Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

Belligerent
Israeli Military
Country
Syria
the Gaza Strip
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS1383 ISSY001

Incident date

August 17, 2017

Location

الشجرة, Al Shajra, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.774031, 35.883493 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 27 civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on the town of Al Shajra in western Daraa.

According to Daraa Martyrs Documentation Center, 32 “mostly civilians” were killed when positions of Jaish Khalid bin Walid, a Salafi jihadist group, were targeted. The report claimed that the Coalition launched a long-range missile, which “targeted the Islamic Court of Khalid Bin Al-Waleed Army”.

Ten detainees who were held in the court’s prison were killed in the attack, according to the Center. It noted another 17 civilians who were killed as they were in the near vicinity of the strike. Five members of the “army Khalid bin Walid” were also reported killed.

Zaman al Wasl quoted a local activist who stated that four missiles struck the court, “likely targeting a meeting of leaders”. According to Enab Baladi, “The last of the group’s Emirs was Abu Tim Enkhl, who was killed yesterday (Thursday, August 17) by an air raid on the village of Al-Shajara in the Yarmouk basin.”

Shaam News reported that “activists said that the raid targeted the court and led to the martyrdom of a number of civilians who were imprisoned in the court on charges of belonging to the Free Syrian Army. A number of civilians were killed while in court for other reasons.”

Shaam added that “Many of the dead were killed in the prison, including relatives of the founder of the Yarmouk Martyrs’ Brigade, Muhammad Saad al-Din al-Baridi, known as the “Khal”, who established the presence of the brigade in the western countryside and was killed nearly two years previously in a suicide attack. His relatives had been jailed in the wake of internal disputes within the organization, after receiving information about their intention to carry out a military coup.”

Orient noted that either the Coalition or Israel was responsible for an attack on what it described as the “Khaled bin Al-Walid Army” in Sharja, but was alone in saying this. Al Shaam mentioned that Coalition raids led to “the deaths of a number of martyrs and wounded civilians” but did not identify a specific number of casualties.

The Coalition itself did not publicly report any raids on the province on this date.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 27
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of reported Coalition or Israeli missile strike on al Sharja (via Mohamad Abazeed)
  • Aftermath of reported Coalition or Israeli missile strike on al Sharja (via Mohamad Abazeed)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Shajra (الشجرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.774031, 35.883493. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition did not publicly report any airstrikes in the Daraa governorate for August 16th-17th and Augustu 17th-18th.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Aug 9-15th, France report 2 strikes in Raqqah, Syria – and 13 artillery missions in Mosul.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the past week, (11th-18th) France conducted 27 sorties, including 22 armed reconnaissance and ground support (CAS), 1 refueling outlet and 4 intelligence gathering sorties by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrols. Two strikes were carried out in the Raqqah region of Syria. They helped support the Syrian democratic forces in their offensive to retake the city.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties. ‘

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 27
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY003

Incident date

July 1, 2019

Location

أشرفية صحنايا, Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.433659, 36.245227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 16 civilians, including two to three children and a woman, were reportedly killed and 21 to 50 others were injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes that targeted several military sites in the Damascus countryside after midnight on July 1st, 2019, according to local sources.

The strike resulted in the first significant reported civilian harm from recent Israeli actions, with five named civilians locally reported killed – despite several hundred declared airstrikes against Iranian and Hezbollah forces and the Assad regime in recent years.

According to Free Deir Ezzor Radio, an Israeli missile (possibly launched by a naval vessel) killed a number of civilians when its impact shattered the glass windows of a house in Sahnaya. The Syrian-regime affiliated SANA News claimed that four civilians were killed, including a baby, in addition to 21 others injured, also including children. Numerous other sources also cited 21 as the number wounded in the attack.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights provided the names of five civilians killed: Elaf Ratib Bakri Pasha, baby girl; Abdulrahman Anas Abdulrahman Al-Bayat, child; Anas Abdulrahman Al-Bayat, man; Ratib Mustafa Bakri PashaRama Imad Yahya Arnavut, female.

Homs News also reported the names of 20 people injured and treated at Hisham medical clinic: Aya Al Shouli 15 years old; Bassam Fares Al Eid Al Omar 60 years old; Mohammad Shaheen Omar 24 years old (seriously injured); Rami Shaheen Omar 48 years old (seriously injured); Hamad Hatoush 23 years old; Hiba Hartoush Al Omar 1 month old
Nour Khaled Omar 24 years old; Ahlam Al Ali 19 years old; Abd Al Rahhman Al Khaled; Houssin Al Sheikh; Ghayth Kalhous 16 years old; Nofal Ali; Imad Khaled 24 years old; Mohammad Abd Al Kareem 15 years old; Ziyna Ma’rouf; Abd Al Majeed; Ghofran Dakak 13 years old; Yazan Za’yter 13 years old; Fayha’ Ayoub 30 years old; Ahmad Al Sheikh; Narjas Mheiyedeen

News agency AFP said that six civilians including three children died, along with nine “mostly foreign pro-regime fighters.”

