Incident Code

M21ISPT130

Location

حي معان ,خان يونس, Ma’an neighborhood, Khan Younis, Khan Younis, Palestinian territories

Geolocation

31.330061, 34.316744
Accuracy: Neighbourhood/area

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: ISPT130)

Between three and four civilians, including two children, were injured when an unexploded missile landed in a home east of Ma’an on May 20, 2021.

According to Al Mezan, Israeli missiles struck the home of brothers Muhammad and Munis Muhareb, in the customs police area east of Ma’an. However, the missile did not explode and also penetrated the nearby house of Ramzi Abu Hadid and injured three civilians, including two children.

Pal times put the number of injuries from the unexploded missile in Ma’an at four wounded and @yahyanawazv identified the injuries as shrapnel wounds.

A tweet from @Abuabraa2110198 added that a large number of women and children (20 people according to @yahyanawazv) that were in the Muhareb family home escaped a certain death that would’ve occurred if the missile had exploded.

@waed_2002 reported that explosives engineering teams arrived after the strikes to safely remove the unexploded missile, which weighed one ton according to @AzimShahsaab.

All of the sources attributed the unexploded missile to Israel.

Key Information

Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Civilians reported injured
3–4
2 Children

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the Ma’an (معن) neighborhood of Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.330061, 34.316744. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Reports of the incident mention the Ma’an (معن) neighborhood of Khan Younis (خان يونس).

Imagery: Google Earth

Military Statements

Israeli Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Israeli Military
Israeli Military position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (11)