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
Israeli Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

ISSY006

Incident date

November 19–20, 2019

Location

الجزيرة الثالثة, قدسيا‎, Block Three, Qudsaya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.535944, 36.181175 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two children and a woman were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Qudsaya suburb in Damascus on November 20th, 2019, according to local sources.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a young woman was injured by shrapnel due to the Israeli shelling in Qudsaya suburb”. Reportedly, explosions were heard in the capital Damascus and its vicinity at 1:30 AM. Sources told the SOHR that “the explosions were caused by the regime’s air defenses while trying to intercept Israeli missiles that targeted positions of the regime and Iranian militias.”

Qasioun News wrote that “shrapnel from one of the missiles also hit a residential building in the Qudsaya suburb, west of Damascus, wounding a girl and causing extensive damage to the building.” According to Manal News, the girl was taken to Al Mouwasat Hospital for treatment.

The regime-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency reportedly spoke to residents of the targeted building. Iyad Al Mousawi, a resident of the building, stated: “At about 1:30 AM we felt a big shaking of the building and the sound of a strong explosion, and immediately I went to my children’s room. They were sleeping to find the flames of fire and thick smoke filling the place as a result of the shrapnel of a missile. I took them out and my wife, as one of them was injured.”

The SANA story indicated that there were two injured children, writing that “Mrs. Ahlam, the mother of the girl, who was injured in the other apartment within the damaged building, said: ‘After the smoke and dust disappeared, I saw my 17-year-old daughter crying out while she was soaked in her blood so that her father would take her to the Mouwasat Hospital in Damascus, where she is currently receiving treatment.'” Other sources only reported one injured girl.

Step News Agency reported Israeli strikes on military targets in Damascus, writing that their correspondent “confirmed that the Syrian regime’s positions were set ablaze in the vicinity of Mazzeh airport in Damascus. Ambulances and fire engines were heard there after the raids.” Local sources also reported that the Israeli raids around 1:30am also killed a family in Beit Sabir village (see event ISSY005).

Times of Israel reported that at least 23 fighters were killed in the Israeli strikes, 16 of them likely Iranians. France 24, quoting Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the number of fighters killed at 11, including seven foreign fighters. Neither source identified which location that fighters were killed in.

One of the casualties is believed to be the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. A soldier in the Syrian regime army, Jaafar nour al-Deen, was also killed in the Israeli strikes but for both cases, it is unclear in which location they were killed.

Times of Israeli also pointed out that “video footage from Syria appeared to show a Syrian air defense missile crashing to the ground in a heavily populated area shortly after launching, which may account for some of the casualties” but provided no other specific information.

The IDF released a statement acknowledging the strikes they carried out on Syria, writing “#BREAKING: We just carried out wide-scale strikes of Iranian Quds Force & Syrian Armed Forces targets in Syria in response to the rockets fired at Israel by an Iranian force in Syria last night.” In their Hebrew language report, the IDF specifically refers to being carried out “in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front.”

The incident occured at approximately 1:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mrs. Ahlam السيدة أحلام
Adult female injured
Daughter of Mrs. Ahlam بنت السيدة أحلام
17 years old female injured

The victims were named as:

Child of Iyad Al Mousawi ولد اياد الموسوي
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (25) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Workers clean up a home damaged from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
    Siblings of the 17 year old girl who was injured in strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Mrs. Ahlam, the mother of the girl, who was injured in strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Iyad Al-Mousawi, a resident of one of the apartments in the damaged building in the suburb of Qudsaya. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Mrs. Ahlam, with an image of her daughter Maysam, who was injured in strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Jaafar nour al-Deen, one of the #SAA soldiers killed in the Israeli strikes yesterday. He was not part of the Iranian revolutionary guard but a regular Syrian army soldier. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Qudsaya (قدسيا‎) suburbs, in the vicinity of Damascus (دِمَشْق‎). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have  narrowed the location to the Third Island (الجزيرة الثالثة) area,in houses referred to as the Youth Dormitory (السكن الشبابي). The exact coordinates for this building are: 33.535944, 36.181175.

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  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Sputnik

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    SANA

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    SANA

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Israeli Military

Tonight (Tuesday), IDF fighter jets attacked dozens of military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian army. The targets included surface-to-air missiles, headquarters, weapons depots and military bases in Syrian territory.

The attack was carried out in response to the rocket launch by an Iranian force from Syrian territory into Israeli territory, with the intention of hitting Israeli territory. During it, Syrian surface-to-air missiles were fired despite a clear warning issued to avoid this fire.

