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

CS309

Incident date

September 12, 2016

Location

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.056316, 40.730438 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unknown civilian casualty incident, CENTCOM reported on September 13th that civilians may have been killed or injured after a non-ISIL vehicle strayed into a strike kill box.

“On Sep. 12, near Ash Shaddadah, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL target, what appeared to be a non-military vehicle drove into the target area after the weapon was released from the aircraft,” CENTCOM reported.

While no civilian deaths were publicly reported at the time, heavy clashes took place in the viciinity. As the Syrian Observatory noted on the day, “Islamic State has bombed areas controlled by SDF in al Ziyanat village in the al Shadadi countryside south of al Hassaka, in conjuntion with violent clashes on the outskirts east of the town of Shadadi between the two sides, following a violent attack by IS in an attempt to advance towards Tal Jayer.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (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
Official source

For September 11th-12th 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Shadadi, nine strikes engaged eight ISIL tactical units and destroyed 14 fighting positions, two bulldozers, a command and control node, a VBIED, a vehicle and a VBIED facility.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1263

Incident date

September 12, 2016

Location

معرة مصرين, Maarat Misreen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.012172, 36.6730499 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians (10 of whom were named) died and as many as 35 more were wounded in airstrikes on Maarat Misreen, local media reported. The majority of sources blamed the Syrian regime for the event – though there were also allegations against Russia.

Syria News Desk – who blamed Moscow – provided the most detail on the incident. It reported: “The death toll from Russian strikes on Maaret Misreen – which is under the control of the opposition – rose to 15 people, including children, with more than 35 wounded.

“The media opposition activist Ammar Hashim told Syria News Desk that the two raids targeted Corniche Road and the fuel market in the town. Bodies were burnt and there were amputations. The injured were taken to hospitals and medical points in the region by the civil defence. There was significant damage to property and the burning of dozens of cars”.

Sadaltwhed also blamed Russia, though put the death count at 11.

However, the majority of sources – including Alsouria, CDS, SMO and RFS – attributed the incident to the regime. Cluster bombs were reportedly used in the attacks.

There was some confused reporting from the Syrian Network for Human Rights: in an initial tweet, it alleged that Russia was responsible – but went on to accuse “government forces”.

A number of other sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, didn’t identify the culprit. The Observatory also put the death toll at 15, including”three from one family and four others from another family”.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee – who blamed “warplanes” – put the number killed at 13, and named 10 victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Al-Absi Badleh
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Bitar
Age unknown male killed
Taghreed Badleh
Age unknown killed
Hala Al-Khaled
Age unknown killed
Khiro Alolo
Age unknown killed
Samer Hamwi
Age unknown killed
Mahroos Al-Khaled
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Abdullah Nadaf Ibrahim Abdullah
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Mahroos Khaled
Age unknown male killed
Wasim Bitar
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–35
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets retrieve a body from the rubble in Maaret Misreen following alleged Regime or Russian shelling, Sept 12th (Youtube via CDS)
  • Footage of civilian casualties arriving at the Centre for Victim Rehabilitation in Maaret Misreen (Youtube via CDS)
  • A news report of the scene in Idlib city following destruction caused by suspected Russian or Regime warplanes, Sept 12th (Youtube via Jisrtv)
  • Dust and smoke rise above a street in Idlib city following the suspected Russian or Regime shelling on the area (Youtube via UAR)
  • Firefighters at work on the streets of Idlib city, local people look on at blazes. The impact of alleged Russian or Regime warplane shelling (Tweet via @syrian191124)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat Misreen (معرة مصرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.012172,36.673049. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    10 – 15
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–35
  • 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

RS1262

Incident date

September 12, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and her two female children were killed and several more civilians wounded in airstrikes on western neighbourhoods of Idlib city, local media said. All but two sources blamed Russia. Baladi and MapnewsAR reported Regime warplanes were responsible. According to MapnewsAR, as many as ten civilians died in the strikes.

According to the Shaam News Network, “activists said Russian warplanes targeted Idlib City with two raids, one of which used cluster bombs. The raid targeted the homes of civilians in the western parts of the city, leaving three martyrs: a mother and her children, and a number of injured people. Civil defense teams worked to take them to hospitals”.

Micro-Syria, Ayyamsyria, Step News Agency, the Smart News Agency, Halab Today TV, LCCSY and Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported the three fatalities – and named Russia as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A news report of the alleged Russian shelling on Idlib city, Sept 12th, including interviews with local people caught in the attacks (Youtube via Alaan)
  • Two children covered in dust carried through the streets of Idlib city - the impact of alleged warplane shelling, Sept 12th. (Tweet via @voiceofsunnies)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Idlib (إدلب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.93062, 36.63393. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1261

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians including three children died and as many as dozens more were wounded in airstrikes in Aleppo’s Al Salheen, neighbourhood according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

The Smart News Agency, Umayya and Step News Agency were among sources blaming Russia – and put the death count at either seven or eight civilians.

However, Al Jazeera attributed the event to the regime.

Some sources blamed both the regime and Russia. For example, Fouadhallak98 said that five people died and dozens were injured in “Assad/Russian warplanes shelling.”

