WEEKLY REPORT 79-80
February 3-16, 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
Airstrikes continued to be the primary source of damage to heritage assets in Syria, and pro-regime forces continued to expand their territorial control in Aleppo backed by Russian airstrikes. In Aleppo Governorate alone two mosques were damaged during Russian bombardment campaigns and two mosques were damaged by SARG campaigns. Recent photographs released by the DGAM and news outlets show the severity of the damage to the Aleppo Citadel since the start of the war, and The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced a report on heritage assets in proximity to the Citadel. Bombardment in Hama damaged a mosque, and airstrikes in Homs damaged two mosques and possibly a set of columns near the Roman theater in the archaeological site of Palmyra, although ASOR CHI has not independently verified this at the time of publication. The Raqqa Cultural Center was also severely damaged by airstrikes.
The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced two reports on heritage assets at the site of Apamea in Idlib Governorate. These reports document how the archaeological site of Apamea, including the Apamea Theater and the Apamea Museum, has been damaged by illegal digging, looting, neglect, exposure to the elements, and nearby military operations.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights released its January Vital Facilities Report,2 which documents damage to civilian and non-military sites caused by conflict belligerents. The report lists five heritage assets, four mosques and one historical site as damaged. These incidents were not published by SNHR on its website or social media platforms, and the report itself does not provide any further information on the incidents. As such, the following incidents have not been independently corroborated and remain unverified:
- Dome of the Rahman Mosque in Darayya, Damascus Governorate allegedly damaged by SARG mortar missile on January 12, 2016.
- Habubi Mosque in Maarat al Numan, Idlib Governorate allegedly damaged by Russian rockets on January 12, 2016.
- Minaret of the Omar bin al Khattab Mosque in Abteen, Aleppo Governorate allegedly destroyed by government militia explosives on January 17, 2016.
- Unnamed mosque in Hazano, Idlib Governorate allegedly damaged by a SARG missile on January 20, 2016.
- Qalaat Rahba in Mayadin, Dier ez-Zor Governorate allegedly damaged by four Russian rockets on January 27, 2016.
With regard to Iraq, DigitalGlobe satellite imagery taken during the reporting period shows expanding modern development within the site boundaries of Nineveh and the Nebi Yunus Mosque Complex. Satellite imagery confirmed in-country source reports that ISIL militants are building a road running through the archaeological site of Nineveh; this road in incomplete and remains under construction. Furthermore, the remaining structures within the Nebi Yunus complex continue to be leveled, though the true purpose of this activity remains unknown.
Key points from this report:
- Recent photographs and video of the Aleppo Citadel show the severity of the damage to the area (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0018).
- The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced a report on the damage to the Al Adiliah Mosque located southwest of the Aleppo Citadel (Appended TDA Report).
- Russian airstrikes damage the al-Hamza Mosque in Anadan, Aleppo Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0019).
- SARG airstrikes damage the Sidiq Mosque in Palmyra, Homs Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0020).
- The Raqqa Cultural Center in Raqqa Governorate hit by airstrikes (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0021).
- Russian bombardment damages the Al-Khayrat Mosque in Aleppo (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0022).
- DGAM shows evidence of damage to Qalaat Saladin in Latakia Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0023).
- SARG airstrikes damage the al-Farooq Mosque in Masqan (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0024) and the Al-Kabir Mosque in Hayyan (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0025) in Aleppo Governorate.
- SARG missiles allegedly damage columns in the Roman theater in Palmyra, Homs Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0026).
- DigitalGlobe imagery shows Nineveh (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 15-0097 UPDATE) and the Nebi Yunus Mosque Complex (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0004) in Mosul further damaged by development.
- SARG airstrikes damage the Al-Nasr Mosque in Gharnata, Homs Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0027).
- SARG bombardment damages the Abu Bakr al-Sideiq in Kafr Zaita, Hama Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0028).
- The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced two reports on the archaeological site of Apamea, Idlib Governorate (Appended TDA Report).