Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI882

Incident date

December 25, 2023

Location

حي الجزائر, Algeria region, Hilla, Babylon Province, Babil, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On the 25th of December, 2023, a declared U.S. airstrike was conducted against the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Hilla, central Iraq, reportedly injuring two female civilians: Shadhadan Karim Mirza, and Wasnah Maher Kahem. One member of the PMF was also killed and up to 19 other members of the PMF and other militant groups were injured.

On the 25th of December, the White House released a statement revealing that President Biden had “directed strikes against three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities”.

On December 26th, US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted an acknowledgement on X / Twitter that “in response to multiple attacks against Coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. military forces launched airstrikes on multiple facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliated groups in Iraq at around 8:45 PM (EST) on December 25th”.

During the course of the day on December 26th, Al-Jazeera stated that the US strikes had “killed one member of the Iraqi security forces and wounded 18 people, including civilians”, whilst ‘The New Arab’ reported that “at least one person was killed and 20 wounded in a U.S. strike that targeted a site belonging to the Iran-backed PMF (Hashed al-Shaabi) forces in the central city of Hilla”.

Several local news organizations also reported on the airstrike. Altaakhi News reported that “the number of wounded among the Hashd reached 8 members, in addition to killing one of them, 8 wounded from the Academy Police, two wounded from the rescue service and one wounded from the Civil Defense, in addition to the wounding of two civilians”. An identical statement on the bombing was made by ‘Observer Iraq’ and also by Rudaw News, which additionally posted a video showing the site of the bombing. On the 26th of December, ‘Jabla al Habiba’ posted several images of the wounded being treated at a local hospital.

One independent journalist, Yasser Al Shommari, posted a list of names of those harmed as a result of the airstrike, including members of the police, the Hashd and civilians. The two civilians injured were described as two “housewives”: Shadhadan Karim Mirza and Wasnah Maher Kahem, born in Babel in 1972 and in 1971 respectively. On December 26th, the news website ‘Jabla Al Khair’ also posted an image showing a Babylon Health Department document (Ministry of Health). This document contained the names of those who had been wounded in the airstrike (including Shadhadan Karim Mirza and Wasnah Maher Kahem), in addition to the name of the one individual known to have been killed.

The PMF’s information directorate, in a Facebook post dated the 26th of December, identified the man killed as a member of the ‘45th Brigade’: Derih Ali Hassan Al-Amiri, and confirmed that his funeral had taken place.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied that any harm to civilians had occurred as a result of the airstrike, stating “there are no indications that any civilian lives were affected”.    

The incident occured at approximately 8:45 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Shadhadan Karim Mirza شهدان كريم مرزا
52 years old female injured
Wasnah Maher Kahem وسناء ماهر كاظم
53 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Iraqi militias (PMUs)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    18–19

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Source: Altaakhi news
  • Source: Ziad al Shimari
  • Source: Abdullah Al Shammari
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jabla al Habiba
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jabla al Habiba
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jabla al Habiba
  • Source: Jabla al Habiba
  • Source: Jabla al Habiba
  • Source: Jabla al Habiba
  • Source: PMF media
  • Source: PMF media
  • Source: Yasser Al Shommari
  • Source: Jabla Al Khair
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces

U.S. CENTCOM conducts strikes against Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group targets in Iraq

In response to multiple attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes against multiple facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq at 8:45 p.m. (EST) on Dec. 25.

Earlier in the day, Iranian sponsored Kataib Hezbollah terrorists and affiliated groups attacked coalition forces at Erbil, Iraq resulting in several injuries.

Early assessments indicate that these U.S. airstrikes destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants. There are no indications that any civilian lives were affected. The U.S. military will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these strikes.

"These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks. We will always protect our forces," said General Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Iraqi militias (PMUs)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    18–19

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS669

Incident date

December 25, 2023

Location

كُوبَانِي, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.891111, 38.353611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the morning of Monday, December 25, 2023, two civilians working for a construction company were injured following alleged Turkish strikes on the city of Kobani (Ain Al-Arab) in northern Syria. According to ANF news, the strikes not only wounded two civilians, but also caused material damage to the citizens’ property.

The Facebook users Kobani Delbrin, Kobani live and Kobani Kobani alleged that Turkish forces were randomly bombing the city of Kobani, including not only the construction company, but also the Mashtanour Hospital (Health Centre) of the Kurdish Red Crescent, a car garage and a car repair shop. Kobani Delbrin and Kobani Hadath shared the images where clouds of smoke arising over the buildings in Kobani can be seen. A Facebook user Kobani my soul also reported about the attack on the Mashtanour health center, sharing images of the destroyed building in fire. North Press Agency news added that this health center was  operating with the support of an international organization (Doctors of the World).

Anha news reported that the Turkish military twice attacked  a company in the city of Kobani in the morning of December 25, but it is not clear whether it was the construction company whose workers were injured, or some other company.

The sources provided different estimations of the strike’s type – while ANF news and Kobani live wrote about the drone attack, Kobani Delbri mentioned both drones and airstrikes, and the North Press Agency reported about the airstrikes.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the attack to the Turkish military.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Delbrin facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani my soul facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani my soul facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani my soul facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani my soul facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani my soul facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Kobani facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Kobani facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Hadath facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Hadath facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Hadath facebook

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kobani (كُوبَانِي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.891111, 38.353611. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM410

Incident date

December 17, 2023

Location

near to Jilib, Somalia

Airwars assessment

On the 17th of December, 2023, a declared U.S. airstrike reportedly killed an Al-Shabaab leader, Maalim Ayman, near Jilib in southern Somalia.

On the same day as the airstrike, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) released a statement on its website, stating that the airstrike had been conducted “in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab”. The statement went on to claim that “one Al-Shabaab militant had been killed” and, whilst AFRICOM did not initially identify the militant in question, it was stated that the impact of the strike had been assessed and that there were “no civilian casualties” resulting from the strike.

