CHI – Reports – 2015 – Weekly/Monthly Reports - American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)

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CHI – Reports – 2015 – Weekly/Monthly Reports

WEEKLY & MONTHLY REPORTS (2015)

Weekly Report 71-72

December 9, 2015 – December 22, 2015 | Read the Report

• Iraqi armed forces continue their efforts to retake the city of Ramadi from ISIL militants

• The Al Kabir Mosque in Hamima near Aleppo was damaged by airstrikes (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0158).

• Sheikh Yassine Mosque in the village of Al Najiyeh in Idlib Governorate was damaged by airstrikes (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0159). The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative has produced a brief, illustrated report on the damage to the site

• An ISIL-affiliated suicide bomber attacked the Ahlu al-Baiyt Mosque in Baghdad (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 15-0100)

• Airstrikes land near the Mosque Tekkiye al-Suleimaniye and National Museum of Damascus (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0161)

• SARG airstrikes cause partial damage to the Bilal Mosque and Abi Thar Al Ghafari Mosque in Tadmor, Syria (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0160)

• The DGAM reports on-going illegal excavations, construction, and vandalism in several Dead Cities (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0162)

• The DGAM reports ongoing illegal excavation at sites in southern Quneitra, particularly at Majduliyah (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0163)

• Airstrikes damage the Al Kabir Mosque and Al Zawyeh Mosque in Saraqib in Idlib Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0164). The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative has produced a brief, illustrated report on the damage to the Al Zawyeh Mosque in Saraqib

• The DGAM reports ongoing illegal excavation at sites in Jebel Wastani, in particular that of Kefert Aqab in Idlib Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0165)

• The Bosra al-Sham Department of Antiquities reported that SARG forces dropped barrel bombs on the Ayyubid Citadel and Roman Theater in Bosra (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0166)

• DigitalGlobe satellite imagery shows ongoing military occupation of Tell Jifar near Apamea (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0167) in Hama Governorate and Tell Jindires in the Aleppo countryside (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0168)

Weekly Report 69-70

November 25, 2015 – December 8, 2015 | Read the Report

• A report by The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative details to Ebla in Syria (ASOR CHI Incidient Report SHI 15-0150 and Appended TDA Report)

• In-country sources in Syria report on the condition of Tell al-Atarib in Aleppo Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0151) and the Tomb of Omar Bin Abdul Aziz in Hama Governorate (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0152)

• ISIL releases video of executions at Qaalat al-‐Rahbeh (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0153)

• Russian airstrikes and clashes between ISIL militants and pro-‐Assad forces in and near Tadmor/Palmyra cause extensive damage in the area (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0155)

• SARG airstrikes continue in the governorates of Damascus, and Homs

• Russian airstrikes continue in the governorates of Aleppo, Damascus, Hama, Homs, Idlib, and Latakia

• Religious heritage sites were damaged by airstrikes in the regions of Hama (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-‐0154), Aleppo (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-‐0156), and Idlib (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-‐0157)

• Ongoing airstrikes on the city of Aleppo, including portions of the Old City, caused extensive damage and high civilian casualties.

Weekly Report 67-68

November 11, 2015 – November 24, 2015 | Read the Report

• ASOR CHI in-country sources report that the Great Mosque of Maraat Al-Numan was damaged by airstrikes

• A tunnel bomb damaged the main entrance to the Aleppo Citadel and the immediately adjacent Khan al-Shouna (var. Shouneh, Shoune)

• The Raqqa Museum was reportedly struck by Russian airstrikes

• ASOR CHI in-country sources report new roads are being constructed within the walls of ancient Nineveh

• A suicide bomber attacked a Shia mosque in Sadr City outside Baghdad

• Gunmen blew up the Abu Hanifa Mosque in Muqdadiyah

• Syrian military forces, with the assistance of Russian airstrikes and pro-government forces, advance towards Palmyra

• Russian airstrikes continue as French forces begin intensive bombing campaigns in the wake of a terrorist attack in Paris, which also resulted in an expansion of US targets to include oil fields and tanker truck convoys

Weekly Report 65-66

October 28, 2015 – November 10, 2015 | Read the Report

• Russia conducted airstrikes near the archaeological sites of Palmyra in Homs Governorate at Tell al-Hara in Daraa Governorate

