Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

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
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4087 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS632

Incident date

February 17, 2016

Location

تل نصري, Nasri, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.64086, 40.36756 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including two children and possibly a woman were killed in an airstrike on Nasri, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Hassaka’s Youth Union reported that “two orphaned children, the grandchildren of the citizen Mohammad Al Khaled, were martyred and their mother was injured following an air raid on the village of al Nasri in abdul Aziz mountain.” But they did not say who was responsible.

However, the Shaam News Network and All4Syria blamed Russia, while the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also said it was likely that Russian warplanes committed the attack.

Siraj al Hasskawi said that there was a second Russian bombing on Nasri, targeting civilian homes of “two orphaned children who were killed by the Russian bombardment and their mother injured, it should be noted here that these villages are inhabited by the al bouma’eesh clan from AlBakara al A’rabiya tribe.“

But Al Arabi Aljadid said the regime was responsible and put the death toll higher at four including two children, all from one family.

Syrian Desk News also blamed the regime, citing the death of the two children and the wounding of two other non-combatants, again all from the same family.

A Hassakah activist, Siraj Al Hasskawi, reported that the injured mother, named as Mrs Fidda Al Maghir, later died from her wounds, though it was unclear from the post who carried out the attack, saying that she joined her children “who were killed by the bombing of Russian, American and Assad planes in the village of Al Nasri in Abdul Aziz mountain west of Al Hassaka.“

According to Alhasakaalhadath, “Two orphans, descendants of Mohammed Al-Khaled died and their mother was hit by an air raid on the village of Nazareth, mount Abdulaziz.” The source did not say who was responsible.

But Albawaba News reported that it was likely a Russian strike occurring at 11am, when two missiles targeted a home where two children lived. The report said that the children died – grandchildren of Mohammed al Khaled – while their mother suffered “moderate injuries“.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Grandson of Mohammad al-Khaled 1
Child male Listed by VDC killed
Grandson of Mohammad al-Khaled 2
Child male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1914

Incident date

March 20, 2019

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz , Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the death of the young woman “Alaa Mahmoud Al-Shakran” displaced from the city of Palmyra, as a result of alleged Coalition on the town of Al-Baghouz on March 20th.

According to a post by Revo.palmyra3, this brings the number of fatalities to four civilians displaced from Palmyra including two women and one child in the same week. 

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monhtly civilian casualty report noted: “The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Alaa Mahmoud Al-Shakran
Age unknown female Described as "young" killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Stated location
    near Al Baghouz, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019

  • Mar. 20, 2019, near Al Baghouz, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between March 10 - 23, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 250 strikes consisting of 398 engagements against Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, CJTF-OIR conducted 193 strikes consisting of 338 engagements, engaged 346 Daesh tactical units, and destroyed 104 vehicles, 63 supply routes, 39 fighting positions, 31 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, nine tactical vehicles, six fuel tankers, four weapons caches, two command and control nodes, one tunnel, one tanker for petroleum oil and lubricants, one mortar system, and one checkpoint.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS664

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and up to 15 other civilians injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on a school in Talbiseh according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were to blame.

Activists told Shaam News Network that “Russian warplanes targeted the morning the city of Talbissa in the northern Homs countryside with five air strikes targeting several areas in the city and left one martyr, the child Ahmed al-Khatib on his way to his school and there are more than fifteen civilians wounded including a entire family who was removed from under the rubble.”

Al Jazeera reported that Russian warplanes targeted a school in the city, causing considerable destruction and putting it out of service.

Syria Direct said that “the Russian bombardment of Talbissa coincided with the exit of children from the school, noting that Russian warplanes carried out five raids on the city.“

However, Smart and LCCSY and others reported that the regime was responsible, while another report by the Shaam News Network said there had been deaths and injuries in “regime warplane shelling”. Derynews reported the death of one child and injury of ten other civilians – also blaming the regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed al-Khatib
Child male reported via SNN killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The exact moments the airstrike hit Talbisah. (via, Motasem Homs)
  • Wounded civilians are carried into the ambulance, just moments after the alleged raid. (via, Shaam)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1130a

Incident date

June 26–30, 2017

Location

Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.961086, 39.006606 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single-sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

The report stated that “Three members of the Al-Aalu family were killed when the building they were sheltering in was hit by an airstrike.”

