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As US Forces Prepare for Withdrawal, 32 Syrians Killed in Clashes, Hundreds Executed

December 20, 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. 

 

American-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, file, December 20, 2018. These forces will be vulnerable to attacks by Turkish and Syrian government forces.	Syrian children beside the rubble of their destroyed neighborhood, file, December 19, 2018

US forces establish a new military base in Hajin, east of Euphrates, December 20, 2018

 

US preparing for ‘full’ and ‘rapid’ withdrawal from Syria

SOHR, 19/12/2018

Planning is underway for a “full” and “rapid” withdrawal of US troops from Syria, a US defense official told CNN Wednesday. The decision was made by President Donald Trump, the official added.

The US has about 2,000 troops on the ground in the country, where they are primarily training local forces to combat ISIS. The US has forces in Iraq ready to launch attacks in Syria if necessary. News of the planned withdrawal was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Source: US preparing for ‘full’ and ‘rapid’ withdrawal from Syria – CNNPolitics

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

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14 members were killed, on December 18, 2018, including 2 members of the regime forces and the militiamen loyal to them, and 700 people executed by ISIS and documented by SOHR

SOHR, 19/12/2018

The sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the “Islamic State” organization had executed more than 700 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 confined today.

A person was killed in a booby-trapped motorcycle explosion in a house where members of an ISIS sleeper cell were present.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also learned that the “Islamic State” organization executed 3 of its members within its last enclave in the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside, on charges of “smuggling civilians” out of the enclave into areas controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces at the east bank of Euphrates.

While 4 fighters at least of the organization were killed, and 2 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces were killed in the same clashes in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

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

At least 2 members of the “Islamic State” Organization and the factions of non-Syrian nationalities were killed in clashes and shelling by warplanes and helicopters and shelling on areas of their presence.

18 members were killed, on December 17, 2018, including 2 members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them, and 15 other people

2 citizens joined yesterday the convoy of casualties of the Syrian revolution.

SOHR, 18/12/2018

In Aleppo Province, a person was killed in a booby-trapped vehicle explosion in ​​Azaz area in the northern countryside of Aleppo

A member of the Syria Democratic Forces was killed by targeting by unknown gunmen for a checkpoint of the Internal Kurdish Security Forces (Asayish), in the al-Jerthi area in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

And at least 11 fighters of the organization were killed, while 2 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces were killed in the same clashes in the eastern Countryside of Deir Ezzor.

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

At least one member the “Islamic State” organization was killed in clashes and shelling by warplanes.

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

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CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Dec. 9 – Dec. 15

Release No: 18-122
December 19, 2018
Release # 20181219-01

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to pursue the lasting defeat of ISIS in designated parts of Iraq and Syria.

Weekly Strike Summary
 
Between Dec. 9 and Dec. 15, CJTF-OIR conducted 208 strikes consisting of 378 engagements in Syria.
 
On Dec. 15 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 47 strikes consisting of 90 engagements against ISIS targets.
 
-              Near Hajin, 47 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 21 fighting positions, 32 staging areas, two petroleum oil and lubricant facilities, one command and control node, one tunnel, seven supply routes, one petroleum oil and lubricant tanker, one tactical vehicle and suppressed two mortar firing positions. 
 
On Dec. 15 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.
 
On Dec. 14 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes consisting of 41 engagements against ISIS targets.
 
-              Near Hajin, 27 strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 18 fighting positions, five staging areas, four supply routes, two heavy weapons systems and suppressed two mortar firing positions. 
 
On Dec. 14 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.
 
On Dec. 13 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 32 strikes consisting of 57 engagements against ISIS targets.
 
-              Near Hajin, 32 strikes destroyed 26 fighting positions, 11 staging areas, five supply routes, one petroleum oil and lubricant storage facility, and one piece of heavy equipment, suppressed one mortar firing position and damaged one fighting position.
 
On Dec. 13 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.
 
On Dec. 12 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 26 strikes consisting of 52 engagements against ISIS targets.
 
-              Near Hajin, 25 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 18 fighting positions, four staging areas, five supply routes, three petroleum oil and lubricant facilities, two financial nodes, one improvised explosive device facility and damaged three fighting positions.
 
-              Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed one fighting position.
 
On Dec. 12 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.
 
On Dec. 11 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 43 engagements against ISIS targets.
 