The New York Times, citing an anonymous Syrian government official, placed the civilian fatality toll as high as 10: “Another figure close to the Syrian government who was briefed on the strikes and who requested anonymity to discuss secret military information put the total death toll from the attacks higher, saying that at least 16 had been killed, including five Syrian Army personnel, one Iranian and 10 civilians and that 49 others had been wounded.” People’s Dispatch reported that 16 civilians, including a child, were killed and 21 others were wounded.

Meanwhile, Step News alleged that “twelve civilians were killed, including four people from one family,” and that about “50 people, including children and infants, were injured by Israeli airstrikes targeting several positions of the Syrian regime and its pro-Iranian militias.” The same source named two locations in discussion of the incident, referring to casualties in Sahnaya and Jdaidt Artouz. However other sources did not cite civilian harm in Jdaidt Artouz.

NFAC, and other sources named two of those killed as “Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha and daughter Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha”, referring to Mr Bakri Pasha as a doctor. Enab Baladi News stated that among those killed were “displaced citizens from the neighbouring city of Darya.”

@zamanalwsl, and other sources, also reported that “a whole family (father, mother and baby) were killed” in the attack, while another source named “Anas  Al Bayat, his baby son Abdul Rahman, and his wife, Rama Arna’out” as among the fatalities.

SANA quoted a military source who reported that their “air defenses intercepted hostile missiles fired by Israeli warplanes from the Lebanese airspace towards some of our military positions in Homs and the surroundings of Damascus.” The news agency added that “due to the pressure which resulted from the explosions which occurred in the sky over Damascus, material damage was inflicted on a number of civilians’ houses in Sahnaya town as the glass of the houses was shattered causing injury to a number of people.”

The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights was the only source that expressed uncertainty, reporting that it was unknown whether the casualties were caused by Israeli shelling or the remnants of the Israeli missiles.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry later accused Israel of “heinous aggression” according to the Guardian: “Israeli authorities are increasingly practising state terrorism,” the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official Sana news agency on July 2nd. “The latest heinous Israeli aggression falls within the framework of ongoing Israeli attempts to prolong the crisis in Syria,” it added.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the Israeli military had declined to comment on the Syrian claims of civilian deaths, telling its reporter. “We are not commenting on foreign reports.”

According to Masra Al Arabia, the Syrian official media reported that “the Syrian air defenses responded, after midnight, to enemy missiles launched by the Israeli occupation forces at some military sites in Homs and the vicinity of Damascus, killing a number of civilians, including a child, and wounding others in the town of Sahnaya in the southern countryside of Damascus.” A military source told the Syrian News Agency (SANA) that the Israeli warplanes launched their missiles from Lebanese airspace.

SANA’s correspondent pointed out that 4 civilians were killed, including a one-month-old child, and 21 were wounded, including children, in Sahnaya town in Damascus countryside, as a result of the aggression, noting that the wounded were transferred to hospitals where they received the necessary treatment.

EA Worldview News pointed out that the neighborhood of Sahnaya, where the civilian casualties reportedly occurred, is only a few hundreds yards away from the Mezzeh base. Other sites reportedly struck by Israel that night – though with no known associated reports of civilian harm – included Mezzeh military airport, Dimas, Ksoua, Qatana and Khan Al Sheikh. The Times of Israel added that one of the locations struck was “a hangar likely storing advanced weaponry or other military equipment” outside of Damascus.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation released a statement condemning the attack “that grossly violate the sovereignty of Syria”.

