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

RS049

Incident date

October 16, 2015

Location

تيرمعلة, Teir Ma'ala, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.802364, 36.709287 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

For the second day in a row Russian aircraft reportedly targeted Teir Ma’ala, this time killing nine or more civilians according to reports. “Russian warplanes launched two raids on the town of Teir Ma’alah missiles, one of which targeted the area around the town mosque, which killed nine and about four wounded, mostly women and children,” reported Smart News.

Footage reportedly showing the attacks also features announcements from the local mosque to take shelter during the raid.

The Violations Documentation Center later named eleven civilians, ten of them adult and one female child.

Local Pro-government site Al Ahed reported only that nine ‘militants’ were killed in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Dahham al-Kusa
Adult male killed
Ayman Abdul Razak Qanatri
Adult male killed
Abdul Wakeel Ahmad al-Ibraheem
Adult male killed
Basem Abdul Kareem al-Ibraheem
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Abbas al-Kusa
Adult male killed
Ahmad Faisal Abbas
Adult male killed
Abdul Hakeem al-Satouf "al-Dairi"
Adult male Also known as 'Bassam' killed
Mustafa al-Ahdab
Adult male killed
Udai Ayman Qanatry
Adult male killed
Mohammad Adnan al-Ahdab
Adult male killed
Israa Mefleh Abbas
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child10 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Adnan al-Ahdab named as a civilian victim of the strike on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Udai Ayman Qantary named as a civilian victim of the strike on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Footage purporting to show the 'Russian strike' on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via Syrian Revolutionaries Gathering)
  • Al Jisr Tv footage showing what it says is 'the Russian raids on the village of Teir Ma'ala', 16th October 2015. (via Al Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia once again made no reference to any airstrikes in Homs governorate for October 16th-17th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child10 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS050

Incident date

October 16, 2015

Location

كفر كرمين, Kafr Karmin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.16432, 36.79017 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between ten and 13 civilians including five children died in a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Karmin.

The Syrian Network later named some eight of the including one man, two women and five children.

One eyewitness said the attack came “Exactly after Friday prayer [when] Russian planes targeted the village of Kafr Karmeen and killed between five and ten martyrs.”

While most sources blamed Russia, Smart News, Ara News and Al Araby said regime aircraft were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sjay Saleh al-Hameed
Adult male 38 years old from Darkoush town killed
Jamileh Mosa Ramadan
Adult female 60 years old killed
Abeer Mostafa Jowani
Adult female 35 years old killed
Jamileh Ahmad Abdullah
Child female 12 years old killed
Iman Abdullah Al Abdullah
Child female 2 or 3 years old killed
Marya Abdullah Abdullah
Child female 5 months old or 2 years old killed
Ayoush Mohamad Ali
Child female 2 years old killed
Hiba Abdullah Abdullah
Child female 1 year old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (5 children2 women1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the victim Sjay Saleh al-Hameed killed in Kafr Karmin, Aleppo.16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Photo Sjay Saleh al-Hameed killed in Kafr Karmin, Aleppo.16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • AA Turkish news agency footage of the aftermath of what it says was the Russian strike on Kafr Karmin in which it reports ten civilians were killed including three children, 16th October 2015. (via AA)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

According to the Kremlin “Russian aviation performed 36 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus and Aleppo provinces” on October 16th-17th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (5 children2 women1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS051

Incident date

October 16, 2015

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

The White Helmets reported that three children were killed in the countryside near Damascus following a ‘Russian airstrike.’ Al Etihad said the aircraft was a Russian Air Force Su-24. VDC named the children without specifying which nation’s aircraft were responsible. .

However Shaam News described the attack as having been the work of the Syrian regime aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anas Mohammad Khdair
Child male killed
Mahrous Mohammad Khdair
Child male killed
Abdul Rahman Emad al-Akhras
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the dead children in hospital, following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 16th October 2015. (via Syrian Civil Defence in Damascus Suburbs)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

According to the Kremlin “Russian aviation performed 36 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus and Aleppo provinces” on October 16th-17th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS138

Incident date

October 17, 2015

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four named civilians were reported killed in an airstrike at Manbij, although opinions were split as to whether the victims had been killed by the Assad regime or by the Coalition. As Ara News noted, “the identity of the planes remains unknown, because of the number of different actors that are bombing the Aleppo countryside including the Coalition, the regime and the Russians. And no side has claimed responsibility until now.”

Several sources named the dead, some named three and others named four civilian men.

