Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
162 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

YS061

Incident date

October 20, 2019

Location

باب الخير شمال راس العين , Bab Al kheer, northen Ras Al Ain, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.846147, 40.282677 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed by YPG forces in Bab Al kheer, northen Ras Al Ain.

Suriye.u.a.d  reported: “The gangs of #PYD_YPG_PKK assassinate the civilian Ismail Mohammed Mulla Matar on charges of dealing with the Syrian National Army in the village of Bab al-Khair east # Ras_alain”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ismail Mohammed Mulla Matar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bab Al Kheer (باب الخير), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.846147, 40.282677. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS095

Incident date

June 28, 2020

Location

مارع, Mare’a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4828, 37.1964

Airwars assessment

A child was killed after an unexploded shell from earlier shelling by alleged Kurdish forces on the town of Mare’a exploded on June 28th, 2020. It is unclear when exactly the munition was fired.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had “documented the death of a child under the age of 18, as a result of the explosion of a shell from the remnants of the previous bombing of the Kurdish forces on the town of Mare’a, which is under the control of the pro-Ankara factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo.”

Local activists told Bawabat Aleppo that the victim was the 14-year-old boy Hamza Ibrahim, who was displaced from the village of Khansasir, south of Aleppo. Bawabat Aleppo pointed to the Syrian Democratic Forces as responsible for the previously unexploded mortar shell.

Bawabat Aleppo added that Syrian Civil Defence teams “went to the location of the explosion to secure it and prevent civilians from approaching, fearing the presence of other bombing remnants.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamza Ibrahim حمزة ابراهيم
14 years old male displaced from village of Khanasir killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Mare’a (مارع), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4828, 37.1964. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI080 YI003

Incident date

May 26, 2022

Location

زيوا, Ziwa , Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.198798, 43.189773 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two children were killed and up to two others, including a child, were injured in alleged Turkish or Kurdish strikes on Ziwa village on May 26, 2022.

Birqi Omar, mukhtar (chieftain) of Ziwa village in Amedi town, told Rudaw’s Hunar Rashid that people from nearby areas were picnicking when bombs struck. “As far as we know, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) on Metina mountain targeted Turkish military base with three bombs. Then, Turkey bombed our families, killing two people, aged 10, and injuring another,” said the mukhtar. A witness, whose hand was stained with the blood of one of the dead children, told Rudaw that they had left all their picnic goods in the incident area.

According to BasNews, “at least two children were killed and two other civilians were injured” by two rockets. Kurdistan24 identified the two wounded civilians as being adult males and Hawar News added that the two children were aged 6 and 7. Yekiti Media provided the names of the victims, Youssef Kaufan, 14, and Afand Hashiyari, 10.

BasNews added that the victims were reportedly collecting spring plants while another source said they were attending an outdoor wedding celebration. A source told Shafaq News Agency that there was “a big celebration when the bombing occurred, which led to the death of three victims and the injury of several others as a result.” He added that “the wounded were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the bodies were evacuated to the forensic medicine department.”

A photo uploaded by Agency France Press identified one of the injured children as nine-year-old, Sipan Farhad. He was reported to be receiving treatment at a hospital in Dohuk following the incident. Sipan told Rudaw he was playing football with his friends when the strike happened, “I went upstairs while Yousif and Avand went to bring the ball back off the street and when I came down, a bomb hit the ground”, “Yousif told me to bring water because there was a dirty glass and we wanted to clean it,” he added.

Kovan Haji, Yousif’s father, told Rudaw that in the days before his son’s death he had promised him a present for completing the school year. “I wanted to grant my son a big prize. He was not only my son, but he was my friend, and he was always with me even when things were not going well.” The families told Rudaw the missiles came from Metina mountain, only meters away from them.

Witnesses told Shafaq News Agency, “The people of (Ziwa) village were celebrating near (Ardana) village of Bamerni district in Amadiyah district, north of Dohuk, when two artillery shells fell near the celebrants, killing three children between the ages of 10 and 11 years. Another 8-year-old child was wounded and is now lying in an emergency hospital in Dohuk. The father of the injured child explained to Shafaq News, that his son was wounded by shrapnel from the bombing in his arm and chest, but his health condition is stable now.

