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

TS524 ISSY025

Incident date

July 4, 2022

Location

هوشان, Hoshan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.484055, 38.686187 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to two civilians were reported killed and three others were injured, including two children, on July 4th 2022, when Turkish or Israeli shelling targeted the village of Al-Hoshan in the countryside of Ain Issa, Syria. The majority of the sources blamed Turkey for the attack but Sout Al Hayat reported that it was as a result of Israeli bombing.

According to local sources the civilian killed was Sheikh Mohammed, aged 25. The two injured children were reported to be Khaled Jabal Ahmed, aged 16, and Bouzan Ossi, aged 17. Hawar News also reported that Mohammed Buzan Sabri, aged 25, was injured as well. There is some conflicting information in different sources as Ahmad Al Aidan, a local source on Facebook reported that Buzan Ossi was killed, not injured like in previous reports. The SDF Press Center reported that the Turkish attack killed two civilians, Sheikh Mohammed and Bouzan Ossi, who died in hospital after being subjected to a severe head injury.  The third person reported injured was Cebel Ehmed, aged 16.

North Press Agency reported that the media center of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that the village of Hoshan in the western countryside of Ain Issa district, was hit with artillery shelling by the Turkish forces and the SNA. North Press Agency put the death toll at two civilians and mentioned that two others were injured.

Ain Issa Plus reported that a tunnel digger was killed and two others were injured.

The SDF Press Center reported that this attack happened at 4pm and blamed Turkey.

The incident occured at 16:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Sheikh Mohammed
25 years old male killed
Bouzan Ossi
17 years old male killed
Khaled Jabal Ahmed
16 years old male injured
Cebel Ehmed
16 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Turkish Military, Israeli Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SDF Press Center reported that two civilians have been killed and two injured after Turkish shelling on July 4th 2022.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hoshan (هوشان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.484055, 38.686187. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Turkish Military, Israeli Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY026

Incident date

July 6, 2022

Location

المرج, Al Marj, Quneitra, Syria

Geolocation

33.280500, 35.830590 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 46 year old man was killed in alleged Israeli drone strikes on the town of Al Marj west of Hader on July 6, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a civilian or a member of Hezbollah or regime forces.

Shaam News reported that an Israeli drone killed “Farid Fouad Mustafa” in the area of Hadi’s quarry, adding that he was a member of the “Ba’ath Party” in his town and “he is known for his slander, his participation in a number of massacres and thefts, and his thirst for blood”.

Syrian Arab News Agency, the regime-controlled news agency, also reported that a young man was killed, referring to him as a civilian, and stating that he was killed near his home by an Israeli rocket while @AsharqNewsSYR stated that Mustafa was 46 years old and was killed when the bombardment hit his workplace.

However, @najlaasaadee identified Mustafa as being part of the auxiliary forces of the Syrian Army. @aabnour referred to Mustafa as being “a close associate of the Hezbollah militia” and then went on to say that he  ” is considered one of the personalities close to the Iranian militias and works with a group of elements in the trade and promotion of narcotics for their benefit”.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Israel, and @AsharqNewsSYR added that the drone came from the Syrian Golan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "Farid Fouad Mustafa", killed by an alleged Israeli drone strike on Al Marj on July 6, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether he was a militant of a civilian. (Image posted by @najlaasaadee)
  • "Farid Fouad Mustafa", killed by an alleged Israeli drone strike on Al Marj on July 6, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether he was a militant of a civilian. (Image posted by @aabnour)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Marj (المرج) area, allegedly west of the town of Hader (حضر), in the vicinity of Hadi (هادي) quarry. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Hader are: 33.280500, 35.830590.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY027

Incident date

August 12, 2022

Location

الحميدية, Al Hamidiya, Al Qunaytirah, Syria

Geolocation

33.157384, 35.846972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Israeli forces attack targeted the town of Al-Hamidiya in the Quneitra countryside, in Al Qunaytirah, Syria, on August 12th 2022 which allegedly wounded at least two civilians.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an Israeli tank fired three shells when two people appoached the area and Step Agency reported that the Israeli forces fired at a military site belonging to the Hezmollah militia.

