ASOR Syrian Heritage Initiative (SHI): Planning for Safeguarding Heritage Sites in Syria - Weekly Report 3 (August 25, 2014)

Weekly Report 3 encompasses August 17, 2014 and August 19, 2014. Also included are Incident Reports SHI 14-019, SHI 14-020 and SHI 14-021.

This report contains a Heritage Timeline describing events involving the destruction of heritage sites in Syria. From August 19–24, IS (ISIS or Islamic State) launched four major attacks on the SARG-­‐controlled airfield at Tabqa, the last remaining regime outpost in Raqqa Governate and a substantial military facility. On August 24, the base fell to IS. This victory facilitates IS access to routes south and west leading to Aleppo, Palmyra/Tadmor, Hama, and Homs. IS continues to consolidate its western front line along the northern portion of the Damascus-­‐Aleppo corridor and now threatens to capture eastern Homs Governate and secure its hold on gas and oil resources in the eastern desert still under SARG control.