Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS159

Incident date

November 15, 2022

Location

اعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Reported artillery shelling on the city of Azaz, in the countryside of Aleppo, Syria, on November 22nd 2022 resulted in between three and five civilians killed, according to @DeirEzzore.  The attack hit the market.  Five to eight civilians were reported wounded. Whilst most sources reported that this was an SDF strike, some sources mentioned that the shelling also came from areas controlled by the Syrian regime.

The dead were identified as from the city of Saraqib. According to @DeirEzzore they were: Ali Al Qabo, aged 17, Omar Musa al-Najjar,  aged 21, Ragheb Al-Khaled, and Shaaban Hilal or Shaaban bin Muhammad, aged 66.  The Syrian Civil Defense also reported that a young child was killed.  @Omar_Madaniah tweetd that the child was Saad al-Din Taftanazi.  He was also an internally displaced person from the city of Aleppo, who lived with his mother and brothers. A local source reported that “most of the time he slept in his workplace, looking for a livelihood for his family.”

Sources reported that Omar Musa Al-Najjar was an internally displaced person from Kafrouma, and his wedding was five or ten days previously.

@Qasemqt tweeted that “at the end of this street, there was a cafe showing the World Cup matches in the city of Azaz, many were watching, and many people were happening about what happened for a day and a moment. Every day turned into a bloody day for the entire city.”

Enab Baladi news correspondent in Azaz reported that the bombing hit a butchers shop in the marketplace. The news site also reported that a resident of the area, Nour Junaid, said that “the neighbourhood is a residential community that includes shops, and that there is no headquarters or military point in it.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Al Qabo
17 years old male killed
Omar Musa al-Najjar
21 years old male killed
Ragheb Al-Khaled
Age unknown male
and Shaaban Hilal or Shaaban bin Muhammad
66 years old male killed
Saad al-Din Taftanazi
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (54) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (50) [ collapse]

