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31 Syrians Killed on February 8, Khan Shaykhun Massacre, US Air Strikes Backing Kurdish Fighters Attacking ISIS Last 4-Square KM Area

February 10, 2019 

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 regime forces bombadment of Hamah, February 9, 2019 US military vehicle in the eastern countryside of Dair Ez-Zoar, Syria, February 10, 2019

 

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

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The International Coalition continues its attack with the SDF on the last 4 square km remained for the organization (ISIS) that is collapsed almost completely amid fears for the lives of the citizens remaining in the area

SOHR, 09/02/2019

Deir Ezzor Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

The Syria Democratic forces are still continuing with the International Coalition, the attack they launched today evening, Saturday the 9th of February 2019, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored continued targeting operations to what remained for the “Islamic State” organization near the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, in an attempt to end the organization completely, amid fears prevailing the area for the lives of the citizens remaining within the last areas left for the organization in the east of the Euphrates, where there are citizens still trapped where they have not managed to leave the area, or reach the SDF-controlled areas.

31 were killed on February 8, 2019, including 2 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them and 29 other people

In Hama Province, 7 citizens were killed in the explosion several mines in Wadi al-Azeeb area in al-Sa'en Township in the eastern countryside of Hama.

SOHR, 09/02/2019

The Syrian Observatory also documented the increase of death toll in al-Hool camp to 45 cases, most of them children who died as a result of poor humanitarian and living conditions, and the majority of whom died as a result of diseases whose complications increased during the journey of arrival to al-Hool camp.

The Syrian Observatory also monitored that unidentified gunmen assassinated a local leader of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, by targeting him in front of his home in al-Bara village at Jabal al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib.

While 4 ISIS members were killed, one of whom was beheaded by members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them, in the vicinity of Tlul al-Safa on the administrative border between Rif Dimashq and Al-Suwaidaa provinces.

And 2 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them were killed in shelling and clashes against the “Islamic State” Organization and the factions.

Khan Shaykhun massacre kills a woman and several of her sons and grandchildren, and raises the death toll to 222 during Putin – Erdogan agreement

SOHR, 09/02/2019

Violation of the Russian – Turkish truce continue, where it has been in force since the 15th of August of 2018, and the violations also target Putin – Erdogan agreement which has been in force since the 17th of September 2018, where the Syrian Observatory monitored that the regime forces continue to target areas in Khan Shaykhun city in the southern countryside of Idlib, where they shelled areas in the city by about 12  rocket shells, which caused more material damage, followed by the fall of several rocket shells on areas in Muhradah city which inhabited by Christian citizens in the northwestern countryside of Hama, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored shelling by the regime forces targeted areas in al-Arima village in Shashabo Mountain at the northwestern countryside of Hama, and other areas on the outskirts of KafrZitta town in the northern countryside of Hama.

No information about injuries, while it rose to 6, the number of people who were killed in the massacre that was carried out by the regime forces, where an old woman with her son, and 2 of his children and his wife were killed, as well as an old woman daughter and a child of her grandchildren, raising to 222 at least, the number of people who were killed since Erdogan – Putin agreement, 74 civilians including 29 children and 11 women, were killed in shelling by the regime forces and the militiamen loyal to them, among them 3 were killed in the fall of shells launched by the factions, and 66 fighters were killed in deferent circumstances within the demilitarized area since Putin – Erdogan agreement, including 14 of the “Jihadi” fighters and 23 fighters of Jaysh al-Izza, who were killed in ambushes and clashes including a commander at least, they were killed in ambushes and attack by the regime forces in the northern countryside of Hama, and 82 members of the regime forces and the militiamen loyal to them.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago that regime forces targeted by a large number of missiles areas in Khan Shaykhun city and al-Khwyn town in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, and other areas in the Talmanas town and Deir el-Sharqi village in the southern countryside of Idlib and the eastern countryside of Maarrat al-Nu’man, and reliable sources told the Syrian Observatory that a shelling by about 17 missiles targeted areas in Khan Shaykhun city and its outskirts which killed 4 citizens, they are: a man, his wife and children, in addition to another child in Khan Shaykhun city, and the shelling injured several people as well in Khan Shaykhun city and Talmanas area, in conjunction with the renew of shelling by the regime forces on the areas of al-Sakhr, Hasraya, and the vicinity of al-Lataminah town in the northern countryside of Hama within the demilitarized area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of a fighter of the factions after being shot by a sniper of the regime forces, in Tal Hediyeh area in the southern countryside of Aleppo, also a member of the regime forces was killed in targeting within Putin – Erdogan truce area, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published this morning that the regime forces continue their violations in of the Russian – Turkish truce in the 4 provinces and in the demilitarized areas of Putin – Erdogan, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored artillery shelling by the regime forces targeted areas in Jabal al-Akrad in the northeastern countryside of Latakia, in conjunction with shelling targeted areas in the villages of Hasraya, al-Zakat, and al-Sakhr in the northern countryside of Hama within the demilitarized area.

