Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4510

Incident date

April 16–17, 2023

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Around midnight on April 16-17th artillery fire wounded five civilians in Al-Abizmo, a town west of Aleppo. The victims consisted of a woman and her four children. Local news agencies were conflicted as to whether the strike confirmed the strike was conducted by the Syrian regime, Russian forces or Iranian militias.

A few of the local sources, including @akhbar, only mention one woman injured, while other sources reported that in addition to the woman, her four children were also injured, with a few sources only mentioning three children injured. Zaman Al Wasl mentioned that the woman and children were injured to varying degrees, and were taken to the hospital.

No deaths have been confirmed as a result of this bout of shelling. Shaam News alleged the shelling was conducted in retaliation for opposition activity: “Al-Assad’s forces responded, as usual, to their military losses by bombing civilian homes and residential neighborhoods, as they targeted the vicinity of the village of Al-Abzimo, west of Aleppo, with artillery shells”.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime. However, @Almohrar1 blamed Russian forces while @wa3ediq mentioned Iranian militias as being involved alongside the Syrian regime. The Syrian regime and its Russian partners have not yet made reference to the strikes.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Two of the children injured by artillery shelling in Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @alaskari_media_)
  • Remnants after an alleged Russian/Syrian regime/Iranian shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by Euphrates Post via Facebook)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

IRS015

Incident date

March 24, 2023

Location

قرية ذيبان, Dhiban, al-Omar field, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Friday March 24th, at 8:05 am, an Iranian militia allegedly launched rockets at Coalition forces at “Green Village,” an American base near al-Omar oil field east of Deir Ezzor. According to CENTCOM, the rockets missed the Coalition facility by approximately 5 km. Instead, they reportedly hit a house in Dhiban and injured two women and two children. There was no information published on the injured civilians.

CENTCOM released a statement that “On the morning of March 24th, at approximately 8:05 a.m. Syrian local time, 10 rockets targeted coalition forces at the Green Village in northeast Syria. The attack resulted in no injuries to U.S. or coalition personnel and no damage to U.S. equipment or facilities. One of the rockets missed the facility by almost five kilometers, striking a civilian house, causing significant damage and causing minor injuries to two women and two children.”

The correspondent of “Ain al-Furat” network, quoted by Eye of Euphrates, reported that Iranian militias fired seven missiles toward the American base in two waves, however they instead hit civilian homes in the town of Dhiban. Eye of Euphrates mentioned that there was “inaccurate information” regarding civilian casualties, and no other sources reported on civilian casualties.

The rocket fire was the latest response in what was ostensibly a tit for tat exchange. The rockets were launched in retaliation for US raids which were prompted in turn by a militia attack on a base in al-Hasakah. The militia attack left an American contractor dead and wounded five military personnel. Kurdistan 24 reported that the US military claimed responsibility for drone strikes targeting groups allied with Iran which it accused of launching the drone against the base in al-Hasakah at 13:38 on Thursday the 23rd.

Eye of Euphrates correspondents reported that Iranian militia have “mobilized their forces in the city and its countryside and evacuated most of their military headquarters while leaving some guards, as the militia leaders went to hide among the homes of the civilians”. They pinpointed militia leader movements to Al-Arbaeen Street in the city center and the Afghan “Fatemiyoun Brigade” militia to trenches and tunnels in Al-Haidariyeh area. Baladi corroborated this information, additionally noting that military sites at Al-Bukamal were evacuated. Militia casualties were treated at Al-Shifa Hospital, Al-Mayadeen and were brought in three ambulances.

The incident occured at 08:05:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    US

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    US

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4506

Incident date

March 23, 2023

Location

الأتارب, Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to one civilian was killed, plus one woman and a man were reportedly injured as a result of contested action by Russian forces or the Syrian regime when a marketplace and a residential neighbourhood was hit by artillery and missile shelling in the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo, Syria. This attack took place on March 23rd 2023, the first day of Ramadan, in the evening.

Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Syrian regime and reported that “Syrian regime artillery forces fired multiple shells targeting Atareb city in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate. A number of shells landed on civilians’ homes, while the remainder landed in the popular market in the city center, injuring one man and woman as well as inflicting moderate damage and partial destruction on shops in the popular market, as well as in the street.”

Al Araby news blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces and reported that the attack led to the cancellation of “Tarawih” prayers in the town. @HalabTodayTV reported that the attack happened “at the moment of breaking the fast.”

