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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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82 Syrians Killed, About 300,000 Displaced from Ghouta to the North in Idlib

April 18, 2018 

Editor's Note:

The following news stories are just examples of the daily horrors of war in Syria. Readers can find more detailed daily news stories at the sources below as well as many other sources in the internet. 

 

Syrian refugees leaving Ghouta to the North in Idlib, April 18, 2018    Remains of destroyed neighborhoods in th Syrian city of Aleppo, file, April 15, 2018

 

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

***

36 were killed on April 16, 2018, including 6 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them and 13 other citizens

It rose to 24 including 11 fighters, the number of who joined the Syrian revolution’s convoy of casualties on Monday.

SOHR, 17/04/2018

In Homs province, 8 fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions were killed in shelling and clashes in areas in the northern countryside of Homs.

In Idlib Province 6 citizens were killed, they are: 3 fighters of an Islamic movement died as a result of an IED explosion in Maar Shmarin area in the southern countryside of Idlib, and a woman was killed in bombing by warplanes on Maarzita, and a child was killed in shelling by the regime forces on areas in Khan Shaykhun city, and a man was killed in an IED explosion on the road of Idlib city – Ayn Shieb .

In Hama Province 3 citizens were killed in the fall of shells on areas in Ghor al-Assi village which is controlled by the regime forces.

In Al-Raqqah Province 3 citizens were killed -including a child- as a result of an explosion in the al-Jazrah area junction in al-Raqqah city.

In Deir Ezzor Province 2 women were killed in a landmine explosion in al-ShHil area in the countryside of Deir Ezzor.

In Rif Dimashq Province a young man from Madyara town of the displaced people of the Eastern Ghouta, died affected by wounds he had in a previous shelling on areas in the Eastern Ghouta several weeks ago.

In Damascus Province a child was killed in the fall of shells launched by the Organization on areas in the capital Damascus.

And unidentified gunmen assassinated one of the gunmen loyal to the regime forces in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that he was shot while he was in his house, and then the unidentified gunmen fled the area after killing him.

And 5 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen were killed as a result of the shelling and clashes with the “Islamic State” organization and the factions.

At least 6 fighters of the “Islamic State” organization and the factions of non-Syrian nationalities were killed in clashes and shelling of warplanes and helicopters and shelling on their areas of presence.

26 were killed on April 15, 2018, including 6 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them and 6 citizens

It rose to 10 including 4 fighters, the number of who joined the martyr convoy of the Syrian Revolution on Sunday

SOHR, 16/04/2018 Less than a minute

In Homs province 7 citizens were killed, they are 4 fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions were killed in shelling and clashes in areas in the northern countryside of Homs, and 3 citizens including a woman and a child girl were killed in shelling on areas in the northern countryside of Homs.

And in Damascus Province 2 citizens were killed, they are a man was killed in the rocket shelling by the regime forces on Yarmouk Camp south of the capital, and a child girl was killed in the fall of shells launched by the Organization on Al-Kadam neighbourhood south of the capital Damascus.

In Idlib Province a man was killed by gunfire during the factions’ clashes in the countryside of Idlib.

Also 6 members of the “Islamic State” Organization at least were killed as a result of targeting by other members of the Organization, they were killed while they were besieged in al-Shafa and Hajin towns in the countryside of Deir Ezzor.

And 6 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen were killed as a result of the shelling and clashes with the “Islamic State” organization and the factions.

At least 6 fighters of the “Islamic State” organization and the factions of non-Syrian nationalities were killed in clashes and shelling of warplanes and helicopters and shelling on their areas of presence.

20 people were killed on April 14, 2018, including 4 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen, and 6 civilians were killed in different circumstances in several areas

It rose to 6, the number of those who joined yesterday the convoy of martyrs of the Syrian revolution.

SOHR, 15/04/2018 Less than a minute

In Al-Hasakah province, 3 citizens were killed by the Turkish border guard forces, where local sources told the SOHR that the two young men were arrested by the Turkish forces during their attempts to reach the Turkish side and they were tortured to death and then their dead bodies were dumped on the Syrian – Turkish borders in Ras Al-Ain area (Seri Kanya)

And in Aleppo province, a child was killed as a result of the explosion of unexploded shell in the area of Yazibagh Camp in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

And in Rif Dimashq province, a child died affected by the injury he had in shooting by gunmen loyal to the regime, on the buses which were carrying the displaced people from the Eastern Ghouta.

And in Hama province, a person from the eastern countryside of Hama, was killed after being shot by unidentified gunmen on Sarmada – Batabu Road.

Also 7 members at least of the” Islamic State “organization were killed as a result of targeting by the International Coalition using several missiles believed to be ground-to-ground, to areas in Shafa town, which is located on the eastern banks of Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor

And 4 members of the regime forces and their allied militiamen were killed in shelling and clashes againstISIS and the factions.

At least 3 fighters of ISIS of non-Syrian nationalities were killed in clashes and bombardment of warplanes and helicopters and shelling on their areas of presence.