• Newly-released DigitalGlobe satellite imagery reveals evidence of conflict-related looting at the site of Rasha el-Qibliye

• The DGAM reported damage to the site of Al Bara, which forms part of the Dead Cities region of Syria (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0146). The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative has produced a report on the damage as well

• On November 8, the DGAM reported that some media outlets had released information on an alleged tunnel bombing west of the main (south) entrance of the Aleppo Citadel. The DGAM’s regional office in Aleppo later verified the report and localized the damage to the open area between the Citadel’s main gate and the Khan Shouneh. ASOR CHI is currently gathering additional details

Weekly Report 63-64

October 14, 2015 – October 27, 2015 | Read the Report

• The DGAM reports illicit excavation at multiple sites in southern Quneitra Governorate of Syria

• DigitalGlobe satellite imagery shows new constructions built near the site of Heraqla

• The DGAM reports looting and damage at multiple sites in Hama Governorate of Syria

• ISIL executes three captives tied to the Colonnaded Street in ancient Palmyra, Syria

Weekly Report 61-62

September 30, 2015 – October 13, 2015 | Read the Report

• Ongoing looting at the site of Tell Bezzam and in the Dier ez-Zor region

• Russian airstrikes allegedly struck multiple sites in the Dead Cities region. The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative report details damage to Shinshara

• ISIL advances into rebel held areas of Syria in the wake of the Russian air campaign in support of SARG forces

• ISIL intentionally destroys the Arch of Triumph in Palmyra, Syria

• ISIL supporters demolish the Abdullah ibn Mubarak Shrine and Mosque in Hit, Iraq

Weekly Report 59-60

September 16, 2015 – September 29, 2015 | Read the Report

• A barrel bomb was detonated at the citadel of Bosra (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0133)

• Airstrikes against ISIL military targets in the Tadmor area damaged the Citadel of Palmyra (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0134)

• Satellite imagery shows ongoing looting at the site of Tell Bi’aa (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0131), damage around the city of Raqqa (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0132), and development within the walls of Nineveh in Mosul (ASOR CHI Incident Report IHI 15-0095)

• The Ayyubid Citadel at the Anicet City of Bosra was damaged by a barrel bomb (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0133)

• SARG airstrikes may have damaged the Citadel of Palmyra (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0134)

Weekly Report 57-58

September 2, 2015 – September 15, 2015 | Read the Report

• New evidence of undocumented destruction in the Valley of the Tombs at Palmyra

• Ongoing looting and militarization at the site of Apamea and at Tell Houach

• New propaganda from ISIL was released, depicting the destruction of the Deir Mar Elian monastery, the Baalshamin Temple, and the Temple of Bel

• DigitalGlobe satellite imagery confirms the extent of damage to the Baalshamin and Temple of Bel

• The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced a report on the damage to sites in the Manbej and Jarablus regions

Weekly Report 55-56

August 18, 2015 – September 1, 2015 | Read the Report

• The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative produced a report on the damage to the Khan Assaad Pasha

• New information on the damage to the German storehouse at Tell Chuera

• Decorative reliefs a the Nineveh Obrawi Hotel defaced by ISIL militants

• Airstrike damage to the Tadmor Museum was reported

• ISIL-affiliates attacked Islamic shrines and cemeteries in Hama, al-Hasakah, and ar-Raqqa Governorates, Baalshamin Temple, the Temple of Bel, the Abu Bakr Mosque, Jabal Simeon Park, and the The Dier Mar Elian Monastery in Homs Governorate

• APSA reports looting at Tell Adeh in Idlib

• Turkish customs officials confiscated 3,300 Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman artifacts discovered in a truck at Istanbul’s Pendik port

Weekly Report 53-54

August 18, 2015 | Read the Report

• ISIL executes Khalid al‐Assad, former Director of Palmyra Antiquities

• Qassem Abdullah Yahya killed in a rocket attack on the Damascus Citadel

• Substantial damage to the Khan Assad Pasha in Maarat al‐Nu’man

• Daraa National Museum continues to suffer combat damage

• Airstrike damage to the Tadmor Museum was reported

• ISIL’s posts 19 photos showing Sufi shrine & grave destruction (Fallujah)