@KawtharQshqosh was the only source to report that this attack killed a “person”, the other sources all reported that two civilians were injured.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "Artillery shelling by the Russian external occupation during Iftar on the city of Atarib, west of Aleppo, causing civilian casualties" (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • "Residents announce the cancellation of Tarawih prayers in the city due to the intense shelling" (Image via @Aishasapri / Twitter)
  • "The sounds of children's cries rose above it" (Image via @rami498 / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured in artillery shelling by the forces of the Assad regime and loyal militias, targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atarib, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, in the first minute of breaking the fast on the first day of the holy month of #Ramadan." (Image via @khaleedalkhteb / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4505

Incident date

March 17, 2023

Location

افس, Afes, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.905004, 36.802975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child, a girl, and a woman were reportedly injured on March 17th 2023 after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime machine gun fire or shelling hit the village of Afes, east of Idlib in Syria.

Two sources, the White Helmets and Baladi reported that a child was injured by Russian forces, and the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights reported that a woman was injured by Syrian regime forces.

There is no further information about these civilians at this time.

 

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Afes (افس), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.905004, 36.802975. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4504

Incident date

March 11, 2023

Location

الاتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.133794, 36.841879 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person, a man, was killed and between one to five other civilians, were injured after mortar shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the outskirts of the city of Atarib, in the western countryside of Aleppo on Saturday March 11th 2023.

It’s unclear as to whether the man reported killed, Mustafa Talib, was a civilian, with a divided number of local sources indicating that he was a civilian, whilst others, such as Afrin Post, reported that he was a member of the “terrorist organisation Hay’at Tahir al-Sham”. The number of civilians injured ranged in reports from one, a woman, reported to be injured by the Afrin Post. It also reported that four other militants were killed alongside Mustafa Talib.  However, other reports indicated that all of the four or five injured were civilians, including a child and a woman.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–5

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • "A person was killed and 5 civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in mortar shelling by the regime forces and Russia, targeting the outskirts of the city of Atarib in the western countryside of #Aleppo, today, Saturday, March 11." The White Helmets reported from the incident (Image via Twitter)
  • "A person was killed and 5 civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in mortar shelling by the regime forces and Russia, targeting the outskirts of the city of Atarib in the western countryside of #Aleppo, today, Saturday, March 11." The White Helmets reported from the incident (Image via Twitter)
  • "A person was killed and 5 civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in mortar shelling by the regime forces and Russia, targeting the outskirts of the city of Atarib in the western countryside of #Aleppo, today, Saturday, March 11." The White Helmets reported from the incident (Image via Twitter)
  • "A person was killed and 5 civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in mortar shelling by the regime forces and Russia, targeting the outskirts of the city of Atarib in the western countryside of #Aleppo, today, Saturday, March 11." The White Helmets reported from the incident (Image via Twitter)
  • Mustafa Talib, reportedly killed as a resuly of a Russian or Syrian regime mortar shell. He is disputed between sources as a civilian or militant (Image via @Omar_Madaniah / Twitter)
  • Orient News report on the death of Mustafa Talib, killed "during its bombing of Atarib" (Image via @OrientNews / Twitter)
  • "The names of the casualties as a result of the artillery shelling that targeted the city of Atarib, west of Aleppo" (Image via @Almohrar1 / Twitter)
  • "A young man was killed and 5 civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in mortar shelling by the regime forces targeting the outskirts of the city of Atarib in the western countryside of Aleppo today, Saturday, March 11, at noon." (Image via @abdalazezketaz / Twitter)
  • The Afrin Post reported that the man who was killed was a member of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (Image via Afrin post)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the outskirts of the town of Al Atareb (الاتارب). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 36.133794, 36.841879.

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    @SyriaCivilDefe

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    @SyriaCivilDefe

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–5

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4503

Incident date

February 25, 2023

Location

النيرب, Al Nerab, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians and up to three civilians, including one child, one woman, and one man, were reportedly injured in an artillery shelling attributed to either the Syrian regime or Russian forces which hit residential neighbourhoods and “the vicinity of a closed school” in Al Nerab, a town to the east of Idlib, on February 27th 2023.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that the injured were treated by their volunteers.

