Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

YS096

Incident date

January 4, 2021

Location

قربة أم البراميل, Umm Al Baramil, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.460556, 39.064722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two 13-year-old boys were reported killed in alleged SDF artillery strikes on Umm Al Baramil village, also known as Shikuru, east of Ain Issa, on January 4th, 2020, according to local sources. Other sources, however, stated the incident was a landmine or an unexploded ordnance explosion, which means that the strike itself could have taken place before January 4th. A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in the incident.

@Ainissa_plus reported: “The two children Wathiq Al Ali Al Husaynu, 13, and Ibrahim Al Mahmoud Al Khalaf, 13, were killed and Saddam Al Ali Al Husaynu, 15, was seriously injured, as a result of the SDF firing a guided missile at Umm Al Baramil village, east of Ain Issa.”

Birjaf, among other sources, reported that “a landmine of remnants of war exploded in the vicinity of the village of Sakiru in the countryside of Raqqa, killing two children.” @SYRlANOW wrote that the SDF had been responsible for the remnants. Several sources reported that the boys were in a civilian car.

Hussein Ali Al Doua posted photos of the vehicle that was damaged in the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Wathiq Al Ali Al Husaynu واثق العلي الحسينو
13 years old male killed
Saddam Al Ali Al Husaynu صدام العلي الحسينو
15 years old male injured

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Al Mahmoud Al Khalaf إبراهيم المحمود الخلف
13 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The damaged vehicle after alleged SDF artillery strikes or a landmine explosion on the road near the village of Umm Al Baramil, Ain Issa, on January 4th, 2020 (via Hussein Ali Al Doua).
  • Translation: ”An exclusive photo of the car targeted by the SDF in the village of Umm Al Baramil, east of Ain Issa, which led to the killing of two children and the injury of the third” (via @Ainissa_plus).
  • The damaged vehicle after alleged SDF artillery strikes or a landmine explosion on the road near the village of Umm Al Baramil, Ain Issa, on January 4th, 2020 (via @Ainissa_plus).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Skiro (صكيرو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.460556, 39.064722. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS129

Incident date

April 18, 2022

Location

جرابلس, Jarablous, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.817600, 38.015344 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was killed, and three people were injured when an alleged Syrian Democratic Force or PKK/PYD artillery shell hit a “family” on the bank of the Euphrates River in the city of Jarablus, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo on April 18th 2022. Despite many sources attributing the belligerent to the SDF, the SDF have disputed this.  In reports about the young man that died, it is contested as to whether he was a non-combatant or a militant.

One local source, @zelal_katee reported that the attack was with rocket-propelled grenades.

One person was initially missing, and their body was found hours later.

This event was followed by a strike which injured three Syrian Civil Defense volunteers who was looking for the missing man, reported in assessment YS130. These two incidents (YS129 and YS130) constitute a ‘double strike’ attack.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the young man who was killed was ‘a member of a faction loyal to Turkey’, but it is unclear whether he was a non-combatant or not which is reflected in the civilian harm range. @Almohrar1 reported that the young man’s name was Shadi Saleh Al-Mohammed, and he was affiliated with the Turkish National Army, including a photo of him in uniform.

The SDF responded to these reports in a press statement which said “sites and pages belonging to the mercenaries of the Turkish occupation published false news about a hypothetical artillery bombardment attributed to our forces that targeted a car and a number of people in the occupied city of Jarabulus, killing and wounding a number of people, including mercenary soldiers, according to those sources.

We confirm that our forces did not carry out any attack during the last period in the mentioned area, and attributing that attack to our forces aims to cover up the real actor behind which the Turkish occupation intelligence hides. Evidence and field investigations, according to the published photos of the place of targeting and the targeted vehicle, confirm that the attack was carried out by a drone that penetrated the Syrian airspace, and is usually repeated by the Turkish occupation’s drones.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that one person was killed and up to five others were injured, including three volunteers, when an artillery shell was reported to hit Jarablus on April 18th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that one person was killed and up to five others were injured, including three volunteers, when an artillery shell was reported to hit Jarablus on April 18th 2022 (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • There were reports that one person was killed and up to five others were injured when an artillery shell was reported to hit Jarablus on April 18th 2022 (Image via @YusufAd76532779 / Twitter)
  • There were reports that one person was killed and up to five others were injured when an artillery shell was reported to hit Jarablus on April 18th 2022 (Image via @Almohrar1 / Twitter)
  • Shadi Saleh Al-Mohammed, affiliated with the National Army, was allegedly killed as a result of a missile attack by the SDF or YPG/PKK (Image via @Almohrar1 / Twitter)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the outskirts of Jarablous (جرابلس). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to these exact coordinates: 36.817600, 38.015344.

