The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced today, Thursday, that government forces shelled areas in the Qalamoun mountains. The number of barrel bombs dropped by helicopters on areas in the cities of Daraya and Muadhamiyat al-Sham in the western Ghouta of Damascus has risen to at least 49.
Two young sisters were killed when several shells fell on areas in the Assad neighborhood, which is under the control of government forces, near the city of Harasta.
Clashes renewed after midnight on Wednesday-Thursday in the southern part of Muadhamiyat al-Sham, between government forces and their affiliated militants on one side, and Islamic and fighting factions on the other.
In the province of Al-Hasakah, activists from the M’abada (Karkei Laki) area accused Turkish forces of crossing the Syrian-Turkish border with a number of vehicles and bulldozers, and of erecting an earth berm near the village of Banukiyah, which is located on the border, before returning to the Turkish side. Residents accused the Turkish forces of opening fire on a gathering of people near the border, without causing any casualties.
The number of people killed on Wednesday as a result of the shelling of areas in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the western countryside of Idlib by warplanes, believed to be Russian, has risen to 4. At least 8 people were injured with varying degrees of severity during the same shelling.
Violent clashes continued after midnight on Wednesday-Thursday on the western outskirts of Aleppo and surrounding areas, between government forces and their affiliated militants on one side, and Islamic and fighting factions on the other, amid aerial bombardment targeting the areas of clashes by warplanes believed to be Russian. In addition, two missiles, believed to be surface-to-surface missiles, were fired by government forces at the areas of clashes, and there are reports of further casualties on both sides.
Warplanes also opened fire with their heavy machine guns on areas in the Karm al-Trab neighborhood in the city of Aleppo, while warplanes, believed to be Russian, carried out intense strikes on areas in the villages of Harbal, al-Kafra, and Um Hosh, which are under the control of the “ISIS” organization in the northern countryside of Aleppo. The strikes targeted fuel trucks in the village of Um Hosh, which caused fires in the area, and there is no information yet about the extent of the human losses. Violent clashes also continued after midnight on Wednesday in the axis of the village of Kafra and other axes in the northern countryside of Aleppo, between Islamic and fighting factions on one side, and the “ISIS” organization on the other, which led to the death of at least 3 fighters from the fighting and Islamic factions, and confirmed reports of human losses in the ranks of the organization.
Areas in the vicinity of the village of Bashkoy in the northern countryside of Aleppo were shelled by warplanes, believed to be Russian, without information about human losses. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also learned from cross-sources that clashes of varying intensity are still ongoing between the Syrian Democratic Forces on one side, and the “ISIS” organization on the other, in the vicinity of the Tishreen Dam area near the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, after the Syrian Democratic Forces managed to advance, supported by warplanes that targeted concentrations and sites of the organization in several areas around the dam.
Warplanes, believed to be from the Russian Air Force, carried out intensive raids targeting areas in the towns of Kafr Zeita, Murk, and Kafr Nabouda in the northern Hama countryside. There is currently no information about casualties.
Since shortly after midnight on Wednesday-Thursday, fierce clashes have been ongoing in several areas of the Turkmen and Kurdish Mountains in the northern Latakia countryside, between Hezbollah and government forces, supported by pro-government fighters of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on one side, and fighting and Islamic factions, supported by the Islamic Turkestan Party and Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in Syria), on the other. These clashes are accompanied by intensive Russian air raids on the areas of conflict and other locations in the Kurdish and Turkmen Mountains, as well as heavy shelling by government forces on the same areas. There is confirmed information about casualties on both sides. Meanwhile, sounds of explosions were heard in the vicinity of the city of Jableh, and there are conflicting reports about whether they were caused by rocket fire on areas around the city or by shelling by government forces targeting the northern Latakia countryside.
The Observatory added that fierce clashes broke out between the "Syrian Democratic Forces" on one side and the "ISIS" organization on the other, in the vicinity of the Tishreen Dam area on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The "Syrian Democratic Forces" made progress and took control of points and positions of the organization in the area, killing at least two members of the organization, whose bodies are now with the "Syrian Democratic Forces." The clashes were accompanied by shelling by warplanes, but it is unclear whether they belong to the coalition or are Russian planes, targeting sites of the organization near the dam.
