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Scores of Syrians Killed Daily by US-Russian-Regime Air Strikes and Bombardment, Al-Raqqa City Under Continuous Attacks

August 13, 2017 

Editor's Note:

The coalition which fights the Islamic State and other Sunni groups in Syria consists of US-led NATO forces, Russian forces, Syrian Alewite government forces, Iranian-backed Shi'i militias, and Kurdish peshmerga forces. The coalition's continuous attacks have resulted in the killing of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian Sunni Muslim Arabs and the eviction of millions of them as a result of the destruction of their cities and villages.

The end outcome is going to be the weakening and possible dismantling of Iraqi and Syrian states as well as the eviction (ethnic cleansing of) Sunni Muslim Arabs, particularly from the upper Euphrates region of northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria. 

The larger context for understanding the Syrian war (and other wars in the Middle East) is that it contributes to the implementation of the Zionist-Israeli plan of destroying the Arab Middle Eastern states in preparation for the establishment of the greater Israeli empire, from the Nile of Egypt to the Euphrates of Iraq.  

For a background, read: 

Zionist Creative Destruction of the Middle East for the Benefit of the Apartheid Israeli Regime

 

 

Death and destruction in Syria, August 13, 2017	Remains of the Syrian city of Homs, destroyed by Russian-regime air strikes, file, August 13, 2017

Syrian city of Raqqa under continuous daily US-led air strikes and bombardment, August 11, 2017	Clashes between SDF and the factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo, August 13, 2017

 

The following are news stories from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) website (http://www.syriahr.com/en/):

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Clashes between SDF and the factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo and the regime Forces shell the outskirts Khan Shaykhun

SOHR, 13/08/2017

Aleppo Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the clashes renewed between the Syria Democratic Forces against fighters of the Turkish-backed rebel factions in areas in the vicinity of Samouqa and Um Hosh villages in the northern countryside of Aleppo, amid exchange of shelling between both parties of the clashes, no information about casualties.

Idlib Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the regime forces shelled areas in outskirts of Khan Shaykhun city in the southern countryside of Idlib, which caused material damage but no information about casualties until now, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that citizens from the village of Deriyyeh in the countryside of Jisr Al-Shughur on the border with Iskenderun were able to withdraw the body of a woman who was killed by the forces of the Turkish border Guards on Friday the 11th of August 2017, also an explosion was heard in Maarrat Mesrin area, it was caused by an IED explosion near al-Feren Roundabout in the town in the northern countryside of Idlib, no information about casualties.

Violent clashes in Jobar and the Eastern Ghouta and sporadic clashes in Yarmouk Basin

SOHR, 13/08/2017

Rif Dimashq Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

The regime forces shelled areas in the western outskirts of Ein Tarma town in the Eastern Ghouta, with ten missiles believed to be ground-to-ground, in conjunction with violent clashes between the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them in Wadi Ein Tarma areas and other areas in the vicinity of Ein Tarma town, amid violent clashes between both parties in areas in the neighbourhood of Jobar, and the clashes are accompanied with exchanged targeting between both parties and on the clash areas.

Daraa Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

Areas in Daraa city witnessed an exchange of fire between the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them against fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions in areas in Daraa al-Balad, while sporadic clashes took place between the rebel and Islamic factions against the fighters of Jaysh Khalid Ibn Al-Walid which swore allegiance to the “Islamic State” organization in the vicinity of Sahem al-Golan area in Yarmouk basin in the western countryside of Daraa, in conjunction with clashes between both of them in al-Qusayr front in the western countryside of Daraa.

Warplanes raid on the northern countryside of Homs after a violent and shelling exchange in its areas between the regime forces and the factions

SOHR, 13/08/2017

Homs province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Explosions were heard in the northern countryside of Homs, caused by airstrikes by warplanes on areas in the village of Ameriyah which caused material damage, no information about casualties, while the regime forces shelled areas in the villages of Makramiyyeh and al-Farhaniyah in the northern countryside of Homs, no information about injuries, the regime forces also shelled areas in the northern countryside of Homs near the town of Al-Sa’en Al-Aswad from the side of Talbiseh, which injured several persons including women.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago that the northern countryside of Homs witnessed an escalated shelling following the end of the de-escalation in the northern countryside of Homs. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the shelling of the regime forces on the town of al-Sa’an al-Aswda and other places in the village of Ayoun Hussein In the northern countryside of Homs, and no information about injuries so far. Mortar shells also fell on areas in the village of Ein al-Dananeer and the village of al-Mashrfa, which are both controlled by the regime forces in the countryside of Homs, amid sporadic clashes is taking place between the regime forces and their allied militiamen against the rebel and Islamic factions in areas in al-Sa’am al-Aswad in the northern countryside of Homs, on the faces In the vicinity of Al-Saan black countryside north of Homs, and there were no information about injuries, shells also fell heavily on areas in al-Ghasibia village which is controlled by the regime forces, and there is no information about injuries so far.