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  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources. Imagery: Syria Civil Defense.

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources. Imagery: Syria Civil Defense.

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS164

Incident date

January 20, 2023

Location

اعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians, including a woman and up to three children, were injured by alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of the city of Azaz of January 20, 2023.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that six people, including a child and a woman, were injured by artillery shelling coming from areas controlled by the Syrian regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces. The @SyriaCivilDefe later revised their toll to eight people injured, including three children and a woman. @mzmgr941 tweeted the same total of eight civilians injured, including a woman and two children.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights stated that six people were injured and that they were members of the Civil Police, while other local sources also referred to “police officers” being injured. The Syrian Network for Human Rights specified that of the seven civilians injured, four were civilian police officers.

@Obaida161999 provided an image with the names of the civilians wounded: 1- Fouad Hamdi son of Mahmoud 54 years old, leg injuries; 2- Mahmoud Al Ojeli 20 years old, shoulder injuries; 3- Thuraya Haj Hasan 40 years old (woman), shoulder injuries; 4- Mohamad Ahmad Khalaf 17 years old, neck injuries;
5- Louai Mohamed Meryamin, 31 years old, back injuries; 6- Mohamed Nour Faysal Idress, 21 years old, back injuries.

@alkhabour21 tweeted that the shelling occurred in the vicinity of the National Hospital in Azaz, and @Razak0000 referred to the shelling as having occurred in residential neighborhoods. Baladi News correspondent in Aleppo countryside added that the shelling affected the “Tal Rifaat” area and the southern neighborhood of the city, partially destroying some properties.

According to @mzmgr941, the shelling occurred to “prevent the revolutionary popular demonstrations in the city”.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the SDF or areas controlled by the SDF and regime forces. @AlTareek22 stated that artillery and missile shells were launched against the city of Azaz.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Fouad Hamdi
54 years old son of Mahmoud 54 years old, leg injuries injured
Mahmoud Al Ojeli
20 years old 20 years old, shoulder injuries injured
Thuraya Haj Hasan
40 years old female 40 years old (woman), shoulder injuries injured
Mohamad Ahmad Khalaf
17 years old injured
Louai Mohamed Meryamin
31 years old injured
Mohamed Nour Faysal Idress
21 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe via Twitter)
  • #Qasd militia targets residential neighborhoods in the center of Azaz with missiles, causing casualties, including police officers. Orient relays the details from the bombing site.
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @AlTareek22 via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @AlTareek22 via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @AlTareek22 via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyrianCoalition via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by alleged SDF shelling in the city of Azaz on January 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyrianCoalition via Twitter)
  • Names of the civilian injured posted by @Obaida161999: 1- Fouad Hamdi son of Mahmoud 54 years old, leg injuries 2- Mahmoud Al Ojeli 20 years old, shoulder injuries 3- Thuraya Haj Hasan 40 years old (woman), shoulder injuries 4- Mohamad Ahmad Khalaf 17 years old, neck injuries 5- Louai Mohamed Meryamin, 31 years old, back injuries 6- Mohamed Nour Faysal Idress, 21 years old, back injuries

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00027

Incident date

September 5, 2023

Location

المعابر النهرية في بلدتي ذي والحوايج, River crossings in the towns of Dhiban and Hawaij, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were reportedly killed and injured while escaping from bombings in the towns of Dhiban and Hawaij, in the eastern countryside near Deir Ezzor, when nearby river crossings, that are used as humanitarian corridors, were allegedly struck by mortar shells on Tuesday, September 5th 2023.

All available sources claimed that the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out the shelling and Jesr Press added that the tribal forces were able to repel the attack. No sources reported how many civilians were killed or injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Humanitarian evacuation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mortar fire near the river crossings in the towns of Dhiban and Hawaij on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by @nahermedia)

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Humanitarian evacuation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS073

Incident date

November 19, 2019

Location

عريضة , Aridha, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.542944, 38.768504 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was reported killed and his family members injured in an alleged YPG artillery attack on Aridha village in Raqqa governorate, Syria on November 19th, 2019 according to local sources.