"The framework for the IDF's activities is clear and the initiative, it is important to note, is in our hands," described the IDF spokesman, Hedi Zilberman. "24 hours ago, four rockets were fired and intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. We conducted an expedited combat procedure, along with a series of air force attacks we carried out tonight. The attack was extensive compared to the time it took place, it was carried out in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front. "

The Iranian attack on Israeli territory yesterday is further and clear proof of the current Iranian purpose in Syria. This establishment poses a danger to Israel's security, regional stability and the Syrian regime. "As part of the operation, we acted against the host factor - the Syrian factor, and also against Quds Force for its variety of militias," the IDF spokesman added.

The IDF also considers the Syrian regime responsible for what is happening in its territory, and warns it against acting or allowing action against Israel. Such actions will provoke a sharp reaction.

The IDF will continue to act firmly and decisively against the Iranian establishment in Syria, and is highly prepared for a variety of scenarios and will continue to act as much as necessary for the security of the citizens of the State of Israel. "Yesterday we completed a large and extensive exercise that lasted two days with the participation of the Galilee Design and the Volcano Design."

The guidelines of the Home Front Command must be obeyed, which will be updated if necessary.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY004

Incident date

November 12, 2019

Location

المزة, Al Mazza neighborhood, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.497253, 36.236975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed and ten others, including a child, were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on a family home in Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019, according to local sources. One source also reported that Syrian regime missiles reacting to an Israeli air attack also hit nearby homes.

The government’s Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the airstrike targeted the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Akram Al Ajouri. His son Mu’az Al Ajouri was reportedly killed, along with another person named Abdullah Yousef Hassan. Mu’az Al Ajouri’s daughter Batoul was reported injured. And according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Mu’az Al Ajouri’s wife was also injured.

Times of Israel identified “Ajouri’s bodyguard was the other man killed, Hebrew media reported”.

Further sources said that Akram Al Ajouri and his wife were injured in the attack; while others said he was not present in the building at the time of the explosion that took place in the early hours of Tuesday November 12th. According to SANA, the incident occurred around 4:14am.

SANA reported that the explosion caused by the airstrike was strong and that “the building targeted was heavily damaged and windows of nearby buildings and a number of cars were shattered.”

Free Deir Ezzor Radio, however, reported that “in an attempt to respond to an Israeli raid, a rocket fired by the regime forces landed on one of the residential buildings in Al Mazza neighbourhood of western villas near the Lebanese embassy”, reporting a number of killed and wounded people. No other source made this claim.

Step News Agency reported that the strikes targeted Iranian militias: “Israeli shelling targeted several missiles in a residential building where Iranian militias are stationed in Mazza area in Damascus. The initial toll is about 10 dead and several wounded.” It is unclear if these reported fatalities are civilians or belligerents.

Israel Hayom identified the location of the building struck as being near the Lebanese embassy in the western Al-Mazza area of Damascus, adding that “it is not known if it has any connection to the embassy to which it is adjacent”.

The combatant status of both Mu’az Al Ajouri and Abdullah Yousef Hassan was somewhat unclear – with both pictured in uniform prior to their deaths, and Mr al Ajouri given military honours at his funeral (though this may instead have reflected his father’s own status within Islamic Jihad.) However, no other sources identify either men as being a member of a militant organization.

The incident occured at approximately 4:14 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Adult male killed
Child female injured
Adult female injured
Wife of Akram Al Ajouri
Adult female injured

