DigitalGlobe satellite imagery and in-country sources clarified reports of intentional destruction at Nineveh. Sources on the ground in Mosul and DigitalGlobe satellite imagery show that the Nergal Gate still stands, but the Mashki and Adad Gates are confirmed destroyed. ASOR CHI received photographs on April 13, 2016 from a Mosul civilian, who at great risk to his/her personal safety took pictures of earth movers leveling parts of Nineveh. The source identified the Mashki Gate and Nergal Gate as being destroyed. This source contacted ASOR CHI again on May 4, 2016 and provided an update. The Nergal Gate is intact, and provided photographic evidence as proof. All photographs were taken from a moving car as it is forbidden for civilians to take photographs and video within ISIL territory or suffer severe punishment. The source misidentified the Adad Gate as the Nergal Gate, and understandably so. DigitalGlobe satellite imagery released May 2, 2016 provides further confirmation. Both the Mashki and Adad Gates as well as large portions of the exterior city wall were all leveled. Additionally, there are multiple tunnels within the archaeological site, reaffirming in-country reports of looting. There is also evidence of a large bridge crossing the Khosr River under construction. This repeats an observed pattern of commercial and infrastructure expansion within the site boundaries of ancient Nineveh. This latest DigitalGlobe imagery also corroborates earlier reports of looting at Nineveh, with four tunnels visible in the imagery available of the northern half of the archaeological area. Furthermore, DigitalGlobe satellite imagery from May 8, 2016 shows the Palace of Sennacherib (Southwest Palace) at Nineveh has been completely dismantled, likely the result of scrap metal harvesting. This new imagery demonstrates that the economic exploitation of ancient Nineveh is becoming increasingly more severe.

Multiple aerial bombardment incidents resulted in severe damage to multiple heritage sites and repositories. Both the Al-Ma’arra Museum, where The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative (TDAHPI) and ASOR CHI just completed a mitigation plan to protect the collection and repair previous airstrike damage, and the Idlib Museum were directly hit by airstrikes. Mosques in Idlib and Deir ez-Zor Governorate were also damaged in aerial campaigns, but the city of Aleppo was the most devastated with eight mosques damaged in the city alone. This activity represents a significant escalation in bombardment campaigns by SARG and Russian forces. This reporting period has seen a sharp uptick in the level of damage inflicted on cultural heritage sites. Damage was particularly devastating in areas that had seen less fighting and destruction during the declared “cessation of hostilities”. Local sources reported a particular increase in damage inflicted to discernable civiliansites including hospitals, markets, aid and food disbursement centers, and places of worship.