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Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

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Scores of Syrian Civilians Killed Daily in NATO-Russian-Regime Air Strikes on Various Cities, with Focus on Al-Raqqa and Dair Ez-Zoar

June 23, 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

 

 

US marines bombarding Islamic State-held cities in north Syria, March 24, 2017 A burning street in the Syrian city of Dayr Az-Zoar, file, June 22, 2017
Fighting in the Syrian city of Tadmur, June 22, 2017 Site of an air strike on the Syrian city of Dair Ez-Zoar, June 18, 2017
Syrians trying to rescue victims under rubble after a regime air strike, June 2017 The Syrian city of Al-Raqqa under NATO-Russian-Iranian-Regime attacks, June 21, 2017

 

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

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85 were killed yesterday (June 21, 2017), including 9 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them, and more than 30 civilians were killed in bombing of the International Coalition and airstrikes and other circumstances.

SOHR, 22/06/2017

In Deir Ezzor Province, 6 civilians including 4 children were killed in shelling of warplanes, which are not known whether they belong to Russia or the regime forces in areas in Al-Sheikh Yassin neighborhood in Deir Ezzor city

In Daraa Province, 3 civilians were killed, they are 1 man from Zayzoun town, who was killed under torture in the Syrian security prisons, and 2 young men were killed by shelling of the regime forces on areas in Da’el town.

In Homs Province, two civilians were killed, one of them is a child killed in a shelling by warplanes in Al-Tayba town in the eastern countryside of Homs.

In Damascus Province, a fighter of the rebel factions died due to injuries he suffered in shelling and clashes with the regime forces at the outskirts of Damascus.

While 2 women were killed in shelling of the International Coalition’s warplanes on areas in Ratla village at the southern outskirts of the al-Raqqa city, and at least 16 persons, including 4 children and women were killed in shelling by the International Coalition’s warplanes on areas in al-Raqqa city.

5 members of the executive forces also were killed in a motorcycle bomb that targeted the executive security forces in al-Slayba area in the outskirts of the market of Idlib city.

A member of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham exploded his suicide belt in the headquarter of al-Jolan Regiment in Khan Arnabah town in the countryside of al-Quneitra 2 days ago.

While the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented 5 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces were killed in shelling and explosions and clashes with the regime forces in the countryside of al-Raqqa and al-Hasaka.

9 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them died due to injuries they suffered in shelling and clashes with the “Islamic State” organization and clashes with the factions.

At least 8 fighters of the “Islamic State” organization of Syrian and non-Syrian organization were killed in clashes and bombing of warplanes and helicopters and shelling on areas of their presence. 

77 were killed yesterday (June 20, 2017) including 16 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen and 31 others

SOHR, 21/06/2017

In Deir El-Zour Province: 15 civilians were killed, including 9 martyrs of the same family, a man, his wife and 3 of their children- one of whom is a kid- in addition to their daughter, her husband and 2 of their children as a result of airstrikes by warplanes on areas in Khosham town. Two of those civilians were killed in a mortar shelling by ISIS on areas in Al-Joura and Al-Kosour neighborhoods.

In Daraa Province, 11 fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions were killed in air raids, bombardments and clashes with the regime forces and their allied militiamen in Daraa city and its surroundings

In Al-Raqqah Province, two children were killed in a mine explosion in Shnena area in the northeastern countryside of Al-Raqqah.

In Al-Hasaka Province, a young man was shot dead by the Turkish border guards when attempting to cross the borders in Al-Qamshili countryside
In Aleppo Province, unknown gunmen shot a person from Homs Province dead in Al-Bab area, which is under the control of the Turkish forces and the factions of the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation.

8 Civilians were also killed in a shelling by the International Coalition and another by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation forces on areas in Al-Raqqah city and its outskirts. Moreover, one female citizen was killed as a result of an airstrike by warplanes, believed to be affiliated with the International Coalition, on the Cultural Center area in Al-Baseira town in the eastern countryside of Deir El-Zour, while one female citizen and two Iraqi children were killed in an airstrike carried out by the International Coalition warplanes on the Commercial Bank area.

The SOHR also learned that two unknown gunmen on a motorcycle shot one of the fighters of Jaysh Usud Al-Sharqiya dead in the area of Al-Rakban Camp in the Syrian dessert near the Syrian – Jordanian borderes and then fled the area.

In addition, the SOHR documented the death of 6 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), whose funerals were held in Al-Hasaka countryside, Manbij and the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah, as a result of a shelling and clashes with ISIS in Al-Raqqah city and its countryside. The SOHR also documented the death of two of Asayish fighters in a bombing that targeted one of the positions of the Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in the northern countryside of Al-Hasaka.
Also, 16 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen were killed as a result of a shelling and clashes with ISIS and others with the factions.

At least 10 Syrian and non-Syrian fighters of the “Islamic State” organization were killed in clashes, airstrikes by warplanes and helicopters and bombardments of areas where they are present. 