The Syrian Network said that three civilians had died – but that they were killed after “regime warplanes fired missiles on Manbej city.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr Mohammad Al Sam’o
Adult male another source says the victim was the son of Dr. Mohammad Al Sam’o, who is the owner of Al Kura al Ardiya bakery. The son was a first year medical student. killed
Fawwaz Al Ahmad Al Mar’i
50 years old male from al Dadat village in the Manbij countryside killed
Ala’a Al Mohammad
Adult male from Kosak killed
Mohammad Hussein Al Jammi
Adult male also named as Ahmad Hussein al Jammi from the village of Karqawi al Akrad killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An activist @SyrianInstitute tweets that the coalition did not report any raids on Manbij on the 17th. He says the planes that targeted the city were the regime's. 18th October 2018

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

No reference was made to Manbij in Coalition daily reports for October 17th-18th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS052

Incident date

October 17, 2015

Location

عرفة, Arafeih, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.38178, 37.02376 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young boy named as Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem later died of his injuries, six days after an October 17th airstrike on the town of Arafeih. According to reports the child was injured by shrapnel in the original attack. And on October 31st, a civilian male named as Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha also died as a result of injuries sustained

The source of the airstrike was contested. While most attributed the attack to Russia, some news reports said it was the work of the Assad regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem
Child male Due to the Russian air forces shelling To a displaced camps on a camp of displaced people killed
Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha
Adult male As a result of a cluster bomb remnants of Russian shelling explosion killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • VDC names a male child Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem as a victim of a Russian strike on a displaced persons camp. (via VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arafeih (عرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.38178, 37.02376. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Hama governorate for both October 16th-17th 2015, and October 17th-18th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS055

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

بزينة, Bazeena, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.48288, 36.44022 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A seven year old girl and two civilian adults were killed and a dozen injured in an airstrike on the town of Bazeena – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The dead child was named as Ghazal Al Tokhi [pictured below], with one tweet reporting that “She was getting water for her parents who were caught in the middle of the siege, when the Russian planes killed her.” Another tweet (below) noted that “Only in the time of oppressors do fathers bury their children.” An entire family was reported to be among those injured.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghazal Al Tokhi
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "In the time of oppressors only - fathers bury their children. The chidl martyr Ghazal Al Tokhi who was martyred yesterday in Douma." (via @revolutionSyria)
  • "She was getting water for her parents who are in the middle of the siege when the Russian planes killed her. The martyr child Ghazal Al Tokhi, Douma - yesterday." (via @revolutionSyria)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bazeena (بزينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.48288, 36.44022. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Kremlin has confirmed strikes in Damacus governorate for October 18th-19th 2015, noting: “Russian aviation performed 33 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia and Hama provinces… Precision strikes of the Russian combat aviation in the Damascus province have crucially changed the operational situation in this region.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS056

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

تيرمعلة, Teir Ma'ala, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.802364, 36.709287 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An adult male civilian named as Ammar Al Ali was reported killed in an alleged new Russian airstrike on Teir Ma’ala.

Al Arabiya reported that “The northern countryside of Homs saw a fierce attack [on October 18th] with an attempt to break into the area by regime forces under air cover provided by Russian aircraft. The attack came from several directions.”

However, AP reported that Assad regime helicopters also carried out barrel bomb attacks on the town.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Al Ali
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Homs, Teir Ma’ala. Russian warplanes carry out their first strike. 18/10/2015 (via Mahmood Al-Louz)
  • Homs, Teir Ma’ala. Russian warplanes carrying out their second strike 18/10/2015 (via Mahmood Al-Louz)
  • Homs, Teir Ma’ala Russian warplanes carry out their third strike. 18/10/2015 (via Mahmood Al-Louz)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russians made no public reference to any airstrikes in Homs governorate for October 18th-19th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS057

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

الزربة, Az Zarbah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.06763, 36.97987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilian males were reported killed when their car was struck in an alleged Russian airstrike at Zerbeih. Three people were also reported injured in the attack. The men were named by VDC as Mohammad Subhi Basheir and Abdo Ali.

Footage and interviews from the town showed extreme damage to at least one civilian neighbourhood.

An eyewitness described the attack for Smart News: “We were over there and I went over there to do somethings when the planes hit over there. After an hour it came back again and hit from the western side, it hit the house over there with two missiles and there’s a house east of Zerbeih, they hit it three times.”

Reporter: And it’s all kids, civilians?

Witness: Yes children and there are people injured. There was a family here, some were injured and others killed and there were shops all along here.

Reporter: Are there any bases or anything?

Witness: There are no bases. we’re all civilians here, there’s nothing else.

 

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Subhi Basheir
Adult male killed
Abdo Ali
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Zarbah (الزربة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.06763, 36.97987. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia confirmed carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate for October 18th-19th 2015: “Russian aviation performed 33 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia and Hama provinces… Near Djdayda settlement (Aleppo province), Su-25 attack aircraft eliminated a workshop used for production of self-made rockets. The equipped facility manufactured single-use launching ramps and rockets for distant fire at Syrian Armed Forces’ positions and inhabited areas. The direct hit of an air bomb resulted in detonation of explosives and destruction of the whole facility.”

Summary

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

Sources (14) [ collapse]