@SAMS_Arabic reported that the Idlib Central Hospital, which is supported by SAMS received three injuries. It reported that the woman and child injured were mother and child.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Strike target
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman0–1 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • "#Syria: The Syrian regime forces bombed the town of Neirab, east of #Idlib" (Image via @medianaart1 / Twitter)
  • "Idlib Central Hospital, supported by SAMS, received 3 injuries, a woman, her child and a man, and Maarat Misrin Hospital received one injury, due to the bombing of the town of Neirab, east of Idlib, the town of Al-Foua and the outskirts of the city of Idlib." (Image via @SAMS_Arabic / Twitter)
  • "Idlib Central Hospital, supported by SAMS, received 3 injuries, a woman, her child and a man, and Maarat Misrin Hospital received one injury, due to the bombing of the town of Neirab, east of Idlib, the town of Al-Foua and the outskirts of the city of Idlib." (Image via @SAMS_Arabic / Twitter)
  • "Idlib Central Hospital, supported by SAMS, received 3 injuries, a woman, her child and a man, and Maarat Misrin Hospital received one injury, due to the bombing of the town of Neirab, east of Idlib, the town of Al-Foua and the outskirts of the city of Idlib." (Image via @SAMS_Arabic / Twitter)
  • "A child and a woman were injured in artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting residential neighborhoods and the vicinity of a closed school due to previous shelling in the town of Neirab, east of Idlib" (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A child and a woman were injured in artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting residential neighborhoods and the vicinity of a closed school due to previous shelling in the town of Neirab, east of Idlib" (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Strike target
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman0–1 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY030

Incident date

February 19, 2023

Location

المزرعة, Al Mazra, Damascus, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed and others were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes or Syrian regime anti-aircraft missiles which struck Al Mazra neighborhood in Damascus on February 19, 2023.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a woman was killed at the Al Mazra roundabout in Damascus by Israeli missiles. A tweet from @alhaidar990 reported that a pharmacist named Lillian Odeh was killed in the Al Mazra district of Damascus. Orient News added that “other people” were injured, in additional to material damage.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the civilian casualties, with the majority of sources attributing the casualties to the Israeli airstrikes while Orient News blamed the anti-aircraft missiles launched by the Syrian regime for killing a woman and injuring other people.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Lillian Odeh Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS164

Incident date

January 20, 2023

Location

اعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians, including a woman and up to three children, were injured by alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of the city of Azaz of January 20, 2023.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that six people, including a child and a woman, were injured by artillery shelling coming from areas controlled by the Syrian regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces. The @SyriaCivilDefe later revised their toll to eight people injured, including three children and a woman. @mzmgr941 tweeted the same total of eight civilians injured, including a woman and two children.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights stated that six people were injured and that they were members of the Civil Police, while other local sources also referred to “police officers” being injured. The Syrian Network for Human Rights specified that of the seven civilians injured, four were civilian police officers.

@Obaida161999 provided an image with the names of the civilians wounded: 1- Fouad Hamdi son of Mahmoud 54 years old, leg injuries; 2- Mahmoud Al Ojeli 20 years old, shoulder injuries; 3- Thuraya Haj Hasan 40 years old (woman), shoulder injuries; 4- Mohamad Ahmad Khalaf 17 years old, neck injuries;
5- Louai Mohamed Meryamin, 31 years old, back injuries; 6- Mohamed Nour Faysal Idress, 21 years old, back injuries.

@alkhabour21 tweeted that the shelling occurred in the vicinity of the National Hospital in Azaz, and @Razak0000 referred to the shelling as having occurred in residential neighborhoods. Baladi News correspondent in Aleppo countryside added that the shelling affected the “Tal Rifaat” area and the southern neighborhood of the city, partially destroying some properties.

According to @mzmgr941, the shelling occurred to “prevent the revolutionary popular demonstrations in the city”.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the SDF or areas controlled by the SDF and regime forces. @AlTareek22 stated that artillery and missile shells were launched against the city of Azaz.

The incident occured in the morning.

  • Fouad Hamdi 54 years old son of Mahmoud 54 years old, leg injuries injured
  • Mahmoud Al Ojeli 20 years old 20 years old, shoulder injuries injured
  • Thuraya Haj Hasan 40 years old female 40 years old (woman), shoulder injuries injured
  • Mohamad Ahmad Khalaf 17 years old injured
  • Louai Mohamed Meryamin 31 years old injured
  • Mohamed Nour Faysal Idress 21 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe via Twitter)
  • #Qasd militia targets residential neighborhoods in the center of Azaz with missiles, causing casualties, including police officers. Orient relays the details from the bombing site.
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @AlTareek22 via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @AlTareek22 via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @AlTareek22 via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyrianCoalition via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyrianCoalition via Twitter)
  • Names of the civilian injured posted by @Obaida161999: 1- Fouad Hamdi son of Mahmoud 54 years old, leg injuries 2- Mahmoud Al Ojeli 20 years old, shoulder injuries 3- Thuraya Haj Hasan 40 years old (woman), shoulder injuries 4- Mohamad Ahmad Khalaf 17 years old, neck injuries 5- Louai Mohamed Meryamin, 31 years old, back injuries 6- Mohamed Nour Faysal Idress, 21 years old, back injuries

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (20) [ collapse]