WEEKLY REPORT 83-84
March 2-15, 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
Peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition resumed in Geneva on March 14. UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura met separately with both the High Negotiations Committee and representatives from the Syrian government. As of the end of this reporting period, peace talks were ongoing. As peace talks began in Geneva, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he would begin the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria beginning on March 15th. It is understood that several hundred Russian forces will remain in Syria and that Russia will maintain their air defense systems, as well as continue to carry out targeted airstrikes. Russia will also continue to maintain and protect its Hmeimeem Airbase in Latakia Governorate and naval base in Tartus.
As a result of the cessation of hostilities in Syria, the number of collateral damage incidents significantly decreased during the current reporting period. However, bombardment of ISIL positions in Syria and throughout Iraq continued unabated, resulting in two heritage incident. In Syria, SARG and Russian airstrikes on ISIL strongholds in and around Palmyra continued, hitting a mosque and possibly the ancient site in the process. Additionally, Coalition airstrikes in Iraq struck a mosque located in al-Anbar Governorate.
Newly released information revealed more details for previous incident reports. Video footage from Aleppo and Homs demonstrate the full extent of the damage from earlier airstrikes. In Raqqa, secretly obtained footage shows two churches previously vandalized by ISIL militants are now being occupied by the militant group. Furthermore, the DGAM provided another report of illicit excavation in the Dead Cities region and provided on-site photographs of heavy looting at Tell Ajaja in al-Hasakah Governorate.
No new satellite images were analyzed for this reporting period.
Key points from this report:
- Recent video shows the damage to the al-Kabir Mosque in Hayan, Aleppo Governorate, which was destroyed on February 10, 2016 (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0025 UPDATE).
- DGAM reports illegal ongoing excavations at the Dead Cities of Dahes, Babisqa, and Dar Qita in the Jebel Barisha area of Idlib Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0034).
- Several sources reported damage to the archaeological area of Palmyra, the Qalaat Shirkuh, and the Sayyeda Khadija Mosque in modern Palmyra, Homs Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0035).
- Video footage shows damage to two churches in Raqqa, which were first damaged in September 2013, which are now occupied by ISIL (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0036).
- A new video of the Abi Thar Al Ghafari Mosque in Tadmor, Homs Governorate, reportedly struck by SARG missiles in December 2015, shows the extent of the damage (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0160 UPDATE).
- DGAM reports illegal excavation with heavy machinery has caused significant damage at the archaeological site of Tell Ajaja in al-Hasakah Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0037).
- Coalition airstrikes caused extensive damage to al-Farouq Mosque in Kubaysah, al-Anbar Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0008).