities in the south from in-country sources.
ASOR CHI analyses of recently released DigitalGlobe satellite imagery reveal some changes to militarized archaeological sites in Hama and Aleppo Governorates.
Key points from this report:
- Iraqi armed forces continue their efforts to retake the city of Ramadi from ISIL militants.
- The Al Kabir Mosque in Hamima near Aleppo was damaged by airstrikes (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0158).
- Sheikh Yassine Mosque in the village of Al Najiyeh in Idlib Governorate was damaged by airstrikes (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0159). The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative has produced a brief, illustrated report on the damage to the site.
- An ISIL-affiliated suicide bomber attacked the Ahlu al-Baiyt Mosque in Baghdad (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 15-0100).
- Airstrikes land near the Mosque Tekkiye al-Suleimaniye and National Museum of Damascus (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0161).
- SARG airstrikes cause partial damage to the Bilal Mosque and Abi Thar Al Ghafari Mosque in Tadmor, Syria (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0160).
- The DGAM reports on-going illegal excavations, construction, and vandalism in several Dead Cities (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0162).
- The DGAM reports ongoing illegal excavation at sites in southern Quneitra, particularly at Majduliyah (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0163).
- Airstrikes damage the Al Kabir Mosque and Al Zawyeh Mosque in Saraqib in Idlib Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0164). The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative has produced a brief, illustrated report on the damage to the Al Zawyeh Mosque in Saraqib.
- The DGAM reports ongoing illegal excavation at sites in Jebel Wastani, in particular that of Kefert Aqab in Idlib Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0165).
- The Bosra al-Sham Department of Antiquities reported that SARG forces dropped barrel bombs on the Ayyubid Citadel and Roman Theater in Bosra (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0166).
- DigitalGlobe satellite imagery shows ongoing military occupation of Tell Jifar near Apamea (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0167) in Hama Governorate and Tell Jindires in the Aleppo countryside (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0168).