The "ISIS" organization managed to take control of the industrial district located in the eastern part of the city of Deir Ezzor, while government forces are stationed on the outskirts of the district in the al-Mahallat area. This control was achieved after a fierce attack launched by the organization on Thursday morning, in which three members of the "ISIS" organization, of Syrian nationality, including one from Banias in the Tartus province, blew themselves up in three truck bombs, targeting checkpoints and positions of government forces in the city and around its military airport. The fierce clashes, mutual shelling, and air raids resulted in the deaths of 12 members of the "ISIS" organization, while the number of government forces and their allied fighters killed in the explosions and clashes rose to 26. Meanwhile, the "ISIS" organization burned quantities of narcotics in the city of Al-Bukamal after the "Hisbah" (religious police) belonging to the organization arrested "one of the traders and distributors of these narcotics," according to the "Hisbah's" accusation.
Two brothers from the town of Knaker were martyred under torture in Syrian security prisons. Additionally, regime forces shelled areas in the Jaroud Qara region of Qalamoun, in the Damascus countryside. Reports also indicated that two people were killed as a result of shelling in areas of the town of Khan al-Shih in the Western Ghouta. Areas in the town of Al-Rayhan in the Eastern Ghouta were also shelled by regime forces. Furthermore, regime forces targeted areas in the orchards of the town of Al-Kaswa in the Western Ghouta with artillery shells and heavy machine guns. There were no reports of casualties. Meanwhile, a man from the town of Madaya died due to a lack of medicine, food, and necessary treatment in the town, according to activists in the area. Clashes also renewed in the vicinity of the town of Marj al-Sultan in the Eastern Ghouta, between regime forces and affiliated militants of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities on one side, and Islamic factions on the other, amid conflicting reports about whether regime forces managed to advance again in the farms surrounding the town.
In the Hama province, fierce clashes are taking place in the Sermaniyah axis in the al-Ghab plain in the northwestern countryside of Hama, between Islamic and fighting factions, Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in Syria), and the Islamic Turkestan Party on one side, and Hezbollah and regime forces, supported by affiliated militants of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on the other, in an attempt by the latter to advance in the area, which led to the martyrdom of at least three fighters from an Islamic movement and confirmed reports of further casualties on both sides. Also, warplanes, believed to be Russian, shelled areas in the village of al-Dayrona in the Jabal Shahshabo mountain in the western countryside of Hama. Furthermore, warplanes, likely Russian, carried out several strikes on areas in the villages of Ma'arkaba and Lahaya in the northern countryside of Hama, with no reports of casualties.
Warplanes, likely Russian, carried out more than 10 strikes targeting areas in the city of Palmyra, which is under the control of ISIS in the eastern countryside of Homs, amid intense shelling by regime forces with dozens of rockets targeting areas in the city. There is no information at the moment about casualties. Meanwhile, helicopters shelled areas in the village of al-Za'farana in the northern countryside of Homs with barrel bombs. Also, Islamic factions targeted areas in the al-Mukhtariya area, which is under the control of regime forces in the northern countryside, with several shells. Areas on the western outskirts of the village of Granada in the northern countryside of Homs were also shelled by regime forces, which led to the injury of a number of Islamic faction fighters. A member of the regime forces was also killed during clashes with ISIS near the Jazal oil field in the eastern countryside of Homs.
A shell fell on an area in the village of al-Shuniyah, causing material damage, with no reports of casualties. Meanwhile, regime forces renewed their targeting of areas in the city of Talbisa, located in the northern countryside of Homs, which led to a number of injuries.
