DOCSLIB.ORG

25 – 31 March, 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
25 – 31 March, 2020 WEEKLY REPORT ​ ​ ​ 25 – 31 March, 2020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Northeast Syria ● The Kurdish self-administration (KSA) announced additional mitigation measures for the spread of COVID-19 and implemented previously reported measures through its security apparatus across its territories, including IDP camps. The KSA and Government of Syria (GoS) also began preparing quarantine centers across Hospitals of Al-Hasakeh city. ● Screenings for symptoms of COVID-19 are not being comprehensively implemented at informal river crossings in KSA-held Deir-ez-Zor governorate as civilians are passing without being screened. Meanwhile, the Abu Kamal border crossing continued to allow Iranian militias to pass without screening them for symptoms of COVID-19. ● Islamic State (ISIS) prisoners attempted to escape from a covert prison in Al-Hasakeh city in Al-Hasakeh governorate and from Kisreh Prison in Kisreh town in Deir-ez-Zor governorate. Northwest Syria ● Despite the SSG’s denial of the presence of COVID-19 in the northwest, the SSG has increased its mitigation measures. It is highly likely that the spread of COVID-19 in Idleb and western Aleppo governorates would lead to a new humanitarian crisis, particularly due to the estimated 1.1 million IDPs residing in overcrowded camps, and the northwest’s crippled healthcare system which is currently ill-equipped to deal with such a crises. ● Local sources in Azaz city maintain that the public have not taken the measures seriously and the majority continue to gather in public spaces. ● The SIG’s Support Coordination Unit received 600 COVID-19 examination kits from the WHO. This is reportedly the first batch from a total of 2,000 kits promised. South and Central ● The GoS announced a partial curfew to take place all-over the country as an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. ● The GoS also implemented further mitigation measures and restrictions including halt of all transportation of citizens between governorates’ provincial centers. However, while mitigation measures are being implemented, the first official death from COVID-19 was recorded in Damascus city on March 29. ● In a series of events around Al-Qarayya, As-Sweida and Dar’a, ten civilians were killed (nine civilians from As-Sweida, one from Dar’a) and a number of others injured. While the situation seems to have been contained, the possibility of renewed tensions cannot be ruled out given the current lawlessness in southern Syria. ● Also, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported an increase in ISIS activity in the Homs desert. This has included the killing of at least 367 GoS-affiliated forces, 67 members of Iranian-backed militias, 4 civilian gas field workers and 2 shepherds. Damascus/Rural Damascus 25 March; As an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Syria announced a partial curfew to take place all-over the country. Curfew hours were set from 18:00 to 06:00 every day effective immediately. The curfew exempted workers of public services, foodstuffs truck drivers, health workers, SARC staff and all military and security personnel. 26 March; The Damascus Rural Health Director announced that 124 people were released from the quarantine center at the Damascus International Airport hotel after testing negative for COVID-19. 27 March; As further mitigation against the spread of COVID-19, the GoS announced the halt of all transportation of citizens between governorates’ provincial centers and all regions and rural areas at all times effective at 14:00 on Sunday 29 March and until further notice. The decision excluded transportation of goods and personnel of essential production sectors, as well as health workers, military and security personnel. 28 March; The Ministry of Education decided to further extend the closure of public and private schools and universities until 16 April. 29 March; the Ministry of Health announced the first death caused by COVID-19 within the country. A woman died on entry into the Al-Assad University Hospital in Damascus city, with the cause of death revealed on receipt of test results. 30 March; the Ministry of Health announced a second death attributed to COVID-19, with no further details released. On the same day, the Ministry of Justice announced an extension to the closure of courts and judicial institutions until 16 April. 