Shaam reported that “the Israeli occupation army radio said that the [Israeli military] attacked a site in Syra in Quneitra that was used by Hezbollah for surveillance, while Iranian sites said that the shelling targeted shepherds as they approached the disengagement zone, and another Russian said that the bombing targeted farmers near the buffer zone with Syria.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Hezbollah

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Hamidiya ( الحميدية), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.157384, 35.846972. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Hezbollah

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY028

Incident date

August 25, 2022

Location

مصياف, Msyaf, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 25th 2022, in the evening, Israeli forces were reported to target Msyaf, in the western countryside of Hama. Reports varied that it was where ammunition warehouses of Iranian backed militias were located, but other sources mentioned that the Israeli forces were “targeting the positions of the Assad regime forces.” Two civilians were reported injured in this attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the attack also caused big fires and destroyed large amounts of weapons and ammuntions.  The attack was also reported to have targeted the “Scientific Research Center.”

A local source on Twitter reported that the General Director of Masyaf National Hospital, Dr. Maher Younes, reported that: “the number of injuries in Masyaf National Hospital reached 14, between mild and moderate severity, most of which were caused by shrapnel and inhalation of fumes.”

Click news outlet reported that 14 people were injured, including two civilians, indicating that others who were injured may have been militants but this is not clear.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Iranian military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • "A rocket fell in the vicinity of Jeb Ramleh" (Msyaf news)
  • A reported Israeli attack allegedly injured two civilians in Msyaf on August 25th 2022 (Image via Msyaf)
  • A reported Israeli attack allegedly injured two civilians in Msyaf on August 25th 2022 (Image via Msyaf)
  • A reported Israeli attack allegedly injured two civilians in Msyaf on August 25th 2022 (Image via Msyaf)
  • A reported Israeli attack allegedly injured two civilians in Msyaf on August 25th 2022 (Image via @Moha19993mmed / Twitter)
  • @jamlyyyyy reported that the wounded were taken to the General Authority of Masyaf Hospital on August 25th 2022 after an alleged Israeli attack (Image via Twitter)
  • A reported Israeli attack hit Msyaf, injuring allegedly two civilians (Images via Click)
  • A reported Israeli attack hit Msyaf, injuring allegedly two civilians (Images via Click)
  • A reported Israeli attack hit Msyaf, injuring allegedly two civilians (Images via Click)

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Iranian military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY029

Incident date

February 19, 2023

Location

كفرسوسة, Kafar Sousa, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and 15 others were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes or Syrian regime defensive missiles on the neighborhood of Kafar Sousa in Damascus on February 19, 2023. Up to 13 militants were also killed and others were wounded.

Syrian Arab News Agency, a Syrian regime run news source, reported that as a result of Israeli air aggression against Damascus and its vicinity, five people were killed, including a soldier, and 15 civilians were injured, some in critical condition.

A tweet from @SARASALLOUM963 identified recruiter Axem Esper (M) [non-civilian], doctor Asif Mahmoud (M), and Colonel Amjad Ali (M) [non-civilian] as victims killed by Israeli strikes on Kafar Sousa. Damascus voice also identified two of the victims on Facebook: “Axem Ibrahim Esber,” the personal escort of the commander of the Damascus Center for the Baath Brigades, member of the People’s Assembly, and head of the Al-Wathba Club, Dr. Youssef Hassan Al-Salama.

@SAMSyria0 tweeted that Dr. Asif Mahmoud was a doctor of internal medicine and cardiac diseases.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) put the number of casualties at 15 killed and others wounded, without specifying how many civilians were among the toll. The “Voice of the Capital” website quoted by Al Araby stated that the bodies of at least 10 people were recovered from the damaged building. Orient News added that the strikes resulted in the death of six Iranians, including two high-ranking officers, and the injury of others.

According to @SARASALLOUM963, the building in Kafar Sousa that was subject to Israeli airstrikes was evacuated. SOHR referred to the location of the strikes as “an Iranian area and school” which resulted in the destruction of a building while @maarouf_lilian tweeted that the strikes hit “an operations headquarters and a meeting of Iranian leaders”. However, @obretix who geolocated the incident pointed out where the Iranian School is located but added that the school wasn’t the target.

Syria TV specified that the raids hit a headquarters of the “Iranian Revolutionary Guard” militia in the security square area in Kafar Sousa,  located near the headquarters of “Unit 840” of the “Revolutionary Guard”. Al Araby News also quoted the “Voice of the Capital” website which stated that the building struck in Kafar Sousa belongs to businessman Fadel Balawi, owner of the Al-Fadhel Money Transfer Company linked to the Lebanese “Hezbollah.” The car garage and rooms under the building’s floor sustained the most damage.

Shaam News reported that according to some Hebrew language media, the bombing of Kafar Sousa may have been caused by “Syrian surface-to-air missiles, not Israeli missiles” while other sources refer to senior figures who were intentionally targeted in the Israeli strikes in Kafar Sousa.