The regime forces opened heavy machineguns’ fire on areas in Tal Khaznah village in the eastern countryside of Idlib, but no information about casualties, and the Syrian Observatory published this morning that the regime forces targeted after midnight of yesterday using rocket shells places in Tal Osman and al-Bana in the northern countryside of Hama, and other places in the abandoned battalion area, al-Zarzour, and al-Khwyn in the eastern and southeastern countryside of Idlib within the demilitarized area, but other than that the cautious calm prevailed areas of the truce in Aleppo, Latakia, Idlib, and Hama, since after midnight of yesterday.

Ahead of the timing of the US director’s promise and after promises of ISIS leadership of a safe passage, the International Coalition and SDF start storming the last of what is left for ISIS east of Euphrates

SOHR, 09/02/2019

Deir Ezzor Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: barely 48 hours elapsed on ISIS promises for the remaining members and their families located within the last 4 km² controlled by it in the east of Euphrates, until the operation to thwart it began, through an attack monitored by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights a few hours ago on of today, Saturday, the 9th of February 2018, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: the Syria Democratic Forces supported by ground and air forces of the International Coalition started on Saturday evening to target what is left for the Organization on the east bank of Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, breaking in what is left of areas for it.

This attack by SDF and the Coalition was accompanied by the flight of the International Coalition warplanes over the area and careful  advancement as a result of the mines planted by the Organization in the vicinity of the enclave under its control, and reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the International Coalition aims through this attack; to completely end the existence of the Organization in the area, after the negotiations that took place between the Coalition and the Organization, after the request of ISIS members and remaining leaders to surrender in exchange for providing a safe passage by the Coalition towards unknown area, which prompted the Organization to make promises to those who remained with it to open a corridor from the enclave.

The Syrian Observatory learned that several leaders of the “Islamic State” Organization managed to open a corridor towards areas west of Euphrates River, amid reports of shelling those who got out and the infiltrators across Euphrates River to the western bank, to where the Iranian Forces and their loyal militias are present, and the Syrian Observatory published hours ago that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that violent clashes took place during the last hours of the night in the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside.

In the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: a group of the “Islamic State” Organization consists of 12 members attacked sites of the Syria Democratic Forces in the vicinity of al-Omar field, where violent clashes took place between both parties, since the midnight of yesterday until the dawn of today Saturday, the 9th of February, where the Syria Democratic Forces were able to repel the attack and prevented the Organization from sneaking into the field, while the clashes were accompanied by the flight of International Coalition warplanes in the sky of the area and targeting the attacking group, killing 10 members of the group while the two others managed to flee, raising to 1279, the number of members and leaders of the “Islamic State” Organization, who were killed in the clashes, detonations and raids.

It rose to 678, the number of fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces who have been killed since the 10th of November 2018, also it rose to 401 people including 144 children and 86 citizen women (including 233 Syrian citizens including 99 children and 57 women of Syrian nationality) the number of civilians killed since the 10th of December 2018, also the “Islamic State” Organization had executed more than 713 detainees, of who were arrested on various charges including security members and members of the Organization who tried to break away of it and escape its controlled areas, and the executions were carried out inside headquarters and detention centers of the Organization, and within its controlled areas which are today confined to the towns of Sha’afah, al-Susah, al-Baghuz and villages of Abu Hasan, Bo Badran, al-Marashdah, al-Shajla, al-Kashmeh, al-Safiya and al-Bukhatir suburb east of Hajin, which extends along the east bank of Euphrates, along with its last enclave in the deserts of Homs and Deir Ezzor.

The regime forces shell north of Hama and Maarrat al-Nu’man countryside breaching the truce of the Russians and the Turks after carrying out a massacre in Khan Shaykhun