Following the news of the death of Maalim Ayman on the 17th of December, released by Somali officials, the Wall Street Journal published an article regarding the airstrike, which noted that Ayman had been “the alleged mastermind behind a 2020 attack that left three Americans dead at a Kenyan airbase”. It is now known that of the three Americans killed, one was a U.S. soldier, and two were U.S. Defense Department contractors.

The Wall Street Journal article further stated that both U.S. and Kenyan forces had used the Manda Bay base, located just 60 miles from the Somali border in order to “support counter-terrorism operations against Al-Shabaab” and noted that, earlier in the year, the State Department had announced “a $10 million reward for information leading to Ayman’s arrest or conviction”.

Garowe Online wrote on the 17th of December, that since the attack in Kenya on the 5th of January 2020, the U.S. Army had been “pursuing the attackers”. Garowe Online specified that Ayman had “mainly organized the attack” against the airbase and had subsequently been “cornered after a search for months”.

VOA (Voice of America) News, on the 21st of December, reported that the U.S had “identified Ayman as the leader of ‘Jaysh Ayman’: an Al-Shabaab unit that conducts terrorist attacks and operations in Kenya and Somalia”. The VOA report further stated that ‘Jaysh Ayman’ (Army of Ayman) included “foreign militants recruited by Al-Shabaab largely from East Africa”.

One report from Anadolu Agency, dated December 21st, quoted Somali Information Minister Daud Aweis who said that “Ayman was accountable for planning multiple lethal terrorist attacks in Somalia and nearby countries”. The Anadolu Agency report also noted that the U.S. State Department had categorized Ayman as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist in November, 2020”.

The Washington Post published an article on the 22nd of December which stated that the ‘Jaysh Ayman’ militant group was Al-Shabaab’s main unit in Kenya and the unit had attacked Garissa University, killing 148 people in 2015. The Washington Post emphasized that this was “the deadliest terrorist attack in Kenya since the 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy”.

The article in the Washington Post also contained a quote from Somali Information Minister Daud Aweis who addressed questions regarding positive confirmation that Ayman had been killed by the U.S. strike: “we can confirm 100 percent that it was him. It took us a few days to make the final confirmation”. Aweis additionally stated that Ayman had been the sole target of the strike.

The Daily Telegraph, on the 22nd of December, reported that the attack which killed Ayman had been a “U.S. airstrike” but added that Ayman had been “killed in a joint operation”. Also on the 22nd of December, The New York Times more specifically stated that Ayman “was killed by a U.S. Special Operations drone strike in a joint operation with the Somali national army”, according to Somali and U.S. officials.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command carried out an airstrike against the al-Shabaab terrorist group near Jilib, Somalia on Dec. 17.

The command’s initial assessment is that one al-Shabaab militant was killed in the strike and that there were no civilian casualties. U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian casualties. Protecting civilians remains a vital part of the command’s operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.

This is another step to defeat the terrorist group that undermines Somalia’s peace and development. Al-Shabaab is the largest and most kinetically active al-Qaeda network in the world and has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. forces and threaten U.S. security interests. U.S. Africa Command, alongside its partners, continues to take action to prevent this malicious terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks on civilians.


Somalia remains key to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to degrade al-Shabaab.

U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of the operation and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operational security.

U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with partners, counters malign actors and transnational threats, responds to crises, and strengthens security forces in order to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT1669

Incident date

December 11, 2023

Location

الشيخ رضوان, Sheik Radwan, Gaza City, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.532389, 34.470222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

31.532879, 34.470028 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shortly before 7:43 AM on Monday, December 11th 2023, a series of alleged Israeli airstrikes hit six homes belonging to the extended Salem family in Sheikh Radwan, killing at least 102 civilians. Airwars was able to identify 104 named victims (102 fatalities, and two others injured), though some local reports put the death toll at 200 civilians.

Airwars estimates that 50 children* were killed in the attack, which some sources said wiped out almost an entire neighbourhood. It was reported that many of the victims sought refuge in this house to escape the incursion of the Israeli forces into areas of Gaza.

Shehab Agency, Warfare Analysis and other sources initially reported “dozens of martyrs and wounded”. Other sources, including IMEMC news and Mondoweiss news, wrote about 15 civilians killed and dozens injured. According to a news report by arabi21.com, approximately 50 people, including men, women and children, were home in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood at the moment of the strike. A Twitter/X user Younis Tirawi (@ytirawi) wrote that the rescue teams managed to retrieve 32 dead bodies and estimated that an additional 80 were still beneath the rubble.

Other social media users and Salem family members provided much higher casualties figures. According to the Facebook user Yahya salem, one of the affected houses belonging to his uncle Suleiman was bombed after his uncles and their children gathered there, leading to the death of around 50 people. Another user @humanprovince wrote that his good friend’s entire extended family was wiped out yesterday in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City as 70 members of the family were killed. A Twitter/X user @MariamBarghouti wrote that 100 members of the Salem family were killed in the 24 hours since the strike, adding that “There is massacre on top of massacre on top of massacre in Gaza.”

A Facebook user Yahya Salim wrote that 100 family members were killed, and dozens were still under the rubble. He also shared a video showing a completely destroyed building and ongoing rescue efforts – people searching for the bodies of their beloved under the rubble, mentioning that these are his uncles, cousins, his mother and father who remained alive. He added: “there is no ability to rescue those trapped under the rubble, no cars transporting the martyrs and the injured.”

A family relative Ramy salem wrote: “107 martyrs so far and still missing under the rubble💔” Another family relative, Ahmad Salem, alleged that the death toll was higher – according to him, about 130 members of his family were killed, including his uncles and aunts, and their children. A Facebook user Ana Safaa estimated that the number of the victims killed was even higher, up to 200, writing that  “a large number of the family were martyred, approximately 200 martyrs, and a large number are also seriously injured.”

