ConflictBarometer_2015

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MIDDLE EAST AND MAGHREB its allies, and opposition groups fought against the so-called Islamic State [→ Syria, Iraq et al. (IS)]. According to a human rights organization, the death toll rose to approx. 250,000 since the beginning of the conflict in March 2011, reporting more than 50,000 fatalities in <strong>2015</strong>. As of December, at least 4.3 million people sought refuge in neighboring countries and 6.6 million were internally displaced. On December 18, the UNSC unanimously adopted Resolution 2254 outlining a road map for a ceasefire and a peace process. The removal of Syria's chemical weapons, led by the joint OPCW-UN mission, continued [→ Syria USA]. According to OPCW-UN, 98 percent of the production sites had been destroyed by October. However, the Syrian American Medical Society stated that between mid-March and June, ten people were killed and 530 sought medical treatment after having been attacked with barrel bombs containing chlorine in Idlib governorate. The government denied the allegations. In Aleppo governorate, military and opposition forces clashed heavily throughout the year. The government mostly conducted airstrikes, while the opposition employed artillery, mortars, TOW rockets, and IEDs. Moreover, Aleppo city continued to be divided between government and opposition groups. Backed by Russian air force and Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as well as Iraqi Shiite militias, government forces regained control of some parts of southern Aleppo in the second half of the year. In February, Jabhat al-Nusra, Jaish al-Muhajiren wal-Ansar, and the al-Sham Front repeatedly fought with government forces over the villages of Rityan, Duweir al-Zeitoun, and Herdeetnin, north of Aleppo city. By February 24, reportedly 129 pro-government and 116 opposition fighters had been killed in the clashes. The opposition groups could recapture the villages, detaining 30 pro-government fighters. In mid-October, government forces supported by the Russian air force as well as Iranian and Iraqi Shiite militias started an offensive in southern Aleppo. The aim was to regain control of Aleppo city and to break the siege over the Shiite majority towns of Nubl and Zahraa, northern Aleppo. Approx. 1,000 Iraqi Shiite militia members from the Kataib Hezbollah and 2,000 IRGC fighters under Major General Qasem Soleimani were involved in the offensive. Subsequently, opposition groups reinforced their positions with hundreds of fighters from northern Aleppo and Aleppo city. Between October 16 and 26, the government recaptured 15 towns from opposition groups, leaving at least 40 fighters dead. According to the UN, 35,000 people were displaced due to the offensive. On December 12, government troops attacked the opposition north of Aleppo city with Russian air force carrying out at least 40 airstrikes, cutting off the opposition's major supply route to the governorate's capital. In Homs governorate, the military and opposition fighters repeatedly clashed in Homs city, with the former controlling almost all neighborhoods. On December 2, both parties agreed on a conditional truce, permitting anti-government forces to leave safely. In the following days, hundreds of people were evacuated from al-Waer neighborhood of Homs city. Mainly Jabhat al-Nusra fighters left al-Waer, whereas the majority of moderate opposition militants stayed. On December 16, a twin bomb attack at a government-controlled Shiite neighborhood in Homs city left 16 people dead. Starting in November 2014, government forces intensified airstrikes on cities such as Douma and towns in Eastern Ghouta, Rif Dimasqh governorate. In response, between the end of January and the beginning of February, Jaish al-Islam led an offensive from its strongholds in Eastern Ghouta, attacking the capital Damascus. In the first three months of the year, over 3,000 people were evacuated from Eastern Ghouta. On September 9, Jaish al-Islam started an offensive against government artillery battalions in Tell Kurdi, seizing the area within one day. The army had previously attacked opposition-stronghold Douma from its positions in Tell Kurdi. On December 25, the head of Jaish al-Islam, Zahran Alloush, was killed along with several other leaders during a government airstrike east of Damascus. In the first half of the year, opposition groups advanced in Hama, Idlib, and Latakia governorates, gaining control of areas along the Sahl al-Ghab plain, which separates the central governorates from the coastal governorate Latakia a government stronghold. Syrian and Russian warplanes increasingly conducted airstrikes in the area in an attempt to prevent a further advance of the groups towards to coastal region. The government lost control over large areas in Idlib after an opposition alliance had launched an offensive in the beginning of the year. For instance, on February 28, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, and Jund al-Aqsa seized the governorate's capital Idlib after four days of fighting. On March 25, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, Jund al-Aqsa, and several other groups formally established the umbrella group Jaish al-Fatah. On May 5, Jaish al-Fatah seized Idlib's last major military base, forcing the army to withdraw. One month later, the alliance took control over government checkpoints on the Ariha-Latakia highway, killing dozens of soldiers and taking 30 hostages. By September, Jaish al-Fatah had captured most of Idlib. Syrian and Russian warplanes continued to conduct airstrikes on opposition-held areas of the governorate. In Hama governorate, Jaish al-Fatah repeatedly led attacks against government forces, attempting to fully seize the Sahl al-Ghab plains. At the end of April, more than 100 fighters from both sides were killed during three days of clashes. On July 27, hundreds of Jaish al-Fatah fighters joined the offensive against government forces in Sahl al-Ghab plains, using artillery, rocket launchers, and self-made missiles. The group seized several hills and advanced towards a military camp. On August 18, government forces recaptured some parts of the area after heavy shelling, leaving at least six Jaish al-Fatah fighters dead. Around 30 villages were severely damaged during clashes, forcing residents to flee towards the Turkish border. The access to Sahl al-Ghab increasingly enabled Jaish al- Fatah to re-enter Latakia and to attack targets from the al-Nabi Younis hill in the Jabal al-Akrad mountains. In the beginning of March, the army recaptured the village of Dorin in Jabal al-Akrad. One week later, a large-scale Jaish al-Fatah attack on the village left 50 killed from both sides. On August 13, Jaish al-Fatah conducted a rocket attack on Latakia city, killing two civilians and wounding 14. Due to intensified Russian airstrikes against Jaish al-Fatah positions in Latakia, the militants partly retreated and reinforced troops in Hama. Between mid-October and the end of December, military and Jaish al-Fatah fighters were involved in heavy clashes over the village of Salma, killing hundreds from both sides and destroying thousands of military vehicles. On October 20, opposition fighters attacked Russian military personnel with mortar shells in al-Nabi Younis, killing three and wounding 15. On December 12, government forces regained the al- Nabi Younis hilltop, killing several militants. In subsequent clashes, opposition fighters regained the hill within three days. In the southern governorates Dara'a and Quneitra, the government reinforced their troops in an attempt to repel opposition fighters from the area. Reportedly, Iranian commanders directed the government offensive in southern 180