46 were killed yesterday (June 18, 2017), including 6 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them and15 other persons

SOHR, 19/06/2017

In Aleppo province 5 citizens were killed, they are: a man and his wife and their son, they were killed in shelling by the Syria Democratic Forces on areas in Marea’ city, and a man and his son were killed in shelling by the Syria Democratic Forces on Darat Azza town.

Deir Ezzor province 3 citizens were killed, they are: a woman and her child girl were killed in bombing by warplanes on places in Hatleh town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor city, and a person was killed in bombardment by warplanes on areas in the village of al-Zghir in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, where the strikes targeted the poultry building in the village.

In Rif Dimashq province a man was died affected by wounds he had in aerial bombardment on Daraa.

And 6 citizens including a boy and a granddaughter and his grandchild from Palmyra city were killed in bombing by the International Coalition on areas in Al-Raqqah city.

Also a fighter was killed by the sniper of the “Islamic State” organization south of Rif Dimashq.

Also today a funeral was held in Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo for 11 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces, who were killed shelling, bombing and clashes in the countryside of al-Raqqah against the “Islamic State” organization, during the Operation of the “Euphrates Wrath”.

And 6 Members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them were killed in shelling and clashes against the “Islamic State” organization and clashes against the factions.

At least 10 fighters of the “Islamic State” organization of non-Syrian nationalities were killed in clashes, shelling and bombing by warplanes and helicopters on areas of their presence.

Despite the truce, warplanes of al-Assad’s regime kill 72 civilians at least in month of airstrikes on Syrian areas

SOHR, 21/06/2017

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented more than 2346 raids and barrel bombs at least, carried out by Bashar al-Assad’s regime warplanes and helicopter in many Syrian provinces since the 20th of May 2017 until the 20th of June 2017.

These airstrikes have killed 72 civilian persons, they are 18 person under the age of eighteen, 15 citizen women over the age of eighteen and 39 men, in addition to 16 persons of family members of the “Islamic State” organization, as well as injuring hundreds of others and destroying tens of homes and shops, also the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented killing of at least 52 fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions, Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, the “Islamic state”, all of them were killed in airstrikes in several areas in Syria.

Which in turn raise to 11149 civilian citizens, they are 2454 persons under the age of eighteen, 1643 citizen women over the age of eighteen and 7052 men, in addition to injuring about 66000 other civilians, the number of people documented by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights of who were killed and injured by bombing and shelling by regime’s warplanes and helicopters in 32 months, since the 20th of October 2014 until the 20th of June 2017, they were killed in more than 93605 raids at least, where helicopters carried out more than 50028 of them and the warplanes carried out 43577 raids at least.

Also the helicopters and warplanes have killed 6611 fighters at least of the rebel and Islamic factions, Fateh al-Sham Front, the “Islamic State” organization, Islamic Turkestan Party and several other factions, in addition to injuring thousands of others.

While the human losses of civilians who were killed in raids by warplanes and helicopters of Bashar al-Assad’s regime since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in March 2011 until the 20th of June 2017 have raised to 23176 civilians, they are: 14945 men, 4991 children under the age of eighteen and 3240 citizen women over the age of eighteen.

We in the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and through publishing the documented statistics of human losses, which the civilian Syrians are their main victims due to the military operations in Syria, in addition to documenting the war crimes and the crimes against humanity which are continuously committed in Syria, we are also seeking to send a message to the international community, carried through the cries and pain of the Syrian people, perhaps these shocking statistics, cries and pain may move the conscience of this community to act for the immediate sopping of the ongoing murders against the Syrian citizens, and to bring the criminals to the specialized international courts, so they get their punishment.

260 civilians killed within a month of escalated airstrikes on Dair Ez-Zoar, 75% of whom were killed by the International Coalition warplanes in Al-Mayadeen city

SOHR, 22/06/2017

The killing machine is no longer stoppable and the murderer’s thirst for human blood can no longer be quenched. It is rather increasing, leaving more Syrians dead day after the other. It is as if the warplanes of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime were not enough to annihilate the Syrian people in their own country, so warplanes came from beyond the borders carrying bombs and missiles saturated with death. As if it was not enough that the people of Syria have been ruled by iron and fire, even worse the are being killed by them every day. Once the clam prevails in a city, the squadrons of warplanes would drop their fire, iron and gunpowder, causing destruction everywhere and perpetrating massacres that claim the lives of people.

This aforementioned killing hovered this time above the heads of the residents of the Syrian city, Al-Mayadeen, of those of its own people and the displaced ones who sought shelter in it. The SOHR observed since the 22nd of May 2017 the start of an intensive bombing by the International Coalition on Al-Mayadeen city, perpetrating massacres that left hundreds of martyrs and injured in addition to the escalated killings by the warplanes of the regime of Bashar Al-Assad and the Russian warplanes, during the same period of time, from the 22nd of May until the 22nd of June 2017.