Tributes by family relatives and friends helped Airwars to identify victim names as well as family connections. In particular, the condolence message by Mohammed Salem helped to narrow down the fatalities list to the specific families/houses within the extended Salem family. In cases where sources did not explicitly specify the family connections between the victims, identification through their three full names (usually referring to the victim’s first name, followed by the first name of their father, and their family name) was used.

The extended Salam family

Abu Akram family

An elderly woman Umm Akram Salem, wife of Abu Akram, was killed alongside her two sons, Akram Khalil Salem (Abu Youssef) and Abdul Rahman Salem (Abu Uday), her daughter-in-law, Akram’s wife, Zainab Saber Salem (Umm Youssef), Akram and Zainab’s son Younis Akram Salem and an additional unnamed child, and Abu Uday’s daughter Nada Abdul Rahman Salem.  Umm Akram’s daughter Hana Henno  Khalil Salem and her husband Sherif Saber Salem were also killed. Fadl salem abu anas shared an image of two men, Sharif Salem and Rami Salem (mentioned below in “Abu Ramzi house” section), indicating that both of them are “in heaven”.

The surviving sister of Akram and Hanna, Ana Safaa, expressed her grief in a testimony online: “And it goes a💔 black year, yes, a black year that was full of calamities. . .I lost the most precious thing… my mother, my heaven Umm Akram Salem.” In another post, Ana Safaa explained that her mother, Umm Akram Salem, underwent a heart surgery (“she came out of the death before the war with heart operations”), and that her brother’s wife,  Umm Youssef, was like a second mother to her.

A daughter of Ana Safaa’s brother Abdullah Khalil Salem, identified as Sirin Salem, was also reportedly killed.

Ana also mourned the death of her sister Hanaa and Hanaa’s husband Sheriff, her brother Abu Youssef and his wife Umm Youssef along with her nephew Younis Salem, her brother Abu Uday and his daughter Nada Salem. She wrote about Younis that “he had never harmed anyone in his life”

Fadl Salem Abu Anas wrote a tribute to the memory of Abu Youssef, his wife Zainab and their children, sharing an image where one of the men making a meal outside was apparently Abu Youssef. Only one child of Akram Khalil Salem (Abu Youssef) could be identified (Younis Akram Salem).

Mohammed Salem mourned the death of his beloved aunt, Umm Akram, “the beloved martyr Abu Youssef”,  the martyrs Umm Youssef Zainab Salem, Younis Akram Salem and Umm Ali Howaida Nafez Salem.

The Abu Ramzi house

According to Mohammed Salem, other family members were killed in the Abu Ramzi house. He, and Yahya Salim, identified the following names:

Sufyan Salem was killed along with his wife and all his family members, except for one son named Ahmed. Among the victims were their children Rami Sufyan Salem (Abu Bilal), Rama Sufyan Salem, Ahmed Sufyan Salem, Halima Sufyan Salem, and Saif Sufyan Salem.

Salem Salem (abu Anas), Salem Salem’s wife (who could possibly be Sherine Jamil Salem) and all his family members were also reportedly killed. Salem’s children, who who lost their lives, were identified as Anas Salem Salem, Wabab Salem Salem, Roa Salem Salem, Ahmed Salem Salem and Remas Salem Salem.

Mohammed Salem also added that the entire family of Ramzi Suleiman Salem Deeb – his wife Suhair Majid Awni Al Shawa, sons, daughters, and relatives – were killed, while sources were conflicted as to whether Ramzi himself was left alone injured or was killed. The children were identified by Yahya salim as three sons Mustafa Ramzi Salem, Mohamed Ramzi Salem, Muhannad Ramzi Salem and two daughters Nourhan (Nour) Ramzi Salem and Nawal Ramzi Salem.

Members of Al-Shawa family, related to the Salem family through Suhair Majid Awni Al Shawa’s mariage to Ramzi Suleiman Salem Deeb, were also killed in the same attack (see below: Al-Shawa family).

Al-Shawa family

According to the Facebook tribute by Moataz Shawa, the bombing of her sister’s Suhair house allegedly perpetrated by the Israeli military led to the death of 18 of her family members. “They were my whole life”, she added.

She also shared pictures showing the complete destruction of their family home. “This is what’s left of my house, after all my family members were killed” Moataz wrote.

Moataz’s father Majid Awni Jamil Al-Shawa (abu Fadi) was killed along with his wife, Moataz’s mother Helen Badie Jamil al-Shawa, their sons, Moataz’s brothers Fadi Majid Awni Al-Shawa and Ihab Majed Awni Al-Shawa, their daughter, Moataz’s sister Suhair Majid Awni Al Shawa along with her husband Ramzi Suleiman Salem Deeb (abu Mustafa) and their five children (documented above – “Abu Ramzi house”), their daughter-in-law, wife of Fadi, Nevin Suhail Abdullah Al-Shawa (Al Sarsak), their daughter-in-law, wife of Ihab, Walaa Hossam Salim Al-Shawa (Al-Sarsak) and their grandchildren.

Among the grandchildren killed in the attack were sons of Fadi and Nevin Fares Al-Shawa and Firas Al-Shawa, their daughter Shahad Al-Shawa; a son of Ihab and Walaa, Muhammad Al-Shawa, and the two daughters of Ihab and Walaa – Helen Al-Shawa and an infant Sham Al-Shawa.

In one Facebook post, Moataz Shawa shared a group picture featuring her mother Helen, her sister Suhair, her niece Nawal, her brother Ihab, Ilhab’s wife Walaa with the 5-month old daughter Sham. She wrote the heartbreaking words that all of them were killed: “Everyone in the picture was killed by Israel. They were all martyrs in a hideous massacre carried out by [Israeli] aircraft that killed 18 people from my family. Every person has a story, a story, and a dream that he was seeking to implement.”

