Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISSY020

Incident date

November 24, 2021

Location

حمص, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.725548, 36.710839 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed and another was injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Homs on November 24, 2021. Conflicting reports were given as to whether two of the people killed were civilians, with up to three others being identified as members of the regime forces.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a regime-controlled media source, reported that two civilians were killed and another civilian was injured, in addition to six soldiers who were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes at 1:26am. The source added that the Syrian air defenses had shot down most of the missiles.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) gave a conflicting report that “the death toll in the targeting rose to 5, two of the militias loyal to the Lebanese Hezbollah, whose nationality has not yet been known, and 3 members of the regime forces. Both of them were in civilian clothes during the targeting, and it turned out that they were soldiers later on.”

A Facebook post from Free Dier Azour Radio named the three members of the regime forces that were killed: Sultan Qilih, Zine El Abidine Qataz, Ibrahim Karim.

SOHR added that the killings were a result of both the Israeli airstrikes and the remnants of missiles from the “air battle between the regime’s air defenses and the Israeli missiles” and specified that he Israeli targeting caused the death of at least 4 people and the injury of others, two of them were killed in the western suburbs, and two were killed as a result of the fall of the remnants of missiles, without specifying if this occurred in a different location.

AFP quoted the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying that the strikes occurred in an area near three villages in the west of Homs province. A Facebook post from Nors Studies identified the location of one of the strikes as occurring near Kabash Gas Station on Lebanon Road.

Jerusalem Post quoted opposition-affiliated Halab Today TV that “10 members of Hezbollah were injured after a site the movement uses as a military headquarters and to store logistical equipment was targeted in the airstrikes.” The source also quoted Al-Araby Al-Jadeed in reporting that “at least 10 missiles hit positions belonging to Syrian regime forces west of the city of Homs, causing casualties among civilians, Syrian soldiers and Iran-backed militants. One of the sites targeted was located in the Syrian Gas Company, according to the report. The two civilians were reportedly killed by a missile that hit a civilian area near a gas station west of Homs.”

AFP reported that the Israeli military declined to comment on “reports in the foreign media.”

The incident occured at 01:26:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6–10

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Funeral for the three members of the Syrian regime forces killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on November 24, 2021. (Image posted by Free Dier Azour Radio)
  • Funeral for the three members of the Syrian regime forces killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on November 24, 2021. (Image posted by Free Dier Azour Radio)
  • Funeral for the three members of the Syrian regime forces killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on November 24, 2021. (Image posted by Free Dier Azour Radio)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the western suburbs of Homs (حمص), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.725548, 36.710839. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6–10

Sources (13) [ collapse]