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

RS1841

Incident date

January 16, 2017

Location

عنيق باجرة , Aneek Bajra village, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.290311, 37.286138 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians – a woman and her children – died in an alleged Russia or regime airstrike on Aneek Bajra village in eastern Hama, according to sources on the ground,

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was among sources blaming the regime, reporting: “Six civilians (a woman and her five children) died when Syrian regime warplanes (allies) missiles fired on Anaiq Bajerra village in Hama governorate eastern suburbs, January 16, 2017.”

However, other sources including the Step News Agency, the Violations Documentation Center (who named five victims) and the Shaam News Network (SNN) attributed the event to Russia.

According to SNN, “Russian warplanes targeted the village of Aneek Bajra in the-eastern side of the  province of Hama, causing an appalling massacre against children and their mother, and destroying several residential buildings in the area.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Abd al-Hamid Abd al-Sattar al-Mostafa
Child male killed
Abd al-Majeed Abd al-Sattar al-Mostafa
Child male killed
Mohammad Abd al-Sattar al-Mostafa
Child male killed
Fatima Abd al-Sattar al-Mostafa
Child female killed
Soria Ahmad al-Rashed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (4–5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (4–5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1840

Incident date

January 16, 2017

Location

تلبيسة , Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8420186, 36.711974 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven named civilians were killed and as many as dozens more were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime air and/or artillery strikes on Talbisah, according to sources on the ground.

Sources were conflicted as to which party caused the civilian harm. There was also some confused reporting. For example, LCCSY initially blamed Russia but then pointed to the regime. The Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and Assad – while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t identify the culprit.

One of those killed was a paramedic and ambulance driver, named as Abdul Majid Wakih. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, he “died when Syrian regime artillery shells fired on Talbisa city while  he was aiding injured of previous shelling”. But RFS media office said that “he was shot dead in the city”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Hadi Khashfa
Adult male killed
Ismail Musa Al Jamous
Adult male killed
Fatima Toumi
Adult female killed
Ayman al-Akeidi
Adult male killed
Abdul Majeed Wakih
Adult male Paramedic and ambulance driver killed
Khaled al-Kaysini
Adult male killed
Kawthar Nabhan
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Khaled al-Kaysini.
  • An artillery shell falls on Talbisah, Jan 16th 2017.
  • 'The moment of the raid - and the martyr Abdul Majid Wakiyeh'

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'The Martyr Ayman Al - Mirjawi'

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'Dozens of injuries and five martyrs as a result of air raids and artillery shelling on the city in the countryside # Homs North'
  • 'Martyr Abdul Majid Wakih'

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI426

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al-Jadid / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3323266, 43.1050515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that 30 civilians were killed and dozens injured in Coalition and governmental airstrikes, as well as artillery and missile shelling, on New Mosul and other neighbourhoods at the right side of Mosul.

A source told Yaqein that “at least three rockets landed in the New Mosul area on the right coast of Mosul” leading to the death of 30 civilians, wounding dozens and destroying many houses.

Correspondences Team also reported that “international Coalition aircraft carried out seven raids, targeting the homes of civilians in the western neighborhoods of the right side of the city of Mosul.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 14th-15th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed a vehicle, a mortar, five supply caches, three fighting positions, a rocket propelled grenade launcher, two VBIED facilities, an ISILheld building, a land bridge, a VBIED; damaged 21 supply routes; disabled an ISIL artillery system; and suppressed an artillery crew.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS052

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including women, a child and a member of the civil defense died in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al Bab, according to local sources.

Al Bab 24 reported that “Hassan Ghazi al Haj, a member of the civil defense in Al Bab died from wounds sustained in Turkish raids on the city.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “four civilians including a child and a woman died in a Der’ Al Furat forces- supported Turkish forces artillery shelling on Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Ghazi al Haj
Age unknown male named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Yahya Mohammad al Basha
Age unknown male named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Sawass family
Age unknown female named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
The wife of Ahmad Salah Qassem al Khalil
Age unknown female named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (1 child2 women2–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (1 child2 women2–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1839

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Location

اللابد موحسن, Al-Labed, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2257487, 40.3109038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 24 people were killed in an airstrike on Al-Labed, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some attributing blame to the Syrian regime, and others pointing to Russian warplanes.