In a separate post, Moataz shared the pictures of her sister Suhair – a smiling young woman in a black dress and a grey hijab, and of her children who were killed. In one more post, she shared the pictures of her deceased father Majed and her mother Helen – he is dressed in a suit with a black tie, and she is in a black embroidered dress and hijab. In other posts, she shared the pictures of her brothers Fadi and Ihab and their children.

Another family relative, Ghadeer Mohammad, also mourned his aunt Helen Al-Shawa, his uncle Abu Fadi Em Fadi Al-Shawa, his relative Nevin, “the kind and compassionate one”, and Suhair.  He also wrote a condolence message to the apparently surviving member of the family, Eman Majed Al-Shawa, saying: “Dear Eman, may God give you patience, strengthen you, and give your heart patience.“

The Shawa Family Facebook account also wrote a tribute to the 19 members of the Al-Shawa family who were killed “while they were safe in their home in Gaza City – Sheikh Radwan neighborhood”, and went on to “ask God Almighty to grant them wide mercy, forgiveness, and the highest paradise in Paradise, and to accept them as companions with the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the good ones.”

Facebook users Al-qishawi Nael and Alaa al-Fasees mourned the death of Fadi Majid Awni Al-Shawa, calling him “our brother, friend, and comrade” and sharing a picture of a young bearded man in glasses.

Abu Ghassan’s house

According to the post by Abdelmajeed Aljelekh, among the victims were also Umm Ghassan Salem and her four sons, brothers Yahya Zakaria Salem, Bassam Zakarya Salem (Abu Hamza), Hossam Zakarya Salem, and Ahmad Zakarya Salem, as well as her daughter with all her children, and the wife of one of the brothers, Yahya, named Sabreen Sami Kasbeh. Yahya Salim and Emad j Abushawiesh further identified Nidal Zakarya Salem, son of Zakarya Salem, as killed.

Mohammad Sandouqa wrote that Umm Ghassan was a wife of the late Zakaria Salem. He mourned the death of the brothers – Bassam, Hossam, Yahya and Ahmad.

According to the Facebook tribute by Omar Mustafa, Yahya Salem was his neighbour and childhood friend. He added that he was killed along with his mother, his brothers Bassam and Hossam, some of their children and wives..

Qusi Mustfa Alooz also mourned the death of Umm Ghassan and her sons, sharing the image of Yahya and Ahmad, apparently quite young men.

Mohammed Salem wrote that he lost his beloved aunt, Umm Ghassan, his nephews Yahya and Ahmed as well as Yahya’s wife.

Mohammed Kusba, uncle of the late Sabreen, mourned her death and death of her husband and aunt: “With hearts full of faith in God Almighty and satisfied with God’s will and destiny, my niece (Sabreen Sami Kasba, her husband Yahya Salem, and her aunt, a thousand mercy on them) was martyred.”

Ziad Salem (Abu Wissam)’s house

A family relative Waleed Naeem Salem wrote on Facebook that it was “a black day for our family”. He mourned the death of 60 members of his family, including his aunt, Bushra Ahmed Salem (Umm Wissam) who was killed along with her husband Ziad Abdel Rahman Salem (abu Wissam), their daughter Ahlam Ziyad Salem and their three sons –  Wissam Ziad Salem, Abdullah Ziyad Salem, and Basil Ziad Salem. A wife of Basil, Shaima Akram Salem was also killed along with their sons Youssef Basil Salem and Zain Basil Salem. They were all killed in the house of Ziad Salem, according to Mohammed Salem, survived only by Hossam Basil Salem, one of Basil’s sons. Waleed also shared a striking  image where names of the victims written in Arabic can be seen on the black background.

Mohammed Salem also added that Muhammad and his wife were also killed in this house- it is possible that he could refer to Muhammad Iyad Salem who was mentioned in the list of victims published by Emad j abushawiesh.

A niece of the late Ziad, Abed Deeb, wrote a heartfelt Facebook testimony, mourning the death of her dear uncle Ziad, his wife and children.

Mohammed b Salem in his post wished “Mercy on the family of my aunt Umm Wissam, her husband Ziad, her children, her grandchildren, and her children’s wives 💔😭.”

Hamed jawad mahdi posted a tribute for Basil Ziad Salem, calling him “the beloved and dear friend to our hearts.”

Shaimaa Akram Salem, her husband and children were mentioned also in the testimony by Ana Safaa.

Umm Bashir’s house

According to a post by Mohammed Salem, the three women belonging to three different generations were killed in the house of his aunt Umm Bashir, in particular, Haji Noha Saeed Salem was killed alongside her daughter Reham Saeed Salem and Reham’s daughter Haji Hanan Saeed Salem.

Among the civilians killed in this house were a mother Khader Salem (umm Basil), her three sons –  Basil Rafiq Salem, Jihad Rafiq Salem and Ahmed Rafiq Salem and her daughter Farah Rafiq Salem.  At the same time, Khader’s husband Rafiq Salem (Abu Basil), their married daughters, and Basil’s wife and daughter survived.

Khitam Saeed Salem, child of Saeed Salem was also listed as civilians killed by Yahya Salim and Emad j Abushawiesh

Thaer Mounir Salem was killed alongside his mother, his wife, his brothers Muhammad  Mounir Salem, Ammar Mounir Salem and Omar Mounir Salem (Omar was identified in Yahya Salim’s list of victims) and his sister Shahd Mounir Salem. Thaer and his siblings’ father Abu Thaer survived.

