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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Iraq
Syria
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Incident Code

CI858

Incident date

September 28, 2017

Location

Al Qaim, plaster factory, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.257855, 41.213365 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two sources alleged the US-led Coalition conducted air raids on Al Qaim west of Anbar province, resulting in 87 civilians killed. However, there was some confusion about the status of the vehicles reportedly struck.

Local sources who spoke to Yaqein said aircraft targeted an area near the plaster factory in the province. It initially alleged the strikes destroyed 20-24 cars that belonged to so-called Islamic State. However, a later Yaqein report said the vehicles were civilian. The agency also added that the raids took place on the desert area of Qaem, and also referred to the location of strikes “near the Teacher area south of Qaim district.”

Both sources blamed the US-led Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    87
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area around a plaster factory in the West of Anbar province, for which the coordinates are: 34.257855, 41.213365. Reports also refer to the teachers area south of the Al Qaim (القائم) district.

  • The plaster factory south of the town of Al Qaem (القائم)

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

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 Qaiem, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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

For September 27th – 28th the Coalition reported “Near Al Qaim, three strikes destroyed two weapons caches and an ISIS headquarters.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    87
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS650

Incident date

February 21, 2016

Location

النعمان, Al Nu'man, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.46321, 37.43317 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians were killed in an airstrike on Al Nu’man, which all local sources attributed to Russia.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian warplanes carried out raids on the village of Al Nu’man leading to the fall of several martyrs and wounded.” And at 0’13” in a video by Halab Today, the channel allege that 12 unidentified people died in Russian raids on the village. Alsouria.net also put the death toll at 12 including children.

SyriaPC too said that Russia was responsible, and that the death toll – which it initially put at 12 – was likely to rise as many people were still under the rubble. According to Ara News, as many as 15 non-combatants were killed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • News bulletin reporting on the alleged Russian raid in the village of al Nu’man. (via, Halab News)

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
    12 – 15
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1569

Incident date

October 3, 2017

Location

al Qitar Street north of city centre, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.961828, 39.010559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 45 civilians reportedly died and 15 were wounded following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes to the north of Raqqah city, at the outskirts of the al-Tawassiya area. The victims were “gathered around a water well on Qitar (train) street” collecting water “due to the ongoing water cuts in the city for more than three months” local sources said.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that the two remaining water wells in neighbourhoods controlled by the so-called Islamic State organizations were now out of service.

The lowest claimed death toll at 13 was reported by Raqqa24, the Syrian Network for Human Rights placed the toll at 16 whilst The Syrian Observatory documented 18 killed, including women and children. All other sources alleged 21 killed, with UNOCHA reporting up to 45 killed.

Al Jazeera noted the original report of the incident was released by the so-called Islamic State organization.

Sources who spoke to Al Bawaba said “The raids of the international coalition and the bombing of the Syrian Democratic Forces destroyed the water tanks that went out of service, and was targeting the last bakeries in the city for days.”

All sources suspected the US-led Coalition carried out the airstrike. However the Coalition itself pushed back, with the official spokesman openly attacking an AFP tweet: “To clarify: this is an ALLEGATION from a single source. takes extraordinary efforts to protect civilians & strike valid mil targets”

The UN however directly accused the Coalition of the event, reporting that “In early October, and preceding the SDF reported control over Ar -Raqqa city, intensified airstrikes and heavy shelling continued to result in civilian deaths, widespread destruction, and deteriorating humanitarian conditions for civilians remaining in Ar-Raqqa city. More than 400 airstrikes over a two-day period during the first week of October were reported, with airstrikes reportedly killing more than 70 people in Al Bado and Suhada’a neighborhoods. On 2 October, an airstrike hit a water well located in the outskirts of the Al Tawassoiya area in the north of Raqqa city, reportedly killing 45 civilians.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 45
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–15
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Response from the OIR spokesman to the allegation

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a water well on Al Qitar street (القطار). This could refer to a water tower at a water company or administration on that street, located north of the city centre on the outskirts of the neighbourhood of Al Tawassiya (التوسعیة). This was one of the few remaining water towers that was not destroyed at that time, the coordinates for this water tower are: 35.957566, 39.011378.  A second water tower on Al Qitar street was also still standing, the coordinates for this tower are: 35.963037,39.009959.  In addition, other sources mention a “water well in Al Hadiqa Al Bayda which is in Al Tawassiya (التوسعیة) area” 

  • The two water towers on Al Qitar street (القطار) located north of the city centre on the outskirts of the neighbourhood of Al Tawassiya (التوسعیة).