-              Near Hajin, 21 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 16 fighting positions, five staging areas, two supply routes, one improvised explosive device facility, one building, one piece of engineering equipment, one vehicle and suppressed one mortar.
 
On Dec. 11 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.
 
On Dec. 10 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 29 strikes consisting of 59 engagements against ISIS targets.
 
-              Near Hajin, 29 strikes engaged 17 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 25 fighting positions, three tunnels, one supply route, one command and control node, one petroleum oil and lubricant facility, one staging area, one mortar tube, one heavy weapons system, one building, damaged one vehicle and suppressed one mortar firing position.
 
On Dec. 10 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.
 
On Dec. 9, 2018 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 26 military strikes consisting of 36 engagements against ISIS targets.
 
-              Near Hajin, 26 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 16 fighting positions, two command and control nodes, two staging areas, one weapons caches, one weapon storage facility, one petroleum oil lubricant site, one command and control node, and damaged one vehicle, one staging area, one fighting position and suppressed one mortar and one mortar firing position.
 
On Dec. 9 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.
 
Between Dec. 9 and Dec. 15, CJTF-OIR detected 112 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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CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Dec. 2 – Dec. 8

Release No: 18-119
December 12, 2018
Release # 20181212-01
SOUTHWEST ASIA –

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to pursue the lasting defeat of ISIS in designated parts of Iraq and Syria.
 
Weekly Strike Summary
 
Between Dec. 2 and Dec. 8, CJTF-OIR conducted 251 strikes consisting of 494 engagements in Syria and Iraq.
 
On Dec. 8 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 39 strikes consisting of 63 engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Hajin, 39 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 21 fighting positions, four staging areas, three command and control nodes, one financial facility, one petroleum oil and lubricant facility, one mortar launching site, one piece of engineering equipment, one vehicle, two supply route and one UAS facility. 
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Dec. 8, 2018.
 
On Dec. 7 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 46 strikes consisting of 66 engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Hajin, 46 strikes engaged one ISIS tactical unit, and destroyed 19 fighting positions, seven pieces of heavy equipment, seven staging areas, five supply routes, four command and control nodes, three vehicles, one building and one financial facility. 
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Dec. 7, 2018.
 
On Dec. 6 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 32 strikes consisting of 63 engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Hajin, 32 strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 13 fighting positions, five staging areas, six supply routes, two pieces of engineering equipment, one logistics facility, one petroleum oil and lubricant tanker, one piece of heavy equipment, one heavy machine gun, one tactical vehicle and one financial facility.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Dec. 6, 2018.
 
On Dec. 5 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 41 strikes consisting of 82 engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Hajin, 41 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 19 fighting positions, three command and control nodes, three vehicles, two staging areas, two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, two supply routes, two logistics facilities, one piece of heavy equipment, one media cell and one building.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Dec. 5, 2018
 
On Dec. 4 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 31 strikes consisting of 66 engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Hajin, 31 strikes engaged seven tactical units, and destroyed 15 fighting positions, eight staging areas, four supply routes, two pieces of engineering equipment, three command and control nodes, one piece of heavy equipment, and one weapons facility.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Dec. 4, 2018.
 
On Dec. 3 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 38 strikes consisting of 93 engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Hajin, 38 strikes engaged 12 tactical units, and destroyed 10 supply routes, five staging areas, two weapon caches, four improvised explosive device facilities, two buildings, two fighting positions, one anti-aircraft system, one rocket storage site, one tunnel, two heavy equipment, and one vehicle storage.
 
 
On Dec. 3 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of nine engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Sulayman Bek, one strike engaged three tactical units, and destroyed two buildings and damaged one building.
 
On Dec. 2, 2018 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 23 military strikes consisting of 51 engagements against ISIS targets.
•             Near Hajin, 23 strikes engaged two tactical units, and destroyed four command and control nodes, one building, one storage site, six staging areas, six supply routes, one tactical vehicle and three fighting positions, and suppressed seven supply routes and one fighting position.
 
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Dec. 2, 2018.
 
We received delayed reports for strikes conducted by Coalition military forces on Nov. 3 and Oct. 4.
 
On Nov. 3, 2018 In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement.
•             Near Hajin, Coalition military forces destroyed one fighting position.
 
On Oct. 4, 2018 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of five engagements.
•             Near Hajin, Coalition military forces destroyed two fighting positions.
 
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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