The incident occured after midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (3)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 16
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Video showing the moment of impact when a missile struck the Syrian regime forces in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Medics tending to the civilians who were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Sahnaya town in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Medics tending to the civilians who were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Sahnaya town in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Video of alleged Israeli missiles on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Video Caption Translation: "Four civilians, including an infant, were killed by Israeli shelling of the Damascus and Homs governorates" (via RT Arabic)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An infant casualty following the airstrike (via @HoseinMortada)
  • Image translation The names of wounded people from Hisham medical clinic Aya Al Shouli 15 years old Bassam Fares Al Eid Al Omar 60 years old Mohammad Shaheen Omar 24 years old (seriously injured) Rami Shaheen Omar 48 years old (seriously injured) Hamad Hatoush 23 years old Hiba Hartoush Al Omar 1 month old Nour Khaled Omar 24 years old Ahlam Al Ali 19 years old Abd Al Rahhman Al Khaled Houssin Al Sheikh Ghayth Kalhous 16 years old Nofal Ali Imad Khaled 24 years old Mohammad Abd Al Kareem 15 years old Ziyna Ma’rouf Abd Al Majeed Ghofran Dakak 13 years old (via @dania_saaty)
  • Translation: “Treating the wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression in the city of #Sahnaya #Damascus” (via @jamlyyyyy).
  • Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha (left) was killed alongside his daughter Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha were killed in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Baladi News).
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a family as a result of the aggression last night on the town of Sahnaya and the martyrs are Anas al-Bayat and his son the baby Abdul Rahman and his wife Rama Arna’out" (via @0pL7NYrCA4SYZ3U)
  • Caption Translation: "Martyr Abdul Rahman, seven months who was martyred in # Sahnaya yesterday by the Zionist raids on the countryside of Damascus" (via @wasem258).
  • Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha was killed alongside his daughter in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via NFAC).
  • Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha was killed alongside her father in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via NFAC).
  • Image of alleged Syrian regime air defence responding to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • Syrian regime air defence reportedly responded to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • Image of alleged Syrian regime air defence responding to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • ImageSat International
  • ImageSat International
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Image from @QalaatAlMudiq
  • The wounded being evacuated following alleged Israeli strikes outside of Damascus on July 1, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)
  • The wounded being treated following alleged Israeli strikes outside of Damascus on July 1, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (أشرفية صحنايا) for which the generic coordinates are: 33.433659, 36.245227. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 16
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1649 ISSY002

Incident date

October 23, 2017

Location

سحم الجولان, Sahm al Jolan, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.781247, 35.935592 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the death of up to seven civilians, including three women and two children, and up to ten ISIS affiliated militants from Jaish Khalid bin al Walid, as a result of either Coalition or Israeli airstrikes on Sahm al Jolan.

The Daraa Martys Documentation Office reported Coalition airstrikes on Sahm al Jolan, “where two consecutive missiles targeted a residential neighborhood in the town of Sahm al Jolan”. According to the report, the neighbourhood in the western Dara’a countryside was under the control of the “Khalid Bin Al Waleed Army”. The office documented “7 martyrs”, including two women and two children, as well as a number of wounded individuals in addition to three fighters who were also killed in the attack.

Hayat News and RT both reported 10 fighters killed and identified Israeli jets as the culprit instead of the Coalition. Both reports noted that in addition to the ten fighters, two women who were believed to be wives of militants were killed. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also attributed the strikes to Israel but quoting them, Jewish Press reported that “there was no concrete evidence indicating Israel had carried out the attack”.

Sahm al Jolan listed two unidentified children “killed after an attack by an international coalition aircraft on the town”. Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office was the only source who had identified by name a civilian casualty. According to a center report of October 28th, Sabah Ibrahim al-Masalmeh “died of her wounds after being hit by a raid by the international coalition aircraft on the town of Sahm al Jolan”.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Sabah Ibrahim al-Masalmeh Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children2–3 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–10

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sahm al Jolan (سحم الجولان), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.781247, 35.935592. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    36SYB749310
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020
  • Oct. 23, 2017, in Sahm al Jolan, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3163/CS1649 36SYB749310

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For both October 22nd-23rd and October 23rd-24th the Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in the Dara’a governorate.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children2–3 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–10

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS930a ISSY001a

Incident date

June 7, 2017

Location

الشجرة, Al Shajra, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.773896, 35.882991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that alleged airstrikes struck a building in Al Shajra town which several sources referred to as an “Islamic Court” while others described it as the headquarters of the “Islamic Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” – a faction that has been accused of being associated with the “Islamic State”. Sources were conflicted as to whether the Coalition or Israel was responsible for the airstrikes.

Four airstrikes were reported to have launched eight “rockets” after midnight. The same airplanes allegedly continued and struck the town of Joomla, near the Jordanian-Israeli border.

Three leaders of the “Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” were reported killed in the attack, including the General Commander Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, military commander Abu Uday al-Homsi and Abu Dujana al-Adlabi. Between ten and 20 other people were reported killed but it is unclear how many of these were combatants.

According to the Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office, among the fatalities were three women. Additionally, the Shaam News Network reported that the event resulted in the deaths of a number of “martyrs” and wounded civilians.

According to Almadon news, civilians were informed to evacuate areas controlled by the “Khaled bin al-Walid Army” within 72 hours, and warned that imminent shelling could target the area.