Warplanes, believed to be Russian, bombed areas in the town of Jazra in the northern countryside of Aleppo, while warplanes, likely belonging to the Russian Air Force, carried out about 10 raids targeting areas in the town of Khan al-Asal and the areas of Jam’iyyat al-Kahraba, Anjarah, and other areas on the Aleppo-Damascus highway and around the town of Khan Tuman. Meanwhile, fierce clashes continued on several fronts in the southern countryside of Aleppo and near the Damascus-Aleppo international highway, between Hezbollah, Syrian government forces, and affiliated fighters of Syrian, Arab, and Asian nationalities on one side, and Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in the Levant), Jund al-Aqsa, Islamic and fighting factions, and the Islamic Turkestan Party on the other side. There are reports of further casualties on both sides. The fierce clashes continue between government forces and their affiliated fighters on one side, and Islamic and fighting factions on the other side, on the outskirts of western Aleppo and its surroundings. Helicopters also dropped barrel bombs on areas in the Mallah and Tal Masebeen areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo. Furthermore, warplanes, believed to be Russian, renewed their bombing of areas in the city of al-Bab, which is under the control of ISIS, in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo. A missile fired by a warplane also fell on the village of Bir Khalu near the city of Manbij but did not explode. Clashes are also taking place in the Mar’a city area and other areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo, between Islamic and fighting factions on one side and ISIS on the other, amid mutual shelling between the two sides, and ISIS shelling several areas in the city of Mar’a. In the city of Aleppo, areas in the Karm al-Trab neighborhood and the Aziziya area near the city were targeted by warplanes, believed to be Russian. Islamic and fighting factions continue to shell the al-Hamdaniyah, Saif al-Dawla, and al-A’zamiyah neighborhoods, which are under the control of government forces, resulting in casualties and material damage in the same neighborhoods.
A woman and her child, as well as another child, were killed, and several people were injured, some in critical condition, as a result of warplane bombing of areas in the village of al-Bu’ajuz near the town of Maskana, which is under the control of ISIS, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. Clashes continue on the outskirts of western Aleppo and its surroundings, between government forces and their affiliated fighters on one side, and Islamic and fighting factions on the other side. At the same time, clashes are taking place between Hezbollah, Syrian government forces, and affiliated fighters of Syrian, Arab, and Asian nationalities on one side, and Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in the Levant), Jund al-Aqsa, Islamic and fighting factions, and the Islamic Turkestan Party on the other side in the southern countryside of Aleppo and near the Damascus-Aleppo international highway.
In the Damascus Governorate, an explosion was heard in the al-Abbasieen area at the entrance to the capital, which turned out to be caused by a rocket falling in the al-Abbasieen area, resulting in a child being injured.
Violent clashes continue in the Jabal al-Nuba axis and several other axes in the northern countryside of Latakia, between the fighting and Islamic factions, supported by the Islamic Turkestan Party and Jabhat al-Nusra (Al-Qaeda in the Levant), on one side, and Hezbollah and government forces, supported by loyal militants of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on the other. There has been new progress by Hezbollah and government forces, and they have taken control of new points in the area. The clashes are accompanied by intense airstrikes since this morning, targeting the areas of conflict and other areas in the Turkmen and Kurdish mountains, in addition to intense and continuous shelling by government forces on the same areas.
The number of martyrs who died as a result of government helicopters shelling areas in the town of Sheikh Maskin, located in the northwestern countryside of Daraa, with barrel bombs, has risen to 8, including an elderly woman and her disabled son, 3 of his children, in addition to two children from the same family and another man. The number of martyrs is still likely to rise due to the presence of some seriously injured people and initial reports of two more martyrs.
In the province of Idlib, the death of 3 people was confirmed as a result of airstrikes, believed to be Russian, on areas in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the western countryside of Idlib. At least 8 people were also injured during the same shelling. Meanwhile, a fighter from the Islamic factions was killed during clashes with government forces and their loyal militants in the southern countryside of Aleppo.
Warplanes carried out an airstrike targeting areas in the northern part of the city of Jisr al-Shughur, resulting in injuries and confirmed reports of two martyrs. Meanwhile, warplanes shelled areas in the town of Badama in the western countryside of Jisr al-Shughur, and there is no information about casualties so far.