SOHR, 09/02/2019

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored more violations in areas of the Russian – Turkish truce, where the regime forces shelled areas of al-Sakhr, al-Lataminah, and the vicinity of Morek in the northern countryside of Hama, while the regime forces targeted areas on the outskirts of Kafrnebbul town in Maarrat al-Nu’man countryside in the southern sector of Idlib countryside, which caused more material damage, and the Syrian Observatory published hours ago that violation of the Russian – Turkish truce continue, where it has been in force since the 15th of August of 2018, and the violations also target Putin – Erdogan agreement which has been in force since the 17th of September 2018, where the Syrian Observatory monitored that the regime forces continue to target areas in Khan Shaykhun city in the southern countryside of Idlib, where they shelled areas in the city by about 12  rocket shells, which caused more material damage, followed by the fall of several rocket shells on areas in Muhradah city which inhabited by Christian citizens in the northwestern countryside of Hama.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored shelling by the regime forces targeted areas in al-Arima village in Shashabo Mountain at the northwestern countryside of Hama, and other areas on the outskirts of KafrZitta town in the northern countryside of Hama, and no information about injuries, while it rose to 6, the number of people who were killed in the massacre that was carried out by the regime forces, where an old woman with her son, and 2 of his children and his wife were killed, as well as an old woman daughter and a child of her grandchildren, raising to 222 at least, the number of people who were killed since Erdogan – Putin agreement, 74 civilians including 29 children and 11 women, were killed in shelling by the regime forces and the militiamen loyal to them, among them 3 were killed in the fall of shells launched by the factions, and 66 fighters were killed in deferent circumstances within the demilitarized area since Putin – Erdogan agreement, including 14 of the “Jihadi” fighters and 23 fighters of Jaysh al-Izza, who were killed in ambushes and clashes including a commander at least, they were killed in ambushes and attack by the regime forces in the northern countryside of Hama, and 82 members of the regime forces and the militiamen loyal to them.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago that regime forces targeted by a large number of missiles areas in Khan Shaykhun city and al-Khwyn town in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, and other areas in the Talmanas town and Deir el-Sharqi village in the southern countryside of Idlib and the eastern countryside of Maarrat al-Nu’man, and reliable sources told the Syrian Observatory that a shelling by about 17 missiles targeted areas in Khan Shaykhun city and its outskirts which killed 4 citizens, they are: a man, his wife and children, in addition to another child in Khan Shaykhun city, and the shelling injured several people as well in Khan Shaykhun city and Talmanas area, in conjunction with the renew of shelling by the regime forces on the areas of al-Sakhr, Hasraya, and the vicinity of al-Lataminah town in the northern countryside of Hama within the demilitarized area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of a fighter of the factions after being shot by a sniper of the regime forces, in Tal Hediyeh area in the southern countryside of Aleppo, also a member of the regime forces was killed in targeting within Putin – Erdogan truce area, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published this morning that the regime forces continue their violations in of the Russian – Turkish truce in the 4 provinces and in the demilitarized areas of Putin – Erdogan.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored artillery shelling by the regime forces targeted areas in Jabal al-Akrad in the northeastern countryside of Latakia, in conjunction with shelling targeted areas in the villages of Hasraya, al-Zakat, and al-Sakhr in the northern countryside of Hama within the demilitarized area, while the regime forces opened heavy machineguns’ fire on areas in Tal Khaznah village in the eastern countryside of Idlib, but no information about casualties, and the Syrian Observatory published this morning that the regime forces targeted after midnight of yesterday using rocket shells places in Tal Osman and al-Bana in the northern countryside of Hama, and other places in the abandoned battalion area, al-Zarzour, and al-Khwyn in the eastern and southeastern countryside of Idlib within the demilitarized area, but other than that the cautious calm prevailed areas of the truce in Aleppo, Latakia, Idlib, and Hama, since after midnight of yesterday.

***

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

and US Centcom Press releases (http://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/):

***

CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Jan. 13 - 26, 2019

Release No: 19-008 Jan. 31, 2019 
January 30, 2019
Release # 20190130-01
  
SOUTHWEST ASIA – Combined Joint Task Force –

Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to target and pursue the enduring defeat of ISIS.
 
CJTF-OIR and its partner forces' operations are exerting pressure on ISIS senior leaders and associates, as well as degrading, disrupting and dismantling ISIS organizational structures throughout Iraq and Syria.
 
CJTF-OIR remains committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS to improve conditions for peace and stability in the region, and to protect all our homelands from ISIS's terrorist threat.
 
Strike Summary
 
Between Jan. 13 - 26, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 645 strikes consisting of 1,360 engagements in Syria, and conducted nine strikes consisting of 12 engagements in Iraq.
 
In Syria, 645 strikes engaged 394 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 244 fighting positions, 172 supply routes, 85 staging areas, 21 vehicles, 17 buildings, 15 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, 14 mortar launching sites, 13 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive devices, 12 command and control nodes, nine tunnels, eight weapons catches, seven pieces of engineering equipment, five launching sites for unmanned aircraft systems, two weapons storage facilities, two mortar tubes, two improvised explosive devices, one unmanned aircraft system, one machine gun, one logistic node and one check point.
 
In Iraq, nine strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 4 caves, one manufacturing facility for improvised explosive devices, one building and one vehicle.
 
Between Jan. 13 - 26, 2019, CJTF-OIR detected 533 strikes from other actors that crossed the Euphrates River Valley. CJTF-OIR is committed to avoiding and in every case minimizing civilian casualties; CJTF-OIR calls on all other actors in the area to observe the same precautions.
 
This Coalition strike release contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing, or remotely piloted aircraft, rocket propelled artillery and ground-based tactical artillery.

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