Shaam News reported a statement by the “Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” that it “did not hear the sounds of aircraft hovering in the air and did not monitor any move to fly in the western countryside before or after the target, indicating that the targeting may have been a long-range missile, or perhaps the targeting has been inside a bombing operation.”

In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

While the majority of sources attributed the strikes to the Coalition, a tweet from @omar_alharir, an independent journalist in Syria, and Enab Baladi News blamed Israel for carrying out the airstrikes.The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center also wrote that according to Enab Baladi, “the day before the attack, the army of Khaled bin Al-Olid executed a group of senior activists on charges of collaborating with Israel and assassinating the commanders of the organization”.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13–20

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, leader of the "Khalid bin al-Walid Army", was reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on al Shajra town on June 7th 2017 (via Enab Baladi).
  • Smoke circling up after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the town of al Shajra on June 7th 2017 (via @AbozaidMohammed).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Shajra (الشجرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.773896, 35.882991. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    36SYB699299
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020
  • June 7, 2017, in Ash Shajra, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3105/CS930a 36SYB699299

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes reported.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13–20

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT001

Incident date

May 10, 2021

Location

شارع المصريين, Al Masryeen Street, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.534080, 34.549485 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians (mostly from one family) were killed, and as many as 18 people were injured, in an alleged Israeli artillery strike on the Al Dhahra area in eastern Beit Hanoun on May 10th, 2021. The Israeli military however reportedly denied responsibility for the strike, claiming that the deaths were caused by a Palestinian rocket launch that went awry.

At least four of the dead were children from the al-Masri family. They were identified by a cousin, 14-year-old Ibrahim, as brothers Ibrahim and Marwan and their cousins Rahaf and Yazan. Another family member, 22-year-old Ahmed, died the following day from injuries sustained in the blast. Ahmed was due to be married in less than a week.

A further two children were also reported to have been killed in the same incident, with Defence for Children – Palestine naming 11-year-old Hussein Muneer Hussein Hamad and 16-year-old Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammad Hassanain as among the dead. AFP interviewed Hamad’s father at his funeral, who said the al Masri family were their neighbours.

Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, alongside two other sources, also named Mohammed Ali Mohammed Nusseir as a victim of the strike. He was aged between 20 and 24 years of age. The Israeli Defense Forces listed Nusseir as “eliminated” by IDF forces and referred to him as “active in the terrorist organization Hamas”. However, Jalal, Nusseir’s brother, told Human Rights Watch that Nusseir did not belong to an armed group. According to his brother, Nusseir made an income buying and selling barley from a horse and cart and the al-Masri family were a regular supplier of his. Two people interviewed for the report said that one of the reasons so many children were killed in the strike was that they had crowded around Nusseir’s horse when it arrived at the al-Masri homes.

On July 27th 2021, Human Rights Watch published a report in which they said “an Israeli-guided missile” struck the residence of the al-Masri family in Beit Hanoun on May 10th. As part of their investigation, Human Rights Watch visited the location on three occasions and interviewed seven members of the al-Masri family, including three relatives of two people also killed in the strike. Interviewees told Human Rights Watch the attack happened shortly after 6 p.m. when family members were packing processed barley into sacks to sell to Mohammed Nusseir.

Ibrahim, the al-Masri cousin, witnessed the incident. According to his account to AFP, two of the boys had been filling sacks of straw to sell at a livestock market when the strike hit. Along with his cousins he was putting the sacks onto a cart at the time. “We were laughing and having fun, when suddenly they began to bomb us, everything around us caught fire,” he said. “I saw my cousins set alight, and torn into pieces.”

Four of those interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they saw the missile approach moments before the strike. Mohammed Attallah’s son, Mohammed Mohammed said: “I was with my brothers, packing barley into sacks. Suddenly, I saw something coming toward us from the east. When I first saw it, it was high in the air. Then it gradually descended as it came in our direction. It exploded about one meter from the ground. Something hit me in the eye, the abdomen, and legs. I flew into the air and landed on the ground. I didn’t lose consciousness. I saw that my brother Ahmed, my sister Rahaf, and my nephew Yazan were dead. Their bodies were all torn up. It was awful.” Ihsan al-Zaneen 29, who was sitting outside her parents’ house when the attack happened, said he saw “a missile” coming through the air “from the east” prior to the explosion. Ahed Hassanein, 12, who was standing on the roof of his house at the time said he saw a “big mass come from the Nahal Oz area” in Israel, an area about 7.5 kilometers southeast of Beit Hanoun, before it exploded nearby. Ghassan al-Masri, 24 , who was injured in the attack, said that he was facing east when he saw something coming from the southeast that was “flying low and quietly towards the group which then exploded in the air close to the ground.”