Warplanes carried out further airstrikes targeting areas in the city of Deir ez-Zor, coinciding with shelling of areas in the city and its surroundings, with reports of injuries. Clashes have been ongoing since this morning between government forces and their loyal militants on one side, and ISIS on the other. The latter launched an attack and managed to advance in the industrial district, attempting to expand its control in the city. The attack was accompanied by the detonation of 3 car bombs targeting government forces' positions in the industrial area, al-Huwaika, and the vicinity of the military airport, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of government forces and their loyal militants. Also, a number of people were injured, and there are confirmed reports of the death of one person as a result of ISIS shelling on areas in the al-Qusur and al-Joura neighborhoods, which are controlled by government forces in the city of Deir ez-Zor.
In the province of Rural Damascus, clashes continue on the southern outskirts of the city of Muadhamiya al-Sham between government forces and their loyal militants on one side, and the fighting and Islamic factions on the other. This is happening simultaneously with government forces shelling with missiles, believed to be ground-to-ground missiles, and opening fire with their heavy machine guns on areas in the city and its outskirts.
In the province of Hama, Islamic and fighting factions targeted areas in the villages of Ghur al-Asi and Qubaybat al-Asi in the southern countryside of Hama with a number of rockets and shells, and there is no information about casualties.
Medical and field sources in the city of Muadhamiyat al-Sham, located in western Ghouta, Damascus, told the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that at least 28 people were killed and injured as a result of the shelling with barrel bombs from helicopters and rocket attacks by regime forces on the southern part of the city of Muadhamiyat al-Sham at approximately 9:30 PM on Tuesday. The sources told the Observatory that regime helicopters bombed the city after fierce clashes between Islamic and rebel factions on one side, and regime forces and their affiliated militiamen on the other, in the southern outskirts of the city. Regime forces advanced and took control of several points, but the factions forced them to retreat and withdraw from the points they had controlled, and they disabled a tank belonging to regime forces, causing casualties among them. These helicopters targeted areas in the southern part of the city with four barrel bombs, resulting in the deaths of four fighters from the factions and another man who was with them, and the injury of at least 23 other civilians and fighters with suffocation. Reliable sources confirmed to the Observatory that those who died suffered from suffocation, redness of the eyes, dilation of the pupils, and bleeding in the lungs as a result of the shelling, accusing regime forces of using gases in the aerial and rocket attacks on the city. Fighters also accused regime forces of working to separate Daraya and Muadhamiyat al-Sham in western Ghouta, in order to tighten the noose around them, by escalating their shelling and military operations in the area during the past few days. They also accused the regime of not allowing food and humanitarian aid to enter the entire city, and limiting its entry to the northern neighborhood under its control.
In the province of Rural Damascus, helicopters dropped at least seven barrel bombs on areas in the southern part of the city of Muadhamiyat al-Sham in western Ghouta, accompanied by shelling by regime forces on areas in the outskirts of the city. Several people were also injured as a result of regime forces shelling areas in the city of Douma and the town of Beit Sawa in eastern Ghouta. Regime forces also shelled areas in the town of Ain Tarma in eastern Ghouta, with no information about casualties.
The number of deaths rose to two, a man and a woman, who were killed as a result of helicopters dropping barrel bombs on areas in the al-Houla area in the northern countryside of Homs this Thursday afternoon. The warplanes also renewed their shelling of areas in the al-Houla area, with no reports of casualties so far. Meanwhile, fierce clashes continue between regime forces and their affiliated militiamen on one side, and elements of the Islamic State (ISIS) on the other, in the west of the city of Palmyra in the eastern countryside of Homs, which is under the control of the organization.
Regime forces, Hezbollah, and militiamen of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities regained full control of the strategic Jabal al-Nuba mountain, after fierce clashes with Islamic and rebel factions, the Islamic Turkestan Party, and Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in Syria), amid intense aerial bombardment and heavy shelling by regime forces on areas around the mountain. The clashes resulted in confirmed casualties on both sides.
In the province of Deir ez-Zor, fierce battles continue in several neighborhoods of the city, between government forces and their affiliated militants on one side, and the "ISIS" organization on the other. The clashes are accompanied by explosions and mutual shelling, following the organization's attempt to advance into areas controlled by government forces in the city.
