Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0019

Incident date

October 7, 2023

Location

عبسان الكبيرة, Abasan Al Kabira, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.323417, 34.347364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 7th 2023, at least one civilian woman was killed and at least five civilians were injured in an alleged bombing on the home of the Abu Daqqa family in the town of Abasan al Kabira in the Gaza Strip. No sources identified the alleged perpetrator of the attack – Airwars has therefore categorised the incident as ‘contested’ until further information comes to light.

Sources on social media named the victim as Jawaher Qadeeh (Umm Alaa).  Mokkah Abasan shared that “Citizen Jawaher Qadeeh Umm Alaa was killed and five citizens were injured as a result of the bombing.” Sources do not mention any other injuries or deaths.

Tributes poured in for Jawaher from friends, family and neighbors who saw her as a cherished member of the community. Amani Najjar shared a heartfelt testimony on Facebook describing the late Jawaher as “The generous, generous woman with a beautiful smile, dear to the hearts of those who knew her.” She appears in the attached image as a smiling middle aged woman in a green hijab and embroidered scarf. Her cousin Umm Shatha Qudaih mourned her death “with great sadness and sorrow, and with hearts that believe in God’s will and destiny”. Abu Saleh referred to her as “our good-hearted neighbor”.

According to her possible relative, Amani Najjar, Jawaher is survived by her husband Abu Alaa and her daughters and son abroad. Another source on social media, journalist Tayseir Qudeh, noted her daughter Alaa was in the UAE, and gave his condolences.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jawaher Qadeeh (Umm Alaa)
Age unknown

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amani Najjar

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Umm Shatha Qudaih

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Abasan Al Kabira (عبسان الكبيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.323417, 34.347364. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0019a

Incident date

October 7, 2023

Location

النصيرات, Nuseirat, Deir al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.450065, 34.392934 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the morning of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, a renowned Palestinian poet, novelist, journalist, and community activist, 36-year-old Omar (Umar) Fares Abu Shawish (Shaweesh)  was killed in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip by alleged Israeli shelling. According to the tribute by the Twitter/X account @GazaMartyrs, Omar was injured and bled to death in a remote, uninhabited area and ”quietly became a martyr, as tranquil as his serenity.”

Omar went out to pray Fajr (Islamic prayer) on October 7th but was killed by an Israeli missile strike, the sources reporte. It was his morning ritual to pray Fajr in the mosque, go for a morning run, and return home with breakfast for his parents and wife and sweets for his three-year-old daughter Elena. He did not know about the major Hamas attack inside Israel on the same morning and therefore went about his activities as normal.

Omar Abu Shawish founded various youth associations and has won multiple local and international awards. He won the “Best National Song of the Year 2007”  at the International Festival of National Song and Heritage in Jordan. In 2010, he won the “Distinguished Volunteer and Ideal Young” award at the Sharek Youth Forum in Palestine. In 2013, he was presented the “Distinguished Arab Youth in the Field of Media, Journalism and Culture” award by the Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development of the Arab League. In 2016 he published his novel, “Ala gayd al-mawt” and several poem collections. He participated in many local, Arab and international conferences. He had experience in leadership, planning capacity building and creative work and took initiatives in various cultural, literature and community work fields.

A lot of tributes to the deceased poet were published on social media platforms, including ones from the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and the General Union of Palestinian Writers and Authors. His family members and friends also mourned his death.

Omar’s sister Alaa Fares wrote: “My beloved brother, Al-Fares / Omar Fares Abu Shawish… God has chosen you today as the first martyr in the battle of liberation and victory (Al-Aqsa Flood).” Indeed, Omar was one of the first civilians killed since the beginning of the conflict on October 7th. Alaa added that she was still waiting for his visit.

Omar’s friend Fadi Saidam shared an image taken with Omar and wrote: “Goodbye, my friend.. May God have mercy on you. You were light-hearted,  creative, polite, and shy person who gave without limits.”

Fathiyya Sarsour made a heartfelt tribute through his post. He described Omar as “a name unlike other names, a human being that words cannot describe. Taste and modesty are his characteristics. Loyalty and love of goodness are his nature. A gentle and creative human being in all fields.”

Hussam A. Shawish wrote in his post about Omar that “the stout, well-mannered person, with a smiling face, elegant appearance, big heart, and gentle manners, the one with a permanent smile and wonderful words, the writer and intellectual, the clasher, who hurt the enemy’s legions with his words, stepped out.”

Abu Hasan Ali in his post recalled his last interaction with Omar fares Abu Shawish. Omar and his daughter visited Abu Hasan place. “Oh God, I can’t believe it. The day before yesterday, he was sitting at my place and his little daughter was with him. He greeted me and laughed and left and did not come back.”