Human Rights Watch said remnants of the munition, photographed on the morning of May 11th, indicate that the weapon used was a type of guided missile. The lack of an impact crater also suggested the munition detonated in mid-air.

Youssef al-Masri, the father of brothers Ibrahim and Marwan, said the strike had been targeting a motorcycle that was passing by. “The children were playing with their cousins in front of the house when a man on a motorcycle passed by, and the occupation targeted him twice.” Al-Masri added, “I cannot find any justification whatsoever for targeting someone passing through overcrowded civilian neighbourhoods where dozens of children usually play.”

Other sources asserted that the strike hit a house, which Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights said belonged to Attallah Al-Masri. This included Haaretz, which were told by witnesses that the children had been playing close to their house in a plaza which was around 800 metres from the border fence. Human Rights Watch concluded that damage caused to two of the four al-Masri houses occurred after the attack on May 10th.

While the accounts differed slightly, none appeared to be contradictory. A neighbour of the Al Masri family, Ahmed Nasser, described the chaos of the scene to a Middle East Eye reporter. “We were preparing for Iftar, and children and youths were sitting in the neighbourhood, before a massive explosion, followed by another one, suddenly rocked the street,” he said. “I ran out to the street and the scene was horrific. Children were killed and young men were bleeding. Mothers were crying and screaming while the [targeted] motorcycle and its driver were on fire.”

Middle East Eye reported eyewitnesses telling them the airstrikes hit “crowded neighbourhoods after armed Palestinian groups at the eastern Gaza border targeted an Israeli military vehicle with a Kornet missile, and launched a barrage of rockets towards Israel.” Four witnesses, interviewed by Human Rights Watch, said that shortly before the attack they had heard one or more munitions being launched into Israel from Gaza. However, Human Rights Watch said they found no evidence that any of the victims were combatants, nor were there any military target at or near the site of the strike.

Eighteen other residents were reportedly injured in the incident, among them a woman and 10 children, Haaretz and Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights reported. Medical staff at Beit Hanoun said three of the victims were in a serious condition, while the others sustained light to moderate injuries. Three additional houses were reportedly damaged.

Additional members of the al-Masri family were identified as among the injured by Facebook user Kamil AJ  – Othman Issa Othman Al-Masri, Israa Rafiq Fayek Al-Masri and Ghassan Muhammad Atallah Al-Masri, alongside Nabil Muhammad Hani Shabat, Hani Mohamed Hani Shabat, Jamil Muhammad Hani Shabat, Hossam Ali Mahmoud Naseer and Mahmoud Hussam Ali Naseer.

Family members expressed their devastation to reporters following the strike. Ibrahim al-Masri, the cousin who witnessed the incident said, “Why did they leave me? I would have wanted to die as a martyr like them.” Abu Hussein Hamad, the father of Hamad, sobbed to reporters that he’d promised to buy him new shoes for the Eid celebrations. “What did this innocent child do?” he asked.

While almost all sources blamed an Israeli targeted strike for the civilian deaths, the Times of Israel – citing Channel 12 News – asserted that “the IDF is denying responsibility for the kids’ deaths, saying they were killed in a rocket launch at Israel that went awry.” And YNET reported that “The IDF claims that intelligence tests conducted during the day show that six Gazan children were killed with certainty by failed launches by Palestinian Islamic Jihad since the beginning of the escalation round.”

The ages for the children differed. Yazan was reported by one source as three months old but most identified him as two-years-old, while Marwan was aged between seven and ten and Ibrahim between 11 and 14.

The New York Times shared an image of Ibrahim al-Masri, which Defence for Children International – Palestine said was Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammad Hassanain, who also died in this incident. It is unclear which source is correct.

The organization, NGO Monitor, said discrepancies in reporting on the type of munition used in the strike by the likes of PCHR, Al Haq and Al Mezan strongly suggested the casualties were the result of a Palestinian rocket that fell short inside Gaza.

