WEEKLY REPORT 113-114
October 1-15, 2016
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Allison Cuneo, Susan Penacho, Marina Gabriel, Kyra Kaercher, Jamie O’Connell, Ali Jabuuri, Richard Zettler
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
Opposition held areas of Aleppo continue to come under heavy aerial bombardment, including many civilian-occupied neighborhoods and the historic old city, leading to condemnation and accusations of war crimes from the international community. Media reports and independent monitoring groups claim that alleged SARG and Russian aerial bombardment over Aleppo and Idlib Governorates damaged at least five mosques and one Byzantine-era site in Hama Governorate.
In Iraq, US and Iraqi forces continue to mobilize in preparation for operations to recapture the ISIL- held city of Mosul. The offensive is expected to begin in the coming weeks. The US-led coalition continues to target ISIL militants inside Mosul, with at least one airstrike targeting a mosque inside the city. In response, ISIL released a news report via Amaq publicizing the damage. ISIL has emphasized these airstrikes on mosques in its recent propaganda, portraying these incidents as proof that these armies are intending to hurt and kill Muslims, in order to rally its followers, to encourage new recruits to join, and to turn local populations against Coalition and Iraqi military forces. New reports emerged of looting and vandalism of archaeological sites in Kirkuk Governorate in areas under ISIL control.
Key points from this report:
- ISIL militants have been looting archaeological sites and vandalizing graves in Kirkuk Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0031).
- ISIL-affiliated Amaq News Agency alleged a US-led coalition airstrike damaged a mosque in Mosul, Ninawa Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0032).
- Alleged SARG airstrikes damaged three mosques in Idlib Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0154).
- Alleged Russian airstrikes damaged two mosques in the city of Aleppo (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0155).
- SARG forces looted a makeshift library in Daraya, Rif Dimashq Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0156).
- Alleged SARG airstrikes damaged a Byzantine-era site in Hama Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0175).
- A fire destroyed a historic house in the Saroujah District of Damascus (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0176).