31 March; the Ministry of Interior extended the closure of all offices of civil affairs services, the criminal record, immigration and traffic until 16 April. Date Announced Announced Total Total Total Total Active Cases/Daily Deaths/Daily Cases Deaths Recovered Cases Mar 22 1 -- 1 -- -- 1 Mar 23 -- -- 1 -- -- 1 Mar 24 -- -- 1 -- -- 1 Mar 25 4 -- 5 -- -- 5 Mar 26 -- -- 5 -- -- 5 Mar 27 -- -- 5 -- -- 5 Mar 28 -- -- 5 -- -- 5 Mar 29 5 1 10 1 -- 9 Mar 30 -- 1 10 2 -- 8 Mar 31 -- -- 10 2 -- 8 Analysis/forecasting: Despite the extensive measures taken by GoS to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, further impact of the pandemic remains uncertain. As the WHO Syria representative stated on 31 March, the country has just reached the beginning of the pandemic’s upward curve meaning the coming two weeks might witness a skyrocketing increase of COVID-19 cases. Concerns regarding the accuracy of current official figures and the ability of the Syrian healthcare system to contain the virus have also been expressed by Mark Lowcock, UN humanitarian chief, in an address to the UN Security Council on 30 March. It was noted that only around half the country’s hospitals and primary healthcare facilities were fully functional at the end of 2019, meaning insufficient facilities to deal with a pandemic with the potential scale of COVID-19. Additionally, the SYP 100bn (approximately $75m) dedicated by the Ministry of Finance to fund the GoS’s measures to combat the spread of the virus is considered to be low in comparison with other neighbouring countries. Lebanon for example, has dedicated more than double the amount. ● 29 March; General Command of the Syrian armed forces issued two administrative orders ending the retention and the possibility of future summoning for reserve army officers who have completed three years or more of actual service, as well as for lower-ranked personnel who have completed their actual reserve service of seven years or more. The administrative order however conditioned the release of medical military personnel to the Medical Services Department’s approval, which might be due to possible need of their skills in the combat against the spread of COVID-19 among the army. ​ Homs ● 31 March; An Israeli air forces (IAF) missile attack targeted Al-Shoayrat Syrian army position east of Homs city. Syrian State TV said the warplanes fired the missiles while flying in Lebanese airspace adding that Syrian air defense systems successfully engaged and destroyed them. No casualties have been reported, and the IAF has not confirmed the attack. ● 31 March; Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on an increase on ISIS activity in the Homs desert noting that since 24 March, SOHR documented the killing of at least 367 GoS-affiliated forces, 67 members of Iranian-backed militias, 4 civilian gas field workers and 2 shepherds, all attributed to ISIS attacks. Dar‘a/As-Sweida/Quneitra 25–27 March; a criminal group in Al-Qarayya town, As-Sweida governorate, kidnapped two young men from Dar’a along with their cow-loaded truck. In an attempt to stabilize the situation, members of local armed factions in Al-Qarayya reportedly tried to arrest an individual thought to be responsible for the kidnapping of the two young men. However, the man killed himself using a hand grenade he was carrying. 27–28 March; in an apparent increase in tensions around Al-Qarayya, As-Sweida and Dar’a, three gunmen riding motorbikes from the direction of Busra Al-Sham entered Al-Qarayya, attempted the kidnapping of three civilians, failed, then shot at the victims’ vehicle. The attack reportedly resulted in the killing of one and the injury of the two others. Soon after the attack, local gunmen and local members of various armed factions from both As-Sweida and Dar’a headed to a location west of Al-Qarayya and engaged in five-hour armed clashes, reportedly resulting in the killing of nine civilians from As-Sweida, one from Dar’a, and the injury of many others. Additionally, six civilians from As-Sweida were taken hostage and two teenagers were reported missing, assumed kidnapped. A meeting was held in Al-Qarayya between local political, military and religious figures and GoS and Russian government officials in order to reduce tensions. The meeting ended with Russian officials promising to mediate the situation and secure the safe return of the hostages. However, shortly after the meeting, information of the killing of the six hostages reached Al-Qarayya, threatening further escalation of the situation. Later in the afternoon, the bodies of the six hostages were sent to Al-Qarayya, GoS forces established several checkpoints to create a buffer zone, the two missing teenagers were released from Busra Al-Sham and another mediation meeting was held. Analysis/forecasting: While the situation seems to have been contained, the possibility of renewed tensions cannot be ruled out as long as no concrete actions are taken to end lawlessness, prevalence of guns among civilians, and the kidnappings in southern Syria. The dilemma remains that local communities are refusing to let GoS forces enter their towns and cities and restore their security. When considering the escalations in tensions in south Syria throughout the past few weeks, it is noteworthy that they have in fact allowed GoS forces to further expand its presence and reinforce its position. This might suggest the GoS is using (or inciting) such incidents in order to justify expansion.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Field Developments in Idleb 51019