The incident occured at approximately 6:10 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

  • Yazan al-Masri 2 years old male Yazan's cousins Rahaf, Ibrahim and Marwan was also killed killed
  • Rahaf al-Masri 10 years old female Rahaf was a cousin to Yazan, Marwan and Ibrahim killed
  • Marwan al-Masri 7 years old male Marwan was a brother to Ibrahim and a cousin to Yazan and Rahaf killed
  • Ibrahim al-Masri 11 years old Ibrahim was Marwan's brother and cousin to Yazan and Rahaf. This photo comes from the New York Times. Defence for Children - Palestine used an image of a different child who the New York Times calls Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammad Hassanain, another child killed in the strike killed
  • Ahmed al-Masri 22 years old male Ahmed al-Masri was reportedly due to get married the following week killed
  • Othman Issa Othman Al-Masri Age unknown male A source listed three injured people with the al-Masri name injured
  • Israa Rafiq Fayek Al-Masri Age unknown female A source listed three injured people with the al-Masri name injured
  • Ghassan Muhammad Atallah Al-Masri Age unknown male Ghassan Al-masri, 22, rests at the Shifa hospital in Gaza City, May 13, 2021, where he is being treated for injuries caused by a May 10 Israeli strike that hit a near his home in the town of Beit Hanoun. (AP) injured
  • Ihsan Al-Masri Age unknown female Ihsan Al-Masri, 24, left, rests at the Shifa hospital in Gaza City, May 13, 2021, as her son plays on a mobile phone on the bed next to her. She was injured in a May 10 Israeli strike that hit a near her home. injured
  • Hussein Muneer Hussein Hamad 11 years old male Hamad’s father told AFP that they were neighbours with the al-Masri family killed
  • Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammad Hassanain 16 years old killed
  • Mahmoud Hussam Ali Naseer Age unknown male injured
  • Hossam Ali Mahmoud Naseer Age unknown male injured
  • Nabil Muhammad Hani Shabat Age unknown injured
  • Hani Mohamed Hani Shabat Age unknown injured
  • Jamil Muhammad Hani Shabat Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (3–6 children1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–18
  • 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, Palestinian Militants
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (50) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption includes list of victims killed in the strike (via @falastinalqadia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translated caption: Martyrs of our family, may God have mercy on them (via Jad Al Masry on Facebook)
  • Translated caption: Martyrs of our city, Beit Hanoun, may God have mercy on them (via Facebook post from Bassam Hamdan)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image showing the victims of the May 10th, 2021 strike in northern Gaza Strip ( via @TRTArabi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A Palestinian mother mourns for her two children killed during Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, at the morgue of Beit Hanoun Hospital on May 10, 2021 (via Anadolu Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translated caption: Pictures from Beit Hanoun after the Israeli raids that killed 9 Palestinians, including 3 children, in the Gaza Strip (via @TRTArabi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo caption: Jerusalem is calling and Gaza responds ‌9 martyrs, most of them children, and a number of injuries to Beit Hanoun Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip (via @_Y9PHY)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translated caption: Jerusalem is calling and Gaza responds ‌9 martyrs, most of them children, and a number of injuries to Beit Hanoun Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip (via @_Y9PHY_ )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translated caption: Jerusalem is calling and Gaza responds ‌9 martyrs, most of them children, and a number of injuries to Beit Hanoun Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip (via @_Y9PHY_ )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image shows injured child receiving treatment, shared in relation to the May 10th, 2021 strike in northern Gaza (via @_Y9PHY_ )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image showing child being carried to safety. Shared in relation to the strike on the strike on May 10th, 2021 in Beit Hanoun
  • Three sources named Mohammed Ali Mohammed Nuseir as among the dead from the May 10th, 2021 strike in Beit Hanoun (image via @fidaazaanin)
  • Image of Hussein Muneer Hussein Hamad who was killed in the May 11th, 2021 strike in Beit Hanoun (via @fidaazaanin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption: A Palestinian mother mourns for her two children killed during Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, at the morgue of Beit Hanoun Hospital, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza on May 10th, 2021 (via Anadolu Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption reads: Palestinian man pushes a bloody stretcher as wounded Palestinians are being brought to Indonesian Hospital to receive medical treatment after Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, on May 10th, 2021 in Beit Lahia, Gaza (via Anadolu Agency A source reported that victims from the May 10th, 2021 Beit Hanoun strike were taken the Indonesian hospital. Beit Lahia is close to Beit Hanoun
  • Image caption reads: A woman reacts as wounded Palestinians are being brought to Indonesian Hospital to receive medical treatment after Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, on May 10, 2021 in Beit Lahia, Gaza. At least 20 Palestinians, including 9 children, were killed in the Gaza Strip (via Anadolu Agency )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded Palestinian kid is being brought to Indonesian Hospital to receive medical treatment after Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on May 10th, 2021. A source noted that some victims of the Beit Hanoun strike were taken to this hospital (via Anadolu Agency)
  • Image shows relatives mourning for children killed in the May 10th, 2021 incident at the morgue of Beit Hanoun Hospital (via Anadolu Agency)
  • Image shows someone receiving medical treatment at Indonesian Hospital after an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, on May 10th, 2021 in Beit Lahia, the caption states (via Anadolu Agency). Correspondent from Russia Today noted that some of the injured from the Beit Hanoun strike on May 10th, 2021 were taken to this hospital
  • Scene from the Indonesian hospital on May 10th, 2021 (via Anadolu Agency)
  • Image shows two of the children killed in the May 10th, 2021 strike in Beit Hanoun in the hospital morgue (via Anadolu Agency)
  • The New York Times shared this image reportedly showing Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammad Hassanain. However Defence for Children International - Palestine showed an image of different child they claimed was Hassanian. It's unclear which is correct
  • Hussein Hamad was also killed in the same blast as the al-Masri family members on May 10th, 2021 in Beit Hanoun (Photo provided by his family to Defence for Children - Palestine)
  • Caption translation: The martyr Ahmed Muhammad Atallah Al-Masri, 20 years old (via @fidaazaanin)
  • Marwan al-Masri was killed in the May 10th, 2021 incident in Beit Hanoun alongside his brother and two cousins (via The New York Times)
  • Rahaf al-Masri, 10, was killed on May 10th, 2021 in Beit Hanoun (photo shared by her family with The New York Times)
  • The New York Times shared this image which they said showed Ibrahim al-Masri, who died in the alleged Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun on May 10th, 2021. Defence for Children International - Palestine said this photo showed Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammad Hassanain, another child who died in the same incident. It is unclear which source is correct.
  • Yazan al-Masri was killed on May 10th, 2021 in the alleged Israeli strike in Beit Hanoun. His family shared this photo with Defence for Children - Palestine
  • Eliminated Mohammad Ali Nusseir Active in the terrorist organization Hamas Eliminated as part of Operation Wall Guard