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 2nd – 3rd the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, six strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions and three ISIS supply routes.” It additionally reported that “On Oct. 2, near Raqqah, 23 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units, destroyed nine fighting positions and damaged five fighting positions.” And that “On Oct. 2, Near Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 45
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–15
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS798

Incident date

May 15, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, Russian warplanes targeted farmlands in the northern and western suburbs of the town of Ar Rastan with vacuum missiles, leading to the death of one or two civilians and the wounding of several others. Sources spoke of dozens of Russian raids.

Ar-Rastan media office said the civilian killed was Siham Ibrahim Ayyoub, daughter of Abu Ayyoub.

In two tweets, by Syriafree339 and Gelal1985abdo, the death of a combatant was also reported: “Sameer Zabateh from Ar-Rastan was killed in Russian warplane shelling in Al Zara front.”

Okaz news and Homs Committee news spoke of a total of more than 50 Russian airstrikes in the districts of Ar-Rastan, Ghajar, Talbiseh and E’z Al-deen which killed 8 and wounded others.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Siham Ibrahim Ayyoub
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from 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 has not reported any strikes between May 1st – 31st.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1603

Incident date

October 7, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources said that over 240 civilians had been killed and large numbers wounded in the past four days, allegedly by aircraft and airstrikes of the US-led Coalition. Sharqiya Voice estimated that 250 were killed in a 48 hour period, though all other sources alleged the slightly lower toll occurred over four days.

Please note that this is a general civilian casualty estimate, and will almost certainly encompass figures from other entries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    240 – 250
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of these incidents mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148.

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 3rd – 4th the Coalition reported •Near Raqqah, 30 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 fighting positions, two vehicles, and a logistics node; and suppressed four fighting positions.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    240 – 250
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS486

Incident date

January 28, 2016

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.82179, 36.69605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eleven civilians died including three women and seven children in alleged Russian raids on Al Ghantu, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “warplanes believed to be Russian” killed 11 civilians, including three women and seven children. They said that a man and his wife and three of their children were among those killed.

The Shaam News Network put the death toll at ten, with dozens more wounded and reported “massive destruction to civilian property” as the result of alleged Russian bombing. They posted a very disturbing video depicting casualties, including bodies that had been blown to pieces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Zakia Moussa Mansour
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Safaa Safwan Alysia
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Ali Moussa Mansour
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Aisha Lightning – Musa Mansour’s wife
Adult female named by FreeSyria killed
Moussa Ali Mansour
Age unknown named by FreeSyria killed
Mohannad Mansour Musa
Child male named by FreeSyria killed

The victims were named as:

Khansa Walid Hassan Sabri
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Fatima Ahmed Hassan Sabri
Age unknown female named by FreeSyria killed
Maya Jassim Aaffara
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Noor Alhozani (Jassim Aaffara’s wife)
Age unknown female named by FreeSyria killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • (7 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously disturbing footage of injured civilians. Warning: video shows the remains of a civilians which are so badly damaged they are unidentifiable. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The burial of deceased civilians following an alleged Russian raid on Al Ghantu. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • The exact moment the alleged Russian raid hit Al Ghantu on 28th January 2016. (via, Media Office Gathering Rebels)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…In the Vadi Kaddahat plain (Homs province), after the UAV confirmation of the data received from the Syrian governmental troops concerning a terrorists’ strong point, the object was engaged. Objective monitoring data registered destruction of two automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns and elimination of 10 militants.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • (7 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1633

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the death of two civilians in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah.

According to Asharqiya Voice, they died “a few weeks ago”.

Writing on Facebook on October 28th, Mohammad al Fahal, reportedly a family member of the victims, said: “My aunt has moved to the mercy of God.. Najah Ramadan al Fahl .. and a few days later her husband followed her ..my uncle Hajj Ahmad Abdel Hamid al Mulla Hassan. And this was due to the bombing of Raqqa city as they were not able to get out of the city before it was put under siege. The news has just reached us from one of the survivors.” Again, the date of death was not given.

The last reported Coalition action in the city was on October 16th, with victory over ISIS declared by the SDF the following day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Abdul Hamid Mulla Hassan
Adult male killed
Najah Ramadan Al Fahl
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Abdul Hamid Mulla Hassan and Najah Ramadan Al Fahl, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqah, 16th October 2017. (via RBSS)

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th it noted: “Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.” The last reported strikes prior to this were on October 12th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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

RS504

Incident date

January 29, 2016

Location

الصالحية, Al Salhiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7133253, 40.7575607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a brief news report, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least seven civilians including two children died when a “suspected Russian warplane” fired missiles on the village of Al Salhiya.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed
Age unknown named by 811 Syria, who it said were internally displaced persons originally from Al Joura. killed
Mohamed Alterman
Age unknown male named by 811 Syria, who it said were internally displaced persons originally from Al Joura. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]