Rudaw News quoted various sources that blamed different sources for the strikes, with Kurdistan Region’s Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD) and Warshin Salman, mayor of Amedi, attributing the strikes to the PKK while PKK-affiliated Rojnews reported that Turkey carried out the bombing. A Facebook post from Abo Mostafa AlJoboore quoted a father of one of the victims, who confirmed that it was the Turkish that carried out the bombing, not the PKK.

The Media Center of the People’s Protection Forces (HPJ), the military wing of the anti-Ankara Kurdistan Workers’ Party, released a statement denying that they carried out the bombing: “The State of Turkey attacked our citizens in South Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region) when they were on a picnic, which resulted in the death of three martyrs, including two children.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Youssef Kaufan يوسف كوفان
14 years old killed
Afand Hashiyari أفند هشياري
10 years old killed
Sipan Farhad
9 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    Turkish Military, YPG
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Children victims of the strikes on Zewa village on May 26, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A relative checks on Sipan Farhad, a 9-year-old boy wounded following a rocket attack in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq, at a hospital in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk, May 26, 2022. (Image courtesy of AFP)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an undisclosed area of Metin mountain (جبل متین), in the vicinity of Ziwa (زيوا) village. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ziwa are: 37.00874, 43.45609.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    Turkish Military, YPG
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS169

Incident date

August 22, 2023

Location

الغزاوية, Al Ghazawiya, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a civilian male, was injured on August 22nd after artillery shells – allegedly launched from regions jointly controlled by the regime and Syrian Democratic Forces – struck the village of Al Ghazawiya, in the Afrin countryside north of Aleppo.

According to a report from Zamal al Wasl, five shells were launched towards the village in the evening, causing material damage, and wounding the civilian who works as a cleaner and was in the center of the village at the time. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of shells launched at three, while highlighting the presence of a Turkish military base near the Al Ghazawiya village.

Various reports across local news outlets and regional agencies corroborated the information on the strikes and the casualty, including Syria TV, Al Mohrar Media, and Al Araby News. The Syrian Civil Defence later released an official statement confirming the reports, stating that the civilian was seriously wounded and that “(its team) inspected the places that were bombed and made sure that there were no other injuries.” The Civil Defense added that residential neighborhoods and agricultural lands were affected by the shelling. A tweet from @zanakhalil2 reported that “civilians” were injured and @almohrarmedia2 reported about “civilian casualties” but did not specify how many civilians.

While the shelling has been reported by all sources as originating from regions jointly controlled by the regime and the SDF, it is unclear which of the belligerents was responsible.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood from the victims of shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civilians were injured as a result of the bombing of the terrorist YPG / PKK militia on the town of Al-Ghazawiya in the city of Afrin

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @zanakhalil2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood from the victims of shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)

YPG Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00028

Incident date

September 5, 2023

Location

العزبة, Al Azzba, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one person, a young male civilian who had been riding a motorcycle, was injured in the area of Al Izbah, north-east of Deir Ezzor when he was allegedly struck by a Syrian Democratic Forces sniper on Tuesday, September 5th 2023. According to a number of sources, when local residents tried to help him, they were also reportedly attacked by the sniper.

Naher Media reported that the man had been out after the SDF imposed curfew buying food for his children when the incident happened.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged SDF sniper fire in Al Azzba on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by @ralshhwan9)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS072

Incident date

November 19, 2019

Location

أعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586736, 37.042624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and between seven and 15 others including two children injured in an alleged YPG artillery attack on Azaz in Aleppo governorate, Syria on November 19th, 2019, according to local sources.

The civilian killed was identified as Muhammad Mustafa Amouri, aged 30 and he died shortly after he was moved to hospital. According to @Gaber11518504, Muhammad’s two brothers were killed before and he was the only remaining son for his family.