Geolocation notes (6) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike on Al Masryeen Street (شارع المصريين) in Beit Hanoun (بيت حانون). Analyzing visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 31.534080, 34.549485.

  • Reports of the incident mention a strike on Al Masryeen Street (شارع المصريين) in Beit Hanoun (بيت حانون).

    Imagery:
    Soar

  • Tagged visual evidence from sources.

    Imagery:
    @Hakeam_shateila

  • Tagged visual evidence from sources.

    Imagery:
    @Hakeam_shateila

  • Tagged visual evidence from sources.

    Imagery:
    @Hakeam_shateila

  • Tagged visual evidence from sources.

    Imagery:
    @Hakeam_shateila

  • Tagged visual evidence from sources

    Imagery:
    @Hakeam_shateila

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military

Eliminated

Mohammad Ali Nusseir

Active in the terrorist organization Hamas

Eliminated as part of Operation Wall Guard

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • Eliminated Mohammad Ali Nusseir Active in the terrorist organization Hamas Eliminated as part of Operation Wall Guard

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (3–6 children1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–18
  • 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, Palestinian Militants
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (50) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT033

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

مبنى البنك الوطني الإسلامي, Islamic Bank Building, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.441726, 34.396771 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were injured in an alleged Israeli strike on the Islamic National Bank on Salah El-Din Street on May 12, 2021.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reported that “at approximately 11:50, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles; the first launched by a drone, at the Islamic National Bank on Salah al-Deen Street, south of al-Bureij refugee camp’s entrance.  As a result, the Bank’s 2-storey building (500 sqms) was completely destroyed while the nearby shops and houses sustained partial damage in addition to the electricity network, causing power outage in the area. Moreover, 3 passers-by sustained various injuries and were taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.” Al Haq also referenced three casualties in relation to this incident.

A tweet from @najireyad pointed out that “the bombing that targeted the Islamic National Bank on Salah El-Din Street in the central Gaza Strip, caused significant damage to the homes of neighboring citizens.”

While the majority of the sources refer to the building as containing the Islamic National Bank, a tweet from @lebel_or referred to it as a “HAMAS finance building”.

Mohammed Abu Jayab, economist and editor of the economic newspaper Al-Eqtesadia in Gaza, speaking to Al-Monitor, downplayed the importance of Hamas losing some of its headquarters and financial facilities. He said the “destruction of the financial institutions, namely the Finance Ministry that collects taxes, does not mean that Hamas’ financial sources will be negatively affected, as these headquarters can easily be replaced by other places after this Israeli aggression ends.”

All of the sources that attributed the strikes to a responsible party identified Israel as carrying out the strikes. A tweet from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, @IsraelMFA, verified that they carried out the strike, tweeting “the Islamic National Bank in Gaza served as a terrorist vault for Hamas, directly funding its rocket production operation. Israel is shutting down Hamas’s terror infrastructure”.