Rizq Salem’s (Abu Nidal) house

According to Mohammed Salem, his uncle Muhammad Rizq Salem (Abu Nidal) was killed alongside his wife, their son Alaa Muhammad Salem, their daughter Amani Muhammad Salem and their two grandchildren, sons of their surviving son Nidal –  Muhammad Nidal Salem and Ahmed Nidal Salem. He stated that Nidal Salem, his wife and two daughters survived. However, Yahya Salim and Emad j Abushawiesh’s list of victims included Nidal Muhammad Salem as one of those killed, with the following relatives: Fidaa Muhammad Salem, Nihad Muhammad Salem, and Kafah Muhammad Salem (mentioned below).

Abu Iyad’s house

According to Mohammed Salem, Mahmoud Abdel Karim Salem (Abu Ahmed) was killed alongside his wife and all their four children. The names of his deceased children were Ahmed Mahmoud Salem, Mohamed Mahmoud Salem, and Ibrahim Mahmoud Salem, the name of the fourth child was not provided. It could possibly be Kafah Muhammad Salem as his name was listed right below those of the three brothers identified in the list provided by Mohammed Salem- in case there was a typo in the writing of Kafah’s middle Arabic name (Mohammad instead of Mahmoud – only one letter different in Arabic).

Abed Deeb mourned the loss of her cousin Mahmoud Abdel Karim Salem (Abu Ahmed) and his entire family. She added many images of the family members – mostly men of different ages, but it is hard to identify exactly who was portrayed in the pictures.

Additional members of the Salem family

There were additional members of the Salem family mentioned in the testimonies by Yahya Salim and Emad j Abushawiesh as killed, but absent in the post by Mohammed Salem. In particular, those were identified as Moaz Hossam Salem, Lana Hossam Salem, Baraa Hossam Salem – children of Hossam Salem, and Muhammad Iyad Salem (on Muhammad Iyad Salem, see section Ziad Salem (Abu Wissam)’s house), Muhammad Suleiman Salem, Wisam Al-Khawaldeh, Nesma Hani Salem.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli military.

*When victims were referred to as “children of” Airwars counted them as children given the context and understanding of the family in this case, unless there was evidence to suggest at their age (such as marital status). Where only names were identified without ages, Airwars counted these as adults. Our civilian casualty ranges will be updated once more information is available.

 

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 at approximately 7:43 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (104)

