WEEKLY REPORT 77-78
January 20 – February 2, 2016
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Amr al-Azm, Allison Cuneo, Susan Penacho, Bijan Rohani, 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, military explosives continued to be the predominant cause of damage to heritage assets in Syria with at least five sites hit in Raqqa, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo, and Daraa. Three mosques were struck by SARG and/or Russian airstrikes, and SARG forces allegedly damaged Roman columns within the World Heritage Site of Palmyra. The DGAM reported that mortar shells fired by “armed groups” struck the Daraa National Museum, although the DGAM report does not explicitly state which armed groups were responsible.
Terrorist attacks at places of worship have increased in recent weeks. In Iraq, unknown assailants intentionally set fire to the Imam Hassan Shrine in the region of Kirkuk. In Syria, two ISIL suicide bombers and a car bomber attacked the Sayeda Zeinab Shrine, Syria’s most venerated Shia shrine, killing more than 70 people including pro-regime fighters. ISIL has engaged in the intentional destruction of Islamic holy sites, including shrines, mosques, and cemeteries, in order to suppress Islamic plurality, stoke sectarian tensions, and draw more belligerents into the conflict. The execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2016 has triggered an uptick in violence between Sunni and Shia populations, particularly in Iraq, where strong reprisals by Shia Popular Mobilization Units, intended to fight ISIL, have escalated to attacks on Sunni civilians.
The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced a report on heritage assets in the city of Ma’arat al-Numan, Idlib Governorate. The June 2015 assessment reports that the Al-Ma’arra Museum, located in the converted Khan Murad Pasha, was heavily damaged by aerial bombardments, urban warfare, looting and vandalism. The Great Mosque and the tekkiye, which houses a library, have also sustained similar heavy damage. Another report from August 21, 2015 assesses the condition of Maarat al-Numan Citadel.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights released its December Vital Facilities Report, which documents damage to civilian and non-military sites caused by conflict belligerents. The report lists damage to fifteen (15) heritage assets, fourteen (14) mosques, and one historical site. These incidents were not published by SNHR on its website or social media platforms, and the report itself does not provide further information on the situation. As such, the following incidents have not been independently corroborated and remain unverified:
- Bouz Al Kherbi Mosque, Latakia Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles on October 19, 2015.
- Great Mosque, Abu Al Ruwayel, Aleppo Governorate, damaged by Russian shelling on December 3, 2015.
- Great Mosque, Kafr Batna, Damascus Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles on December 4, 2015.
- Al Sagheir Mosque, Al Bab, Aleppo Governorate, damaged by Russian shelling on December 6, 2015.
- Al Rawda Mosque, Hamouria, Damascus Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles on December 9, 2015.
- Al Sharia Mosque, Menbej, Aleppo, damaged by SARG shelling on December 12, 2015.
- Al Sheikh Najeb Mosque, Aleppo, Aleppo Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles onDecember 14, 2015.
- Orwa Bin Al Zubeir Mosque, Aleppo, Aleppo Governorate, damaged by Russian shellings onDecember 16, 2015.
- Mos’ab Bin Omayr Mosque, Aleppo, Aleppo Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles andshellings on December 17, 2015.
- Al Baraa Bin Malek Mosque, Hraytan, Aleppo Governorate, damaged by Russian missiles onDecember 18, 2015.
- Al Naser Mosque, Al Bab, Aleppo Governorate, damaged by SARG barrel bombs onDecember 20, 2015.
- Shahroura Mosque, Al Turkmen Mountain, Latakia Governorate, damaged by SARG missileson December 22, 2015.
- Great Mosque, Barzina, Damascus Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles on December 22,2015.
- Zayroun Mosque, Hama, Hama Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles on December 25,2015.
- Temple of Bel, Palmyra, Homs Governorate, damaged by SARG missiles on December 27,2015.
Key points from this report:
- An intentional fire caused extensive damage to Imam Hassan Shrine in the district of Laylan, southeast of the city of Kirkuk, Kirkuk Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0003).
- Suspected Russian airstrikes damaged Al Nour Mosque in the town of Al Boleel, Deir ez-Zor Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0012).
- DGAM reported structural damage to the Daraa National Museum caused by mortar shells fired by armed groups (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0013).
- Regime and Russian airstrikes cause damage to Hinni Mosque in the Old City of Raqqa, Raqqa Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0014).
- Russian airstrikes damaged Abu Bakr Al Sedeiq Mosque in the city of Al Bab, Aleppo Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0015).
- Regime airstrikes caused damage to five columns in the archaeological site of Palmyra, Homs Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0016).
- ISIL carried out three bombings near the Sayyida Zeinab Shrine, Damascus Governorate, causing no reported damage (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0017).
- The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced two reports on the Al-Ma’aara Museum and the Citadel in the city of Ma’arat al-Numan, Idlib Governorate (Appended TDA Reports).