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

Belligerent
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
8669 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

CS011

Incident date

October 7, 2014

Location

سلوك, Suluk, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.59539, 39.128559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources reported that a named civilian male as being killed in a coalition strike on Slouk near Ar Raqqah. The sources mention another male [CS010] but it’s not clear if the incidents are linked. One of the sources claims both males were ISIL members but the rest of the sources say they were civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salama Mohammad Al Thiab
Adult male Listed by Syrian Martyrs killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Civcas reported from coalition airstrike in Slouk, Raqqa province. No further information on time or location. The coordinates for ( سلوك ) Slouk are: 36.59539, 39.128559

  • ( سلوك ) Suluk

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Tweet claiming that Salama Mohammad al Thiab and Khalil Ibrahim Al Sheikho [incident CS010] are daesh members from al Hamam. The tweet reports their death in air raids. 7th October 2014
  • Raqqa Media Office reports the death of Salama Mohammad al Thiab and Khalil Ibrahim Al Sheikho [incident CS010] 7th October 2014.

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 Suluk, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • 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

The coalition has confirmed activity in the area for October 7th-8th 2014, noting that “Two airstrikes northwest of Ar Raqqah successfully struck an active ISIL training camp and associated ISIL fighters.” However it has denied any non-combatant casualties.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1301

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963172, 38.035655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Assad regime warplanes killed one civilian, a young man, and wounded two others on the road outside the Maskana souk, Aleppo, local reports alleged.

“Airstrikes also targeted the main highway near Bado neighbourhood and the entrance to the souq of Maskana city in the eastern suburbs where a young man was martyred and others were injured,” said an LCCSY Facebook post. Other sources corroborated this report: @HalabTodayTV, @RadioAlKul, @ALAMAWI, and Step News all ran reports using similar language.

Most reports did not state the identity of the warplanes, but LCCSY and the Smart News Agency said the planes were Russian.

However, Radio Alkul said that the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (17) [ 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 strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

CI054

Incident date

March 28, 2015

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375659, 42.451536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to an internal CENTCOM document, according to a self-reported night time incident involving an American aircraft may have caused civilian casualties: “US F-16 may have unintentionally struck the nearest collateral object (NCO) and unintentionally struck a car that moved into the FOV [field of view.]“

The outcome of any investigation at the time the document was collated (most likely early May 2015) was not known.

Local media did describe a car as being among the objects destroyed in Coalition raids on the day.

As of December 2017, the outcome of any assessment remained unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Tal Afar Storage facility, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • US F-16 may have unintentionally struck the nearest collateral object (NO) and may have unintentionally struck a car that moved into the FOV.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS097

Incident date

July 11, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.90566, 39.17953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young civilian male named as Issa Al Hmeidan was reportedly killed along with an Islamic State militant in a confirmed US airstrike near Ar Raqaa. According to a number of sources, aircraft targeted a sugar factory which was used as a base by the militants.

In January 2016, CENTCOM admitted civilian casualties had been inflicted in the attack: “During counter-ISIL strikes it was assessed one civilian was killed. A post-strike review revealed a secondary explosion from a vehicle crossing a bridge nearby the intended target; this explosion resulted in one civilian likely killed.”

CENTCOM’s ommission of the deceased mans’ biographical details indicates that credible external sources had not played a major role in the casualty assessment.

In  July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for this event to within an accuracy of a 100 metres box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Issa Al Hmeidan
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.9505639, 39.0094148

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV162735
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 22, 2016

  • On July 11, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during counter-ISIL strikes it was assessed one civilian was killed. A post-strike review revealed a secondary explosion from a vehicle crossing a bridge nearby the intended target; this explosion resulted in one civilian likely killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Ar Raqqah, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL structure and destroyed an ISIL excavator.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2447

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

العشارة شارع الحكمة , al Hikma street, Al-A'shara, Syria

Geolocation

34.92, 40.56 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An airstrike hit the town of Al-A’shara in Deir Ezzor on September 14th 2017. It is unclear if any civilians were killed; some sources including the Syrian Human Rights Committee reported the death of one girl, Rahef Hussein Al-Ali Ma’and, but others stated that she was only injured and that no civilians were killed. One other child, Wissam Hussein Ali Al Hassan, was reported injured.

Asharq Asouri reported that the strikes ‘focused on al-Jaber and al-Ahmad Ali neighborhoods near the court.’

