WEEKLY REPORT 28
February 16, 2015
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Tate Paulette, Kathryn Franklin, Cheikhmous Ali, Abdalrazzaq Moaz, and David Elitzer
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* This report is based on research conducted by the 鈥淪afeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative,鈥 funded by the US Department of State. Monthly reports reflect reporting from a variety of sources and may contain unverified material. As such, they should be treated as preliminary and subject to change.
Key points from this report:
- The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2199 (2015), an agreement to 鈥渋mpair, isolate and incapacitate鈥 ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusrah, calling for a crackdown on the trade in oil, looted antiquities, and human hostages out of Syria and Iraq. (p. 3)
- Data on the condition of archaeological sites in rural areas affected by prolonged conflict demonstrates that small-scale looting and damage caused by agriculture are proliferating in the absence of central oversight in Syria. (pp. 12鈥18)
- Recent Digital Globe satellite imagery shows damage to archaeological sites in the Tell Abyad District of Raqqa Governorate and also provides additional evidence that Tell Abyad is an important center for cross-border trafficking. (pp. 30鈥31, 36鈥37)
- Recent Digital Globe satellite imagery confirms DGAM reports of damage to the site of Resafa (Sergiopolis) in Raqqa Governorate. The images show abundant evidence of militarization, probably linked to control of the area by ISIL and its affiliates. (pp. 19鈥29)