Damascus | Today in Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that from 10/20/2014 to 1/20/2014 it has documented 5012 government airstrikes.
- 1057 civilians were killed, including 239 children and 173 women, and 4,000 were wounded.
11 people, including a child, were killed by 6 airstrikes on Saraqib in Idlib. Artillery shelling also hit the town: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.859979&lon=36.800079&z=13&m=b
Airstrikes hit Sarmin in Idlib: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.901844&lon=36.724377&z=13&m=b
Airstrikes hit Ariha in Idlib: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.813637&lon=36.616573&z=13&m=b
2 people were killed by airstrikes on the town of Hzairin in Idlib: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.601241&lon=36.528254&z=14&m=b
Airstrikes hit the village of al-Bara in Idlib: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.683340&lon=36.546450&z=14&m=b
Jabhat al-Nusra executed a woman in Idlib on charges of adultery: http://www.raqqa-sl.com/en/?p=327
10 airstrikes, along with government shelling, hit outside of the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.730907&lon=37.100916&z=14&m=b
- The base was hit by rebel mortar fire.
- A Syria Direct interview about Jabhat al-Nusra’s current position at the airbase: http://syriadirect.org/main/36-interviews/1799-nusra-strategy-is-similar-to-that-of-the-islamic-state
Airstrikes hit the town of Binnish in Idlib: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.954109&lon=36.723776&z=14&m=b
Airstrikes hit Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.440114&lon=36.650391&z=13&m=b
Heavy fighting along the fronts in Harasta and Douma broke out in Eastern Ghouta: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.574368&lon=36.388435&z=14&m=b
- 1 person was killed by government shelling in Douma.
There was fighting in Jobar in Eastern Ghouta: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.532345&lon=36.338739&z=15&m=b
Pro-government sources announced that a ceasefire has been reached in Irbeen in Eastern Ghouta: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.538587&lon=36.367965&z=15&m=b
- Government shelling hit the town.
- The ceasefire will allow aid and reconciliation committees to enter the town.
A man died of malnutrition in Kafr Batna in the besieged Eastern Ghouta.
Mohammad Jeiroudi.
Government shelling, along with 4 airstrikes, hit al-Zabadani in Rif Dimashq: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.718771&lon=36.099358&z=13&m=b
An infant died on malnutrition in the besieged Yarmouk Refugee Camp in Damascus: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.471079&lon=36.302733&z=15&m=b
- There was fighting along 30th Street, which runs along the western side of the camp.
A video by Jaish Usud Sharqiyah of fighting against the Islamic State in eastern Qalamoun:
Fighting has continued in al-Hasakah between the YPG and government forces for the 3rd day: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.499563&lon=40.747948&z=13&m=b
- There was fighting around the entrance of the Aziziyah neighborhood.
  - 5 civilians were killed in the fighting.
  - 6 NDF fighters were reported killed by the YPG near the National Hospital: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.507791&lon=40.761638&z=16&m=b
  - There was also fighting around the Arab Unity School: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.508425&lon=40.757110&z=18&m=b
- The YPG said that is is advancing in fighting around the Assyrian Church: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.511188&lon=40.737589&z=18&m=b
- Government tanks are attempting to enter the Mufti District.
- Government shelling hit the Tall Hajar District.
- A government sniper killed an Armenian Christian man at the Marsho roundabout: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.506808&lon=40.745416&z=17&m=b
- Until now the city has seen the YPG and government forces cooperating in their fight against the Islamic State in the province, with an agreement between the two sides not to fight each other.
  - It is unclear why the situation began to deteriorate, but it may have occurred after negotiations broke down between the two sides over the arrests of Kurdish journalists and municipality workers. It may have also been to disputes between the YPG and NDF over the control of certain checkpoints and barriers.
  - After the initial breakdown in the relations between the two sides, around 30 NDF fighters were arrested by the YPG, followed by government attacks on YPG checkpoints and shelling on YPG-controlled neighborhoods.
  - Notably this comes as the IS has begun to be pushed back from the city.
    A photo of Abdullah Ocalan raised by the YPG at a captured government checkpoint.
    
