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

Incident Code

RS3171

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

جسرين, Jisreen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5112138, 36.3881891 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve named civilians including women and children were killed, and dozens were injured, in air and artillery strikes which hit the residential neighbourhoods in Jisreen. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for the airstrikes.

One source reported that there were dozens of airstrikes on the vicinity.

As many as four children and six women were killed, sources said.

Syrian Civil Defence reported that “dozen [were] trapped under the rubble” in the aftermath of the raids. Footage and images show members of the Civil Defence pulling victims from the rubble.

The White Helmets added that “the number of martyrs in the city of Jisreen had risen to 11, including 4 children and 6 women as a result of renewed targeting of residential neighborhoods by air strikes and artillery shells.”

Radio Amal FM said that there had been “more than ten air strikes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (4 children6 women3 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 5th March 2018. (via @SaadEddin_souma)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim is pulled rom the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 5th March 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Victims are pulled rom the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 5th March 2018. (via @MOAZALSHAMY)

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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (4 children6 women3 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

RS3176

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 23 civilians were killed and dozens more were wounded in a reported chloride attack on Hamouriya, local media reported. Media blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the strikes which reportedly included cluster and barrel bombs, and surface-surface missiles.

Twenty civilians were named, however, three additional victims were named as unidentified adult males. Sources reported as many as 30 cases of suffocation, with “dozens of martyrs, wounded and trapped under the rubble.”

Sources reported not only chloride gas, but the use of cluster munitions, barrel bombs and surface-surface missiles.

@SiegeWatch reported that there was a “chemical attack today after UN aid convoy left #EasternGhouta. A barrel bomb hit a residential area of Hamouriya & started emitting a chlorine-like gas. Several families rushed to a medical centre.”

@SiegeWatch added that there had been “Devastation today [March 5th] in Hamouriya , where an estimated 23 civilians were killed in Syrian government and Russian attacks using cluster munitions, barrel bombs, surface-surface missiles, and airstrikes”.

Syria Noor said the attack happened “in the middle of the night, [when] the regime targeted a town of Hamouriya with toxic gases believed to be chlorine gas, causing dozens of civilians to suffer suffocation.”

According to Syria Noor – who blamed the regime – the attack came “in the middle of the night”.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Muayyed Kharban
Age unknown killed
Haneen Ali Sursq
Age unknown killed
Abdel Salam El Masry
Age unknown killed
Bilal Badra
Age unknown killed
Yeheya Bakir
Adult male killed
Yahya Mohammed Shaho
Age unknown killed
Ghaieth Bakir
Adult male killed
Ali al-Aghawani
Adult male killed
Diyab Aghawani
Adult male killed
Talal
Adult male killed
Rateb al-Erbeni
Adult male killed
Sariya Issa
Adult male killed
Ahmad Issa
Adult male killed
Abdelrahman Issa
Adult male killed
Tareiq Hamdou
Adult male killed
Fayez al-Tereh Omar
Adult male killed
Muhammed Ekhshou
Adult male killed
Ammar Al-Masri
Age unknown killed
Samer Badra
Age unknown killed
Yahya Bakr
Age unknown killed
Majed Iyass
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 23
  • (12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the chemical attack on Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @mohamed1aldaher)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the chemical attack on Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @aboalhodaalhom)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • A child who suffocated in the aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims suffer from the chemical attack on Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @Omar_Madaniah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tariq Hamdou Abu Ziad, killed in airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via Shaker Alhusayni )
  • Tariq Hamdou Abu Ziad, killed in airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via Shaker Alhusayni )
  • Fayez Omar Al-Tarah, killed in airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via Maher Assar)

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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 23
  • (12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3177

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

جسرين, Jisreen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5112138, 36.3881891 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and nine civilians including three children were killed, and dozens more were wounded, in airstrikes on Jisreen, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

Most sources attributed the blame to the Syrian regime; however, the Violations Documentation Centre, who named six fatalities, blamed “Syrian government and affiliated militias” and, in one case solely Russia.

According to the Smart News Agency (SNN), who said that this was the work of Russia, “warplanes launched more than 15 air strikes on the town, killing nine civilians and wounding several others as an initial proceeds, the teams transferred to medical points in the region.”

Only six victims were named despite most sources reporting that the death toll was eight or nine.

The shelling struck a residential neighbourhood with more than 15 strikes. Several sources noted that Russia was targeting bridges in Eastern Ghouta.

Enab Baladi said that the strikes occurred in the morning.

