Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

Belligerent
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Syria
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Incident Code

RS544

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1923129, 37.1477151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were killed and 22 others injured in an airstrike on Al Kalassa, according to local sources.

The Shaam News Network alleged that Russian raids killed five in Al Kalassa, as part of “Russian aggression on different areas in Aleppo” on Thursday February 4th.

The White Helmets reported that “a vacuum missile fell on al Kalassa neighbourhood killing 5 people and injuring 22 others most of them women and children and causing great destruction in the neighbourhood“, but did not say who fired the missile.

Alhbar el Thawra, Alnateq Press and Shahba Press all said that Russian warplanes had carried out raids on Al Kalassa.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Shaam News Network shows the impact of the strieks on Al Kalassa
  • The White Helmets show a family rescued from the rubble

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.“ It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1534

Incident date

November 6, 2016

Location

الدانا, Al Dana, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.218763, 36.768638 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and forty civilians, including at least one woman, one child and one adult male, were killed and up to forty were wounded in airstrikes launched against Al Dana town in Idlib.

Most sources only reported preliminary counts of casualties and many expected that the number was higher due to many civilians still stuck under the rubble. Most allegations reported that twelve or thirteen people had been killed, however Alsouria put the death toll much higher at forty.

According to the Local Coordination Committee Syria, the area struck included civilian neighborhoods, a popular market, and a school.

Images and videos posted by various news sources show the aftermath of the airstrikes, which caused buildings to crumble to the ground and covered surrounding areas and people with a layer of dust.

There was not a consensus over who was responsible for the airstrikes. Most national sources, including Local Coordination Committee of Syria, Alsouria News and Syrian Network for Human Rights identified Syrian regime planes as responsible for the attacks. However, a few sources, including Erem News and Jisirtv, blamed Russia for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Al-Bakour
Adult male a journalist, Zaman Al Wasl newspaper described Ammar as “One of the most important and active newspaper correspondents” in Syria. He left his wife and child behind in Turkey a year before to return to Syria to cover the war, director of the media office at the Idlib Health Directorate of the Ministry of Interim Government, born in 1980 in Al Mowzara town killed
Ahmed Barbour
Age unknown male an Orient TV correspondent injured
Unnamed woman
50 years old female had her foot amputated injured

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 40
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via LCCSY)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via LCCSY)
  • Journalist Ammar Bakor, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via LCCSY)
  • Journalist Ammar Bakor, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • Journalist Ammar Bakor, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via Enabbaladi)
  • Journalist Ammar Bakor, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via Sln)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via Alsouria)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties are bundled into the back of a truck in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via Baladi news)
  • The exact moments after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via Ayyam Newspaper)
  • News bulletin reporting on an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via Jisirtv)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via @Om_Yusf_)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via @Om_Yusf_)
  • The exact moment an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via @Om_Yusf_)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Dana which struck a school and some residential housing, 6th November 2016. (via @Om_Yusf_)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Dana(الدانا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.218763, 36.768638. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 40
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS577

Incident date

February 9, 2016

Location

كفر كلبين‎, Kafr Kalbeen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.556067, 37.089434 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 20 civilians including one child died in airstrikes on Kafr Kalbeen, according to local sources – though they are conflicted or unclear as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Shaam News Network said there had been “a systematic campaign of shelling Aleppo, where aircraft Russian aggression continue to be implemented to support Assad’s forces and Shi’ite militias supporting them and which is now leading the military operations in the countryside of Aleppo.”

It reported “dozens of raids today launched by Russian aggression on northern towns of Aleppo which left more than thirty martyrs in a number of areas Kfar Kheshr and Kafrkalbeen in violent raids and rocket spatial cluster in addition to dozens of air raids on Tal Rifa’at, Mare’ and Ain Da’na.” SNN added that “the towns of Kafr Kalbeen and Ain Da’na and Kafr Shakher have seen a  large migration towards the Syrian border with Turkey after air escalation today to increase the numbers of displaced people and increase the suffering of thousands of families that have become stretched out roads and agricultural lands.”