Khader Salem خضر سالم
Adult female killed
Basil Rafiq Salem باسل رفيق سالم
male killed
Jihad Rafiq Salem جهاد رفيق سالم
male killed
Ahmed Rafiq Salem احمد رفيق سالم
male killed
Farah Rafiq Salem فرح رفيق سالم
female killed
Nidal Zakaria Salem نضال زكريا سالم
killed
Thaer Munir Salem ثائر منير سالم
Adult male killed
Wife of Thaer Salem زوجة ثائر
Adult female killed
Mother of Thaer أم ثائر
Adult female killed
Ammar Mounir Salem عمار منير سالم
Adult male killed
Muhammad Mounir Salem محمد منير سالم
Adult male killed
Shahd Mounir Salem شهد منير سالم
Adult female killed
Wisam Al-Khawaldeh وسام الخوالدة
killed
Hanan Saeed Salem حنان سعيد سالم
female killed
Noha Saeed Salem نهى سعيد سالم
Adult female killed
Reham Saeed Salem ريهام سعيد سالم
Adult female killed
Muhammad Rizq Salem محمد رزق سالم
Adult male killed
Wife of Muhammad Rizq Salem زوجة محمد رزق سالم
Adult female killed
Omar Mounir Salem عمر منير سالم
killed
Khitam Saeed Salem ختام سعيد سالم
killed
Alaa Muhammad Salem علاء محمد سالم
Adult male killed
Amani Muhammad Salem اماني محمد سالم
Adult female killed
Muhammad Nidal Salem محمد نضال سالم
male killed
Ahmed Nidal Salem احمد نضال سالم
male killed
Mahmoud Abdel Karim Salem محمود عبد الكريم سالم
Adult male killed
Wife of Mahmoud Abdel Karim Salem (Abu Ahmed) زوجة محمود عبد الكريم سالم
Adult female killed
Kafah Muhammad Salem كفاح محمد سالم
male killed
Ahmed Mahmoud Salem احمد محمود سالم
killed
Mohamed Mahmoud Salem محمد محمود سالم
killed
Ibrahim Mahmoud Salem ابراهيم محمود سالم
killed
Fourth child of Mahmoud Salem
male killed
Abdul Rahman Salem عبد الرحمن سالم
Adult male killed
Fidaa Muhammad Salem فداء محمد سالم
killed
Sufyan Salem سفيان سالم
Adult male killed
Wife of Sufyan Salem زوجة سفيان سالم
Adult female killed
Rami Sufyan Salem رامي سفيان سالم
male killed
Rama Sufyan Salem راما سفيان سالم
female killed
Ahmed Sufyan Salem احمد سفيان سالم
killed
Halima Sufyan Salem حليمه سفيان سالم
Age unknown female killed
Saif Sufyan Salem سيف سفيان سالم
Age unknown male killed
Salem Suleiman Salem سالم سليمان سالم
Age unknown male killed
Sherine Jamil Salem شرين جميل سالم
Age unknown female killed
Wabab Salem Salem وباب سالم سالم
Age unknown female killed
Roa Salem Salem رؤى سالم سالم
Age unknown female killed
Anas Salem Salem انس سالم سالم
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Salem Salem احمد سالم سالم
Age unknown male killed
Nada Abdel Rahman Salem ندى عبد الرحمن سالم
Age unknown female killed
Akram Khalil Salem (abu Youssef) اكرم خليل سالم
Adult male killed
Mother of Akram أم اكرم
Adult female killed
Zainab Saber Salem (umm Youssef) زينب صابر سالم
Adult female killed
Younis Akram Salem يونس اكرم سالم
Age unknown male killed
Child of Zainab Saber Salem طفل زينب صابر سالم
Age unknown killed
Hanaa Khalil Salem هناء خليل سالم
Adult female killed
Sherif Saber Salem شريف صابر سالم
Adult male killed
Nihad Muhammad Salem نهاد محمد سالم
Age unknown killed
Yahya Zakaria Salem يحيى زكريا سالم
Adult male killed
Umm Ghassan Salem أم غسان سالم
Adult female killed
Bassam Zakarya Salem بسام زكريا سالم
Age unknown male killed
Hossam Zakarya Salem حسام زكريا سالم
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Zakarya Salem احمد زكريا سالم
Age unknown male killed
Sabreen Sami Kasbeh صابرين سامي كسبة
Adult female killed
Howaida Nafez Salem (Umm Ali) هويدا نافذ سالم
Adult female killed
Ziad Abdel Rahman Salem زياد عبد الرحمن سالم
Adult male killed
Bushra Ahmed Salem شرى احمد سالم
Adult female killed
Ahlam Ziyad Salem احلام زياد سالم
Age unknown female killed
Abdullah Ziyad Salem عبدالله زياد سالم
Age unknown male killed
Wissam Ziad Salem وسام زياد سالم
Age unknown male killed
Basil Ziad Salem باسل زياد سالم
Adult male killed
Shaima Akram Salem شيماء اكرم سالم
Adult female killed
Youssef Basil Salem يوسف باسل سالم
Age unknown male killed
Zain Basil Salem زين باسل سالم
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Iyad Salem محمد اياد سالم
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad's wife
Age unknown Matched to MoH ID possibly Muhammad Iyad Salem's wife
Nesma Hani Salem نسمه هاني سالم
Age unknown female killed
Moaz Hossam Salem معاذ حسام سالم
Age unknown male killed
Lana Hossam Salem لانا حسام سالم
Age unknown female killed
Baraa Hossam Salem براء حسام سالم
Age unknown killed Matched to MoH ID gender unknown
Remas Salem Salem ريماس سالم سالم
Age unknown male killed
Nidal Muhammad Salem نضال محمد سالم
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Suleiman Salem محمد سليمان سالم
Age unknown male killed
Sirin Salem سيرين سالم
Age unknown female killed
Majid Awni Jamil Shawa ماجد عوني جميل الشوا
Adult male killed
Helen Badie Jamil Shawa هيلين بديع جميل الشوا
Adult female killed
Fadi Majid Awni Al-Shawa فادي ماجد عوني الشوا
Adult male killed
Nevin Suhail Abdullah Al Sarsak نفين سهيل عبدالله السرسك
Adult female killed
Fares Al-Shawa فارس الشوا
Child male killed
Shahad Al-Shawa شهد الشوا
Child female killed
Firas Al-Shawa فراس الشوا
Child male killed
Ihab Majed Awni Al Shawa ايهاب ماجد عوني الشوا
Adult male killed
Walaa Hossam Salim Al-Sarsak ولاء حسام سليم السرسك
Adult female killed
Helen Al-Shawa هيلين الشوا
Child female killed
Muhammad Al-Shawa محمد الشوا
Child male killed
Sham Al-Shawa شام الشوا
4 years old female killed
Suhair Majid Awni Al Shawa سهير ماجد عوني الشوا
Adult female killed
Ramzi Suleiman Salem Deeb Salem's wife
Adult female killed
Ramzi Suleiman Salem Deeb Salem رمزي سليمان سالم ديب
Adult male killed
Mustafa Ramzi Salem مصطفى رمزي سالم
Child male killed
Muhammad Ramzi Salem محمد رمزي سالم
Child male killed
Nawal Ramzi Salem نوال رمزي سالم
Child female killed
Nourhan Ramzi Salem نورهان رمزي سالم
Child female killed
Muhannad Ramzi Salem
Adult male killed
Um Ghassan Salem's daughter
Adult female killed
Um Ghassan Salem's daughter's child 1
Child killed
Um Ghassan Salem's daughter's child 2
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    102 – 200
  • (50 children26 women26–27 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (50) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (51) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad jaber salem
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad jaber salem
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fadl salem abu anas
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fadl salem abu anas
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qusi mustfa aloozi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qusi mustfa aloozi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu waseem abu diah
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Princ princ
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Princ princ
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Princ princ
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abed deeb
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Waleed naeem salem
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alaa al-fasees
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-qishawi nael
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-qishawi nael
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yahya salim
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yahya salim
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yahya salim
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moataz m shawa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention multiple residential buildings being struck in the vicinity of the Sheik Radwan Clinic (عيادة الشيخ رضوان) within Sheik Radwan (الشيخ رضوان) neighbourhood of Gaza (غزة) city. Al Jazeera provided Airwars with the exact coordinates for one residential buildings after receiving testimony from a survivor, as follows: 31.532389, 34.470222. The generic coordinates for Sheik Radwan Clinic are: 31.532879, 34.470028. Due to limited imagery from the site, we were unable to verify the locations further..

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Residential building struck","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"coordinates":[34.470222,31.532389],"type":"Point"}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Sheik Radwan Clinic \n عيادة الشيخ رضوان","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"coordinates":[34.470028,31.532879],"type":"Point"}}]}

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    102 – 200
  • (50 children26 women26–27 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (50) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI100

Incident date

December 5, 2023

Location

بامرني, Bamerni, Amedi District, Dohuk Governorate, Iraq

Airwars assessment

At around 7AM on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, a man was killed and up to three others injured after an alleged Turkish bombardment in the Bamerni subdistrict of Amedi, in Dohuk Governorate.

Gulan Media named the deceased as 44-year-old Ali Jamil Kalash, the father of four children. Kalash was near his home when he died: the strike hit 250 kilometers away from his residence.