This escalation comes after  the collapse of the Egyptian – Russian agreement to “de-escalate the tension and military operations in the northern countryside of Homs”, as some parties accused the regime of non-compliance to the cease-fire agreement in the northern countryside of Homs, while others parties said that the parties of the negotiation said that this agreement does not meet their demands, as it began at the afternoon of the 3rd  of August, and ended a week after its implementation, after a meeting held  between representatives of factions operating in the northern countryside of Homs, and representatives of the Russian forces in the northern countryside of Homs.

Air strikes on the vicinity and the outskirts of the city of Deir Ezzor and a violent attack by the “Islamic State” organization in the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah

SOHR, 13/08/2017

Deir Ezzor Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

Warplanes that were not known whether they were Russian or related to the regime, carried out strikes targeted areas the vicinity of Al-Lwa’ 137, other places in the vicinity of Panorama Square and places in the area of Al-Bughayliyya in the outskirts and the vicinity of Deir Ezzor, and no information about casualties was reported yet.

Al-Hasakah Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that violent explosions were heard in the southern countryside of Al-Shaddadi city, resulted from explosions accompanied by a violent attack carried out by members of the “Islamic State” organization in positions of the Syria Democratic Forces in the south of Al-Shaddadi, in an attempt by the organization to cause a number of casualties in the ranks of the SDF, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also learned that violent clashes are taking place between the both parties, amid exchange of targeting, and confirmed information about casualties in the ranks of both parties.

65 persons were killed yesterday, including 10 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen, and 16 people were killed in bombardment by the regime forces and the International Coalition and other circumstances

SOHR, 12/08/2017

It rose to 32, including 23 fighters, the number of those who joined on Friday the Convoy of Martyrs of the Syrian Revolution.

In Daraa province, 23 members of the Jaish al-Islam were killed in explosion caused by a suicide bomber in a camp belongs to Jaish al-Islam in Naseeb area in the southern countryside of Daraa.

In Deir Ezzor province, 4 civilians were killed; they are a child who died affected by injured he has in shelling by the “Islamic State” organization on areas in the Al-Qusour neighborhood in Deir Ezzor city. A man, his wife and two of their children were killed by a landmine explosion in al-Kuriyah village in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, during their attempt to displace from al-Raqqa to Aleppo countryside.

In al-Raqqa province, 3 people, including a doctor, were killed in mines explosions in al-Raqqa city.

In Hama province, a young man from Sahl al-Ghab in the northwestern countryside of Hama was shot by the Turkish border guards during his attempt to cross the borders to Iskenderun, causing his death.

In Idlib province, a woman was shot by the Turkish border guards while trying to cross into Iskenderun from the area of al-​​Dariyah near Darakush in Jisr al-Shoughor countryside.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also documented the death of 4 civilians who were killed in aerial bombardment by the International Coalition’s warplanes on the city.

While the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the “Islamic State” organization executed 3 young men in al-Husain village in al-Sewar area in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

The Syrian Observatory also documented the death of 3 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces, who were killed in the ongoing fighting against the “Islamic State” organization in the city of al-Raqqa.

And 10 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen, who were killed in shelling and clashes with the “Islamic State” organization.

And at least 13 fighters of the “Islamic State” organization of non-Syrian nationalities were killed in clashes and bombardment of warplanes and helicopters and shelling on their areas of presence.

About 600 civilians among more than 1600 people killed in Al-Raqqah city since the start of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah

11/08/2017

The death toll keeps rising day after day with the continuation of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah, where the Syria Democratic Forces and the US Special Forces are seeking to take control of the city, of which the “Islamic State” organization has lost more than half of its area since the start of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah on the 6th of June 2017, where it rose to 1610 people, the number of people killed and documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights snice the start of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah, they are 595 civilians at least including them an activist from the SOHR as well as 136 children, 84 women in al-Raqqa city, who were killed and documented by the SOHR in al-Raqqa city and its countryside since the launch of the Grand Battle of al-Raqqa on the 5th of June 2017 until today the 10th of August 2017.