Family members and friends shared numerous images of Omar where he was seen as a middle-aged man with a kind smile. In one of the images he was playing a traditional musical instrument, and in another, he was seen with his three-year-old daughter kissing him on the cheek.

The name of the late Omar has been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Where the sources identified the belligerent, sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

 

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Omar Fares Abu Shawish عمر فارس أبو شاويش
36 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800692782

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 journalist)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (29) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Malak Mohammad

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    Source: Malak Mohammad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Muhamed Abu Salama

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Muhamed Abu Salama

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Muhamed Abu Salama

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rawan Abd Alaziz Abdalaziz

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mustafa Abu Khaleel

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammed Talat

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Hasan Ali

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    Source: @Ahmadalshafi4

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fadi Saidam

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: G U P W - The General Union of Palestinian Writers and Authors

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hussam A. Shawish

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Basem Awadallah Abu Muhamed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Basem Awadallah Abu Muhamed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Basem Awadallah Abu Muhamed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Samora Sabry

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: A. Fathiyya Sarsour

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: A. Fathiyya Sarsour

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: A. Fathiyya Sarsour

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: A. Fathiyya Sarsour

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gaza City Official

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nasif Hamdy

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Literary Hub

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @GazaMartyrs

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @GazaMartyrs

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @GazaMartyrs

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Nuseirat (النصيرات), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.450065, 34.392934. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 journalist)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4590

Incident date

October 7, 2023

Location

طراف مدينة إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the evening of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, at least one civilian man was wounded on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria, in the bombardment allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces.  However, some sources reported that a number of civilians were injured.

The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, reported on the man’s injury in its Twitter/X post around 6:57 PM, noting that the incident happened “on the fourth day of an intense escalation campaign by regime forces and Russia in bombing civilians.” SCD also shared an image of a car with broken glass windows that was apparently damaged in the strike.

Reports differed on who was responsible for carrying out Saturday strike and on the type of strike. Al-Arabiya correspondent quoted by Arabic Syria Post and Al Hadath Syria news reported that Russian warplanes struck the city outskirts of Idlib with missiles. However, in another post by Arabic Syria it was reported that civilians were wounded by artillery shelling by the Syrian army. Therefore, Airwars has graded both strike status and civilian harm status as contested.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @feraskaram01

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4591

Incident date

October 7, 2023

Location

جسر الشغورجسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughour city, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a 44-year-old woman and a man, were injured and a number of civilians were reportedly killed shortly before 8:56 AM on the morning of Saturday, October 7th, 2023, due to the bombardement reportedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military on the residential neighborhoods of the Jisr Al Shughour city, west of Idlib. The woman was injured by multiple shrapnel wounds derived from the attack. In the case of the injured man, there was no further description. Another strike happening at noon on the day before, October 6th, damaged three mosques, but there were no civilian casualties reported as of now.

A Facebook user Abdulrazaq Alsbeeh claimed that a number of civilians were killed as a result of the Russian airstrikes on the outskirts of Jisr Al Shughour, but this information was not corroborated by other sources.

The reported shelling damaged a lot of civilian infrastructure, including at least two mosques located on March 8 Street, Rabaa school in the city center, and a market. In particular, it damaged the internal structure of the Al-Tamra mosque, the walls and surroundings of the Al-Kareem mosque located on March 8 Street, and the wall of the Rabaa School.

Journalist Mohammed Belaas (@blaas083) shared a video report on Twitter/X saying that three mosques were damaged during the strike by Syrian regime forces and Russian military that happened during Friday prayer jumaa (apparently around noon on October 6, 2023). A local resident said that these mosques were called Al-Tamra, Al-Iman and Al-Kareem. He also added that the strike was carried out during the jumaa prayer time, but there were reportedly no civilian casualties. The journalist also carried a remnant of the weapons used in his hand.

The Syrian Civil Defence patrolled the areas where material damage was inflicted, and shared multiple images and a video on its social media accounts. Jisr Al-Shughur Media Center also shared the images of the damaged walls and roof of one of the mosques.

While most of the sources attributed the strike to the Syrian regime forces, two sources claimed that Russian military was responsible for the incident. Therefore, Airwars has graded both strike status and civilian harm status as contested.

The incident occured at approximately 8:56 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace, Religious Institution, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: Duraid Haj Hammoud posT
  • Source: Duraid Haj Hammoud posT
  • Source: News now?

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace, Religious Institution, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4579

Incident date

October 6, 2023

Location

جفتلك حج حمود, village Jaftlik Haj Hammoud in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside, west of Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the morning of Friday, 6th October 2023, three children belonging to one family  were injured by the bombardement allegedly carried out by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces in the village Jaftlik Haj Hammoud in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside, west of Idlib. A two-year old child named Amer Mustafa al-Abdo later died from the serious injuries. The two surviving children were reportedly brothers.