While Gulan Media referred to Ali as an “off-duty Peshmerga fighter,” all other sources reported that he was a civilian. Erem News reported that the belligerent, who they named as the Turkish military, carried out “three strikes” and emphasized that those injured and killed had no affiliation with the PKK.

One of the injured was reported as 23-year-old Matin Sadiq, a shepherd. He was brought to the Duhok Emergency Hospital for treatment.

Jamil Kalash, Ali’s father, spoke about the hours leading up to his son’s death, commenting that he had been at his parents’ home, entertaining guests, until 10:30 the previous night. It is unclear whether Ali died immediately or after some time, as multiple sources from December 6th reported he died after he “succumbed to his injuries.”

The number of other injuries is unclear. While Bas News reported three injured and stated they had all been taken to hospitals in Duhok province, Kurdistan 24 and Ronahi TV both reported that there was only one injury. Hawar News reported that, along with the one death and one injury, another person was missing. It is unclear whether this missing civilian was one of the injured reported by other sources.

The strike occurred in a “populated area” near an irrigation project, and also caused property damage amongst residential buildings and farms.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strike to Turkish forces.

The incident occured at approximately 7:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ali Jamil Kalash علي جميل كلش
44 years old male Contested as militant killed
Matin Sadiq
23 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT1483

Incident date

December 5, 2023

Location

منزل عائلة أبو مصبح في دير البلح, Abu Musabbeh family home at the beginning of Abu Hosni Street, town of Deir al-Balah, Deir al-Balah, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, an Israeli aircraft allegedly bombed the Abu Musabbeh family home containing a bakery located on Abu Hosni Street, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, reportedly flattening it to the ground. According to publicly available accounts, this resulted in the deaths of at least 30 and up to more than 50 family members, and caused dozens to be wounded, including children. Among the injured civilians was an infant girl named Layan Abu Musabbeh whose entire family was reportedly killed in the strike.

Numerous photographs of bodies allegedly being recovered from the site of this bombing were published by MSDR News. Similarly, the radio station Mazaya Fm shared images showing members of the public and Red Crescent recovering bodies from the location. Anadolu News Agency cited the mayor of Deir al-Balah, Diab al-Jarro, who reportedly stated that around 50 civilians were killed in the house of Abu Musabbeh family, and the majority of those killed were displaced people seeking refuge in Deir al-Balah from other areas within the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City. The agency also reported that 50 fatalities resulting from the airstrike were buried in a mass grave because, according to Diab al-Jarro, the existing cemeteries were no longer adequate to accommodate the substantial number of the deceased. The lowest death count was provided by @adham922 which identified 30 people killed, “all of them children, women and innocent civilians” while the highest death count of “over 50” victims was documented by @QudsNen.

According to Aljazeera, the dead and wounded were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. The official Twitter/X account of the Palestinian mission to the UK shared the heart-wrenching images of the funeral of at least 45 members of Abu Musabbeh family where a crying woman was embracing a dead body of her relative wrapped in white cloth.

In its Twitter/X account, Al Mayadeen News alluded to why the alleged bombing of this site caused such a high number of purported casualties, stating “A new massacre in #Deir_Al-Balah after the occupation targeted the home of the Abu Musabah family, which contained a clay bakery, around which people gathered to get a piece of bread.”

In its coverage of this event, Al Jazeera posted a graphic video on Twitter/X purportedly filmed at the scene by a Palestinian journalist. The video shows the rubble left from the building, flames of fire and people carrying numerous bodies of the dead and injured civilians. An injured man and an injured crying boy are also visible. According to Al Jazeera Mubasher, limited supplies of medical resources complicated efforts to tend to the wounded. On this, the outlet stated, “It was documented that the wounded continued to arrive at the hospital, with a shortage in all hospitals in the Gaza Strip and a shortage of medical supplies.”

At present, Mohammad Kamal Abu Musabbeh has been named as among the deceased. Condolence posts on social media were numerous. A friend of Mohammad Musabbeh, Muhammad al-Safir, described his last moments before the strike. The two had hugged only seven minutes before the explosion, and al-Safir remembered Musabbeh saying he was tired but that still he “smiled at me and said, I swear I love you.” Had he known this would have been the last time the two saw each other, al-Safir said, he would have “prolonged the hug.” From the attached image the late Mohammad appears as a smiling young bearded man.

A little girl, Talia Khattab, was also killed in the strike. A committed student, Talia was remembered for her diligence to her schooling. Eager for the war to end, Talia reportedly told her grandfather: “Tomorrow everything will be over grandpa, I will go to kindergarten and get the highest grades.”

Whilst describing how this incident orphaned an infant girl Layan Abu Musabbeh to the news outlet Al Watan, a relative Muhammad Abu Musabbeh said that the explosion threw her and her bed into one of the neighbors’ houses. He also described the aftermath of the bombing stating that, “The scene we saw cannot be described. We heard a loud explosion, so we quickly left the house. I was surprised that it was the house of my cousin and his family. The scene was horrific, fires burning in the house.”  Abu Musabbeh also said that they were searching for the child for several hours, and “almost lost hope, until one of the neighbors heard the sound of a child crying, and upon tracing the source of the sound, we found that she had flown away.”

A Twitter/X user @monther_khaled posted a video showing the infant Layan wrapped in green cloth.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. At least one source, @rdooan, referenced the bombing as being carried out by “American weapons”.

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:

Family members (2)

Mohammad Kamal Abu Musabbeh محمد كمال أبو مصبح
male killed
Layan Abu Musabbeh ليان أبو مصبح
Child female injured

The victims were named as:

Talia Khattab
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 51
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (25) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Msdr news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Msdr news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Msdr news
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    Source: Msdr news
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    Source: Msdr news
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    Source: Mohammed Refat Farhat
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    Source: MAZAYARADIOFM
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    Source: Mohamed.safeer2014
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @PalMissionUK
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    Source: @PalMissionUK
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    Source: @PalMissionUK
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Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 51
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT1371

Incident date

December 1, 2023

Location

محيط مستشفى ناصر, Vicinity of Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.346941, 34.293052 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one person was killed and a number of people were injured on Friday, December 1, 2023, when the Qanan family home near Nasser Hospital, west of Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, was reportedly bombed by an Israeli military aircraft.