The casualties are 579 civilians including at least 133 children below the age of eighteen and 80 women over the age of eighteen, who were killed in al-Raqqa city, as well as 16 civilians including 3 children and 4 women who were killed in raids on Zor Shamar village and another area at the southern banks of the Euphrates River in al-Raqqa eastern countryside. The aerial bombardment also caused injury of hundreds of civilians with varying degrees of severity, while some of them have amputated limbs and permanent disabilities, and some of them still in serious conditions and the death toll are suggested to increase. Scores of houses, utilities were also destroyed in the city due to the indiscriminate bombardment that targeted al-Raqqa city and its vicinity and outskirts, while more civilian casualties were reported but the SOHR couldn’t document them.

The SOHR also documented that the international coalition airstrikes and the heavy bombardment on al-Raqqa city and its outskirts along with the military offensives in the city that included shelling,  bombings and clashes with the “Euphrates Wrath” Operations Forces, which is composed of the Syria Democratic Forces, the Syrian Elite Forces, and the US Special Forces backed by the International Coalition’s warplanes caused – since the launching of the battle until today the 10th of August – the death of at least 702 members of the “Islamic State” organization including two local  figures and commanders of groups, amid confirmed information about death of other members, in addition to injuring tens of them with varying degrees of severity.

Also, the SOHR documented in the same period the death of 313 fighters of the “Euphrates Wrath” including two fighters from the Syrian Elites Forces, 4 fighters holding US, Georgian and British nationalities, while the rest are from the Syria Democratic Forces, whose main pillar is the YPG, and fighters of Manbij Military Council, who were killed during clashes with the “Islamic State” organization and due to bombings in al-Raqqa city and the southern banks of Euphrates River.

While al-Raqqa city is still witnessing the lack of many food supplies and much shortage in some of them, and reliable sources confirmed the absence of vegetables and fruits in the city market in addition to the significant shortage in medicines and drinking water and their surging prices. Thus, the civilians still residing in Al-Raqqah depend mainly on grains, rice and legumes which have been stored by the city citizens or the shops. Moreover, ISIS members are breaking into the shops and seizing its contents, especially clothes shops. A state of resentment also prevail among the residents of al-Raqqa city because of the daily massacre carried out by the International Coalition against the people and the displaced of the city, the state of resentment increases as the families accuse the International Coalition of targeting buildings claiming that snipers of ISIS are inside these buildings or on the top of them.

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The following are news stories from the US Department of Defense website (http://www.defense.gov/News) :

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OIR Spokesman: No Safe Havens Left for ISIS in Syria or Iraq

Edited from a news story by Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2017 —

With 50 percent of Raqqa, Syria, now under the control of (the US-backed) Syrian Democratic Forces and holding forces in place in Mosul, Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has no safe haven left in either country, the Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman said today.

US Army Col. Ryan S. Dillon, briefing the media live from Baghdad, gave an update on operations in Syria and Iraq, noting that determined SDF fighters continue to make progress against ISIS as they fight block by block in Raqqa.

“The SDF has now cleared more than 50 percent of the city from terrorists,” Dillon said.

“The SDF are in a fierce urban fight and have almost managed to link up their forces along the eastern and western axes as they conduct deliberate clearance operations of areas under their control,” he added.

Syria Operations

Fighting in the tightly packed old city is difficult because buildings and even corpses are rigged with improvised explosives by ISIS to stall the SDF advance, the colonel said.

The Raqqa Internal Security Force, otherwise known as the RISF, now more than 1,000 strong and composed mainly of Arabs from the Raqqa area, is filling in behind the SDF to provide security and prevent ISIS from returning to cleared neighborhoods, Dillon said.

In southern Syria, near the Iraq-Syria border, there were clashes Monday between ISIS and militia groups, he said, noting that there were initial allegations of coalition strikes on Iraqi popular mobilization forces.

Iraq Operations

The coalition conducted more than 50 strikes in the past week against ISIS defensive positions, headquarters, weapons caches and vehicle bomb and road bomb factories in Tal Afar and Kisik Junction, which is about 30 kilometers east of Tal Afar, Dillon said, where ISIS is defending the approach to the city.

The coalition estimates that about 2,000 ISIS fighters are in and around Tal Afar, and the colonel said the fight to root them out from one of ISIS' last Iraq strongholds is expected to be difficult, he said.

In Tikrit, liberated in April 2015, more than 95 percent of those who fled the city have returned, the colonel said. In Ramadi, liberated in February 2016, more than 300,000 displaced persons have returned, and 20 schools, 18 health centers and 250 houses are rehabilitated, he added.