MIDDLE EAST AND MAGHREB Syria. In the north of Dara'a, government forces deployed an additional 40 tanks on February 9. After days of clashes, the Lebanese Hezbollah and IRGC-aligned Shiite militias seized the opposition-held towns of Deir al-Adas, Deir Makr, and al-Danajah. Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, and several other groups announced an offensive against government forces on February 18 to regain areas in northern Dara'a. On March 25, reportedly 10,000 opposition fighters attacked government forces from three sides in the historic town of Bosra al-Sham close to the Jordanian border, killing 20. The government withdrew after four days of heavy clashes. In the following months, government forces conducted airstrikes on opposition-held areas. For instance, on September 17, government airstrikes on the towns of Bosra al-Sham, Alma, al-Hrak, and al-Gharya left 17 people dead. Violence continued to affect neighboring countries, causing foreign casualties. For instance, on January 10, Jabhat al- Nusra claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing in Tripoli, Lebanon, killing nine and wounding 30 [→ Lebanon (Sunni militant groups)]. In mid-January, the Israeli air force conducted an airstrike in Quneitra, killing five Lebanese Hezbollah members [→ Syria Israel]. On November 24, the Turkish military shot down a Russian warplane along the Turkey-Syria border with an air-to-air missile, killing two Russian pilots [→ Syria Turkey]. yal SYRIA ISRAEL Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1948 Conflict parties: Conflict items: Syria vs. Israel territory, international power, resources The violent conflict over territory, international power, and resources between Syria and Israel continued. The main conflict issues concerned the status of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the water resources situated in the disputed area. On January 18, the Israeli Air Force killed at least twelve people in the city of Quneitra, Quneitra Governorate, by shooting out of a helicopter. The named governorate borders the disputed Golan Heights. UNDOF peacekeepers, stationed at the Golan Heights to monitor the 1974 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria, reported drones coming from the Israeli side before and after the air strike. On January 25, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused Israel of giving aid to Syrian rebels. Three days later, rockets hit the Israeli side. Israel in turn conducted air strikes on two military bases in Quneitra the next day. On March 18, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized the Syrian government for violating the 1974 agreement and cautioned that the ongoing use of heavy weapons would jeopardize the ceasefire. On April 24, UNDOF declared to reinforce its presence in the buffer zone between Syria and Israel in response to 87 reported artillery fire incidents in the week before the declaration. In an airstrike the day after the declaration, the IDF killed at least three armed men who had tried to plant an IED on the Syrian-Israeli border. On April 30, the IDF reportedly started to augment its forces in the Golan Heights due to increasing activities of Islamic militants [→ Syria (opposition)]. On June 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded from the international community to acknowledge Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights. On June 16, rebels killed seven inhabitants of the Druze village Khadr, Quneitra Governorate. After Israel had provided humanitarian aid to the Druze village, Netanyahu declared Israel's commitment in order to prevent a massacre of refugees at the Syrian-Israeli border. The following day, the IDF and the Israeli police declared a closed military zone in the northeastern part of the Golan Heights. Four days later, Syria accused Israel of providing Jabhat al-Nusra militants with medical treatment. Druze attacked an Israeli military ambulance on June 22, leaving one treated Syrian dead. A similar incident occurred a week later when Druze attacked two ambulances, killing one person. On June 30, the UNSC unanimously adopted a resolution to continue the 750-strong UNDOF mission until the end of the year. On July 27, the Israeli army declared that only non-combatants would be allowed to enter Israel for receiving medical treatment. On August 21, four rockets fired from Syrian territory killed twelve people and left several injured. In response, the IDF struck 14 targets in Syria, leaving at least five people dead and at least seven injured. On October 13, the IDF targeted two Syrian army posts after two rockets fired from Syrian territory had hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. On November 11, Israeli aircrafts struck targets near the international airport situated close to the Syrian capital Damascus. kwi SYRIA TURKEY Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1946 Conflict parties: Conflict items: Syria vs. Turkey territory, international power The violent crisis between Syria and Turkey over international power and the status of the Turkish Hatay Province, exacerbated by spillover effects from the Syrian civil war, continued [→ Syria (opposition)]. Turkey and Syria continued to exert diplomatic pressure on each other throughout the year. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly promoted the idea of a safe and no-fly zone in northern Syria multiple times. On February 6, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated that Syrian opposition groups trained and equipped by a joint US-Turkish program would fight the troops of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On February 22, Turkish troops transferred the tomb of Suleyman Shah and its guards in an overnight raid from the Turkish exclave close to Sarrin, Aleppo Governorate, to a new location near Kobane, Aleppo. The Syrian government condemned the operation as ''flagrant aggression.'' On March 25, a Scud rocket launched by Syrian Armed Forces (SAF) damaged a Turkish military base in Hatay Province. The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) responded by firing across the border at a Syrian artillery unit using two howitzers. On April 26, Turkey sent two fighter jets to intercept a Syrian warplane which almost entered Turkish air space. The training program for Syrian opposition forces led by the USA and Turkey started on May 9. One week later, Turkish jets downed a Syrian drone which had crossed the border into Turkish airspace. On May 19, Turkey increased the number of jets patrolling the border to Syria to ten. The Syrian government sent a note to the UNSC on June 5 asking to force the Turkish government to control its borders and stop supporting terrorist organizations. Turkey reinforced its border troops with heavy weaponry and armored vehicles in the province of Kilis, Aleppo, on June 30. On the same day, Davutoglu declared that there were no plans for any invasion into Syria. Despite Turkish interests in keeping the 181
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2015 disputes non-violent crises vi
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CONFLICT BAROMETER I 2015 Analyzed
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AUTHORS AND EDITORIAL BOARD EUROPE
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Methodology
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In addition to the three constituti
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Global Conflict Panorama
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VIOLENT CONFLICTS IN 2015 (SUBNATIO
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GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GLOBAL CONFLICT
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GLOBAL CONFLICT PANORAMA ANALYSIS I
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GLOBAL CONFLICT PANORAMA COUPS D'É
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MEASURES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION NEG
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MEASURES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION adv
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MEASURES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION rit
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MEASURES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION AUT
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MEASURES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION Dur
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CONFLICT ISSUES INTERNATIONAL POWER
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CONFLICT ISSUES as well as Hungary
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CONFLICT ISSUES between the House o
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CONFLICT ISSUES Maghreb were fought
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VIOLENT SUBNATIONAL PREDOMINANCE CO
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NATURAL RESOURCE CONFLICTS IN 2015
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VIOLENT CONFLICTS IN EUROPE IN 2015
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EUROPE they envisaged the region's
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EUROPE Name of conflict 1 Conflict
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EUROPE Lukashenka, on the other, co
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EUROPE GREECE (SOCIAL PROTESTS, LEF
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EUROPE Bridge in Moscow. Subsequent
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EUROPE MP Donika Kadaj-Bujupi was a
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EUROPE of movement and speech, paym
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EUROPE In mid-July, the government
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Sub-Saharan Africa
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Counting 97, the
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Overview: Confli
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Name of conflict
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Thousands of peo
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA attacking Kayanz
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA The conflict ove
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 300 people died,
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA to withdraw from
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA and 16 months, r
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA latter signed th
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA recurring attack
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NIGERIA, CAMEROON, CHAD, NIGER (BOK
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA the constitution
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Farah Aden, form
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA March 8. On Marc
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA claimed to have
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA killed 16 people
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA to sign a compre
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SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Renewal had been
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VIOLENT CONFLICTS IN THE AMERICAS I
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THE AMERICAS In various countries,
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THE AMERICAS Name of conflict 1 Con
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THE AMERICAS CHILE (MAPUCHE / ARAUC
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THE AMERICAS incident an ''act of d
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THE AMERICAS November 3, the air fo
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THE AMERICAS department, who had ca
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THE AMERICAS fices were carried out
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THE AMERICAS Zetas, in San Pedro Ga
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THE AMERICAS gion of the Northern A
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THE AMERICAS gion. In a military op
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THE AMERICAS Maduro accused paramil
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VIOLENT CONFLICTS IN ASIA AND OCEAN
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ASIA AND OCEANIA central government
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ASIA AND OCEANIA Name of conflict 1
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ConflictBarometer_2015

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