    Field Developments in Idleb, Northern Hama Countryside, Western Situation Report and Southern Aleppo Countryside During March and April 2019 May 2019 Aleppo Countrysides During March and April 2019 the Information Management Unit 1 Field Developments in Idleb, Northern Hama Countryside, Western and Southern Aleppo Countryside During March and April 2019 The Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) aims to strengthen the decision-making capacity of aid actors responding to the Syrian crisis. This is done through collecting, analyzing and sharing information on the humanitarian situation in Syria. To this end, the Assistance Coordination Unit through the Information Management Unit established a wide net- work of enumerators who have been recruited depending on specific criteria such as education level, association with information sources and ability to work and communicate under various conditions. IMU collects data that is difficult to reach by other active international aid actors, and pub- lishes different types of information products such as Need Assessments, Thematic Reports, Maps, Flash Reports, and Interactive Reports. 2 Field Developments in Idleb, Northern Hama Countryside, Western Situation Report and Southern Aleppo Countryside During March and April 2019 May 2019 During March and April 2019 3 Field Developments in Idleb, Northern Hama Countryside, Western and Southern Aleppo Countryside During March and April 2019 01. The Most Prominent Shelling Operations During March and April 2019, the Syrian regime and its Russian ally shelled Idleb Governorate and its adjacent countrysides of Aleppo and Hama governorates, with hundreds of air strikes, and artillery and missile shells. The regime bombed 14 medical points, including hospitals and dispensaries; five schools, including a kinder- garten; four camps for IDPs; three bakeries and two centers for civil defense, in addition to more than a dozen of shells that targeted the Civil Defense volunteers during the evacuation of the injured and the victims.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Development-EN-19072020
    FIELD DEVELOPMENTS SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC NORTH EAST AND NORTH WEST SYRIA ٢٠٢٠ July ١٩-١٣ Violations committed by ٣٧٩ the Regime and its Russian ally of the ceasefire truce ٢٠٢٠ July ١٩ March Control Parties ٥ After the Turkish and Russian Presidents reached the ceasefire truce agreement in Idleb Governorate on the warplanes of the regime and its Russian ally didn’t bomb North Western Syria ever since; yet the regime ;٢٠٢٠ Russian ;٢٠٢٠ June ٢ continued targeting the cities and towns there with heavy artillery and rocket launchers; on warplanes have again bombed northwestern Syria, along with the regime which continued targeting NW Syria with heavy artillery and rocket launchers. Through its network of enumerators, the Assistance Coordination Unit ACU .violations of the truce committed by the regime and its Russian ally as of the date of this report ٣٧٩ documented There has been no change in the control map of Syria over the past week. In the central area of Idleb province, the civilians. In the ٣ regime forces shelled the town of Bara with heavy artillery and rocket launchers, injuring airstrikes carried out by a drone targeted Watad petroleum Company (the oil ٣ ,northern countryside of Idleb company of the Salvation Government) in the vicinity of the town of Sarmada. In northern Hama countryside, the woman. In northern ١ civilian and injuring ١ regime forces targeted with heavy artillery Tal Wassit town killing Regime ١١ child and injuring ١ Aleppo countryside, Russian warplane targeted Al Bab city with several airstrikes killing others. Opposition group Opposition group affiliated by Turkey The enumerators of the Information Management Unit (IMU) of the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) Syrian democratic forces (SDF) violations of the truce in Idleb governorate and adjacent ٥٠ m;٢٠٢٠ July ١٩-١٣ documented in the period between countrysides of Aleppo; Lattakia and Hama governorates.