  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Deir Ezzore / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Deir Ezzore / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Deir Ezzore / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Deir Ezzore / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Deir Ezzore / Twitter)
  • "the young man "Omar Musa Al-Najjar" from the Kafrouma IDPs, one of the victims of the bombing today on Azaz, his wedding was (5) days ago, may God have mercy on him and he was with the help of his family and lovers." (Deir Ezzore / Twitter)
  • "civilians, including a child, were killed, and 5 others were wounded, as a preliminary result of a massacre, as a result of missile strikes coming from areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, targeting a popular market and residential neighborhoods in the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo, on Tuesday evening, November 22." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "civilians, including a child, were killed, and 5 others were wounded, as a preliminary result of a massacre, as a result of missile strikes coming from areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, targeting a popular market and residential neighborhoods in the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo, on Tuesday evening, November 22." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "civilians, including a child, were killed, and 5 others were wounded, as a preliminary result of a massacre, as a result of missile strikes coming from areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, targeting a popular market and residential neighborhoods in the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo, on Tuesday evening, November 22." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "civilians, including a child, were killed, and 5 others were wounded, as a preliminary result of a massacre, as a result of missile strikes coming from areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, targeting a popular market and residential neighborhoods in the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo, on Tuesday evening, November 22." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • ""Omair al-Najjar" was very happy when he invited his friends to share the joy of his wedding, that was 10 days ago, today they meet again to bid him farewell after his soul was kidnapped by terrorist missile attacks originating in areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, targeting the city of Azaz, north of #Aleppo." (Image via Syrian Civil Defense / Twitter)
  • "A long night shrouded in sadness mixed with deadly silence. Weeping hearts lament their children, and others grapple with pain with their injured in hospitals after the massacre in the city of Azaz, north of #Aleppo, this evening, Tuesday, November 22, as a result of terrorist missile attacks emanating from areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces." (Image via Syrian Civil Defense / Twitter)
  • "Blood-laden messages... With the start of the 19th Astana meeting on Syria, civilians were killed and injured in the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo The city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo witnessed an escalation of terrorist attacks on the evening of Tuesday, November 22, originating in areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces. What is practiced by the Assad regime, Russia and the militias loyal to them against the Syrians, in the absence of a firm international position on stopping it." (Image via Syrian Civil Defense / Twitter)
  • "Extensive damage caused by the missile attack carried out by the SDF militia on the city of Azaz this evening." (image via Azzaz media centre)
  • "Extensive damage caused by the missile attack carried out by the SDF militia on the city of Azaz this evening." (image via Azzaz media centre)
  • "Extensive damage caused by the missile attack carried out by the SDF militia on the city of Azaz this evening." (image via Azzaz media centre)
  • "Extensive damage caused by the missile attack carried out by the SDF militia on the city of Azaz this evening." (image via Azzaz media centre)
  • "The boy, "Saad al-Din Taftanazi", devoted his life to support his family, and often slept in his workplace. His life ended yesterday, when #SDF bombed the market of the city of #Azaz in the countryside of Aleppo" (Image via @Omar_Madaniah / Twitter)
  • "Martyrs of the #Azaz attack by the #SDF: 1 - Ali Walid Al-Qabou from #Saraqib 2 - Ragheb Al-Khaled from #Saraqib 3 - Shaaban Hilal from #Saraqib 4 - Omair Musa Al-Najjar from #Kafruma 5 - Unidentified" (Image via @IdlibCallingSy / Twitter)
  • "This is the blood of our people.. 5 martyrs and several injuries as a result of the targeting of Azaz by the terrorist #Qasd militia.. And by the way, these people were like us, happy with the joy of the Arabs, and gathered normally until they were bombed." (Image via @Wejden_231 / Twitter)
  • And by the way, these people were like us, happy with the joy of the Arabs, and gathered normally until they were bombed." (Image via @Wejden_231 / Twitter)
  • And by the way, these people were like us, happy with the joy of the Arabs, and gathered normally until they were bombed." (Image via @Wejden_231 / Twitter)
  • And by the way, these people were like us, happy with the joy of the Arabs, and gathered normally until they were bombed." (Image via @Wejden_231 / Twitter)
  • "Mourners bury victims of bombing of the city of Azaz in the Syrian Aleppo governorate, in the towns of Binnish and Afis in the Idlib governorate, on November 23, 2022. The Britain-based Observatory said that the missiles were launched from the Aleppo governorate, which is under the control of the Syrian regime and Kurdish forces." (Image via @omar_hajkadour /Twitter)
  • "Mourners bury victims of bombing of the city of Azaz in the Syrian Aleppo governorate, in the towns of Binnish and Afis in the Idlib governorate, on November 23, 2022. The Britain-based Observatory said that the missiles were launched from the Aleppo governorate, which is under the control of the Syrian regime and Kurdish forces." (Image via @omar_hajkadour /Twitter)
  • "Mourners bury victims of bombing of the city of Azaz in the Syrian Aleppo governorate, in the towns of Binnish and Afis in the Idlib governorate, on November 23, 2022. The Britain-based Observatory said that the missiles were launched from the Aleppo governorate, which is under the control of the Syrian regime and Kurdish forces." (Image via @omar_hajkadour /Twitter)
  • "Mourners bury victims of bombing of the city of Azaz in the Syrian Aleppo governorate, in the towns of Binnish and Afis in the Idlib governorate, on November 23, 2022. The Britain-based Observatory said that the missiles were launched from the Aleppo governorate, which is under the control of the Syrian regime and Kurdish forces." (Image via @omar_hajkadour /Twitter)
  • "Painful are the scenes in the city of Azaz today, and a night shrouded in sadness and the crying of the mothers of the victims, and the pain of the families of the injured. The terrorist attacks of the regime and its allies killed 5 civilians and wounded 5 others in a new massacre against innocent civilians. Condolences to the families of the victims and a speedy recovery for the injured" (Image via @NadaAlRashed6 / Twitter)
  • "Painful are the scenes in the city of Azaz today, and a night shrouded in sadness and the crying of the mothers of the victims, and the pain of the families of the injured. The terrorist attacks of the regime and its allies killed 5 civilians and wounded 5 others in a new massacre against innocent civilians. Condolences to the families of the victims and a speedy recovery for the injured" (Image via @NadaAlRashed6 / Twitter)
  • "SDF missiles killed the boy Saad al-Din Taftanazi, the displaced from the city of #Aleppo, who devoted his life to support his family, so he slept inside his workplace most of the days, until his life ended in a bombing that targeted the market of the city of #Azaz in the countryside of Aleppo, accompanied by 4 civilian victims with him." (Image via @OrientNews / Twitter)
  • "In short, he got married nine days ago and was martyred today!" (Image via @bkdadaksa / Twitter)
  • "The systematic terrorist attacks on the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo, and the intentional targeting of civilians, indicates the criminal approach of these alliances based on killing and taking lives without any regard for the sanctity of human lives. Terrorism." (Image via @RaedAlSaleh3 / Twitter)
  • "A sad night with a new massacre in the city of #Azaz in the western countryside of Aleppo. May God have mercy on our martyrs and forgive them, and may God grant patience to their families." (Image via @molhamteam / Twitter)
  • "A sad night with a new massacre in the city of #Azaz in the western countryside of Aleppo. May God have mercy on our martyrs and forgive them, and may God grant patience to their families." (Image via @molhamteam / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via @sul6an_21 / Twitter)
  • "Ghaith Kaddour bin Khaled, 19 years old Muhammad Jamal bin Kno bin Fahd, 28 years old Muhammad Al-Ali bin Ahmed, 26 years old Mazen Hussein Hilal, 47 years old" (@yzUY6rpVfupA9vb / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via @wisamalkassom / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via @wisamalkassom / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via @wisamalkassom / Twitter)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Syrianewsagency)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Orient)
  • "Five people were killed and others injured in the bombing of the city of Azaz Five civilians were killed and five others were injured, in an indefinite toll, in the shelling of the city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo today, Tuesday, November 22." (Image via Enab Baladi)
  • "Five people were killed and others injured in the bombing of the city of Azaz Five civilians were killed and five others were injured, in an indefinite toll, in the shelling of the city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo today, Tuesday, November 22." (Image via Enab Baladi)
  • "Five people were killed and others injured in the bombing of the city of Azaz
  • "Five people were killed and others injured in the bombing of the city of Azaz" (Image via Enab Baladi)
  • "Five people were killed and others injured in the bombing of the city of Azaz" (Image via Enab Baladi)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Arabia)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via Zaitunmag)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via MolhamTeam)
  • Three to five civilians were reported killed in Azaz as a result of either a Syrian regime or SDF rocket on November 22nd 2022 (Image via MolhamTeam)

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (54) [ collapse]