Since the start of the escalation in Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Dair Ez-Zoar, the SOHR documented the death of 189 persons, including 82 children and 70 female citizens. Hey are: 35 civilians were killed in bombing by the International Coalition on the city, including 14 children under the age of eighteen and 13 female citizens over the age of eighteen, in addition to 154 family members of the “Islamic State” organization, including 68 children and 57 female citizens, who were killed in the bombing that targeted Al-Dahmoush building, located near the Government Complex known as “Al-Saraya”, and Al-Shaker Café

In al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Dair Ez-Zoar, which is a 4 story building, where Syrian and Moroccan family members of the “Islamic State” organization used to live in most of its apartments.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also documented the death of 20 persons including a female citizen, as a result of airstrikes by the International Coalition warplanes on areas in al-Bokamal, Beqres, Abu Al-Neitel, Al-Quriyah, Al-Busayrah, Jadid Ekydat and other areas in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, the airstrikes have seriously injured tens of others too.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also documented the death of 51 civilians, including 20 children under the age of eighteen and 12 female citizens over the age of eighteen, they were killed by raids carried out by warplanes of the Russians and the regime on areas in Dair Ez-Zoar city and on other areas in its eastern and western countryside.

The airstrikes carried out by warplanes of the International Coalition, the regime and the Russians have also caused the destruction of tens of residential buildings and houses, infrastructures and public utilities, in addition to the injury of hundreds of people with varied levels of severity, some of whom were permanently disabled and others had their limbs amputated.

While the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights observed the continued displacement of hundreds of families from the city of Al-Mayadeen and other cities and towns in the eastern countryside of Dair Ez-Zoar, with the continued escalated bombings. The displaced people are heading towards villages in its countryside out of fear of new airstrikes by the International Coalition or any other party that may claiming more of their lives, especially that Al-Mayadeen had received during the past months thousands of the displaced families from other Syrian areas controlled by ISIS and from Iraqi territories, including families of the organization.

***

Urban warfare takes heavy civilian toll in Syria, Iraq, Yemen: ICRC

by Loaa Adel Jun 14, 2017, 10:34 pm

(Reuters) --

 Urban warfare is taking root in conflicts across the Middle East, with five times more civilians in Syria and Iraq killed in cities than in rural areas over the past three years, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of war-related fatalities among city dwellers accounted for 70 percent of civilian deaths in the two countries during the period, the agency said. The Yemeni cities of Taiz, Sadaa and Sanaa have also become deadly battlefields.

“This is all the more alarming as new offensives (against Islamic State militants) get under way in cities like Raqqa in Syria or intensify in Mosul, Iraq,” said Robert Mardini, ICRC regional director for the Middle East.

“Taiz remains partly besieged just as daily air strikes and shelling continue to terrify residents,” he told a news conference to launch an ICRC report called “I Saw My City Die”.

The phenomenon is not limited to the Middle East, Mardini said. “We see also that many other conflicts are taking place in urban areas in other places such as Somalia and Afghanistan and other countries.”

Battles raging in cities, which are “today the new normal unfortunately”, damage vital infrastructure and disrupt basic services including health care, Mardini said.

“The impacts of warfare are quickly multiplied with exponential consequences. If a power line is hit, (there is) no water, no electricity, no waste water treatment. There are contamination outbreaks and massive challenges to run hospitals,” he said.

Yemen’s two-year civil war has been marked by a Saudi-led coalition carrying out massive air strikes to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power and end rule by the Iran-backed Houthi militia. 

***

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

***

US-Led Coalition Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 22, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Operation Inherent Resolve - Targeted Operations Against ISIS U.S. Central Command continues to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

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 14 strikes consisting of 26 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Raqqa, 14 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 16 fighting positions, three vehicles and an ammunition cache.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 86 engagements against ISIS targets:

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

-- Near Mosul, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 35 fighting positions, 10 medium machine guns, seven rocket-propelled grenade systems, six heavy machine guns, five vehicles, three vehicle-borne bombs, two command-and-control nodes, a mortar team and an unmanned aerial system launch site; damaged two ISIS supply routes; and suppressed a mortar team.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed a front-end loader.

June 20 Strikes

Additionally, three strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 20 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, two strikes damaged eight fighting positions.

-- Near Mosul, Iraq, a strike suppressed five mortar teams.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 21, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 16 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Raqqa, 12 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positons, three vehicles, three tactical vehicles, two mortar teams, a command-and-control node and a mortar cache.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of 28 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 24 fighting positions, three vehicles, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two medium machine guns, a recoilless rifle, a supply cache and a heavy machine gun; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

Previous Strikes

Additionally, six strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 11, 18-19, that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- On June 11, near Raqqa, Syria, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed 19 fighting positions and an ISIS-held building and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- On June 18, near Raqqa, Syria, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed five fighting positions, damaged eight fighting positions and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- On June 19, near Raqqa, Syria, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position and an unmanned aerial system launch site.

-- On June 19, near Mosul, Iraq, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed four medium machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, a fighting position, an artillery system and a bomb-rigged house; and damaged six ISIS supply routes. 

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