According to Al Modon, six katyusha rockets landed on a al-Jawalat Street in the middle of the popular market, at times when it was crowded causing a big number of casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Mustafa Amouri محمد مصطفى عموري
30 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Syrian child injured in an alleged YPG attack in Azaz - Aleppo was moved to a Turkish hospital (via Qasioun)
  • Aftermath of an YPG alleged attack on Azaz in Aleppo. (via Qasioun)
  • Aftermath of an YPG alleged attack on Azaz in Aleppo. (via Qasioun)
  • Aftermath of an alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Aleppo (via AMC)
  • Alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • Alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • Alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • One civilian killed in an alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • A child injured in an alleged YPG attack on Azaz in Aleppo - Nov 19th, 2019 (via AMC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Al Jawalat (الجوالات) street, within the city of Azaz (اعزاز), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.586736 37.042624. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1},"geometry":{"type":"LineString","coordinates":[[37.04297751188278,36.58773310965431],[37.04284608364105,36.58742944206568],[37.04271465539932,36.587061162748725],[37.04252153635025,36.586520585831856],[37.04242497682571,36.586124303934064],[37.04217553138733,36.58547603405187]]}}]}

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS107

Incident date

July 15, 2021

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.517240, 36.847741 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.518456, 36.857943 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a child, were killed and between eight and 12 others, including three women and two children, were injured in alleged YPG or regime missile and artillery strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, two civilians were killed, including a child and a man, and 12 civilians were injured, including three women and two children, “as a preliminary outcome”. The Civil Defense teams “rescued the injured To the hospitals, the bodies of the dead were recovered to be handed over to their families”.

Media activist Rohat Muhammad told BasNews that “two people were killed, including a child, and 8 others were wounded when 6 missiles fell on Al-Zabadiyah neighborhood in the city of Afrin, the source of which is the towns of Nubl and Al-Zahra, which are under the control of the regime’s Shiite militias (Popular Defense) and Kurdish units.” He added that “a missile fell on the electricity tank, which caused the entire city to be cut off.”

Zaman Al Wasl reported that “the neighborhoods of “Al-Mahmoudiya” and “Al-Zaydiyah” in the center of “Afrin” were bombarded in the strikes. Afrin Media Center told 7al News that “the bombing was carried out in two waves, the first batch of missiles fell on the “Al-Zaydiyah neighborhood” and the street of Jindires Road, killing two people and wounding 11 others, then the shelling was renewed on the arc of the city and the village of “Jomke”.

@ShahbaPress and @mohmad_rasheed both identified one person as being killed in the strikes.

A post from Mustafa Sheikhou named some of the victims of the strikes that were injured: Masoud Rashid Hussein – 40 years old – Afrin; Mustafa Juma Samer Zainab – Afrin – 9 years old; Muhammad Ali Wamuna Wamouna, 60 years old, from Afrin; Salwa Haider Wamouna, 30 years old, from Afrin; Yassin Omar Khaled Intisar, 30 years old, Hama; Sally Sheikh Naasan, 18 years old, from Afrin; Emad Othman Mustafa, 40 years old, from Afrin; Muhammad Yusuf Taha – 35 years old – Idlib; Ziad Al-Omar Hussein, 35 years old, Idlib. At least one of the children injured, whose name was not identified, was in intensive care.

Afrin Media Center identified Kurdish civilian Radwan Jamil Hamid, from the village of Suya, as being a “victim” of the strike but does not specify whether he was killed or injured.

Shaam News reported that “activists stated that the bombing caused at least 15 wounded, including women and children, who were transferred to Afrin hospitals, including serious cases” and that “residential neighborhoods” were struck in the shelling.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes but the majority of sources attributed the strikes to the SDF/YPG. The Syrian Civil Defense identified the shells as “originating from the areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces and the regime forces north of Aleppo” but did not assign blame. However, @ShahbaPress attributed the missiles to “the YPG militia” and @mohmad_rasheed tweeted about the casualties from “the bombing of SDF with vacuum missiles”. Anadolu Agency referred to both “the terrorist YPG/PKK organization” and “ISIS elements stationed in the city of Tal Rifaat” as carrying out the strikes while 7al News identified “government forces and the Iranian militia loyal to them” as responsible.