The Ghouta deal ends with the departure of about 296,700 civilians including about 177,000 were displaced to the Syrian north and shelters in Rif Dimashq

SOHR, 14/04/2018 2 minutes read

The biggest displacement in the Eastern Ghouta, separated the people who were besieged by the regime forces with a lot of death and hunger, to homeless surrounded by a little death and a lot of hunger, the hunger that killed and wounded by the regime and its allies’ air and ground shelling, that targeted tens of thousands of people of the Eastern Ghouta, transferring their towns and cities to places deserted of its inhabitants.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the end of the current displacements from the Eastern Ghouta, after the regime’s displacement for tens of thousands of people of the Eastern Ghouta towards the Syrian north, where some of them moved to Idlib and others chose areas controlled by “Euphrates Shield” Operation Forces as a destination, where the Syrian Observatory documented the exit of the last batch on Saturday the 14th of April 2018, raising to about 296,700 persons, the number of people who were gotten out of the Eastern Ghouta towards the Syrian north and regime forces’ controlled areas, and some of them stayed in the areas that have been controlled by the regime forces within the Eastern Ghouta, in the pocket controlled by Rahman Corps and in Douma city.

And in the details documented by the Syrian Observatory: the number of people who stayed in the former controlled areas of Rahman Corps and former control areas of Jaysh al-Islam; is about 120 thousand people, while from the areas of Rahman Corps, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham movement; about 86 thousand have gotten out to shelter centers within regime forces’ controlled areas in the vicinity of the Eastern Ghouta and in Rif Dimashq, while about 46400 persons have gotten out towards the Syrian north; and they are: about 41400 persons have gotten out of Zamalka, Arbin and Jobar which are controlled by Rahman Corps to the Syrian north, in addition to 5 thousand persons who went to the Syrian north from Harasta city, which was controlled by the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham , and 1300 of the previous fighters of the Islamic Etihad of Rahman Corps, their families, civilians and other activists have gotten out of Douma city, and among the total number of people who have headed to the Syrian north there are about 12 thousand  fighter of the Islamic factions, also about 22 thousand civilians have gotten out of Douma earlier towards regime forces’ controlled areas in shelter centers in the vicinity of the Eastern Ghouta and in Rif Dimashq, while about 21 thousand persons have gotten out of Douma city on buses to the north of Syria including about 7 thousand of Jaysh al-Islam fighters.

And the Syrian Observatory published hours ago that it is expected that more buses will come out of Douma city in the next few hours, carrying fighters of Jaysh Al-Islam and citizens who decided to leave the Eastern Ghouta, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory; it is expected that hundreds of persons will exit in the next few hours, of fighters and their families and citizens who changed their decision about staying and decide to leave the Eastern Ghouta, in the wake of the strikes which the Trio Coalition -USA, Britain and France- carried out on the capital Damascus and its vicinity and outskirts, and after the deployment of the Russian military police with the regime’s police inside Douma city, to control the city and supervise on securing the internal disorder witnessed in the past days. 

***

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

***

EUCOM: U.S. European Command Supports Joint Strikes on Syria Chemical Weapons Sites

Release No: 18-041 April 16, 2018
EUCOM Release: 18-08
STUTTGART, Germany -

Multiple air and maritime assets assigned to U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Europe, under U.S. European Command (EUCOM), participated in strike operations conducted in Syria. The strike operations were part of U.S. Central Command's (CENTCOM) operations to deter and prevent Syria's future use of chemical weapons. Alongside French and United Kingdom partners, EUCOM personnel expertly carried out operations as part of the United States' goal of long-term degradation of Syria's chemical weapons capabilities.

EUCOM Commander Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti said that the three nations' forces were integrated throughout the planning and execution of the operation.

"The strikes were the result of a carefully orchestrated plan which involved dedicated teamwork between EUCOM and CENTCOM, and their service assets, as well as our British and French partners," said Scaparrotti. "Great care was taken to assure all targets were part of the regime's chemical weapons program."

The combined force deployed 105 total weapons against three targets that will significantly impact the Syrian regime's ability to develop, deploy and use chemical weapons in the future.   The following is a breakdown of the military weapons used to strike Syrian chemical weapons targets:

From the Red Sea:

USS Monterey (Ticonderoga-class cruiser) - 30 Tomahawk land attack missiles

USS Laboon (Arleigh Burke-class destroyer) - 7 Tomahawk land attack missiles


From the North Arabian Gulf:

USS Higgins (Arleigh Burke-class destroyer) - 23 Tomahawk land attack missiles


From the eastern Mediterranean:

USS John Warner (Virginia-class submarine) - 6 Tomahawk land attack missiles

French Frigate Languedoc (Anti-submarine Warfare) - 3 missiles (naval version of SCALP missile)


From the air:

2 U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers - 19 Joint air-to-surface standoff missiles

Royal Air Force flew a combination of Tornado and Typhoon jets - 8 Storm shadow missiles

French Air Force flew a combination of Rafales and Mirages - 9 SCALP missiles

None of the combined aircraft or missiles involved in this mission were successfully engaged by Syrian air defenses and there is no indication Russian air defense systems were deployed.  