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian and Assad planes continued their violent air raids using phosphorous and cluster bombs on the neighbourhoods of Aleppo and the towns and villages of its countryside. The raids led to the death of seven martyrs in al Salheen neighbourhood in Aleppo and several wounded in Anadan to the north.”

Multiple reports published images showing significant destruction to the neighbourhood – along with wounded civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • A young boy stands in the middle of a ruined street following an airstrike on Al Salheen, Sept 11th (via Step News Agency)
  • Footage of Russian warplane shelling in Al Salheen, Sept 16th, civilians carry the bodies of victims away from the scene (Youtuvbe via SNN)
  • The White Helmet rescue mission in Al Salheen reveals the human cost of suspected Russian warplane attacks (Youtube via Step)
  • The White Helmet rescue team works through the rubble in Al Salheen in an attempt to find civilians (Youtube via CDS)
  • A civilian is pulled from the rubble in Al Salheen by The White Helmet rescue team, Sept 11th (via Step)
  • Destruction and rubble in Al Salheen - the material consequences of alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Step)
  • A photograph of the buildings in Al Salheen destroyed by alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Step)
  • Local people walk through the streets of Al Salheen - destroyed in susepcted Russian warplane raids (via Step)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of the injured and the dead in Al Salheen reveals the human cost of suspected Russian warplane shelling (Tweet via @laith1919)
  • A man climbs through a demolished building in Al Salheen (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A street in Al Salheen full of rubble and demolished buildings following suspected Russian shelling (via RFS) [Page no longer available accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A civilian male, covered in dust, washes his hands in Al Salheen. (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archived]
  • A stretcher is carried through the streets of rubble in Al Salheen (Tweet via @SMARTNewsAgency)
  • Extensive material damage on the streets of Al Salheen. The White Helmets provide aid to victims of alleged Russian warplane shelling (via @thiqanewsagency)
  • Local people and The White Helmet rescue team at the scene in Al Salheen where suspected Russian shelling hit. (Tweet via @Fouadhallak89)
  • Two babies are carried in the arms of local men in Al Salheen. The aftermath of suspected Russian strikes on the neighbourhood (Tweet via @ZakariaNassani)

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
    5 – 8
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1258

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

Umm Jeene, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.763229, 37.247772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Qasioun, “three civilians were killed and others wounded due to Russian warplanes shelling in both Um Jeene and Al-Hootah villages in the western countryside of Aleppo.”

The Step News Agency also put the death toll at three and blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (4) [ 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1259

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

الحامدية, Al Hamdiya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.614779, 36.657085 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Hamdiya village, sources on the ground reported.

According to Shahba, “Many civilians were wounded due to Russian warplanes shelling in Al-Hamediya village in southern Idlib”.

Step News added that “Russian planes targeted the edges of al Hamdiya village south of Maarat al Numan in the southern countryside and there was news of casualties.”

RFS and Omaralmarawi said that many children and women were wounded, but didn’t apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (4) [ 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1260

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Syria News Desk, “seven civilians were killed and dozens wounded in an initial toll following Russian warplane shelling on a vegetable market in al Ferdos neighbourhood in the centre of Aleppo city.”

LCCSY also reported that Russia shelled al Ferdos, but made no mention of civilian harm.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS308

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95809, 39.00111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to six civilians died when a Coalition drone strike targeted a car allegedly belonging to members of Deash in the al Jameli neighborhood of Raqqa, according to local sources. CENTCOM later conceded that “near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that five civilians were killed.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “A car in the center of Al-Raqqah city the main stronghold of the Islamic State in Syria[was] targeted by a drone“. Step News said two members of Daesh were killed inside the car.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, an explosion was heard as “a result of a raid by a drone targeting a car near al Jameli building in the city centre.”

Raqqa Post also reported that five named civilians died, and added: “The international Coalition against Daesh led by Washington launches every now and then drone attacks against Daesh members and HQs in the city and usually these cause casualties among civilians who are living under the fundamentalist regime’s ‘mercy’ – and who are unable to leave the city due to IS forbidding the residents from leaving their lands.”

Shahba Press put the death toll at four, while Raqqa News Network said five died.

Syrian Press Center reported six civilian deaths, including one woman, while Radio al Kul said two were killed.

According to Step News, four civilians who were near the exploding car were killed by shrapnel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Louay Attoura
Adult male killed
Yusuf Najjar
Adult male killed
Walid al Sheikh
Adult male killed
Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa
Adult male killed
Majed Hussein al Faraj
Age unknown male killed
Ghada abd al Fattah
Adult female Wife of Farid Ba’aj, from Deir Ez-Zour killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa, killed in an alleged Coalition drone strike on Raqqa, Sept 10th (via Raqqa post)
  • Walid al Sheikh (via RBSS)
  • Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa (via RBSS)
  • Majed Hussein al Faraj (via RBSS)
  • Translation: Activists: 4 civilians killed and others wounded in air raids on al Jameli neighbourhood in al Raqqa before mid night.
  • Translation: 5 martyrs killed yesterday in an air raid carried out by a drone targeting a car belonging to daesh in al Jameli neighbourhood.

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

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV001793
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that five civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 10th-11th 2016 the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two supply routes and a vehicle“.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (22) [ collapse]