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • Images for an unknown explosion in Mazzeh - West Villas (EuphratesPost)
  • Aftermath of the attack
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neigbourhood in Damascus, November 12th, 2019 (via SANA).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Euphrates Post).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Building on fire after alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Rubble after alleged Israeli strikes on the house of Islamic Jihad leader Akram Al Ajoura in Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Free Deir Ezzor Radio).
  • Edited photo of Abdullah Yousef Hassan, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Khan Danoun Refugee Camp).
  • Edited photo of Abdullah Yousef Hassan, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Khan Danoun Refugee Camp).
  • Abdullah Yousef Hassan was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus' Al Mazza neighbourhood on November 12th, 2019 (via Khan Danoun Refugee Camp).
  • The funeral of Moaz Akram Al Ajouri, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via Sleman Al Ajouri).
  • The body of Moaz Akram Al Ajouri at his funeral, who was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via Sleman Al Ajouri).
  • Moaz Akram Al Ajouri was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via Sleman Al Ajouri).
  • Translation: “The first scenes after the attack on the house of the leader of the "Islamic Jihad" group called "Akram Al Ajouri" in the Mazza area of Damascus” (via Zaman Al Wasl).
  • Translation: “Official source: The explosion at dawn today, Tuesday, in the Al Mazza area, west of Damascus, was caused by an Israeli bombardment of the house of the Palestinian leader in the Jihad Movement, Akram Al-Ajouri, killing his son Moaz and another person, wounding civilians and extensive material damage (# SANA)” (via @Maher_mon).
  • The damaged residential house after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via @Maher_mon).
  • The day after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Mazza neighbourhood in Damascus on November 12th, 2019 (via @Maher_mon).
  • Image of the building destroyed in alleged Israeli strikes on Damascus on November 12, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)
  • Exact location of alleged Israeli strikes on Damascus on November 12, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes (5) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the western area of Al Mazzeh (المزة) neighbourhood. Reviewing audio-visual material we have narrowed down the location of this strike, west of Rahman mosque (جامع الرحمن) to the following coordinates: 33.497253, 36.236975.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the western area of Al Mezzah (المزة) neighbourhood.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Reviewing audio-visual material we have narrowed down the location of this strike, west of Rahman mosque (جامع الرحمن).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged satellite imagery.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material.

    Imagery:
    Euphrates Post

  • Tagged panoramic stitch of audio-visual material.

    Imagery:
    SANA

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY003

Incident date

July 1, 2019

Location

أشرفية صحنايا, Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.433659, 36.245227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 16 civilians, including two to three children and a woman, were reportedly killed and 21 to 50 others were injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes that targeted several military sites in the Damascus countryside after midnight on July 1st, 2019, according to local sources.

The strike resulted in the first significant reported civilian harm from recent Israeli actions, with five named civilians locally reported killed – despite several hundred declared airstrikes against Iranian and Hezbollah forces and the Assad regime in recent years.

According to Free Deir Ezzor Radio, an Israeli missile (possibly launched by a naval vessel) killed a number of civilians when its impact shattered the glass windows of a house in Sahnaya. The Syrian-regime affiliated SANA News claimed that four civilians were killed, including a baby, in addition to 21 others injured, also including children. Numerous other sources also cited 21 as the number wounded in the attack.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights provided the names of five civilians killed: Elaf Ratib Bakri Pasha, baby girl; Abdulrahman Anas Abdulrahman Al-Bayat, child; Anas Abdulrahman Al-Bayat, man; Ratib Mustafa Bakri PashaRama Imad Yahya Arnavut, female.

Homs News also reported the names of 20 people injured and treated at Hisham medical clinic: Aya Al Shouli 15 years old; Bassam Fares Al Eid Al Omar 60 years old; Mohammad Shaheen Omar 24 years old (seriously injured); Rami Shaheen Omar 48 years old (seriously injured); Hamad Hatoush 23 years old; Hiba Hartoush Al Omar 1 month old
Nour Khaled Omar 24 years old; Ahlam Al Ali 19 years old; Abd Al Rahhman Al Khaled; Houssin Al Sheikh; Ghayth Kalhous 16 years old; Nofal Ali; Imad Khaled 24 years old; Mohammad Abd Al Kareem 15 years old; Ziyna Ma’rouf; Abd Al Majeed; Ghofran Dakak 13 years old; Yazan Za’yter 13 years old; Fayha’ Ayoub 30 years old; Ahmad Al Sheikh; Narjas Mheiyedeen

News agency AFP said that six civilians including three children died, along with nine “mostly foreign pro-regime fighters.”

The New York Times, citing an anonymous Syrian government official, placed the civilian fatality toll as high as 10: “Another figure close to the Syrian government who was briefed on the strikes and who requested anonymity to discuss secret military information put the total death toll from the attacks higher, saying that at least 16 had been killed, including five Syrian Army personnel, one Iranian and 10 civilians and that 49 others had been wounded.” People’s Dispatch reported that 16 civilians, including a child, were killed and 21 others were wounded.

Meanwhile, Step News alleged that “twelve civilians were killed, including four people from one family,” and that about “50 people, including children and infants, were injured by Israeli airstrikes targeting several positions of the Syrian regime and its pro-Iranian militias.” The same source named two locations in discussion of the incident, referring to casualties in Sahnaya and Jdaidt Artouz. However other sources did not cite civilian harm in Jdaidt Artouz.