The incident occured at 00:22:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Asif Mahmoud
Age unknown male killed
Youssef Hassan Al-Salama
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (29) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damascus recently
  • One of the victims of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Dr. Asif Mahmoud, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Brigadier General Sharaf Eng. Amjad Ahmed Ali, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Brigadier General Sharaf Eng. Amjad Ahmed Ali, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Brigadier General Sharaf Eng. Amjad Ahmed Ali, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Part of the damage to the historic Damascus Citadel after the Israeli attack yesterday.
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Scenes of the extent of the destruction caused by the Israeli bombing of Kafar Souseh neighborhood in #Damascus, Syria
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • A citizen documents from inside his house the moment an Israeli missile exploded. Lee targeted a residential building in the Kafarsouseh neighborhood of the capital, Damascus, a short while ago.
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @obretix)

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY030

Incident date

February 19, 2023

Location

المزرعة, Al Mazra, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.526388, 36.297152 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed and others were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes or Syrian regime anti-aircraft missiles which struck Al Mazra neighborhood in Damascus on February 19, 2023.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a woman was killed at the Al Mazra roundabout in Damascus by Israeli missiles. A tweet from @alhaidar990 reported that a pharmacist named Lillian Odeh was killed in the Al Mazra district of Damascus. Orient News added that “other people” were injured, in additional to material damage.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the civilian casualties, with the majority of sources attributing the casualties to the Israeli airstrikes while Orient News blamed the anti-aircraft missiles launched by the Syrian regime for killing a woman and injuring other people.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Lillian Odeh ليليان عودة
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Mazra (المزرعة) roundabout, for which the generic coordinates are: 33.526376, 36.297152. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY031

Incident date

February 19, 2023

Location

قلعة دمشق, Damascus castle, Damascus, Syria

Airwars assessment

A guard at a historical site in Damascus was injured by allegedIsraeli airstrikes or Syrian regime anti-aircraft missiles on February 19, 2023.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Syrian regime-run news source, reported that Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus ancient castle, causing the injury of one of its guards on duty. SANA added that in addition to severe material damage to the buildings and administrative offices in the castle, the airstrikes caused destruction in the Technical Institute for Applied Arts and the Technical Institute for Archeology.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the casualties, with Damascus Voice quoting civil sources who blamed the damage on the air defenses while SANA attributed the damage to Israel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Damage to the Damascus castle and citadel on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus Voice via Facebook)
  • Damage to the Damascus castle and citadel on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus Voice via Facebook)
  • Damage to the Damascus castle and citadel on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus Voice via Facebook)
  • Damage to the Damascus castle and citadel on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus Voice via Facebook)
  • Buildings belonging to the ancient #Damascus Citadel were damaged due to the Israeli bombing

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY032

Incident date

April 4, 2023

Location

الكسوة, Al Kisswa, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.358774, 36.252222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 4th, 2023 at 12:15am, an airstrike either launched by Israeli forces or an air defense missile launched by the Syrian regime hit a glass factory in Al-Kisswa, south of Damascus, in Rif Dimashq, resulting in the death of up to two civilians.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a Syrian regime-controlled news source, reported that two civilians were killed and martial damage was caused by the airstrikes. According to Orient news, Amr Niam was one of the people killed and he was described by loyalist pages as someone who reportedly fought 12 years ago with the Assad militia and was killed by “friendly fire” after his demobilization.

Athar Press quoted the head of the municipality of Al-Kisswa, Muhammad Al-Hayek, who said that “the young man (Omar Naim) works as a watchman in the glass warehouse that was targeted at dawn today.” @Kenan80490227 on Twitter corroborated that he was a facility guard, writing about the attack “in which the facility guard spent his last night before he was killed”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights posted on Twitter that one of the dead was a member of “Hezbollah”.

The glass plant sustained infrastructure damage as well. Al-Hayek clarified that the 500 square meter factory was almost. completely damaged. He said, “The glass goods in it have become like sand, in addition to the roof of the warehouse falling to the ground along with the walls,” indicating that this warehouse is private and does not belong to any government agency.

A military source speaking to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) claimed that the Syrian regime air defence system intercepted the missiles and shot them down. Radio Al Kul quoted Voice of Capital, which attributed the civilian casualties to a Syrian regime air defense missile and not an Israeli missile.

The incident occured at 00:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Amr Naim
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • An Israeli missile targeted a glass factory in the Al-Kiswah area in the countryside of Damascus, owned by craftsmen in Damascene glass. The scenes show the recovery of a number of civilian martyrs who were in their workplaces in the factory.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Kisswa (الكسوة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.358774, 36.252222. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1