The child killed was identified as Ezzeddine Al Sayyad and he is between 3 or 4 years old.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ezzeddine Al Sayyad عز الدين الصياد
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ezzeddine Al Sayyad was reported killed, and his family members injured in an alleged YPG attack on Aridah village in Raqqa (via @Sy_intelligence).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aridha (لعريضة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.542944, 38.768504. 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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS108

Incident date

July 25, 2021

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.507348, 36.861660 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.516599, 36.857916 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map 36.509316, 36.860241 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians, including four children and two women, were injured in alleged SDF or regime strikes on Afrin on July 25, 2021.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “Civilians injured and SCD center damaged in SDF shelling of Afrin city in Aleppo suburbs on July 25. Syrian Democratic Forces used a missile launcher to fire six missiles at Afrin city in the northern suburbs of Aleppo governorate on July 25, 2021, injuring seven civilians, with one of the missiles landing on the city’s Civil Defense center, partially damaging the center and three of its vehicles (one ambulance and two service cars).”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported “several rockets hit residential neighbourhoods in Afrin city which is under the control of Turkish forces and their proxy factions, as the rocket fire targeted Ma’rata roundabout, Raju road and al-Villat street, amid reports of injury of civilians. However, it is not known if Kurdish or regime forces fired these rockets.”

Syrian Civil Defense added that “8 civilians were injured in an initial toll (4 children, two women, and two men, one of whom is in critical condition). The toll provided by @zenhom75 was that “6 civilians were injured in the initial outcome”.

A post by @ammar_sakkar listed the names of those injured in the strikes: Nada Al-Zaher, 29 years old (F), child Muawiyah Akash (M), Child Fadi Tawil (M), Qadriya Sido 65 years old (F), child Khadija Ahmed Al-Taweel (F), Child Tamim Ahmed Al-Taweel (M), Hassan Allawi, 38 years old (M)

Volunteer Muhammad Ali Haj Ahmed talks about the moments of targeting the Syrian Civil Defense Center in the city of #Afrin, north of #Aleppo: “I didn’t expect the bombing to be on us, we immediately ran out to save people, but when they saw the bombing of our center, they ran to us to help us, thank God there were no injuries from the team, people’s eagerness for us could not be described, this thing makes us continue to help them and save them. Despite the great danger that we were exposed to, in the last period we lost colleagues with the bombing of the regime and Russia on our centers and teams during the response, and a while ago we were exposed to the city of Afrin by bombing that targeted us while we were treating the wounded to the hospital. Targeting humanitarian workers is a war crime, but unfortunately the criminals when they saw no punishment increased their crime, our message. Today, we have no goal, and the perpetrators of this crime and other crimes of targeting humanitarian workers and civilians must be held accountable, because leaving them is a green light to commit more crimes.”

SN4HR also pointed out that “the targeted area is a civilian one and free of any military presence or equipment” and Shaam News Network referenced that the strikes “targeted indiscriminately the city of Afrin, targeting residential neighborhoods crowded with civilians, and the Civil Defense Center in the city center, leaving great material damage to the center’s mechanisms.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes. SN4HR attributed the strikes to the SDF while SOHR was uncertain whether the Kurdish or regime forces fired the rockets. The Syrian Civil Defense also pointed out that the strikes came “from areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces” and @MMCSYR referred to the strikes as a “joint bombardment by the regime forces and the “SDF” organization”. An image posted by @yahya_kadaa shows the location where the shells were launched from but doesn’t identify who was responsible.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Khadija Ahmed Al-Taweel خديجه احمد الطويل
Child female injured
Fadi Tawil فادي الطويل
Child male injured
Tamim Ahmed Al-Taweel تميم احمد الطويل
Child male injured

The victims were named as:

Nada Al-Zaher ندى الظاهر
29 years old female injured
Muawiyah Akash معاوية العكش
Child male injured
Qadriya Sido قدرية سيدو
65 years old female injured
Hassan Allawi
38 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (35) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a building caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Strikes damaged a Civil Defense building in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Damage to an emergency vehicle caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Damage to a building caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Damage caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • A Civil Defense member after strikes on their center in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Targeting humanitarian workers and Syrian Civil Defense centers is a war crime whose perpetrator must not escape justice.
  • Damage to an emergency vehicle caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by Edlib Media Center)
  • Damage caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • Damage caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • Damage caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • Damage caused by strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @davut1374)
  • Strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @davut1374)
  • One of the children injured in strikes on Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @zenhom75)
  • Strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @zenhom75)
  • Strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @zenhom75)
  • Strikes in Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @zenhom75)
  • Remnants of the shell used in the strikes on Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @syr_television)
  • Smoke and destruction caused by shelling of Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @syr_television)
  • Smoke and destruction caused by shelling of Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @syr_television)
  • Smoke and destruction caused by shelling of Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @syr_television)
  • Smoke and destruction caused by shelling of Afrin on July 25, 2021. (Image posted by @YusufAd76532779)
  • "The site of the launcher from which the missiles that targeted the Civil Defense Center in Afrin were launched." Image posted by @yahya_kadaa)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes in the vicinities of the Ma’arata roundabout (دوار المعرة), Rajo Road (طريق راجو), and Al Villat Street (شارع الفيلات) in the city of Afrin (دوار المعرة). The generic coordinates for the Ma’arata roundabout are: 36.507348, 36.861660. The generic coordinates for Rajo Road are: 36.516599, 36.857916. The generic coordinates for Al Villat Street are: 36.509316, 36.860241. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Ma'arata Roundabout \n دوار المعرة","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[36.861611,36.507149]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"label":"Rajo Road \n طريق راجو","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"LineString","coordinates":[[36.86705946922302,36.50919636395354],[36.86656594276428,36.509998338235235],[36.86378717422485,36.51278362522759],[36.8606436252594,36.515111806791865],[36.85880899429321,36.516413833350526],[36.85690999031067,36.51702603694196],[36.85539722442627,36.5170777722348],[36.849024295806885,36.517207110315525],[36.84667468070984,36.51741405079508],[36.846535205841064,36.51745716332531],[36.84611678123474,36.51765548065507],[36.8437135219574,36.51899195375359],[36.84005498886108,36.52146652364618]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Al Villat Street \n شارع الفيلات","label-type":"black-white","stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1},"geometry":{"type":"LineString","coordinates":[[36.86033248901367,36.51508593849263],[36.86031103134155,36.50475517316974]]}}]}