    [Show full text]
  • SYRIA, YEAR 2020: Update on Incidents According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) Compiled by ACCORD, 25 March 2021
    SYRIA, YEAR 2020: Update on incidents according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) compiled by ACCORD, 25 March 2021 Number of reported incidents with at least one fatality Number of reported fatalities National borders: GADM, 6 May 2018a; administrative divisions: GADM, 6 May 2018b; incid- ent data: ACLED, 12 March 2021; coastlines and inland waters: Smith and Wessel, 1 May 2015 SYRIA, YEAR 2020: UPDATE ON INCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE ARMED CONFLICT LOCATION & EVENT DATA PROJECT (ACLED) COMPILED BY ACCORD, 25 MARCH 2021 Contents Conflict incidents by category Number of Number of reported fatalities 1 Number of Number of Category incidents with at incidents fatalities Number of reported incidents with at least one fatality 1 least one fatality Explosions / Remote Conflict incidents by category 2 6187 930 2751 violence Development of conflict incidents from 2017 to 2020 2 Battles 2465 1111 4206 Strategic developments 1517 2 2 Methodology 3 Violence against civilians 1389 760 997 Conflict incidents per province 4 Protests 449 2 4 Riots 55 4 15 Localization of conflict incidents 4 Total 12062 2809 7975 Disclaimer 9 This table is based on data from ACLED (datasets used: ACLED, 12 March 2021). Development of conflict incidents from 2017 to 2020 This graph is based on data from ACLED (datasets used: ACLED, 12 March 2021). 2 SYRIA, YEAR 2020: UPDATE ON INCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE ARMED CONFLICT LOCATION & EVENT DATA PROJECT (ACLED) COMPILED BY ACCORD, 25 MARCH 2021 Methodology GADM. Incidents that could not be located are ignored. The numbers included in this overview might therefore differ from the original ACLED data.
    [Show full text]
  • SYRIA - IDLEB Humanitarian Purposes Only IDP Location - As of 23 Oct 2015 Production Date : 26 Oct 2015
    SYRIA - IDLEB Humanitarian Purposes Only IDP Location - As of 23 Oct 2015 Production date : 26 Oct 2015 Nabul Al Bab MARE' JANDAIRIS AFRIN NABUL Tadaf AL BAB Atma ! Qah ² ! Daret Haritan Azza TADAF Reyhanli DARET AZZA HARITAN DANA Deir Hassan RASM HARAM !- Darhashan Harim Jebel EL-IMAM Tlul Dana ! QOURQEENA Saman Antakya Ein Kafr Hum Elbikara Big Hir ! ! Kafr Mu Jamus ! Ta l ! HARIM Elkaramej Sahara JEBEL SAMAN Besnaya - Sarmada ! ! Bseineh Kafr ! Eastern SALQIN ! Qalb Ariba Deryan Kafr ! Htan ! Lozeh ! Kafr Naha Kwaires ! Barisha Maaret ! ! Karmin TURKEY Allani ! Atarib ! Kafr Rabeeta ! Radwa ! Eskat ! ! Kila ! Qourqeena Kafr Naseh Atareb Elatareb Salqin Kafr ! EASTERN KWAIRES Delbiya Meraf ! Kafr Elshalaf Takharim Mars ! Kafr ! Jeineh Aruq ! Ta lt i t a ! Hamziyeh ! Kelly ! Abu ! Ta lh a ATAREB ! Kaftin Qarras KAFR TAKHARIMHelleh ! Abin ! Kafr ! Hazano ! Samaan Hind ! Kafr ! Kuku - Thoran Ein Eljaj ! As Safira Armanaz ! Haranbush ! Maaret Saidiyeh Kafr Zarbah ! Elekhwan Kafr - Kafr ! Aleppo Kafrehmul ! Azmarin Nabi ! Qanater Te ll e m ar ! ! ! ! Dweila Zardana AS-SAFIRA ! Mashehad Maaret Elnaasan ! Biret MAARET TAMSRIN - Maaret Ramadiyeh Elhaski Ghazala -! Armanaz ! ! Mgheidleh Maaret ! ARMANAZKuwaro - Shallakh Hafasraja ! Um Elriyah ! ! Tamsrin TEFTNAZ ! Zanbaqi ! Batenta ! ALEPPO Milis ! Kafraya Zahraa - Maar Dorriyeh Kherbet ! Ta m sa ri n Teftnaz Hadher Amud ! ! Darkosh Kabta Quneitra Kafr Jamiliya ! ! ! Jales Andnaniyeh Baliya Sheikh ! BENNSH Banan ! HADHER - Farjein Amud Thahr Yousef ! ! ! ! Ta lh i ye h ZARBAH Nasra DARKOSH Arshani
    [Show full text]
  • Any Violation of Syrian Airspace Will Be Considered Foreign Aggression