A press statement released by the IDF on the 13th May included a picture stating the damage caused to the Islamic National Bank in Khan Younis (a city just south of where this event took place), alongside a statement that also referenced another building damaged. The statement was as follows: “The IDF struck an additional multi-story building belonging to the Hamas terror organization. A short while ago IDF jets and aircraft struck intelligence offices used by the Hamas terror organization in the Rimal neighborhood. Prior to the strike, the IDF provided advance warning to civilians in the building and allowed sufficient time for them to evacuate the site. The IDF continues to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip”.

According to Al Haq, multiple Islamic Bank sites were hit on the 12th May – it is unclear if this statement relates specifically to this event.

The incident occured at 23:50:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @najireyad)
  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @9aza0)
  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @ShehabAgency)
  • Rescue crews arrive at the Islamic National Bank building and surrounding buildings following alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @ShehabAgency)
  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @paltimes2015)
  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @paltimes2015)
  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @paltimes2015)
  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @paltimes2015)
  • Damage to the Islamic National Bank building caused by alleged Israeli strikes on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @AuroraIntel)
  • Image of the Islamic National Bank before the strikes. (Image posted by @MarioLeb79)
  • An IDF Press release admits to the destruction of the Islamic Bank on 12th May 2021.

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Islamic Bank building (مبنى البنك الوطني الإسلامي). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 31.441726, 34.396771.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Islamic Bank building (مبنى البنك الوطني الإسلامي).

    Imagery:
    soar.earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @ShehabAgency

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @9aza0

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Israeli Military

[08:43, 5/13/2021] IDF News Desk: IDF:

The IDF struck an additional multi-story building belonging to the Hamas terror organization

A short while ago IDF jets and aircraft struck intelligence offices used by the Hamas terror organization in the Rimal neighborhood.

Prior to the strike, the IDF provided advance warning to civilians in the building and allowed sufficient time for them to evacuate the site.

The IDF continues to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.

Please find attached an aerial photo of the building that was struck: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC1305202107

Please find attached a photo of the Islamic National Bank that was struck previously: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/anc13052021034

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT067

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

البريج, Al Bureij Camp, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.423444, 34.387658 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man was killed in an Israeli drone strike on open land east of Al-Bureij refugee camp in Central Gaza around 12.10 p.m. on Saturday 15 May 2021. His status as a civilian or belligerent is contested among various sources.

Various sources, including the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and Al-Haq, both local human rights organisations, reported that Muhammad Salem Yousef Abu Ayesh, aged 34/35, was killed by a missile strike allegedly fired from a drone. The strike took place in open farmland to the East of Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

Camps203 posted on Facebook that the body of Ayesh was taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital following the strike. A cousin of Ayesh, Mostafa Oda, posted a memorial to his death on Facebook.

Among the sources he does not appear to be linked with Hamas. However, one source, Al Haq, reports that Ayesh was a “member of the Palestinian resistance”, while another source, a Fatah-linked Facebook page, has posted images memorialising Ayesh and affiliating him with Fatah.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Israel.

The incident occured at 00:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Image posted by Fatah Movement - Martyrs of Maghazi area in memory of Mohammed Salem Abu Ayesh, killed in an Israeli drone strike on Al Bureij refugee camp on May 15, 2021.
  • Image of Mohammed Salem Abu Ayesh, killed in an Israeli drone strike on Al Bureij refugee camp on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Mohammed Salem Abu Ayesh, killed in an Israeli drone strike on Al Bureij refugee camp on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @gazalivee)
  • The funeral of the 8th Mr. Muhammad Salem Abu Ayesh in the Maghazi camp

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Maghazi (المغازي) camp, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.423444, 34.387658. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT089

Incident date

May 17, 2021

Location

قرب مسجد سليم, بيت لاهيا, Vicinity of Salim Mosque, Biet Lahia, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.548385, 34.499603 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Adult male Muhammad Al-Masry, a journalist, and four children were reported injured in their family home in an alleged Israeli airstrike near the Salim Moaquein in Beit Lahiya on May 17th, 2021.

Alshabab news reported that warplanes hit the family home of Muhammad Al-Masry and local sources added that three missiles were fired at the house. Gaza Strip Palestine also named Muhammad Al-Masry and noted that he was a journalist.

Nbad stated that the five civilians were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital. It was reported that all injuries were moderate to minor but RT news reported serious injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Reconnaissance planes target with 3 missiles a house for the Al-Masry family near the Salim Mosque in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Reconnaissance planes target with 3 missiles a house for the Al-Masry family near the Salim Mosque in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. (Image posted by Al Shabab News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Salim Mosque (مسجد سليم), within the town of Beit Lahia (بيت لاهيا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.548385, 34.499603. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (32) [ collapse]