However, in confused reporting, the Syrian Network for Human Rights published a headline that said a child had been killed by regime shelling, but went on to say that the child died in an alleged Russian strike: “The child Sha’aban Swaidan, age 13, died in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Kafr Kalbein village in Aleppo governorate, February 9, 2016.“

According to the White Helmets, “warplanes” (they did not say who they belonged to) carried out five raids targeting the villages of Kafr Kalbeen and Kafr Khasher, leading to the death of 20 people, most of whom were women and children. They added that there had been “great destruction of buildings“. Their report was also dated February 10, one day off the alleged incident.

Smart reported that Russian carried out raids on “Tal Rifaat and the villages of Kafr Kalbeen and Kafr Hasher Ayn Degnah, killing seven civilians and wounding 30 others“.

Ahrar A’zaz published footage is a five-year-old girl, Mayssam, being treated after she was hit in the head by shrapnel after an alleged Russian strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahrar A'zaz showing Mayssam being treated after having been hit by shrapnel

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1741

Incident date

December 5, 2016

Location

تفتناز , Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9976603, 36.7856598 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that one or two civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike with phosphorus and cluster bombs on Taftanaz.

The Shaam News Network said that one civilian died, however, Shade2taftanaz reported the death of two women.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 'Russian enemy sends death by phosphorus bombs internationally banned to the town of Tufnaz, rural Idlib'
  • Fires following a strike on Taftanaz, Dec 5th.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Taftanaz (تفتناز), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9976603, 36.7856598. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS610

Incident date

February 14, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and several others wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Douma, according to a single source.

Shaam News Network said that “Russian aggression targeted several placed in the city several raids and then artillery targeted markets and public roads.” It added that “the bombardment also targeted one of the Central Ambulance cars with a vacuum missile in eastern Ghouta while it was carrying out its duties rescuing the wounded. The driver was lightly injured.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia makes no public mention of having carried out strikes in Damascus from February 10th – February 16th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1966

Incident date

March 13, 2017

Location

ام المياذن, Um Almayathen, Dara'a , Syria

Geolocation

32.585547, 36.190245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in an alleged air raid on the residential neighbourhood, Um Almayathen. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the strike, with some blaming Russian warplanes, and others the Syrian regime.

There was allegedly huge widespread damage  to residential homes and buildings as a result of the strike.

Missiles were reportedly used in the raid.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Um Almayathen (ام المياذن), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.585547, 36.190245. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS642

Incident date

February 19, 2016

Location

الشيخ عيسى, Sheikh Issa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.47902, 37.14574 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians including three children and two women were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sheikh Issa, according to a single source.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially reported that “The children Ibrahim, Hussein, and Samer Amer Hameidi and their father died in suspected Russian warplanes shelling on Al Sheikh Eisa village in Aleppo governorate, February 19.” However, a later report put the death toll higher, at seven people from one family including two women. Al Jazeera also said that a father and his three children died in a Russian strike.

Syria Journalists Union later named the victims (killed in a Russian strike).

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Amer Hamidi
35 years old male Named by Syria Journalists Union killed
Ibrahim Amer Hamidi
5 years old male Named by Syria Journalists Union killed
Hussein Amer Hamidi
6 years old male Named by Syria Journalists Union killed
Samer Amer Hamidi
7 years old male Named by Syria Journalists Union killed
Hussein Hamidi
30 years old male Named by Syria Journalists Union injured
Atta Hamidi
30 years old male Named by Syria Journalists Union injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (3 children0–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'The children Ibrahim, Hussein, and Samer Amer Hameidi and their father died in suspected Russian warplanes shelling on Al Sheikh Eisa village in Aleppo governorate, February 19.' (Via SN4hR)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (3 children0–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS674

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

جوبر‎, Jobar neighborhood, Damascus, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528874, 36.337967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Jobar neighborhood of Damascus, according to local sources.

Smart reported nine Russian raids on the neighbourhood, while a tweet from FS_Muslim put the number of raids as high as 12. Baladi said two civilians died at the hands of Russia. Some other sources did not identify who was responsible, referring only to “warplanes”.

Two victims – killed in Jobar due to “air forces shelling” – were named by the VDC.

The victims were also named by Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies, who blamed Russia for their deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Slaiman Kareem
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Kareem
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Heavy smoke in the aftermath of the incident on 26th February 2016. (via, Qasioun)
  • Footage of the exact momentsthe alleged raid struck on 26th February 2016. (via, Qasioun)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]