NFAC, and other sources named two of those killed as “Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha and daughter Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha”, referring to Mr Bakri Pasha as a doctor. Enab Baladi News stated that among those killed were “displaced citizens from the neighbouring city of Darya.”

@zamanalwsl, and other sources, also reported that “a whole family (father, mother and baby) were killed” in the attack, while another source named “Anas  Al Bayat, his baby son Abdul Rahman, and his wife, Rama Arna’out” as among the fatalities.

SANA quoted a military source who reported that their “air defenses intercepted hostile missiles fired by Israeli warplanes from the Lebanese airspace towards some of our military positions in Homs and the surroundings of Damascus.” The news agency added that “due to the pressure which resulted from the explosions which occurred in the sky over Damascus, material damage was inflicted on a number of civilians’ houses in Sahnaya town as the glass of the houses was shattered causing injury to a number of people.”

The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights was the only source that expressed uncertainty, reporting that it was unknown whether the casualties were caused by Israeli shelling or the remnants of the Israeli missiles.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry later accused Israel of “heinous aggression” according to the Guardian: “Israeli authorities are increasingly practising state terrorism,” the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official Sana news agency on July 2nd. “The latest heinous Israeli aggression falls within the framework of ongoing Israeli attempts to prolong the crisis in Syria,” it added.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the Israeli military had declined to comment on the Syrian claims of civilian deaths, telling its reporter. “We are not commenting on foreign reports.”

According to Masra Al Arabia, the Syrian official media reported that “the Syrian air defenses responded, after midnight, to enemy missiles launched by the Israeli occupation forces at some military sites in Homs and the vicinity of Damascus, killing a number of civilians, including a child, and wounding others in the town of Sahnaya in the southern countryside of Damascus.” A military source told the Syrian News Agency (SANA) that the Israeli warplanes launched their missiles from Lebanese airspace.

SANA’s correspondent pointed out that 4 civilians were killed, including a one-month-old child, and 21 were wounded, including children, in Sahnaya town in Damascus countryside, as a result of the aggression, noting that the wounded were transferred to hospitals where they received the necessary treatment.

EA Worldview News pointed out that the neighborhood of Sahnaya, where the civilian casualties reportedly occurred, is only a few hundreds yards away from the Mezzeh base. Other sites reportedly struck by Israel that night – though with no known associated reports of civilian harm – included Mezzeh military airport, Dimas, Ksoua, Qatana and Khan Al Sheikh. The Times of Israel added that one of the locations struck was “a hangar likely storing advanced weaponry or other military equipment” outside of Damascus.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation released a statement condemning the attack “that grossly violate the sovereignty of Syria”.

The incident occured after midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child female Other source named her 'Elas' killed

Family members (3)

Child male Baby, 7 months old killed

The victims were named as:

15 years old female injured
24 years old male Seriously injured injured
48 years old male Seriously injured injured
23 years old male Or Hamada Hartoush injured
1 month old years old female injured
24 years old female injured
19 years old injured
16 years old injured
Age unknown injured
years old male 24 injured
13 years old injured
13 years old injured
30 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 16
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Video showing the moment of impact when a missile struck the Syrian regime forces in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Medics tending to the civilians who were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Sahnaya town in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Medics tending to the civilians who were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Sahnaya town in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Video of alleged Israeli missiles on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Video Caption Translation: "Four civilians, including an infant, were killed by Israeli shelling of the Damascus and Homs governorates" (via RT Arabic)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An infant casualty following the airstrike (via @HoseinMortada)
  • Image translation The names of wounded people from Hisham medical clinic Aya Al Shouli 15 years old Bassam Fares Al Eid Al Omar 60 years old Mohammad Shaheen Omar 24 years old (seriously injured) Rami Shaheen Omar 48 years old (seriously injured) Hamad Hatoush 23 years old Hiba Hartoush Al Omar 1 month old Nour Khaled Omar 24 years old Ahlam Al Ali 19 years old Abd Al Rahhman Al Khaled Houssin Al Sheikh Ghayth Kalhous 16 years old Nofal Ali Imad Khaled 24 years old Mohammad Abd Al Kareem 15 years old Ziyna Ma’rouf Abd Al Majeed Ghofran Dakak 13 years old (via @dania_saaty)
  • Translation: “Treating the wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression in the city of #Sahnaya #Damascus” (via @jamlyyyyy).
  • Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha (left) was killed alongside his daughter Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha were killed in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Baladi News).
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a family as a result of the aggression last night on the town of Sahnaya and the martyrs are Anas al-Bayat and his son the baby Abdul Rahman and his wife Rama Arna’out" (via @0pL7NYrCA4SYZ3U)
  • Caption Translation: "Martyr Abdul Rahman, seven months who was martyred in # Sahnaya yesterday by the Zionist raids on the countryside of Damascus" (via @wasem258).
  • Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha was killed alongside his daughter in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via NFAC).
  • Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha was killed alongside her father in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via NFAC).
  • Image of alleged Syrian regime air defence responding to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • Syrian regime air defence reportedly responded to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • Image of alleged Syrian regime air defence responding to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • ImageSat International
  • ImageSat International
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Image from @QalaatAlMudiq
  • The wounded being evacuated following alleged Israeli strikes outside of Damascus on July 1, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)
  • The wounded being treated following alleged Israeli strikes outside of Damascus on July 1, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (أشرفية صحنايا) for which the generic coordinates are: 33.433659, 36.245227. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 16
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-120619

