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

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Incident Code

RS2808

Incident date

December 20, 2017

Location

الجنينة, Al-Janeneh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3680555, 40.1196671 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a child and a woman, were seriously injured from the remnants of an alleged Russian cluster bomb that was dropped the previous day, October 19th, in the village of Al-Jeneneh, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

Several sources added that the incident led to the amputation of the child’s foot.

DMUO, for instance, reported “the explosion of a cluster bomb in the village of Al-Jeneneh from the remnants of Russian bombing which led to the amputation of the feet of a child and seriously injured a woman and a man.”

All sources attributed blame to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.


Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4501

Incident date

January 28, 2023

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 15 year old child was injured by an alleged Russian military vehicle in the city of Ain Issa in Raqqa on January 28, 2023.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a 15 year old child was seriously injured when a Russian military vehicle ran the child over on the Main Street in the center of Ain Issa. SOHR added that the injured child was first transferred to the “Martyr Omar Alloush” hospital for treatment, and then was later transferred to the city of Raqqa.

Euphrates Post added that the name of the child is Dijwar Mahmoud.

All of the sources that reported on the incident identified the vehicle as belonging to Russian forces. @ANFArabicNews added that the vehicle tried to flee but it was prevented from it by local people.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Dijwar Mahmoud دجوار محمود
15 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of child injured when he was run over by alleged Russian vehicle on January 28, 2023. (Image posted by @khaleedalkhteb)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4513

Incident date

May 15, 2023

Location

كفرعويد, Kafr Aweed, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One man, identified by sources as Suleiman Muhammad al-Saleem, was killed on May 15th 2023 after artillery shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the village of Kafr Aweed in the southern countryside of Idlib according to local media outlets and the Syrian Civil Defence.

Initial reports from the Syrian Civil Defence said that a victim was taken to hospital to be treated for an abdominal injury, and later updated their reporting to state that the injured civilian died from his wounds.Twitter user @Nadjat567 claimed the shelling resulted in multiple casualties, with no further information on these.

Multiple sources reported that the area was subjected to ‘intense’ artillery shelling. Syria TV alleged that the shelling came from forces stationed in the Zaytoun camp near Kafranbel.

Macro Media Centre, local TV channel HalabToday, IQA News Agency, Baladi Network and Al Tareek attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime.

The Syria Civil Defence, Shaam, Zaiton and Syria TV attributed the artillery shelling to both Russian and Syrian forces. Local news source Zaiton Mag reported that “The towns of Al-Bara, Deir Sunbul and Benin, south of Idlib, Maarat Al-Naasan, northeast of Idlib, the vicinity of Al-Atarib, Al-Qasr, Al-Wasata, Kafarama and Kafr Taal, west of Aleppo, and Al-Sarmaniyeh and Dweir Al-Akrad, west of Hama, were also subjected to similar shelling, without causing casualties.”  Multiple media reports claimed that the shelling was deliberate in order to prevent civilians from returning to villages near contact lines.

The incident occured in the atternoon.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Suleiman Muhammad al- Saleem
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Suleiman Muhammad al- Saleem, killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @@MMCSYR)
  • alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4531

Incident date

July 11, 2023

Location

الأتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On July 11th 2023, Syrian Civil Defense volunteer Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdel-Khalek was killed when Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly struck a rescue vehicle in the vicinity of the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo.

Local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and Rasd Syria News stated that Abdul was killed in a double tap attack by regime forces with a guided missile, while the team was inspecting places that were hit by artillery shelling.

The Syria Monitoring Network of Human Rights reported that the “Syrian regime forces are still continuing their violations against civilians in their areas of control, violating international laws and non-compliance with them, and violating the ceasefire agreement, and recently increased shelling by the Syrian regime forces on civilian-populated cities.”

A tweet from @jabalybaraa includes a video of the Civil Defense vehicle up in flames, which was attributed to a guided missile, which resulted in the death of the volunteer.