Weekly Report 51-52

August 4, 2015 | Read the Report

• Airstrike damaged the German Expedition headquarters at Tell Chuera

• Syrian rebels detonated tunnel bombs near the Old City of Aleppo

Weekly Report 50

July 21, 2015 | Read the Report

• New photos showing the current condition of the the Fakhr al‐Din al‐Maani Castle

• ISIL prisoners destroy tombstones in the town of al‐ Mayadin

• New information on heritage damage in Marbaa

• ISIL militants destroyed a Yezidi shrine in the town of Gabara

• ISIL demolished the Olympic Stadium in Ramadi, Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq

Weekly Report 49

July 14, 2015 | Read the Report

• The Aleppo Citadel sustained severe damage after a tunnel bomb was detonated beneath the northeastern fortification wall

Weekly Report 47-48

July 7, 2015 | Read the Report

• ISIL militants destroyed Palmyrene funerary sculptures in Manbij

• ISIL release video of mass execution of SARG military personnel in Palmyra

• Reported damage to sites caused by military clashes in the area of Zabadani

• The Daraa Museum suffered minor damage during military combat

• Reports in Iraq of the destruction of the Tomb of Imam Ismail south of Kirkuk

Weekly Report 46

June 23, 2015 | Read the Report

• ISIL militants planting explosive devices among the architecture of Palmyra

• ISIL destroyed the Shia Shrine of Sheikh Mohammad ibn ‘Ali

• ISIL destroyed the Tomb and shrine of Shagaf/Nizar Abu Behaeddine

• ISIL destroyed modern graves in the cemeteries of Tadmor, Syriaine

• UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, announced the UK will ratify the 1954 Hague Convention

Weekly Report 45

June 16, 2015 | Read the Report

• SARG targeting of Ma’arat al‐Nu’man museum and areas within Palmyra and Aleppo

• ISIL destruction at Assur was confirmed using high‐resolution satellite imagery

• YPG advances on Tell Abyad in Syria could sever ISIL overland routes to Turkey

Weekly Report 44

June 9, 2015 | Read the Report

• Unconfirmed reports of looting and destruction by ISIL at Palmyra in Syria

• Unconfirmed reports of deliberate destruction by ISIL at Assur in Iraq

• Unconfirmed reports of deliberate destruction by ISIL of religious sites in Iraq

• Critics cite imbalance in media coverage of heritage relative to other humanitarian issues

Weekly Report 42-43

June 2, 2015 | Read the Report

• U.S. House passed H.R. 1493 Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act

• U.S. Department of State and UNESCO held a Stakeholders Roundtable in Paris

• Emergency Red List of Iraqi Cultural Objects at Risk 2015 Update launched

• Reports of ISIL intentional destructions at UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ashur in Iraq

• ISIL captured Syrian city of Tadmor and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palmyra

• Severe combat damage in main theaters of military action in Syria and Iraq

Weekly Report 41

May 19, 2015 | Read the Report

• ISIL now controls Tadmor and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palmyra in Syria

• ISIL now controls provincial capital city of Ramadi in Iraq

• Ten countries in the Middle East and North Africa have announced “Cairo Declaration”

Weekly Report 40

May 12, 2015 | Read the Report

• Severe damage in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient City of Aleppo

• Media focuses on antiquities looting/trafficking and heritage destruction in conflict zone

Weekly Report 39

May 5, 2015 | Read the Report

• Urban warfare the leading cause of reported damage in Syria

• Reported damage in northern Iraq decreases markedly

• Media reports focus attention on the looting, trafficking, and sale of antiquities

• New incident reports for earlier ISIL deliberate destruction events in northern Iraq

Weekly Report 38

April 27, 2015 | Read the Report

• Multiple tunnel bombs and barrel bombs detonated in Jdeidah quarter of Aleppo

• New data on looting of Tell Sabi Abyad storehouses

• Evidence of purported ISIL-issued licenses to loot archaeological sites

• House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously passed H.R. 1493

• Reports on heritage damage in the south of Syria

Weekly Report 37

April 20, 2015 | Read the Report

• DGAM posted heritage damage report for January–March 2015

Weekly Report 36

April 13, 2015 | Read the Report

• ISIL released video showing deliberate destruction of Northwest Palace at Nimrud, Iraq