Incident date

June 12, 2019

Location

تل الحارة, Tal Al Hara, Daraa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Israeli airstrikes were launched against Tal Al Hara in Daraa on June 12, 2019.

Mohammed Hourani, correspondent of the news agency “Step News” in Daraa: “The Israeli raids targeting, before dawn today, the area of Jabajeb and Hill strategic Tal Hl Hara north of Daraa and witnessed the outbreak of fire there after being bombed.”

Step News added “Our correspondent pointed out that Tal al-Harah has radars, communications and vehicles belonging to the IRGC, which is frequented by Korean and Iranian officers from time to time, while the Jabbab region is a missile base supervised by Iran.”

No other information was available.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-020619

Incident date

June 2, 2019

Location

مطار T4, T4 airport, Homs, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one soldier was killed and two others were injured in alleged Israeli strikes on the T4 airport in Homs eastern countryside on June 2, 2019.

Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the airstrikes “resulted in one martyr, two injured soldiers, damage to an ammo depot, and material damage to some structures and equipment.” In addition, they credited the anti-air defense system as destroying two of the missiles that targeted the airport.

No other sources reported on this incident.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-010619

Incident date

June 1, 2019

Location

تل الشعار, Tal Al Sha’ar, Quneitra, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded in declared Israeli strikes on Tal Al Sha’ar in Quneitra on June 1, 2019.

Sputnik News reported that the Israeli strikes “led to the rise of three soldiers and wounding seven others in addition to material damage.” Syrian Arab News Agency also confirmed the death of “three martyrs and wounding seven soldiers were injured in addition to some material losses.”

A spokesman for the IDF tweeted “Israel defense sources targets a number of military targets in Syria # in response to the firing of two rockets at the # Jabal al-Sheikh north of Al Golan on Saturday evening. Among the targets: two artillery batteries and several monitoring and intelligence sites in the Golan area as well as a sa2 air defense battery.”

The incident occured at 04:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Assad regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    7

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Israeli Military

A spokesman for the IDF tweeted "Israel defense sources targets a number of military targets in Syria # in response to the firing of two rockets at the # Jabal al-Sheikh north of Al Golan on Saturday evening. Among the targets: two artillery batteries and several monitoring and intelligence sites in the Golan area as well as a sa2 air defense battery."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Assad regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    7

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-270519

Incident date

May 27, 2019

Location

القنيطرة, Quneitra, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one soldier was killed and another was wounded in alleged Israeli strikes on the Quneitra countryside on May 27, 2019.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, “at 09.10 p.m., the Israeli enemy targeted one of the Syrian military sites to the east of Khan Arnabeh in Quneitra countryside. The source added that the Israeli aggression claimed the life of one soldier and injured another one.”

RT quoted “Earlier in the day, Syrian anti-aircraft fire was directed at an Israeli military aircraft that was flying in the north of the country and the Syrian anti-aircraft shell fell inside Syria,” IDF spokesman Avichay Adrei wrote in Twitter.”

The incident occured at 21:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–10

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–10

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-170519

Incident date

May 17, 2019

Location

دمشق, Damascus, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Israeli air strikes were launched against Damascus on May 17, 2019.

According to Euphrates Post, “Israeli air raids targeted the Assad regime sites shortly before the capital Damascus, air raids targeted the headquarters of the first division in the city of Al-Keswa, in conjunction with the launch of surface-to-air missiles from the air defense bases of the regime.”

No estimates of casualties or any other information is available at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]