Rocket launchers and artillery shelling was reportedly used against Afrin according to various sources.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muhammad Ali Wamuna Wamouna
60 years old injured
Salwa Haider Wamouna
30 years old injured

The victims were named as:

Masoud Rashid Hussein
40 years old injured
Mustafa Juma Samer and Zainab
9 years old injured
Yassin Omar Khaled Intisar
30 years old injured
Sally Sheikh Naasan
18 years old injured
Emad Othman Mustafa
40 years old injured
Muhammad Yusuf Taha
35 years old injured
Ziad Al-Omar Hussein
35 years old injured
Radwan Jamil Hamid
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense team members search through the rubble for casualties following strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense team members search through the rubble for casualties following strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense team members search through the rubble for casualties following strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civil Defense team members search through the rubble for casualties following strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Statistics of the victims of the bombing of the city of #Afrin in the northern countryside of #Aleppo, Thursday, July 15th: death of 2, one of them a child, and 12 injured, including 2 children and 3 women. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of an older man injured in strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by @khalidaboalmjed)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a young man injured in strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by @khalidaboalmjed)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a young child injured in strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by @khalidaboalmjed)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a young child injured in strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by @khalidaboalmjed)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a young man injured in strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by @mohmad_rasheed)
    Damage to a building caused by strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by BasNews)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the young child killed in strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by @Yusuf1975hamoud)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the strikes on Afrin on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by Shaam News)
  • Ambulances arrive at the scene of strikes on Afrin to rescue injured civilians on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by BasNews)
  • Ambulances arrive at the scene of strikes on Afrin to rescue injured civilians on July 15, 2021. (Images posted by Afrin Media Center)
  • "Among the victims of the missile strikes on the city of Afrin yesterday evening, Thursday 15.07.2021, was the Kurdish civilian, Radwan Jamil Hamid, from the village of Suya." (Image posted by Afrin Media Center)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the Al Mahmoudiya (المحمودية) and Al Zaydiyah (الزيدية) neighbourhoods of the city of Afrin (عفرين). The generic coordinates for Al Mahmoudiya are: 36.517240, 36.847741. The generic coordinates for Al Zaydiyah are: 36.518456, 36.857943. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.840484,36.5212768],[36.8397545,36.520587],[36.8390035,36.5193282],[36.8436383,36.516362],[36.8459772,36.5153101],[36.8477796,36.5149824],[36.851642,36.5148445],[36.8517708,36.5172933],[36.8515133,36.5186039],[36.8507193,36.5187763],[36.8501185,36.518966],[36.8496035,36.5193109],[36.848874,36.5193799],[36.8472861,36.5202594],[36.8466638,36.5202076],[36.8437027,36.5191385],[36.840484,36.5212768]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.8555688,36.5172286],[36.8556036,36.5170453],[36.8560194,36.5170259],[36.8569206,36.5170001],[36.8585621,36.5164482],[36.8590771,36.5162327],[36.8598281,36.5169311],[36.8590449,36.5172415],[36.8595974,36.5188496],[36.8601071,36.5204533],[36.8599139,36.5207465],[36.8609654,36.5211431],[36.8618988,36.5212509],[36.8622797,36.5213026],[36.8626391,36.5213543],[36.8625801,36.5215914],[36.8623869,36.5221379],[36.8623346,36.5222941],[36.8623092,36.5223038],[36.862281,36.5223168],[36.8622582,36.522348],[36.8620731,36.522403],[36.8619578,36.5224418],[36.8617982,36.5224741],[36.8615863,36.5224558],[36.8612685,36.5224267],[36.8599984,36.5222478],[36.8593011,36.5221486],[36.8591777,36.5221314],[36.8590892,36.5221529],[36.8590221,36.5221702],[36.8589457,36.5221874],[36.8588196,36.5221928],[36.8586573,36.5221874],[36.8583073,36.5221519],[36.8582644,36.5221842],[36.8582081,36.5222198],[36.8581263,36.5222241],[36.8579921,36.5222144],[36.85796,36.5221702],[36.8579747,36.5220161],[36.8579237,36.5220085],[36.8575858,36.5220128],[36.8574892,36.5220312],[36.8574946,36.5221185],[36.8574074,36.5221314],[36.8572693,36.5221249],[36.8572103,36.52207],[36.8571942,36.5219924],[36.8571459,36.5219536],[36.8563359,36.5219633],[36.8561991,36.5218943],[36.8561696,36.5215095],[36.8575643,36.5213931],[36.8576663,36.521363],[36.857677,36.5213392],[36.8576797,36.5212854],[36.8577038,36.521197],[36.8577306,36.5211452],[36.8579908,36.5207292],[36.8581517,36.520587],[36.8582,36.520546],[36.8583381,36.5201753],[36.8583301,36.5200923],[36.8582845,36.5200653],[36.8582067,36.5200545],[36.8570346,36.5201602],[36.8564298,36.520047],[36.8563278,36.5199802],[36.855888,36.5199478],[36.8556921,36.5198659],[36.8555808,36.5196762],[36.8555647,36.519562],[36.8555567,36.5195555],[36.8553046,36.5191902],[36.8552134,36.5190824],[36.8551235,36.5190231],[36.8550632,36.5189692],[36.8549237,36.5189229],[36.8549157,36.5189175],[36.8549197,36.5189056],[36.8549867,36.5184917],[36.8550109,36.5184831],[36.8551611,36.518468],[36.855204,36.5184594],[36.8552254,36.5184465],[36.8552576,36.5184185],[36.8553113,36.5182137],[36.8555688,36.5172286]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Al Mahmoudiya \n المحمودية","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[36.847741,36.51724]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Al Zaydiyah \n الزيدية","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[36.857943,36.518456]}}]}