    Any violation of Syrian airspace will be considered foreign aggression Damascus, February 24 (RHC)-- Syria has warned against any violation of its airspace, emphasizing that such an encroachment will be treated as a “foreign act of aggression” and duly confronted. Syria’s official news agency SANA, citing a statement released by the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces, says the country's air defense units have been ordered to open fire on any foreign aircraft violating the Syrian airspace. “Any warplane that will infiltrate the Syrian airspace will be dealt with as a hostile target. It will be hunted down and destroyed once discovered," warned the statement. Late on February 13, Syria's air defenses intercepted an Israeli missile attack shortly after launch from over the occupied Golan Heights. “Our air defenses confronted an Israeli attack" west of Damascus, SANA reported at the time, adding that they “were able to shoot down most of the enemy missiles before they reached their targets.” Meanwhile, Syrian government forces pounded the positions of members of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, Takfiri terrorist group in a number of areas in the southern countryside of the northwestern city of Ma’arat al-Nu’man, located 33 kilometers south of Idlib. SANA reported that Syrian soldiers monitored the movement of the extremists on the outskirts of Kafr Nabl town in addition to Maarzita and Ftireh villages on Sunday. The strikes resulted in cutting off the supply routes of the militants, and destruction of their fortified positions. Separately, Turkey reportedly refused to offer its own Syrian proxies refuge in the wake of advances by Syrian government forces in the northeastern province of Hasakah.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Development-EN-12102020
    FIELD DEVELOPMENTS SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC NORTH EAST AND NORTH WEST SYRIA ٢٠٢٠ Octobet ١٢-٦ Violations committed by ٩٤٨ the Regime and its Russian ally of the ceasefire truce ٢٠٢٠ October ١٢ March Control Parties ٥ After the Turkish and Russian Presidents reached the ceasefire truce agreement in Idleb Governorate on the warplanes of the regime and its Russian ally didn’t bomb North Western Syria ever since; yet the regime ;٢٠٢٠ Russian ;٢٠٢٠ June ٢ continued targeting the cities and towns there with heavy artillery and rocket launchers; on warplanes have again bombed northwestern Syria, along with the regime which continued targeting NW Syria with heavy artillery and rocket launchers. Through its network of enumerators, the Assistance Coordination Unit ACU .violations of the truce committed by the regime and its Russian ally as of the date of this report ٩٤٨ documented There has been no change in the control map over the past week; No joint Turkish-Russian military patrols were in that the Turkish forces conducted, for the third time, a ;٢٠٢٠ October ٦-١٢ carried out during the period between The absence of Russian forces from the joint patrol was .٢٠٢٠ October ٨ highway on military patrol on the M٤ the regime forces shelled with heavy artillery the vicinity of the Turkish observation ;٢٠٢٠ October ١١ observed. On Regime point near the town of Majarez. Opposition group The enumerators of the Information Management Unit (IMU) of the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) documented Opposition group affiliated by Turkey (violations of the truce in Idleb governorate and adjacent countrysides Syrian democratic forces (SDF ٤٤ m;٢٠٢٠ October ١٢-٦ in the period between of Aleppo; Lattakia and Hama governorates.