In Fallujah, liberated in June 2016, 400,000 displaced persons have returned, clean water is pumped to 60 percent of residents, and projects have begun to rehabilitate more than 10,000 houses over the next 18 months, Dillon said.

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 12, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, conducting strikes and engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes consisting of 34 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed an ISIS vehicle.

-- Near Raqqa, 26 strikes engaged 19 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 35 fighting positions, two vehicles, an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS communication line.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of eight engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Huwayjah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five pieces of oil equipment, two vehicles, an explosives cache, an ISIS-held building and a vehicle bomb factory.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes destroyed three ISIS unmanned aerial system launch platforms and suppressed a mortar team and an artillery system.

-- Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed an ISIS weapons cache and a mortar system, and suppressed two mortar teams.

Aug. 9-10 Strikes

Additionally, 17 strikes consisting of 19 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 9-10 that closed within the last 24 hours:

-- On Aug. 9, near Raqqa, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.

-- On Aug. 10, near Raqqa, Syria, 11 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, a mortar system, a logistics node and a command-and-control node.

-- On Aug. 10, near Rawah, Iraq, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- On Aug. 10, near Tal Afar, Iraq, three strikes destroyed a vehicle bomb and suppressed two ISIS tactical units.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 11, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 34 strikes consisting of 43 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

-- Near Raqqa, 33 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 21 fighting positions, four command-and-control nodes, three ISIS communication nodes, two improvised bombs, a logistics node and an ISIS communication facility.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of eight engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed a vehicle bomb factory.

-- Near Tal Afar, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three ISIS warehouses, two ISIS-held buildings, two tunnel entrances and a command-and-control node.

Aug. 9 Strikes

Additionally, 18 strikes consisting of 21 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 9 that closed within the last 24 hours:

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, 16 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units; destroyed 13 fighting positions, three command-and-control nodes, a mortar system, an improvised bomb and a heavy machine gun; and damaged two fighting positions.

-- Near Kisik Iraq, two strikes destroyed four ISIS headquarters buildings.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 10, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes consisting of 25 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed ISIS oil equipment.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed an ISIS wellhead.

-- Near Raqqa, 14 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed 27 fighting positions, five command-and-control nodes, two heavy machine guns, a mortar system, a vehicle and an improvised explosive device factory.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of four engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Kisik, a strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building and a vehicle.

Aug. 8 Strikes

Officials also announced results today on 11 strikes consisting of 19 engagements conducted Aug. 8 in Syria and Iraq for which the information was unavailable in time for yesterday's report:

-- Near Raqqa, seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, three command-and-control nodes, an IED and a heavy machine gun.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes suppressed 10 mortar systems.

-- Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed an ISIS staging area and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 9, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 25 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed three ISIS supply routes.

-- Near Raqqa, 22 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 20 fighting positions, an improvised explosive device, ISIS engineering equipment, a logistics node and a command-and-control node.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of nine engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Huwayjah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three vehicle-borne-IED facilities.

-- Near Beiji, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a staging area and a vehicle.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two command-and control-nodes and an IED factory.

-- Near Rawah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed three vehicle-borne-IED facilities.

Other Recent Strikes

Officials also reported results today from nine other recent strikes consisting of 17 engagements for which details were unavailable at the time of yesterday's report:

-- Near Raqqa, an Aug. 6 strike destroyed 10 ISIS fighting positions and two mortar systems.

-- Near Raqqa, six Aug. 7 strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, an ISIS communications tower and a mortar system.

-- Near Tal Afar, two Aug. 7 strikes destroyed two IED facilities and a vehicle-borne-IED factory and suppressed five ISIS mortar teams.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 8, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 29 strikes consisting of 36 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an improvised-bomb factory.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed seven ISIS wellheads and a weapons cache.

-- Near Raqqa, 25 strikes engaged 17 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 37 fighting positions, two command-and-control nodes, two weapons caches, two vehicles and a weapons depot.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb supply site.

-- Near Bashir, a strike destroyed three ISIS oil stills.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two vehicles, a tractor and a silo.

-- Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and an ISIS-held building.

Aug. 6 Strikes

Officials also reported results today of 16 Aug, 6 strikes consisting of 28 engagements for which details were unavailable at the time of yesterday's report:

-- Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, an anti-air artillery system and a vehicle-borne bomb.

-- Near Huwayjah, Iraq, a strike destroyed two ISIS oil stills and a refinery.

-- Near Qaim, two strikes destroyed 12 ISIS oil stills and a vehicle-borne-bomb factory.

-- Near Kisik, a strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

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