• DGAM released Quarterly Report (Jan. 1–March 31, 2015) on heritage damage in Syria

Weekly Report 35

April 6, 2015 | Read the Report

• Combat-related damage in Idlib, Hama, and Daraa Governorates in Syria

• Idlib Museum collections at risk, following seizure of the city by Jaish al-Fatah

• ISIL continued its campaign of performative deliberate destructions in Iraq

• ISIL video showing deliberate destruction at UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hatra

Weekly Report 34

March 30, 2015 | Read the Report

• Satellite imagery reveals probable evidence for intentional destruction at Nimrud

• Idlib Museum threatened by recent capture of the city by rebel forces

• UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient City of Bosra captured by rebel forces

• Looting at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient City of Palmyra

Weekly Report 33

March 23, 2015 | Read the Report

• ISIL continues campaign of performative deliberate destructions in N Iraq and Syria

• Survey confirms claims of ubiquitous looting in the Raqqa area facilitated by ISIL

• Two credible but unverified reports of tunnel bomb detonations in Aleppo

Weekly Report 32

March 16, 2015 | Read the Report

• Two tunnel bombs allegedly detonated in Ancient City of Aleppo

• Many reports of intentional destruction by ISIL in northern Iraq remain unconfirmed

Weekly Report 31

March 9, 2015 | Read the Report

• Alleged ISIL deliberate destructions at Nimrud, Hatra, Khorsabad, and Assur

• More detail about ISIL deliberate destructions at Mosul Museum and Nineveh

• ISIL reportedly destroys Hamou Qado Mosque in Mosul

• ISIL reportedly destroys Mosque of Sheikh Mohammad al-Abariqi in Mosul

• Damage to al-Dalati Mosque in Homs

• Damage to Haron Dada Mosque and Bimaristan Arghun al-Kamili in Aleppo

Weekly Report 30

March 2, 2015 | Read the Report

• ISIL video shows intentional destruction of antiquities at Mosul Museum and Nineveh

• ISIL burns large numbers of books from Mosul’s libraries

• Damage to sites in northern Iraq in the Nineveh and Salah ad-Din Provinces

• ISIL reportedly destroys al-Khidr Mosque in Mosul

• Update about damage to the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

Weekly Report 29

February 23, 2015 | Read the Report

• Turkish Armed Forces enter northern Syria to “relocate” Tomb of Süleyman Şah

• Syrian Regime’s 2015 southern campaign jeopardizes heritage in Syria’s Hauran Plain

• British House of Commons debates destruction and looting of sites in Syria and Iraq

Weekly Report 28

February 16, 2015 | Read the Report

• UN adopts resolution to “impair, isolate and incapacitate” ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusrah

• Archaeological sites in rural areas are being damaged by looting and agriculture

• Satellite imagery shows damage and cross-border trafficking in Tell Abyad district

• Satellite imagery confirms DGAM reports of damage to Resafa (Sergiopolis)

Weekly Report 26-27

February 9, 2015 | Read the Report

• Comparison reveals underreporting of damage by the DGAM in certain areas

• Satellite imagery reveals large-scale looting and earthmoving at Tell Bi’a

• Damage rates have increased in Damascus, Aleppo, and the Dead Cities region

• ISIL deliberately destroyed library collections in Mosul’s Central Library system

Weekly Report 25

January 26, 2015 | Read the Report

• New analysis of 740 archaeological sites using satellite imagery released

• Jabhat Ansar al-Din and Jabhat al-Nusra cite Sharia Court sanction for destruction

• ISIL video showing deliberate destruction of religious sites in Iraq

Weekly Report 24

January 20, 2015 | Read the Report

• Increasing evidence for deliberate destructions of religious heritage by ISIL

• Tombs of Sheikh Mohammad Nabhan and his family destroyed in Aleppo

• Updated damage list posted by Ross Burns’ Monuments of Syria website

• Armenian Cathedral in Aleppo deliberately targeted by Islamic Front

• Unconfirmed reports of deliberate destructions in Mosul by ISIL

Weekly Report 23

January 12, 2015 | Read the Report

• Tunnel bomb in Aleppo destroyed Khan at-Tutun and As-Sinjir Mosque

• Mausoleum of Imam Nawawi in Nawa destroyed by Jabhat al-Nusra