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

Incident Code

YS084

Incident date

January 20, 2020

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one child and one woman were killed in alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin, Aleppo governorate on January 20th, 2020. Up to five civilians, including two children, were injured, as reported by local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the child Muhammad Mar’i and Mrs. Turfah Meqdeh were killed as Syrian Democratic forces fired shells on Al Shari’ya neighbourhood in Afrin city in the northern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on January 20.” The Syrian Civil Defence reported the death of the child Mohamed Buraei and Tarfa Maqdah. As all sources mention one killed boy, it is likely that sources reported on the same victim. In a statement to Enab Baladi, Ibrahim Abu Al-Laith, director of the media office for the Syrian Civil Defense in Aleppo, stated that the killed woman was 19 years old.

@abowaelo tweeted a photo of a baby in the hospital, stating that the mother of the child was killed during the shelling earlier that day and that doctors managed to save the child by a caesarean operation on the deceased mother. The mother was displaced from Al Midan neighbourhood in Damascus. It is unclear if this victim is the same victim identified as Tarfa Maqdah, although all sources reported one killed woman.

The SCD reported two injured: the children Mehyar Khalaf and Saleh Buraei. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “‘Kurdish forces carried out rocket attacks from their deployment positions in northern rural Aleppo.” SOHR reported five injured, including children and women.

Whereas @abowaelo reported that the incident occured in the morning, Zaman Al Wasl stated it occurred in the afternoon. Whereas most sources blamed the SDF, @naserhmedi reported that PKK forces fired three missiles onto the city.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child male injured

The victims were named as:

19 years old female possibly pregnant killed
Child male injured
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers carrying a wounded or killed person after alleged YPG artillery strikes on Afrin, Aleppo governorate, on January 20th, 2020 (via SN&HR).
  • A child receiving medical care in the hospital after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin, Aleppo governorate, on January 20th, 2020 (via @aboalnoor123).
  • A man and child receiving medical care in the hospital after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin, Aleppo governorate, on January 20th, 2020 (via @aboalnoor123).
  • A child was saved by a cesarean operation on her deceased mother, who was killed in alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 20th, 2020 (via @abowaelo).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a child, who as reportedly killed in alleged YPG artillery strikes on Afrin, January 20th, 2020 (via @almaleh_amjad).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the city of Afrin (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (18) [ collapse]