YPG Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS143

Incident date

July 25, 2022

Location

اعزاز, A'zaaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.573739, 37.021200

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a woman, was killed and two others were injured in alleged SDF or Syrian regime artillery and missile shelling of A’zaaz on July 25, 2022

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a displaced woman was killed by missile shelling in the vicinity of a Turkish base in the A’zaaz countryside. @Sharqya_reporte identified the shelling as also occurring near the National Hospital.

@Sharqya_reporte tweeted that Azaz Health Directorate provided details that Mrs. Aziza Al-Mohammed, displaced from the town of Tal Al-Dhaman, is the civilian killed.

Shaam News report that in addition to the woman killed, “a number” of civilians were wounded while Euphrates Post pointed out that “others” were wounded. Baladi News  provided the injury toll of two civilians injured.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime or the SDF were responsible for the incident, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights attributing the missile shelling to regime forces while Shaam News blamed the SDF. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that the missiles came from “areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces” and the Syrian Network for Human Rights specified that the missiles came from Minnegh Military Airbase in Aleppo governorate.

@Sharqya_reporte identified “rocket-propelled grenades” as being used in the attack, while Radio Al Kul reported that the bombing involved artillery and missiles.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Aziza Al-Mohammed عزيزة المحمد
Age unknown female displaced from the town of Tal Al-Dhaman killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of alleged Syrian regime or SDF shelling of A'zaaz being carried by Syrian Civil Defense volunteers on July 25, 2022. (Image posted by Shaam News)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers inspect shells following alleged Syrian regime or SDF shelling of A'zaaz on July 25, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers inspect shells following alleged Syrian regime or SDF shelling of A'zaaz on July 25, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers load a victim of alleged Syrian regime or SDF shelling of A'zaaz into an ambulance July 25, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Smoke from alleged Syrian regime or SDF shelling of A'zaaz on July 25, 2022. (Image posted by @humam_isa)
  • Our correspondent in the northern countryside of Aleppo: SDF terrorist militias renewed their bombardment with rocket-propelled grenades on the outskirts of the city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the National Hospital (المشفى الوطني في اعزاز) being struck, within the city of Azaz (اعزاز) Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the National Hospital are: 36.573739, 37.021200.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (25) [ collapse]