Euphrates Post reported that two foreign families believed to be members of ISIS were killed in the strike, but Facebook user Amin al Huweish commented on their post that ‘no one [had been] reported killed’.

It is unknown which belligerent was responsible for the strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rahef Hussein Al-Ali Al-Ma'and
Child female killed
Wissam Hussein Ali Al Hassan
Child male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 children)
  • 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
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Rahaf Hussein Ali Al-Ma'and was reported killed on September 14th 2017 by air strikes that hit the town of Al-A'shara. (via Marsad al Hasaka and Euphrates Post)
  • Wissam Hussein Ali Al Hassan was injured by airstrikes that hit the town of Al-A'shara on September 14th 2017. (via Euphrates Post)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 children)
  • 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
    Unknown, Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS171

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

الغازلي, Al Ghazili, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.69735, 38.95634 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, CENTCOM later confirmed the death of a civilian in a US airstrike in Al Ghazili, near Ayn Isa.

According to the official release, “On Feb. 2, 2016, in Al Ghazili, Syria, near Ayn Isa, during a strike on an ISIL vehicle, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after unexpectedly driving into the target area after weapons were already in flight.”

Our researchers have so far not been able to locate any additional reports relating to this incident.

In January 2017 the Coalition stated that that it had not been involved in a claimed civilian casualty event in Hama governorate on this date. However an official later informed Airwars that the correct date for this secondary allegation was February 15th 2016.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 36.3106469, 39.0171129

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    in Al Ghazili, Syria, near Ayn Isa
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA961613
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 22, 2016

  • On Feb. 2, 2016, in Al Ghazili, Syria, near Ayn Isa, during a strike on an ISIL vehicle, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after unexpectedly driving into the target area after weapons were already in flight.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1863

Incident date

December 2–4, 2018

Location

البوبدران, Al Soussa: al Boubadran, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.542338, 40.959091 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child from the town of Abu Kamal died of his injuries according to multiple sources, following shrapnel injuries to the head received at some point in an air or artillery strike between December 2nd and 4th.

Abdul Aziz Maher Jamal Al-Khabour died in the village of al Boubadran near al Soussa.

Smart News said that a source close to the child told the agency that “he was killed by  shrapnel that hit his head with the bombing of an international coalition”.

Shaam News was the only source to report that multiple civilians were killed and injured, though this is likely relate to earlier events.

On February 4th 2021, the US-led Coalition monthly strike report assessment revealed that the incident was deemed ‘non-credible’: “After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Aziz Maher Jamal Al-Khabour
Child male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Aziz Maher Jamal Al-Khabour from the town of Albuqamal, alleged killed in a Coalition airstrike on the village of Albobadran (via Euphrates Post, Dec. 4th 2018).
  • Abdul Aziz Maher Jamal Al-Khabour from the town of Albuqamal, alleged killed in a Coalition airstrike on the village of Albobadran (via SN4HR, December 7th 2018).

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU797240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 4, 2021

  • Dec. 2, 2018, in al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3249/CS1863 37SFU797240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

On Dec. 2, 2018 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 23 military strikes consisting of 51 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Hajin, 23 strikes engaged two tactical units, and destroyed four command and control nodes, one building, one storage site, six staging areas, six supply routes, one tactical vehicle and three fighting positions, and suppressed seven supply routes and one fighting position.

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For November 28th-Dec 4th, the Dutch MoD reported that its F-16's supported ground troops in the fight against IS during 9 missions. Weapons were deployed during 7 missions above Deir Ezzor in Syria, targeting vehicles, logistical places and ISIS fighters.

In het overzicht van 28 Nov- 4 Dec laat MinDef weten tijdens 9 missies F-16's te hebben ingezet ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen in de strijd tegen IS. Bij 7 missies boven Deir al Zour in Syrie werden wapens ingezet. Voertuigen, logistieke plaatsen en IS-strijders zijn geraakt.

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS981a

Incident date

June 13, 2017

Location

Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.967089, 39.023021 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, one civilian was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

According to the report “Fadi Qahir Mohammeda al-Nashif, 23, a lorry driver, was killed in an airstrike while driving on the northern outskirt of Raqqa.”

His mother, Umm Fadi, gave a testimony to Amnesty stating that “My son was killed while driving his truck. An air strike hit his truck. He had just got married.”

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fadi Qahir Mohammeda al-Nashif
23 years old male a lorry driver, just married killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Not yet assessed.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    US-led Coalition