Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISSY004

Incident date

November 12, 2019

Location

المزة, Al Mazza neighborhood, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.497253, 36.236975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed and ten others, including a child, were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on a family home in Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019, according to local sources. One source also reported that Syrian regime missiles reacting to an Israeli air attack also hit nearby homes.

The government’s Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the airstrike targeted the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Akram Al Ajouri. His son Mu’az Al Ajouri was reportedly killed, along with another person named Abdullah Yousef Hassan. Mu’az Al Ajouri’s daughter Batoul was reported injured. And according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Mu’az Al Ajouri’s wife was also injured.

Times of Israel identified “Ajouri’s bodyguard was the other man killed, Hebrew media reported”.

Further sources said that Akram Al Ajouri and his wife were injured in the attack; while others said he was not present in the building at the time of the explosion that took place in the early hours of Tuesday November 12th. According to SANA, the incident occurred around 4:14am.

SANA reported that the explosion caused by the airstrike was strong and that “the building targeted was heavily damaged and windows of nearby buildings and a number of cars were shattered.”

Free Deir Ezzor Radio, however, reported that “in an attempt to respond to an Israeli raid, a rocket fired by the regime forces landed on one of the residential buildings in Al Mazza neighbourhood of western villas near the Lebanese embassy”, reporting a number of killed and wounded people. No other source made this claim.

Step News Agency reported that the strikes targeted Iranian militias: “Israeli shelling targeted several missiles in a residential building where Iranian militias are stationed in Mazza area in Damascus. The initial toll is about 10 dead and several wounded.” It is unclear if these reported fatalities are civilians or belligerents.

Israel Hayom identified the location of the building struck as being near the Lebanese embassy in the western Al-Mazza area of Damascus, adding that “it is not known if it has any connection to the embassy to which it is adjacent”.

The combatant status of both Mu’az Al Ajouri and Abdullah Yousef Hassan was somewhat unclear – with both pictured in uniform prior to their deaths, and Mr al Ajouri given military honours at his funeral (though this may instead have reflected his father’s own status within Islamic Jihad.) However, no other sources identify either men as being a member of a militant organization.

The incident occured at approximately 4:14 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Adult male killed
Child female injured
Adult female injured
Wife of Akram Al Ajouri
Adult female injured

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • Images for an unknown explosion in Mazzeh - West Villas (EuphratesPost)
  • Aftermath of the attack
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neigbourhood in Damascus, November 12th, 2019 (via SANA).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Euphrates Post).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Building on fire after alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Rubble after alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Edited photo of Abdullah Yousef Hassan, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Khan Danoun Refugee Camp).
  • Edited photo of Abdullah Yousef Hassan, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Khan Danoun Refugee Camp).
  • Abdullah Yousef Hassan was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Khan Danoun Refugee Camp).
  • The funeral of Moaz Akram Al Ajouri, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via Sleman Al Ajouri).
  • The body of Moaz Akram Al Ajouri at his funeral, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via Sleman Al Ajouri).
  • Moaz Akram Al Ajouri was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via Sleman Al Ajouri).
  • Translation: “The first scenes after the attack on the house of the leader of the "Islamic Jihad" group called "Akram Al Ajouri" in the Mazza area of Damascus” (via Zaman Al Wasl).
  • Translation: “Official source: The explosion at dawn today, Tuesday, in the Al Mazza area, west of Damascus, was caused by an Israeli bombardment of the house of the Palestinian leader in the Jihad Movement, Akram Al-Ajouri, killing his son Moaz and another person, wounding civilians and extensive material damage (# SANA)” (via @Maher_mon).
  • The damaged residential house after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via @Maher_mon).
  • The day after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via @Maher_mon).
  • Image of the building destroyed in alleged Israeli strikes on Damascus on November 12, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)
  • Exact location of alleged Israeli strikes on Damascus on November 12, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes (5) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the western area of Al Mazzeh (المزة) neighbourhood. Reviewing audio-visual material we have narrowed down the location of this strike, west of Rahman mosque (جامع الرحمن) to the following coordinates: 33.497253, 36.236975.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the western area of Al Mezzah (المزة) neighbourhood.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Reviewing audio-visual material we have narrowed down the location of this strike, west of Rahman mosque (جامع الرحمن).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged satellite imagery.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material.

    Imagery:
    Euphrates Post

  • Tagged panoramic stitch of audio-visual material.

    Imagery:
    SANA

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
    2 – 10
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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 target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (28) [ collapse]