    Damage in al-Hasakah.
75 people were reported killed and 150 injured by airstrikes on a market in the village of Khansaa in al-Hasakah, south of the Islamic State-controlled village of Tel Hamis.
The Islamic State released a new video saying that unless it receives $200 million in the next 72 hours for 2 Japanese hostages, it will kill them:
- The hostages are Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto Jogo.
  - Kenji Goto Jogo was a freelance journalist who entered Syria in 2014.
  - Haruna Yukawa was captured after the IS overran an FSA position on August 14th.
Al-Lataminah, Zakah, and Kafr Zita in Hama were hit by airstrikes: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.344535&lon=36.628933&z=13&m=b
- Kafr Zita:
- Zakah:
- Al-Lataminah:
Airstrikes hit the village of Hawash in Hama: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.549774&lon=36.382127&z=15&m=b
4 coalition airstrikes hit near al-Bukumal in Deir Ez Zor: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.447264&lon=40.918407&z=13&m=b
Fighting has continued around the Deir Ez Zor Military Airport: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.284023&lon=40.181122&z=12&m=b
- There was fighting on Saqer Island and the Industrial District.
- Heavy fighting broke out in Jaffra.
- 3 airstrikes hit Ayash north of the base, and 1 airstrike hit Mo Hassan south of the base.
Deir Ez Zor is Being Slaughtered Silently, a pro-opposition media campaign, has reported that the number of patrols by the Islamic State’s religious police, as well as the number of checkpoints, have been reduced in the town of al-Bukumal in Deir Ez Zor.
- This follows an increasing number of attacks against the IS by local militias, and coalition airstrikes that hit over the weekend.
  - At least 30 IS members in the province are reported to have been killed by gunmen over the last 2 weeks.
- IS fighters have also been pulled out of the town in order to reinforce the fighting in Anbar province in Iraq, where they are defending against an offensive by the Iraqi military.
  An Islamic State vehicle targeted by unknown fighters.
  
  An Islamic State vehicle targeted by unknown fighters.
The al-Houla area of Homs was hit by government airstrikes, shelling, and heavy machine gun fire, killing a teenager: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.878538&lon=36.546707&z=13&m=b
2 barrel bombs were dropped on al-Rastan in Homs: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.922745&lon=36.738281&z=14&m=b
NDF fighters in Homs:
Rebels said that they killed 3 Aviation Intelligence officials with an IED on the road between Homs and Palmyra.
Humanitarian aid was able to enter the besieged al-Waer neighborhood of Homs: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.739003&lon=36.668673&z=15&m=b
The town of Atman, just north of Daraa city, was hit by government shelling and heavy machine gun fire: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.656864&lon=36.112232&z=13&m=b
- The outskirts of the town also saw sporadic fighting.
There was fighting in the al-Manshiyah neighborhood of Daraa: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.613352&lon=36.092834&z=14&m=b
The town of Inkhil in Daraa was hit by airstrikes: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.018020&lon=36.132488&z=13&m=b
The towns of Ibta, Tafas, Alma, and Dael in Daraa were hit by airstrikes: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.777461&lon=36.144333&z=12&m=b
- Ibta:
- Dael:
There was fighting around the Brigade 82 base in al-Sheikh Miskin in Daraa: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.837824&lon=36.152573&z=16&m=b
Bosra al-Sham in Daraa was hit by airstrikes and government shelling: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.516891&lon=36.488514&z=14&m=b
Damage from sheling in the Bustan al-Basha neighborhood of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.227519&lon=37.166963&z=15&m=b
3 people were wounded by a barrel bomb in the al-Hullok neighborhood of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.231812&lon=37.171555&z=15&m=b
2 airstrikes hit the Hanano Housing area of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.229285&lon=37.202239&z=15&m=b
2 airstrikes hit around the Sawmill area of the Bureij district in Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.252337&lon=37.199750&z=15&m=b
Airstrikes, rebel shelling, and government shelling hit the Handarat District in northern Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.269293&lon=37.174516&z=15&m=b
- Liwa Suqour al-Jabal destroys a 57 mm gun with a TOW:
There was fighting in the Karm al-Jabal neighborhood of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.210451&lon=37.176447&z=15&m=b
Rebel shelling hit the al-Ashrafiyeh neighborhood of Aleppo amid fighting by the rebels and YPG against government forces: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.226862&lon=37.148252&z=15&m=b
Fighting in the northern Aleppo city of Kobani has continued: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.880033&lon=38.354387&z=14&m=b
- 7 coalition airstrikes targeted the Islamic State.
- The YPG captured the Hospital, securing the entrance to the city along the road: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.888923&lon=38.336653&z=17&m=b
- The YPG has captured Mishtenur Hill, which overlooks the eastern parts of the city that the IS still holds.
- Rudaw reported that the first Peshmerga fighter has been killed in the fighting after being hit with a bullet, although I havn’t seen any other reports about this: http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/200120153
  A photo from on top of Mishtenur Hill.
  
  YPG fighters on Mishtenur Hill.
  
  YPG fighters on Mishtenur Hill.
  
  A YPG fighter on Mishtenur Hill.
  
  A fighter from Liwa Thwar ar-Raqqa in Kobani.
Reuters reported that a senior Israeli security source said that Israel’s airstrike near the Golan Heights on Sunday did not intentionally target Mohammad Allahdadi, a general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The strike was targeting what they though were low-ranking fighters who were preparing to attack Israeli forces: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/20/us-mideast-crisis-israel-syria-idUSKBN0KT1HQ20150120
- 6 Hezbollah fighters were also killed, including a commander and the son of the former leader of the group.
  
  Aleppo.
  
  Aleppo.
  
  Aleppo.
  
  Refugees in front of 1,000 prefabricated homes in Azraq in Jordan which were provided by Bahrain.