 

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (3 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A dead body on the streets of Jisreen in the aftermath of airstrikes. (via @mhmdzaml)
  • Wounded civilians receive treatment in the aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 6th March 2018. (via @Press_Alaaahmad)
  • Wounded civilians receive treatment in the aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 6th March 2018. (via @Press_Alaaahmad)
  • Wounded civilians receive treatment in the aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 6th March 2018. (via @Press_Alaaahmad)
  • Wounded civilians receive treatment in the aftermath of airstrikes on Jisreen, 6th March 2018. (via @Press_Alaaahmad)

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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (3 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS252

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

كوهارة, Kokhra village, Mobata, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.514444, 36.704444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, named as 50-year-old Asa’ad Izzat, died in an alleged Turkish shelling of Kokhra village, according to local media.

According to ANHA, Turkish strikes targeted the villages Mirkan and Kakhera of Mobata district, which in the case of Mirkan, killed one adult man who was transferred to a hospital in Afrin.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Asa’ad Izzat
50 years old male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Asa'ad Izzat Mustafa, killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Kokhra village, Mobata, Afrin, 6th March 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of alleged Turkish airstrikes on Mirkan villages, 6th March 2018. (via Turkey untold)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kokhra village, Mobata, Afrin (كوهارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.514444, 36.704444. 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3178

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52034, 36.36494 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to five civilians, including a girl, were killed, and several others were injured in air and artillery strikes on the residential neighbourhood of Hazza. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

Qasioun News reported on “artillery shelling by the regime’s forces” in the residential area.

There were as many as three raids with huge amounts of material damage.

Members of the Syrian Civil Defence were pictured evacuating injured victims from the rubble. Many were transferred to medical points outside the vicinity.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence members drag victims from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS253

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

كورتكة, Kortka village, Shara district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.580103, 36.886860 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in an alleged Turkish shelling of Kortka village, according to local media.

Rok Online reported: “Our correspondent said that the Turkish artillery bombardment of the village of Kortaka in the Shara district, east of the province, led to the death of one person, amid continuing clashes in the vicinity of Shara between the protection units of the people and the Turkish forces and its Islamic militias.” Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights referred to “a number of martyrs”, reportedly counting both Kurds, Arabs and Armenians.

ANHA reported that Kortka was targeted by “artillery shelling”, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that civilians were killed by “Turkish air, artillery and missile attacks”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmed Farouk Jalloussi
52 years old male killed
Rifa’at Jalloussi
57 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rifaat Jalousi, killed in alleged Turkish shelling on Kortka village, Shara district, Afrin, 6th March 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rifaat Jalousi, killed in alleged Turkish shelling on Kortka village, Shara district, Afrin, 6th March 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • Ahmed Farouk Jalloussi, killed in alleged Turkish shelling on Kortka village, Shara district, Afrin, 6th March 2018. (via Afrin Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kortka village, Shara district, Afrin (كورتكة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.580103, 36.886860. 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
    2
  • (2 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3180

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians were killed, including a 20 day old baby, and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Arbeen, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

A child was trapped under the rubble for an extended period of time due to the collapse of a residential building in the vicinity.

There were as many as 11 airstrikes, and the raid allegedly occurred in the morning.

According to @Damaskiagency, “three civilians, including a girl and her mother, were killed in airstrikes by Assad and Russian forces”.

The Smart News Agency put the death toll at four including one child.

On March 6th, Erbeencity2014 noted “two air raids by Russian warplanes targeting residential neighborhoods in the city, bringing the total number of raids to 11 air strikes since the morning until the present moment”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

20 days years old female killed
Adult female killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies are dragged from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 6th March 2018. (via Step News Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies are dragged from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 6th March 2018. (via Smart News Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Amira al-Qarsa, killed in an airstrike on Arbeen, 6th March 2018. (via SYRIA.FMN)

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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1736

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

الشفعة, Al Sha'afa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four families of Tajik nationality were reportedly killed as a result of airstrikes on the town of Al Sha’afa, according to local sources.

All reports stated that the non combatant victims were related to members of so-called Islamic State. Although the sources implied that women and children were harmed by the bombardments, no names, photos or other details were provided. Euphrates Post for example noted that “Four families of Tajik nationality [immigrants belonging to Daesh] were killed by air raids on the town of Al-Sha’afa yesterday.”

Reports from Baladi and Al Sharq Al Souri Agency identified the “International Coalition” as the culprit.

In addition, al Sharq al Souri noted the death in an airstrike that day of “Abu Osman al-Shami from al-Hisan village, one of Islamic State’s medical officials.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 16
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 6th, the Coalition reported: “On Mar. 6 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of six engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged two Daesh tactical units and destroyed a Daesh supply route, a front end loader and a staging facility.”

Unknown
  • English
    /
    Original

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 16
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]