The majority of the sources attributed the missile attack to the Syrian regime, while @tAAprK80Nn3GKmd identified Russian forces as responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdel-Khalek
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn the death of our volunteer, “Abdul Basit Ahmed Abdul Khaleq,” a martyr in a double attack by the regime forces with a guided heat missile that targeted the rescue vehicle while the team was working to inspect places that were hit by artillery shelling of the regime forces, on the outskirts of the city of Atarib, west of #Aleppo, today, Tuesday, July 11. (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Yesterday he was donating his blood to save a human life, and today he donated his soul and the most precious thing he owns. The volunteer martyr: Abdulbaset Abdulkhaleq during his participation about a month ago in the International Day of Blood Donors. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Moments full of sadness and oppression during the recovery of the body of the volunteer "Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdul Khaleq" who was martyred in a double attack by the regime forces by targeting a rescue team's car in the Syrian Civil Defense with a guided missile while the team was inspecting places that were subjected to artillery shelling by the regime forces southeast of the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo, today, Tuesday 11 July.
  • Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdel-Khalek, a civil defense volunteer, was killed by alleged Syrian regime or Russian strikes in Atareb on July 11, 2023. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Moments documenting the targeting by the regime forces of the car of the rescue team of the Syrian Civil Defense in the city of Atarib, and the martyrdom of the volunteer Abdulbaset Abdulkhaleq during the team's response to inspect the places of artillery shelling with a mortar shell from the regime forces on the outskirts of the city of Atarib yesterday, Tuesday, July 11.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    1
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2478

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5816284, 36.9212293 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between zero and three civilians, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Sarja in southern Idlib, according to local sources.

Some sources, including Step News Agency, reported that the airstrikes struck the local headquarters of Ahrar Al Sham and three of those injured were militants. Other sources did not mention that those injured were militants or directly referred to those injured as civilians, including the Revolutionary Forces of Syria.

The majority of sources, including Step News Agency and Aletihad Press, blamed Russian planes for carrying out the airstrikes against Sarja. However, conflicting reports were given by Al Araby and the Revolutionary Forces of Syria, which identified the regime as responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1712

Incident date

January 10, 2018

Location

الحمدان, Al Hamdan, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.484628, 40.896606 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Free Deir Ezzor, there were “a number of wounded in the village of Hamdan” following Coalition airstrikes.

Both Al Bukamal Mutassil al Aan and Souriyati reported that seven civilians were wounded in al Hamdan and also pointed towards the Coalition.

No additional details are presently known for this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Hamdan, Albu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU741175
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

On January 10th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, 19 strikes [3 British] engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS supply route, four ISIS vehicles, three control and command centers, a recoilless rifle, two logistics centers, an indirect fire weapon and a VBIED.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Wednesday 10 January – a Reaper hit three terrorist targets in eastern Syria, whilst Tornados destroyed an armed truck…The following day [January 10th], another Reaper worked closely with coalition surveillance aircraft and fast jets in a series of strikes in support of the SDF advance. Our aircraft supported coalition air attacks on a Daesh-held building and a mortar position, and conducted three attacks with its own Hellfire missiles, destroying an armed truck parked under cover of a vehicle shelter, and hitting two groups of terrorists on foot. A flight of Tornado GR4s also took part in this operation, and targeted an armed truck positioned within a compound; the use of a Brimstone missile allowed the vehicle to be destroyed without posing a risk to nearby buildings.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS623

Incident date

August 16, 2023

Location

راس العين , Ras Al Ayn, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the 16th of August, 2023, at least four civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in an outbreak of violence between two reportedly Turkish backed armed factions in the Al Mahatta neighborhood of the city of Ras Al Ayn, in Syria’s Al Hasakah Governorate.

The clashes allegedly began after raids carried out by the military police and the Hamza Division on homes belonging to members of the Al Mawali and the Suleiman Shah Brigade. The raids were aimed at smugglers that refused to pay their share of the proceeds to the police and to the Hamza Division, according to reports from both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Foxpress. Both sources also reported that civilian women were assaulted during the raids and civilian’s possessions were stolen. In retaliation, according to a source speaking to the North Press Agency,  “Nawaf al-Tarkawi, one of Suleiman Shah’s leaders in the city of Ras al-Ain, attacked the headquarters of the Abu Qafs group of the Hamzah faction with [12.7 mm] medium machine guns and RPGs in the center of the city, which led to six casualties, including two civilians, one of whom was a child. In critical condition, they were taken to the city hospital.” In addition, NPA and Foxpress reported the injury of a woman and three men after a stray shell breached the wall of their house, with NPA mentioning material damage in addition to the civilian injuries from the clashes.

All sources covering the incident have reported the Turkish backed factions as belligerents, and the violence between them as the reason for the civilian injuries – however, at present it is not clear which of the factions are responsible for each of these casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00013

Incident date

September 1, 2023

Location

جديد_بكارة, Jadid Bakara, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 15 year old child named Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid was killed on the 1st of September 2023, after a rocket propelled grenade was dropped by a drone allegedly controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the village of Jadid Bakara in the Deir Ezzor eastern countryside. Sources across local news and social media corroborated the information, attributing the strikes to the SDF.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid رائد محمد الزيد
15 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • A 15 year old named Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid was killed by by a missile allegedly fired from a drone by the SDF in Jadid Bakara on September 1, 2023. (Image posted by @nahermedia)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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]