Jist media center posted a Facebook video showing the strike and clouds of smoke arising from it. The Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) attributed the responsibiliy for the incident to the Russian military and reported that their team took the injured children to the hospital for treatment. Two of then who did survive were still receiving treatment. SCD also reported that there were no other injured people.

The @SyrianCivilDefe on Twitter/X social media platform added the images of the destroyed building and a striking image of an elderly man, a grandfather of the children, astonished and sitting on the ruins of his house, picking up among the rubble with deep pain and sadness from the death and injury of his grandchildren. Al Jazeera correspondent Hadi Kharrat also shared a touching image of a tiny ginger kitten who survived the bombardment. But, as Hadi wrote, both the kitten’s mother and his friend Amer were killed.

While most of the sources attributed the strike to Russian military, a correspondent from the Al-Arabiya Syria said on Facebook that both the Russian forces and the Syrian army renewed their bombing in the city of Idlib, adding that the casualties from the attack in the village of Jaftlik were a result of the Syrian army artillery shelling. Therefore, the Airwars graded both Strike Status and Civilian Harm Status as Contested.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Amer Mustafa Al Abdo عامر مصطفى العبدو
2 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: Hadi Kharrat
  • Source: Sarmeen
  • Source: Sarmeen
  • Source: Sarmeen
  • Source: Sarmeen
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: SANA_Agency
  • Source: Syrian Civil Defense
  • Source: Anas Al-Abd
  • Source: Arabic Syria
  • Source: Baraa Darwish
  • Source: Baraa Darwish
  • Source: Baraa Darwish
  • Source: Al Hadath Syria
  • Source: Arabic Syria
  • Source: @HalabTodayTV

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  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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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
    1
  • (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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4571

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

مجدليا, Majdalya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured after an alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian-affiliated missile strike on the town of Majdalya, in southern Idlib, on October 5th, 2023.

Most sources reported that one civilian was injured. However, a Facebook post from Muhammad al-Adlabi claimed that a man “and his child” had been injured, but this has not been corroborated elsewhere. Other identifying characteristics, including names, have not been released.

While some sources, including Syrian Civil Defense, attributed the strike to “regime forces,” Muhammad Al-Adlabi attributed strikes across Syria, including Majdalya, to the Syrian regime and Russian forces/

The missile bombardment, which has been described as “intense,” led to the destruction of several homes and other properties, meaning numerous families were displaced.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4560

Incident date

September 25, 2023

Location

جسر الشغور, city of Jisr Al Shughour, western Idlib, Idlib Governorate, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Monday evening, 25 September 2023, between seven and 10 civilians, including two children and up to four women (one of whom was pregnant), were injured in missile strikes and artillery shelling allegedly by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces and/or Iranian forces on residential neighborhoods, the popular market and near the mosque in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the western countryside of Idlib, northwest Syria.

Initial reportage from the Syrian Civil Defence (the White Helmets) stated that seven civilians were injured, including two children and two women, in “a missile strike by regime forces….this evening, Monday, September 25”, adding that their teams “treated a number of injured and inspected” the damaged areas. This version of events was corroborated by multiple local news media and social media including Syria News Agency and Shaam News, with the latter adding that the alleged bombing occurred “in light of the continued bombing operations today by the regime and its allies on the areas of rural Idlib and Aleppo”, and multiple sources claiming that heavy artillery shells were used. Sources on social media, Duraid Haj Hammoud and @alking14399969 shared the names of the seven injured – Tamim Muhammad Gharibawi (70), Saif Al-Din Muhammad (32), Wael Sheikh Mohammed (48), Ibrahim Ahmed Halabi (5), Bassam Mustafa Fustuk (17), Ruqaya Abdel Hamid Marzouk (20), and Hanaa Hassan Khalilo (50) – with Duraid stating that “all injuries were minor, thank God.” The White Helmets later updated the civilian casualty toll to 10 wounded, stating the toll from the artillery shelling “of regime forces….rose to 10 wounded, including two children and four women, one of whom is pregnant.” A video shared by the White Helmets with the caption “Bodies pierced by fragments of death shells, painted in blood and ash, a new story of Syrian oppression” showed a weeping child, possibly Ibrahim, in a bloodied yellow shirt with his wounded forehead being stitched up by medical workers, an elderly wounded man in a state of shock being assisted by emergency workers, and the rubble, damaged buildings and vehicles in the aftermath of the bombardment. Sources widely shared images of the wounded, the damage caused to infrastructure, and images of the smoke and debris from the bombardment rising near the golden domed mosque in Idlib.