Relative of the family, Abu Hamed, told Amnesty “They were first injured in a strike on a nearby building where they were staying, so they fled to another place and were killed there.”

In July 2019, the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible, noting: “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Aalu
30 years old male killed
Abbud Mohammed Al-Aalu
35 years old male killed
Wife of Abbud
female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The destroyed building in which 3 members of the Al Alu family died (via Amnesty International)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included 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.
  • Stated location
    Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV006796
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2017

  • Jun. 28, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units, three fighting positions, three
vehicles, a tactical vehicle and a mortar system.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Incident Code

RS696

Incident date

February 29, 2016

Location

رسم عبود, Rasm Aabed, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19662, 37.61043 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Rasm Aabed, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad al-Ali
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1927

Incident date

August 16, 2019

Location

المانعية, Al Man’iya, Ar Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

“Two unidentified men” were reported killed in a Coalition ground operation in Al-Mananiya, east of Raqqa, on August 16th.

Suriye.u.a.d stated that “two unidentified men [were] killed after being shot by Coalition forces that carried out an airstrike on the village of Al-Mananiya east of Raqqa.”

Meanwhile, Shaam News stated that “Coalition Forces conducted an air-landing operation, targeting two displaced families in the village of Al-Man’iya in the eastern countryside.”

It is unclear at this point whether the men were civilians or belligerents.

Airwars has set a possible civilian casualty range of 0 to two, and is conducting ongoing research.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Man’iya east of the city of Ar Raqqa (الرقة‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The coordinates for the city of Ar Raqqa are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 10, 2021

  • Aug. 16, 2019, in al Man’iya, 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. 3281/CS1927 37SEV008784

Summary

  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS728

Incident date

March 11, 2016

Location

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15 and 19 civilians died in an alleged airstrikes on a public bus in Palmyra,  according to local sources.

According to Alarby, Homs Media Center and Shaam News, 15 died and 20 more were injured when Russian warplanes targeted a bus on the road from Palmyra to Raqqa. Eldorar reported that Russia continued to carry out intense raids on the city, “one of which targeted a civilian bus on the road between Palmyra and Raqqa”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also referred to regime forces targeting the city, and then to “warplanes” (which they don’t identify) bombing “the road between the city of Palmyra and the town of Sukhna in Homs, which hit a bus carrying passengers who were on their way from the city of Raqqa to Damascus”. Shaam News Network reported: “15 civilians were killed and about 20 wounded on Friday in the bombing of a plane belonging to the Russian aggression on a civilian bus near Palmyra.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently suggested that the incident may have occurred on March 11th: “Yesterday warplanes targeted a coach heading from Raqqa to Damascus which led to the death of 15 people from Raqqa.” It did not say who was responsible. The Violations Documentation Center listed eight adults as victims of a Russian strike on a bus carrying passengers between Raqqa and Damascus.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Fawaz al-Haddawi al-Fares
Adult male killed
Son of Fawaz al-Haddawi al-Fares 1
Adult male killed
Son of Fawaz al-Haddawi al-Fares 2
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Saji Mousa Khuder al-Methyab
Adult male killed
Wife of Saji Mousa Khuder al-Methyab
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Yasser al-Hbeish
Adult male killed
Melhem Fares al-Mohammad al-Assad
Adult male killed
Mohammad Al Khodar
Age unknown male killed
Abd al Qader al Ibrahim
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 19
  • (1 woman8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Yasser al Habish, who died when warplanes struck a coach traveling from Raqqa to Damascus, March 11/12th (via RBSS)
  • Saji Moussa, victim of the alleged Russian strikes targeting a bus on the road from Palmyra to Raqqa (via Raqqa is being slaughtered silently Facebook)
  • Abd al Kader Al Ibrahim, victim of the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting a bus on the road from Palmyra to Raqqa (via Raqqa is being slaughtered silently Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 19
  • (1 woman8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS068

Incident date

October 28, 2019

Location

العريضة, Al Arida, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.542944, 38.768504 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two men were killed by mortar shells allegedly fired by YPG, or were executed by the SNA in Al Arida village, north of Ain Issa, on October 28th, 2019, according to local sources.

The victims were identified as Mahmoud Al Zaher aged 60 and Barho Al Alou aged 65.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Al Zaher محمود الظاهر
60 years old male killed
Barho Al Alou برهو العلو
65 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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, Free Syrian Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Arida (العريضة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.542944, 38.768504. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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, Free Syrian Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]