    [Show full text]
  • Syria - Displacements from Northern Syria Production Date : 25/08/2016 IDP Locations - As of 16 August 2016
    For Humanitarian Purposes Only Syria - Displacements from Northern Syria Production date : 25/08/2016 IDP Locations - As of 16 August 2016 Total number of IDPs: 749,275 BULBUL Raju " RAJU Shamarin Talil Elsham ² Krum Zayzafun - Ekdeh Gender & Age SHARAN Shmarekh Sharan Kafrshush Baraghideh " Tatiyeh Jdideh Maarin Ar-Ra'ee Salama AR-RA'EE " Nayara Ferziyeh A'ZAZ Azaz " Azaz Niddeh 19% MA'BTALI Sijraz Yahmul Maabatli Suran " Jarez " Kafr Kalbein 31% Maraanaz Girls under 18 Al-Malikeyyeh Kaljibrin AGHTRIN Afrin Manaq Akhtrein Boys under 18 " " Sheikh El-Hadid " Mare' Women " A'RIMA Tall Refaat 24% " Men Baselhaya TALL REFAAT AFRIN Deir Jmal MARE' Kafr Naseh Tal Refaat 26% Kafrnaya JANDAIRIS Jandairis " Nabul AL BAB " Al Bab " NABUL Tal Jbine Tadaf " Shelter Type Hayyan T U R K E Y Qah Atma Selwa Random gatherings HARITAN Andan Haritan TADAF Unfinished houses or Daret Azza " " buildings Reyhanli Kafr Bssin Other Qabtan Eljabal Tilaada Individual tents DARET AZZA A L E P P O Babis Deir Hassan - Darhashan Hur Maaret Elartiq Kafr Hamra Rented houses DANA Hezreh - Hezri Termanin Dana Anjara Foziyeh Harim " Bshantara RASM HARAM EL-IMAM Open areas " Tqad Majbineh Aleppo Antakya Ras Elhisn " Total Tlul Kafr Hum Ein Elbikara Aleppo HARIM Tuwama Hoteh Under trees Kafr Mu Tlul Big Hir Jamus QOURQEENA Tal Elkaramej Sahara JEBEL SAMAN Um Elamad Alsafira Besnaya - Bseineh Sarmada Oweijel Htan Tadil Collective center Ariba Qalb Lozeh Barisha Eastern Kwaires " Bozanti Kafr Deryan Kafr Karmin Abzemo Maaret Atarib Allani Radwa Kafr Taal Kafr Naha Home Kafr
    [Show full text]
  • SYRIA, FOURTH QUARTER 2020: Update on Incidents According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) Compiled by ACCORD, 25 March 2021
    SYRIA, FOURTH QUARTER 2020: Update on incidents according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) compiled by ACCORD, 25 March 2021 Number of reported incidents with at least one fatality Number of reported fatalities National borders: GADM, 6 May 2018a; administrative divisions: GADM, 6 May 2018b; incid- ent data: ACLED, 12 March 2021; coastlines and inland waters: Smith and Wessel, 1 May 2015 SYRIA, FOURTH QUARTER 2020: UPDATE ON INCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE ARMED CONFLICT LOCATION & EVENT DATA PROJECT (ACLED) COMPILED BY ACCORD, 25 MARCH 2021 Contents Conflict incidents by category Number of Number of reported fatalities 1 Number of Number of Category incidents with at incidents fatalities Number of reported incidents with at least one fatality 1 least one fatality Explosions / Remote Conflict incidents by category 2 1539 195 615 violence Development of conflict incidents from December 2018 to December 2020 2 Battles 650 308 1174 Violence against civilians 394 185 218 Methodology 3 Strategic developments 364 1 1 Conflict incidents per province 4 Protests 158 0 0 Riots 9 0 0 Localization of conflict incidents 4 Total 3114 689 2008 Disclaimer 7 This table is based on data from ACLED (datasets used: ACLED, 12 March 2021). Development of conflict incidents from December 2018 to December 2020 This graph is based on data from ACLED (datasets used: ACLED, 12 March 2021). 2 SYRIA, FOURTH QUARTER 2020: UPDATE ON INCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE ARMED CONFLICT LOCATION & EVENT DATA PROJECT (ACLED) COMPILED BY ACCORD, 25 MARCH 2021 Methodology GADM. Incidents that could not be located are ignored. The numbers included in this overview might therefore differ from the original ACLED data.