Several shells fired by the fighting brigades landed in areas controlled by government forces along the Fourth Ring Road, on the outskirts of the Jamiyyat al-Zahra neighborhood in the city of Aleppo. So far, there is no information about casualties. Meanwhile, clashes continue in the southern countryside of Aleppo and near the Aleppo-Damascus international highway, between government forces and their affiliated militants of Syrian, Arab, and Asian nationalities on one side, and the fighting, Islamic factions, the Islamic Turkestan Party, and the Al-Nusra Front (Al-Qaeda in the Levant) on the other, accompanied by mutual shelling between the two sides.
It is worth noting that on December 25, 2013, a ceasefire was announced between the fighters of Mu'adhamiyat al-Sham and government forces and their affiliated militants, with the understanding that humanitarian and food aid would be continuously delivered to the area. However, the supplies entering these areas controlled by the fighters in Mu'adhamiyat al-Sham are delivered through "reconciliation" merchants, at exorbitant prices.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented at least 4,166 deaths as a result of the Arab-International coalition airstrikes and missile strikes on areas in Syria during the past 15 months, from the dawn of September 23, 2014, until the dawn of today, December 23, 2015. Hundreds more were injured in the same airstrikes and strikes, the vast majority of whom were members of the "Islamic State" organization. Within the total number of human losses, there are 299 Syrian civilian deaths, including 81 children under the age of eighteen and 53 women over the age of 18, who were killed as a result of the coalition's missile strikes and its warplanes' airstrikes on oil-rich areas, including local oil refineries, oil wells, buildings, and vehicles, in the provinces of Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, Aleppo, Idlib, and Deir ez-Zor. Among them was a family consisting of a man, his wife, and their five children, who were killed as a result of coalition aircraft bombing the village of Dali Hassan in the eastern countryside of the town of Serein in northeastern Aleppo province. Also, 64 civilians were killed in the massacre committed by the Arab-International coalition aircraft on the night of Thursday-Friday (30-4 // 1-5) 2015, by carrying out several strikes targeting the village of Bir Mahli, located near the town of Serein in southern Ain al-Arab (Kobani) in the Aleppo province. The deaths were distributed as follows: 31 children under the age of eighteen, including 16 girls and 15 boys, 19 women over the age of eighteen, 13 men over the age of 18, and an 18-year-old boy.
The "ISIS" organization also informed the family of a man from the city of Al-Mayadin in the Deir ez-Zor countryside that he was killed as a result of coalition aircraft bombing one of the organization's headquarters in the area. The man was detained by the organization at the time of the bombing, which targeted the headquarters and caused his death. Meanwhile, one of the guards at the Omar oil field was killed as a result of coalition aircraft strikes on the field.
A leader of the “ISIS” organization, along with his wife and four of their children, were killed in an airstrike by coalition warplanes on the Dabeq area in the northern countryside of Aleppo.
Furthermore, at least 3,712 members of “ISIS” were killed, most of whom were of non-Syrian nationalities, as a result of missile strikes and airstrikes by the Arab-International coalition on ISIS gatherings, concentrations, and headquarters, as well as oil stations in the provinces of Hama, Aleppo, Homs, Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor. This included dozens of leaders of Syrian, Arab, and foreign nationalities, most notably Abu Osama al-Iraqi, “the governor of the Wilayat al-Barakah,” and Amer al-Rafdan, “the former governor of the Wilayat al-Khair,” as well as the leaders Abu Sayyaf and others.
At least 136 fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra (Al-Qaeda in the Levant) were also killed as a result of missile strikes and airstrikes by the Arab-International coalition on Jabhat al-Nusra headquarters in the western countryside of Aleppo and the northern countryside of Idlib. Among them were the Al-Qaeda leader Muhsin al-Fadhli, Abu Hamam, the military commander of Jabhat al-Nusra, and the leaders Abu Omar al-Kurdy, Abu Hamza al-Fransi, and Abu Qatada al-Tunisi.
Meanwhile, 10 fighters from the Jaysh al-Sunna were killed in an airstrike by the International coalition on their headquarters in the Atmah area in the Idlib countryside. Also, a fighter from an Islamic brigade, who was being held captive by “ISIS,” was killed in an airstrike by the International coalition on an ISIS headquarters in the Madan district in the Raqqa countryside.