EUCOM's ability to quickly respond and reassure allies and partners is a testament to the routine training that EUCOM personnel are focused on throughout the year, reinforcing the skills and expertise necessary to respond to any contingency. EUCOM maintains its commitment to continuous rotation presence of air, land and sea forces to provide core rapid response capabilities, and deter aggressive acts, such as the Syrian regime's chemical weapons attack against innocent civilians last week. 

More information regarding this operation is available at
https://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/Syria/

Military airstrikes continue against Daesh (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria

Release # 20180413-01

SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 13, 2018 –
  
Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to strike Daesh targets in designated parts of Syria and Iraq.
 
Ongoing operations by Iraqi Security Forces and Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by CJTF-OIR efforts, demonstrate that much work remains to defeat Daesh (ISIS) here. Coalition strikes continue to target Daesh in SDF-held areas of Syria, and throughout Iraq under the leadership of Iraqi authorities. "All Coalition air strikes are carried out with the consent of the Iraqi government," said Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in a press conference April 1, 2018.
 
Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to exert pressure on Daesh senior leaders and associates in order to degrade, disrupt and dismantle Daesh structures and remove terrorists throughout Iraq and Syria. This will prevent the terrorist group’s ability to resurge and resume its capacity to threaten and destabilize the international community.
 
Weekly Strike Summary
 
Between April 6 and April 12, Coalition military forces conducted 15 strikes consisting of 41 engagements in Syria and Iraq.
 
On April 12 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of six engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Abu Kamal, one strike damaged one Daesh-held building.
 
On April 12 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             One strike conducted near Al Qaim.
 
On April 11 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed three Daesh IEDs.
 
On April 11 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             One strike conducted near Al Qaim.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on April 10, 2018.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on April 10, 2018.
 
On April 9 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Dashisha, two strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed two Daesh vehicles and one Daesh logistics hub.
•             Near Al Shadaddi, one strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh logistics hub.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on April 9, 2018.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on April 8, 2018.
 
On April 8 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Rutbah, two strikes destroyed one Daesh-held building and six Daesh fighting positions.
 
On April 7 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh vehicle and one Daesh fighting position.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on April 7, 2018.
 
On April 6 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of five engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Al Shadaddi, four strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed two Daesh vehicles.
 
On April 6 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of 16 engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Tuz, one strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed 11 Daesh bunkers, two Daesh fighting positions, two Daesh-held buildings, two Daesh vehicles, four Daesh caves and two Daesh tunnels.
 
 
Between March 18 and April 5, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 16 engagements in Syria that were not reported in previous releases:
 
•             Two strikes consisting of three engagements conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on April 5 near Al Shadaddi, engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh logistics hub.
 
•             One strike consisting of two engagements conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on April 3 near Abu Kamal, engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh logistics hub.
 
•             Three strikes consisting of six engagements conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on April 3 near Al Shadaddi, engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one logistics hub and two Daesh vehicles.
 
•             One strike consisting of one engagement conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on March 31 near Abu Kamal, engaged one Daesh tactical unit.
 
•             One strike consisting of one engagement conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on March 27 near Abu Kamal, engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh headquarters.
 
•             One strike consisting of one engagement conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on March 27 near Al Shadaddi, engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh vehicle.
 
•             One strike consisting of one engagement conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on March 22 near Abu Kamal, engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh headquarters.
 
•             One strike consisting of one engagement conducted in Syria against Daesh targets on March 18 near Al Shadaddi, engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh vehicle.

***

Military airstrikes continue against Daesh (ISIS) in Syria and Iraq

Release # 20180406-01

SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 6, 2018 –

Weekly Strike Summary
 
Between March 30 and April 5, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 11 engagements in Syria and Iraq.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on April 5, 2018.
 
On April 5 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed a Daesh supply route.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on April 4, 2018.
 
On April 4 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             Near Baghdad, one strike destroyed a Daesh cave.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria or Iraq on April 3, 2018.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on April 2, 2018.
 
On April 2 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of two engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Bayji, one strike engaged a Daesh tactical unit.
•             One strike was conducted near Qayyarah.
 
On April 1 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.
•             Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged a Daesh tactical unit and destroyed a Daesh vehicle.
 
On April 1 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             Near Bayji, one strike engaged a Daesh tactical unit and destroyed a Daesh-held building.
 
On March 31 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged a Daesh tactical unit.
 
On March 31 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             Near Rutbah, one strike engaged a Daesh tactical unit and destroyed a Daesh vehicle.
 
On March 30 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
•             Near Shadaddi, one strike engaged a Daesh tactical unit and destroyed a Daesh vehicle.

***

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