    [Show full text]
  • WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 27 April - 3 May 2020
    WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 27 April - 3 May 2020 SYRIA SUMMARY • NORTHWEST| Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faced protests after opening a controversial commercial crossing with Government of Syria (GoS). A fuel tanker explosion in Afrin killed 53 people. Infighting between Turkish- backed armed opposition groups escalated in Jarabulus, Aleppo Governorate. • SOUTH & CENTRAL | Clashes between As-Sweida and Dara’a militias continued. Attacks against GoS personnel and positions continued in Dara’a Governorate. Israel attacked pro-Iranian militias and GoS positions across southern Syria. ISIS killed several GoS armed forces personnel. • NORTHEAST | ISIS prisoners attempted to escape Ghoweran jail in Al- Hassakah Governorate. Violence against civilians continued across northeast Syria. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) faced increased attacks from unidentified gunmen and Turkish armed forces. Coalition forces carried out their first airstrikes since 11 March. Figure 1: Dominant actors’ area of control and influence in Syria as of 3 May 2020. NSOAG stands for Non-state Organized Armed Groups. Also, please see the footnote on page 2. Page 1 of 6 WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 27 April – 3 May 2020 NORTHWEST SYRIA1 After announcing plans to open a commercial crossing with GoS territory, protests erupted against HTS (see figure 2). Civilians protested the crossing over fears of normalization with GoS and of spreading COVID-19. On 30 April, Maaret al Naasan (Idlib Governorate) residents protested at the crossing and blocked commercial trucks attempting to cross into GoS areas. HTS violently dispersed the protests, killing one. Following the protests, HTS brought reinforcements to Maaret al Naasan. The same day, HTS announced that it had suspended the opening of the commercial crossing.2 On 1 May, protests continued against HTS across Idlib and Aleppo Governorates in 10 locations.3 Smaller protests were recorded in 2 May in Kafr Takharim and Ariha in Idlib Governorate.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Development-A3-EN-20201201
    FIELD DEVELOPMENTS SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC 1 - 7 December 2020 NORTH EAST AND NORTH WEST SYRIA Violations committed by ١,٢٩١ the Regime and its Russian ally of the ceasefire truce ٢٠٢٠ November ٧ Control Parties ;٢٠٢٠ March ٥ After the Turkish and Russian Presidents reached the ceasefire truce agreement in Idleb Governorate on the warplanes of the regime and its Russian ally didn’t bomb North Western Syria ever since; yet the regime continued Russian warplanes have ;٢٠٢٠ June ٢ targeting the cities and towns there with heavy artillery and rocket launchers; on again bombed northwestern Syria, along with the regime which continued targeting NW Syria with heavy artillery and ١,٢٩١ rocket launchers. Through its network of enumerators, the Assistance Coordination Unit ACU documented violations of the truce committed by the regime and its Russian ally as of the date of this report. There has been no change in the control map over the past week; No Joint Turkish-Russian military patrols were carried Russian warplanes targeted with two airstrikes the ,٢٠٢٠ December ٧ On .٢٠٢٠ November ٢٤-٣٠ out between surroundings of Idleb city; the first airstrike targeted Shekh Bahr area, whereas the second airstrike targeted a chicken warehouse near the town of Kafr Jales. The regime forces shelled the towns of Bara and Murin with heavy artillery, IDP tents and the shelter Regime ٢ targeting a camp for displaced persons near the town of Murin, and the shelling destroyed materials within, without causing any casualties. Opposition group Opposition group affiliated by Turkey Syrian democratic forces (SDF) The enumerators of the Information Management Unit (IMU) of the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) documented in the period between 1 - 7 December 2020; 37 violations of the truce in Idleb governorate and adjacent countrysides of Clash areas- Clash lines Aleppo; Lattakia and Hama governorates.
