WEEKLY REPORT 89-90
April 13–26, 2016
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Amr al-Azm, Allison Cuneo, Susan Penacho, Bijan Rouhani, 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
ASOR CHI in-country sources provided photographs showing the destruction of two gates at the archaeological site of Nineveh the Mashki Gate and another gate that was provisionally identified as the Nergal Gate. Media outlets also claim the Adad was also destroyed. No new satellite images or definitive ground-level photography was available at the time of publication. Additionally, Russia- based Arabic-language media outlets also posted video of alleged tunneling activity at Nineveh. Rumors also circulated that the Kanisat al-Sa ́a, also known as the Latin Church of the Clock Tower had been destroyed by ISIL militants using explosives, but these reports remain unconfirmed. The situation in Mosul is still developing and new information will be provided in an update during the next reporting period.
During the reporting period an electrical fire in Old Damascus resulted in significant damage to many historic buildings, including the Suq Asruniye, the Suq Meskiyeh, and the Othman Bank. Rumors originally attributed the fire to arson, but evidence points to an accident. According to local sources, the aging and poorly designed electrical system had been overloaded by modern appliances for years. The lack of maintenance and frequent power outages and shorts resulting from the conflict made the situation even more hazardous.
Aerial bombardment continued to represent the most common cause of damage to heritage assets in Syria and Iraq, with damage concentrated in Raqqa, Hama, Homs, Aleppo, and Fallujah. Furthermore, the militarization of religious sites, including a mosque in Shaddadi, Al Hasakah by ISIL and another mosque in Damascus by SARG, continues to be a common form of heritage loss in the conflict zone. The Assyrian relief of Malthai in Dohuk was also vandalized by nationalist graffiti for the second time in two months.
Key points from this report:
- A photograph shows damage to al-Saha Mosque in Palmyra, Homs Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0051).
- A church converted into a gym by ISIL militants in Shaddadi, Al Hasakah Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0052).
- A reported SARG airstrike damaged the al-Gharbi Mosque in Tamanaa, Hama Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0053).
- An alleged SARG airstrike severely damaged the Khaled Bin Al Walid Mosque in al-Eis, Aleppo Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0054).
- SARG forces reportedly occupy the al-Ghoufran Mosque in Damascus, Damascus Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0055).
- An alleged SARG airstrike struck an area near al-Firdous Mosque and a car bomb of unknown origin detonated near al-Nur Mosque in Raqqa, Raqqa Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0056).
- Reported SARG airstrikes damaged Uthman bin Affan Mosque and al-Nur Mosque, severely damaging both mosques in Ter Maalah, Homs Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0057).
- An electrical fire caused severe damage to Suq Asruniyeh, Suq Meskiyeh, and Othman Bank in Old Damascus, Damascus Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0058).
- A reported SARG airstrike damaged the Zaid bin Haritha Mosque in Aleppo, Aleppo Governorate on April 22, 2016 (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 16-0059).
- ASOR CHI received confirmation that ISIL militants bulldozed several of the ancient gates of Nineveh in Mosul, Ninawa Governorate in mid-April (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0010).
- The Malthai Rock Reliefs located in Dohuk Governorate were vandalized for a second time (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0011).
- Shelling of unknown origin damaged al-Firdous Mosque in Fallujah, Al Anbar Governorate on April 15, 2016 (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 16-0012).