Most sources reported that seven civilians were killed, however some later reports vaguely suggested that as many as “dozens were killed” – which is much higher than the initial reporting.

Only two civilians were named as wounded, despite most sources reporting that “dozens were wounded”, in a “massacre”, on Al-Labdel.

One source reported that six of the civilians were from the same family. One of the women was allegedly pregnant.

Additionally, it is reported that some of the injured were in a critical condition, therefore it is expected that the number of deaths was to rise.

Many residential homes were also reportedly destroyed in the raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Jumana Jaber Al-Makhlaf
Adult female killed
The husband Abu Malek Al-Bourdani
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Khalil Al Layli’s second daughter
Child female in a serious condition injured
Jaber Al-Makhlaf
Age unknown in a serious condition injured
Nasra al-Nasser
Adult female the wife of Jaber al-Makhlaf killed
Khalil Al Layli’s daughter
Child female killed
The wife of Jaber al-Makhlaf
Adult female killed
Jumana Jaber al-Makhlaf and fetus 
Adult female pregnant killed
husband of Jumana “ Wassim al-Sulaiman al-Hasan”
Adult male killed
Alaa Khalil al Waka’a
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 24
  • (1–2 children2–4 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 24
  • (1–2 children2–4 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1838

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Location

الحميدية, Al Hamidiya neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as five civilians were killed – including a family of three – and others were injured in alleged shelling on Alhamediya. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Some blamed the Syrian regime, while others blamed Russia. Multiple sources even attributed blame to both belligerents.

It must be noted that multiple sources reported that “five civilians were martyred and others were injured by the shelling of the Al-Hamidiya and Al-Aridi neighbourhoods in the town of Deir Al-Zour.” It remains unclear as to where all five of these five civilians were killed. SN4HR amongst other sources added that this death toll included two women and two children.

A picture of the child Abdullah Rashed Alwan, who was killed in the raid on Alhamediya, was published by many social media sites. He died along with his parents.

It was reported that the aerial bombardment consisted of missiles.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Rashed Isa al-Elwan "al-Kjaije"
Adult male killed
Inaam Ali al-Elwan
Adult female killed
Abdulla Rashed Isa al-Elwan
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdullah Rashed Alwan, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on 15th January 2017, Alhamediya. (via @MousaAlomar)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1837

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Location

دكيلة, Dakila, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.176972, 37.383642 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and a girl were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Dakila. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid. There are no reports of wounded civilians.

There are no other details at this time.

The incident occured during the day.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI425

Incident date

January 14, 2017

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, al-Jadid, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3323266, 43.1050515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “In the afternoon of 14 January, airstrikes reportedly targeted the house of an ISIL local leader in the Mosul al Jadida neighbourhood of western Mosul. The attack resulted in the collapse of the targeted house and of an adjacent house, allegedly killing 19 civilians, including seven women and four children, and wounding 11 others, including three women and a child.”

Airwars researchers have so far identified no known public allegations of civilians killed or injured relating to this incident.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (4 children7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Airwars assessment uses the generic coordinates for al Jadida/New Mosul (الموصل الجديدة), which are 36.3323266, 43.1050515. For reasons unknown, the Military Grid Reference coordinates published by the Coalition and accurate to one metre are outside of the boundary of al Jadida.

  • Al Jadida, also known as New Mosul (الموصل الجديدة) and the MGRS coordinate published with the US-led Coalition's assessment.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3343518367
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient information available to determine if civilians were present or harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 13th-14th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed four fighting positions, two heavy machine guns, two watercraft, an ISIL headquarters building, a VBIED; and damaged eight supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (4 children7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]