Anadolu Agency quoted sources from within the White Helmets alleging that “Jisr al-Shughour was subjected to ground bombardment by the regime” forces and allegedly Iranian-backed groups stationed in Jurin, northwest of Hama Governorate, adding that the wounded were treated in hospitals nearby. The Jisr al-Shughour Media Center stated that there were several injuries, and “damage to a water transport vehicle” as a result of artillery shelling, and alleged that the source of the shelling were “regime forces stationed in the Jurin camp in the al-Ghab Plain.” A source on X/Twitter, @MohamadDaba9966, claimed that the bombardment was a response to alleged attacks on towns in the al-Ghab Plain, and was reportedly aimed at alleged Turkestan Islamic Party militants within Jisr al-Shughur. Another source, @hadikhraat, shared images of a fire damaged vehicle with water tanks, stating that there was a partial fire in the truck that was “designated for transporting water”, and that it was damaged “in conjunction with a reconnaissance aircraft flight” as a result of artillery bombardment.

Where sources identified a belligerent, most sources attributed the bombardment to Syrian Regime Forces, and as having originated from Jurin in the al-Ghab Plain. However, a few sources attributed the attack to Russian forces and Iranian forces.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Tamim Muhammad Gharibawi تميم محمد غريباوي
70 years old injured
Saif Al-Din Muhammad سيف الدين محمد
32 years old injured
Wael Sheikh Mohammed وائل الشيخ محمد
48 years old injured
Ibrahim Ahmed Halabi إبراهيم أحمد حلبي
5 years old injured
Bassam Mustafa Fistak بسام مصطفى فستق
17 years old injured
Ruqaya Abdel Hamid Marzouk رقية عبد الحميد مرزوق
20 years old injured
Hanaa Hassan Khalilo هناء حسن خليلو
50 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Marea_Elshame

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Hamoudi_Free_Sy
  • Source: @Mohammed78990
  • Source: @Mohammed78990
  • Source: @hadikhraat
  • Source: Abdo R Aliko
  • Source: Abdo R Aliko
  • Source: Abdo R Aliko
  • Source: Duraid Haj Hammoud
  • Source: Arabic press
  • Source: Arabic press
  • Source: Aa news

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4557

Incident date

September 23, 2023

Location

سرمين, Outskirts of Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

During the evening of September 23, 2023, a missile strike killed two civilians (one elderly man and one woman) and injured two others (a child in critical condition and a man) in a displacement camp in the outskirts of Sarmin, east of the city of Idlib in northwest Syria. In a Facebook post by the Syrian Civil Defense, the nephew of one of the victims confirmed the identity of the two killed and the two injured: Muhammad al-Qahit, who was “nearly 100 years old” (with some sources saying 90 years old), and his granddaughter Hanan were killed. The two injured are identified in the same post as Muhammad’s grandson Hussein al-Qahit and great-grandson Zaid. The ages of Hanan, Hussein and Zaid are unknown.

The belligerent’s identity is contested. Most sources attributed the strike to the Russian military and/or to the Syrian regime forces. One source designated “Iranian occupiers” and another one Syrian militias loyal to the regime as perpetrators of the deadly attack.

As a result of the missile strike, parts of the camp caught fire. Muhammad al-Qahit’s nephew, who survived, described the attack as “a very harsh night for us, between death, wounds, fires, and screams.”

A video posted on Twitter/X by AlJazeera Arabic shows the intervention of the Syrian Civil Defence after the bombing, where tents and other parts of the camp on fire are visible. The organisation then tweeted that they were able to treat the injured, recover the bodies of the two victims and extinguish fire in the camp. Images posted by @ShaamNetwork and other local sources show destruction to the camp, including the tents of displaced persons.

In the Syrian Civil Defence Facebook post, Muhammad’s nephew Muhammad Al-Hamad Al-Qahit who survived the attack said: “I lost him and I lost the sessions that used to bring us together and the stories that he told us.” He added that his uncle had “great hopes that we would return to our village” of Abu Maru, a neighbouring village of Hama (west-central Syria).

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Muhammad al-Qahit محمد القحيط
90 years old male killed
Hussein Al-Qahit حسين القحيط
Adult male injured
Hanan
female killed
Zaid
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AZAM_1989
  • Source: @Mohammed78990
  • Source: @ShaamNetwork
  • Source: @ShaamNetwork
  • Source: @ShaamNetwork
  • Source: @ShaamNetwork
  • Source: @Freundlichkeitt

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Freundlichkeitt
  • Source: SyriaCivilDefense
  • Source: SyriaCivilDefense
  • Source: SyriaCivilDefense
  • Source: SyriaCivilDefense
  • Source: Sermen.yo.hal99
  • Source: @HalabTodayTV

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]