Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISSY017

Incident date

May 5, 2021

Location

اللاذقية, Latakia, Syria

Geolocation

35.575490, 35.794722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and and six others, including one to three children and a woman, were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on various locations in Latakia in the early morning hours on May 5, 2021.

Images posted by @SAMSyria0 show three different children, a woman, and an elderly man being treated for wounds allegedly sustained during the Israeli strikes. Another tweet reported that according to the General Authority of Masyaf National Hospital, quoting Dr. Maher Younis, 10 injuries were being treated so far, including four serious injuries, from strikes near Deir Shamil in Hama. It is unclear if those injured are civilians or militants.

@SAMSyria0 identified “Lieutenant Sharaf: Hussein Ali Faisal Abeda”, a regime soldier, as being killed in the strikes on Lattakia.

According to Syrian Arab News Agency, “a civilian was martyred in the aggression, and six others, among them a child and his mother were injured, in addition to causing material damages as the Israeli aggression targeted a civilian plastics factory.”

However, Shaam reported that the it was actually a military facility, “activists on social media circulated scenes showing successive fires and explosions emanating from a site that was hit by an air strike in what is believed to be a warehouse of ammunition and weapons belonging to Assad’s forces and the Iranian militias supporting him.”

A tweet from @AsaadHannaa, a journalist for Al Monitor, identified the facility as being “suspected to manufacture drugs of Captagon pills and other drugs in #Latakia; belonging to Badih and Wissam Al-Assad (the family of Bashar Al-Assad)”.

@SAMSyria0 also identified a wood and ceramics warehouse as being struck in the vicinity of al-Raml al-Janoubi neighborhood in the south of Lattakia, in addition to providing the coordinates and referring to the sites struck in Lattakia as being “completely civilian and belonging to civilians”.

Additional details from SANA were that the strikes occurred at about 2:18am and the planes came “from the direction of south west of Lattakia targeting some positions in the coastal region.” @freeehsem added that 35 missiles were used in the bombardment.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the “Israeli airstrikes hit military positions of regime forces and Iranian-backed militias in both countryside of Hama and Latakia in the early hours of Wednesday morning.” In addition, “one civilian was killed and over five others, including a woman and three children, were injured as well as the destruction of a building, but it was not known if it was a warehouse or a workshop, in Ras Shamra and Ras al-Ain in Latakia countryside. However, it is not known if Israeli missiles or shrapnel of the missiles of the regime’s air-defences left these casualties and caused the material damage.”

A post from Nors studies pointed out that “one of the targeted sites is in Ras Shamra, away from the Russian Hmeimim base, where the S-400 systems are located only 20 km away.”

Ynet News reported that according to Syrian television, as a result of the attack, electricity infrastructure in a certain area of ​​the port city of Latakia was damaged, and as a result, the supply of electricity to residents in the area was stopped. Technical teams are working to restore the infrastructure. It was also reported that private homes in the area were also damaged as a result of the attack.

This incident was geolocated by @obretix. The majority of sources attributed the strikes to Israel but the Israeli Defense Forces refused to comment on the strikes.

The incident occured at 02:18:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–16
  • 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, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (59) [ collapse]

  • Geolocation of the "plastic factory" that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike north of Latakia last night (images posted by @obretix)
  • Geolocation of the "plastic factory" that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike north of Latakia last night (images posted by @obretix)
  • location of another warehouse/factory in Latakia that was targeted last night (Images posted by @obretix)
  • location of another warehouse/factory in Latakia that was targeted last night (Images posted by @obretix)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Lattakia, SANA- The air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday at dawn confronted an Israeli aerial aggression from the direction of south west of Lattakia to some points in the coastal area and downed a number of missiles. (Images posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: One of the targeted sites is in Ras Shamra, away from the Russian Hmeimim base, where the S-400 systems are located only 20 km away (Images posted by Nors studies via Facebook)
  • Alleged Israeli cruise missile strikes on buildings and sites southwest of #Lattakia city. (Image posted by Steele Maiko via Facebook)
  • Missile remnants from alleged Israeli cruise missile strikes on buildings and sites southwest of #Lattakia city. (Image posted by Steele Maiko via Facebook)
  • Missile remnants from alleged Israeli cruise missile strikes on buildings and sites southwest of #Lattakia city. (Image posted by Steele Maiko via Facebook)
  • Alleged Israeli cruise missile strikes on buildings and sites southwest of #Lattakia city. (Image posted by Steele Maiko via Facebook)
  • Fires from alleged Israeli strikes in Lattakia on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @AsaadHannaa)
  • Fires from alleged Israeli strikes in Lattakia on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @AsaadHannaa)
  • Child injured in alleged Israeli strikes on Lattakia and Hama on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Women and children injured in alleged Israeli strikes on Lattakia and Hama on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Man injured in alleged Israeli strikes on Lattakia and Hama on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Destruction from strike site in Ras Shamra on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Destruction from strike site in Ras Shamra on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Destruction from strike site in Ras Shamra on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Destruction from strike site in Ras Shamra on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Destruction from strike site in Ras Shamra on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Destruction from strike site in Ras Shamra on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Destruction from strike site in Ras Shamra on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Strikes on an alleged wood and ceramics warehouse in Lattakia on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Strikes on an alleged wood and ceramics warehouse in Lattakia on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Strikes on an alleged wood and ceramics warehouse in Lattakia on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Alleged tile factory in Latakia destroyed by airstrikes on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @200_zoka)
  • Alleged tile factory in Latakia destroyed by airstrikes on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @200_zoka)
  • Alleged tile factory in Latakia destroyed by airstrikes on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @200_zoka)
  • Alleged tile factory in Latakia destroyed by airstrikes on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @200_zoka)
  • Lieutenant Sharaf: Hussein Ali Faisal Abeda, killed in alleged Israeli strikes on Lattakia on May 5, 2021. (Image posted by @200_zoka)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an alleged plastics warehouse in the vicinity of Latakia (اللاذقية). According to research conducted by @obretix, the exact location of this strike is: 35.575490, 35.794722. Cross referencing evidence from audio-visual material from sources, we can confirm this location.

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–16
  • 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, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (49) [ collapse]