The man identified by sources as killed was Arafat Mustafa Qanan, also known as Al-Sakhr or Abu Sakhr.

@CensoredNws and @AlAYASHxs reported that a number of people were killed and injured in the incident but did not give exact figures.

Multiple family members made heartfelt tributes to Arafat, including his brother, Tareq, and sister, Asmaa. Iyad Hamdi described Arafat in a post on Facebook as ‘good’ and ‘pure’ and others described their intense grief at his loss. @Abood_Shantii described him as a ‘beloved friend and neighbour’.

Videos and images posted on Facebook show civil defence crews and others searching through the dusty rubble of the Qanan family home and carrying out at least one victim. The house appeared completely destroyed with only pillars and a broken, sagging ceiling remaining. Images taken by Amr Tabsh and posted by multiple sources show children’s toys amongst the rubble.

According to Al Ghad TV, the Qanan family home was the first strike to occur after the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Gaza ended.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Arafat Mustafa Qanan عرفات مصطفى قنن
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (26) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @jihadabuhamdans
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    Source: @jihadabuhamdans
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    Source: @albaharmalik
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: MsdrNews
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    Source: MsdrNews
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    Source: MsdrNews
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    Source: MsdrNews
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    Source: Iyad Hamdi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qanan family
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    Source: Tareq Qanan
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    Source: Amr Batsh
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    Source: Amr Batsh
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    Source: Amr Batsh
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    Source: Amr Batsh
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    Source: Amr Batsh
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    Source: Amr Batsh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amr Batsh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amr Batsh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amr Batsh
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    Source: Amr Batsh
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    Source: Asmaa Qanan
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Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Nasser Hospital (مستشفى ناصر) to the west of Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.346941, 34.293052. 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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT1345

Incident date

December 1, 2023

Location

ساحة الشوا, Shawa Square, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.506944, 34.467778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four members of the Al-Sawaf family were killed by alleged Israeli airstrikes on the Al-Sawaf family home in Shawa Square in the Al-Tiffah neighborhood east of Gaza City on December 1, 2023.

On January 14, 2024, Airwars’ researchers spoke with Shimaa Musfafa Al-Sawaf, daughter of the owner of the house, who provided the names and location of those killed in this attack – all of the men who were killed had been injured in a previous alleged Israeli airstrike two weeks earlier on November 17, 2023 (see incident ISPT1177a for details).

Four members of the Al Sawaf family were killed: Montaser Mustafa Al Sawaf, his brother Marwan Mustafa Al Sawaf, Mohammed Salam Al Sawaf, and Mohammed Fouad Al Sawaf.

Anadolu Agency reported on its website “the photographer collaborating with Anadolu Agency in the Gaza Strip, Montaser Al-Sawaf, his brother Marwan, and a number of his relatives, were martyred on Friday in an Israeli bombing targeting southern Gaza City. Montaser continued to bleed for about half an hour without any of the ambulances being able to reach him until he was transported in a civilian car to the Baptist Hospital. There, the doctors could not treat his injury because it was serious due to the lack of medical capabilities, which led to his death.”

A colleague of Montaser posted a memorial for him, adding that he was “with us in covering the massacres in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war” and ultimately was a victim of bombings twice. According to @muhammadshehad2, Montaser had continued to work despite the “untreated” injury he had from the initial bombing and @fatimah_j_ tweeted that Montaser had posted “if God has given you what you love, do what he loves” two days before his death. Montaser had also posted videos of himself feeding stray cats in Gaza. After his death, a cartoon of a smiling Montaser feeding cats in a bombed out Gaza was widely shared online.

SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom also described Marwan as a “freelance photographer” and Alaa Kamal posted a condolence message for his “beloved and childhood friend” Marwan, along with an image of him with his press equipment. Shirin Observatory also posted a memorial for Marwan: “Marwan was born on January 12 (30 years old) in Gaza, Palestine, and he lived and grew up there. He was always proud of his father, loved his country and his friends, and was a sincere, creative, and smiling person. Studied technology at the University College of Applied Sciences – Gaza. He worked at the University College of Applied Sciences – Gaza. He worked at Alef Multimedia.”

Members of the Al-Sawaf family killed in this strike were laid to rest in the city’s al-Batsh cemetery.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mountaser Mustafa Al Sawaf منتصر مصطفى الصواف
male killed
Marwan Mustafa Al Sawaf مروان مصطفى الصواف
male killed
Mohammed Salam Al Sawaf محمد سلامة الصواف
male killed
Mohammed Fouad Al Sawaf محمد فؤاد الصواف
male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men2 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (23) [ collapse]

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    Source: @ShehabAgency
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    Source: Alaa Kamal
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    Source: Iran press
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    Source: AJA palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom
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    Source: SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammed Hazem Al Masri
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    Source: Mohammed Hazem Al Masri
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    Source: @TRTArabi
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    Source: @Gaza_Shaheed
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    Source: @JournalistSupp1
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    Source: @muhammadshehad2
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    Source: @muhammadshehad2
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Anadolu Agency News
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    Source: Anadolu Agency News
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    Source: Anadolu Agency News
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    Source: Anadolu Agency News
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    Source: Anadolu Agency News
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    Source: Al Bawaba News
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    Source: Democracy Now News
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    Source: @KhaledBeydoun
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    Source: @Desertup
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    Source: @Desertup

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Shawa Square (ساحة الشوا) to the east of Gaza city (غزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.506944, 34.467778. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men2 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 (20) [ collapse]