    [Show full text]
  • WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 30 March - 5 April 2020
    WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 30 March - 5 April 2020 SYRIA SUMMARY • NORTHWEST | Levels of Conflict in northwest Syria remained elevated for the second consecutive week, as Turkish military personnel and equipment continued to arrive to Idleb. Inside the Turkish-held areas of northern Aleppo Governorate, opposition armed groups continued their looting and extortion activity against civilians. An attack against an opposition affiliated National Police Officer highlighted the growing number of attacks against the entity in the previous month. • SOUTH & CENTRAL | Tensions over kidnapping and clashes continue between communal militias Dara’a and As-Sweida. Government of Syria (GoS)-aligned personal faced continuing attacks in Daraa Governorate. • NORTHEAST | Shelling exchanges around Turkish-held Operation Peace Spring areas increased, while Turkish-backed opposition armed groups and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clashed on the ground. Jailed ISIS members staged a riot to escape a prison in Hassakah. ISIS also attacked SDF and pro-Iran forces in Deir-ez-Zor. Members of the Asayish (Kurdish Intelligence) and National Defense Forces (NDF) exchanged fire in Qamishli City. Figure 1: Dominant actors’ area of control and influence in Syria as of 5 April 2020. NSOAG stands for Non-state Organized Armed Groups. Also, please see the footnote on page 2. Page 1 of 5 WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 30 March – 5 April 2020 NORTHWEST SYRIA1 For a second consecutive week, there were elevated levels of conflict activity in the northwest of Syria. The Government of Syria (GoS) shelled 14 locations, 26 times2 during the week, compared to 22 locations targeted 36 times by shelling and small arms fire the previous week.
    [Show full text]
  • The Historical Earthquakes of Syria: an Analysis of Large and Moderate Earthquakes from 1365 B.C
    ANNALS OF GEOPHYSICS, VOL. 48, N. 3, June 2005 The historical earthquakes of Syria: an analysis of large and moderate earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D. Mohamed Reda Sbeinati (1), Ryad Darawcheh (1) and Mikhail Mouty (2) (1) Department of Geology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria (2) Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria Abstract The historical sources of large and moderate earthquakes, earthquake catalogues and monographs exist in many depositories in Syria and European centers. They have been studied, and the detailed review and analysis re- sulted in a catalogue with 181 historical earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D. Numerous original documents in Arabic, Latin, Byzantine and Assyrian allowed us to identify seismic events not mentioned in previous works. In particular, detailed descriptions of damage in Arabic sources provided quantitative information necessary to re-evaluate past seismic events. These large earthquakes (I0>VIII) caused considerable damage in cities, towns and villages located along the northern section of the Dead Sea fault system. Fewer large events also occurred along the Palmyra, Ar-Rassafeh and the Euphrates faults in Eastern Syria. Descriptions in original sources doc- ument foreshocks, aftershocks, fault ruptures, liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, fires and other damages. We present here an updated historical catalogue of 181 historical earthquakes distributed in 4 categories regarding the originality and other considerations, we also present a table of the parametric catalogue of 36 historical earth- quakes (table I) and a table of the complete list of all historical earthquakes (181 events) with the affected lo- cality names and parameters of information quality and completeness (table II) using methods already applied in other regions (Italy, England, Iran, Russia) with a completeness test using EMS-92.
    [Show full text]