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS139

Incident date

July 5, 2022

Location

اعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.573739, 37.0212 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces or Syrian regime shelling of the city of Azaz on July 5, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, three civilians were injured when a missile struck the area near the Security Directorate at the outskirts of Azaz city. This missile strike coincided with clashes near Azaz between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed factions. @ShahbaPress also identified “injuries” as resulting from the strike but did not report how many while @EuphratsPostNews referred to “two civilians” as being wounded. @HalabTodayTV stated that the two civilians affected were “slightly injured”.

Shaam News identified the location of the incident as occurring in the vicinity of the National Hospital in Azaz, attributing the missiles to the SDF. @OrientNews specified that the shelling affected residential neighborhoods while @idleb_online referred to “the hideouts of mercenaries” as being the targets.

The correspondent of the Syrian news agency, “SANA”, reported that the bombing occurred in the center of the city and came in two phases, with a short interval of time between them.

The @SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that the shelling came from “areas controlled by the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces” without specifying which forces were responsible for the shelling. The majority of other sources attributed the strikes to the SDF, with  Syria TV identifying the shells as coming from “the Mara’anaz and Tal Rifaat areas, which are under their control”.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • A Syrian Civil Defense volunteer inspects the site of alleged SDF or regime shelling of the city of Azaz on July 5, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Shell from alleged SDF or regime shelling of the city of Azaz on July 5, 2022. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers respond to the site of alleged SDF or regime shelling of the city of Azaz on July 5, 2022. (Image posted by @khaleedalkhteb)
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers respond to the site of alleged SDF or regime shelling of the city of Azaz on July 5, 2022. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)
  • People gather around the site of alleged SDF or regime shelling of the city of Azaz on July 5, 2022. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the National Hospital (المشفى الوطني في اعزاز) within the city of Azaz (أَعْزَاز), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.573739, 37.021200. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Azaz are: 36.5868, 37.0481.

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00006

Incident date

August 29, 2023

Location

العزبة, Al Ezba, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 29, 2023, several sources reported that an SDF bombardment of the Syrian city of Al-Ezba killed a child and injured numerous civilians, with most putting the number of injured between two and three.

There are no sources that mention death of belligerents, and all accounts that offer specifics beyond “civilians killed and injured” put the civilian death count at one, with all sources in agreement that the person killed was a child. @Sohebbb1990 specified that the child kill, a girl, was 13 years old.

However, there is some variation regarding details of the number of people injured. The most common figure, cited by the twitter account for Halab Today TV, Twitter user Sohebbb199, the Jabour Post, and the Shahed Post report that one girl was killed and two injured. All of those sources, except Halab TV, also state that the two injured were the sisters of the girl killed in the strike. Halab TV says that the two injured were her brothers.

Twitter user @DeirEzzor says that a girl was killed, and two children and a women injured.

Several other sources offer less specific statements, such as Twitter user @Mohab_Nasser2 “civilians dead and wounded, including women and children” and Twitter user @idleb_online who said a child was killed and “others injured”.

All sources attribute the bombing to the forces of the SDF, which some sources refer to as the PYD/PKK.

Several sources, including Ayman Abdullah Post and Twitter user @HamamIssa7, say that the bombing took place in the context of fighting between the SDF and the Military Council of Deir Ezzor.

Finally, both Twitter user @Sohebbb199 and the Jabour Post state that the casualties were “displaced from the Al-Bukamal area”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]