Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4302

Incident date

March 21, 2021

Location

قاح, Qah, Idlib , Syria

Geolocation

36.299148, 36.739667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Geolocation accuracy

Exact location (other)

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and between one and two civilians were injured in an alleged Russian missile strike in the vicinity of Qah and Salwa towns the afternoon of March 21, 2021.

Multiple sources, including Syrian Civil Defense and Reuters, reporting that the strike was ” a surface-to-surface missile.” Idlib EMC stated that “Russian battleships on the Syrian coast, with a ground-to-ground missile, targeted the town of Qah.” Other sources referred to the strike as a ballistic missile or a long-range missile. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at the time, “it is not known yet if the missile was fired by a warship near the Syrian coastline or from the Russian base in Hmeimim.”

The location struck was identified as being near internally displaced persons camps and Jisr Press specifically reported that the missile landed near Atmeh Camp. Step News reported that ” a long-range ballistic missile fell on the headquarters of the 23rd of the Sham Legion,” a Syrian opposition faction, and the civilian and animals injured and killed were close to the vicinity. The area struck was also identified by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as being “a military headquarters of opposition faction”  but that the area contains “a large number of refugee camps which host displaced people” and is near the “Syria border with Iskenderun region.”

According to Syrian Civil Defense, the strikes resulted in ” the serious injury of a civilian and the death of a number of livestock.” Jisr Press reported “the death of a large number of livestock and the injury of a shepherd in the aforementioned area. It is reported that he later died of his injury.” A tweet from @dr_aalassad identified two civilians as being injured and Al Modon news reported that the strike “resulted in the injury of a child who was grazing sheep in the area.”

Images posted by SCD Idlib show animals that were killed in the airstrike and White Helmets inspecting the area. A video posted by @Step_Agency and images posted by other sources show the smoke cloud in the sky following the strike.

Syrian Civil Defense attributed the strike to regime and Russian forces, while all other sources identified the strikes as being Russian, from the Russian base in Hmeimim, or from Russian battleships.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Armed Forces, Syrian Regime Armed Forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Qah (قاح). According to research conducted by @obretix, the exact location of this strike is: 36.299148, 36.739667. Cross referencing evidence from audio-visual material from sources, we can confirm this location.

Russian Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Armed Forces
  • Russian Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Armed Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Armed Forces, Syrian Regime Armed Forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY008

Incident date

December 21–22, 2019

Location

المنطقة الواقعة بين سات زينب وعقربا, Area between Sat Zaynab and Aqraba, Rural Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.437222, 36.361828 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Geolocation accuracy

Neighbourhood/area

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that Israeli missiles – either launched from a ship in the Mediterranean or via an airstrike – landed on the Sayyeda Zainab area of rural Damascus on December 21st-22nd, 2019, killing General ‘Haj Ali’, who was believed to be a leader in the ranks of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and his entire family. The Iranian Fars News Agency, however, denied reports that General Haj Ali had been killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “Israeli missile strikes south of the capital Damascus, killed at least three people of non-Syrian nationalities, where they are likely to be Iranians who were killed by fall of a rocket on the area between Sayyida Zainab and Aqraba south of the capital Damascus yesterday evening, and information about more casualties were reported.”

According to Step News, “The local (Ein Al Furat) network, which specializes in Iranian affairs in Syria, also mentioned that the targeting resulted in the killing of General Haj Ali, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard militia, and his entire family, as a result of a missile from the Israeli warship that targeted his house in Al Sayyeda Zainab neighbourhood in Damascus countryside.”

However, Sputnik Arabic wrote that the Iranian press agency Fars News had denied claims that General Haj Ali had been killed in strikes: “General Ali Hajizadeh is in good situation, and the news that he was killed is pure lies. The news that Haji Zadeh was killed in an Israeli raid on Syria yesterday is a rumour that was reported by some malicious Arab media, and it was re-published on social media via opposition channels.” Fars News furthermore posted photos that were allegedly showing General Ali Haj attending Friday prayers on December 27th, 2019.

The incident occured between 10:00 pm and 1:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Several sources reported that General "Haj Ali", commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, was killed in alleged Israeli strikes on Sayyeda Zainab area in the night of December 21st-22nd, 2019 (via Ain Al Furat).
  • Despite reports that General Haj Ali was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on the night of December 21st to the 22nd, 2019, the Iranian press agency Fars News reported that the General was alive, publishing photos of the General attending Friday prayer on December 27th (via Fars).
  • Despite reports that General Haj Ali was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on the night of December 21st to the 22nd, 2019, the Iranian press agency Fars News reported that the General was alive, publishing photos of the General attending Friday prayer on December 27th (via Fars).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area between Sat Zaynab (السيدة زينب) and Aqriba (عقربا), in the southern countryside of Damascus (دمشق). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates between these two points are: 33.437222, 36.361828.

  • Reports of the incident mention the area between Sat Zaynab (السيدة زينب) and Aqriba (عقربا), in the southern countryside of Damascus (دمشق).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Incident Code

USYEMTr209

Incident date

August 31, 2019

Location

عرقوب, Arqoub, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.468889, 45.763889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Geolocation accuracy

Nearby landmark

Airwars assessment

A few local language social-media sources suggested that US strikes, reportedly including a naval bombardment and at least one air strike, had targeted “terrorist groups”, possibly AQAP, in Arqoub in Abyan governorate, on August 31st 2019, killing “dozens”. Some suggested that the “terrorists” were amongst or affiliated with pro-government forces. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Though a number of Twitter sources, such as @AAlzabli and @kamal_ALNumani, reported a naval bombardment, similarities in wording appeared to suggest that they were re-posts of a single source. Similarly, both sources that alleged a US airstrike, @nasseralgda and @maherhasan17, shared very similar wording. Since a number of differing sources suggested a US strike of some kind in the area, however, this event is presently assessed as likely.

The alleged strike came a few days after an Emirati air campaign in southern Yemen from August 28th-29th 2019, apparently in support of secessionist militias, which reportedly focused on Aden and the Abyan governorate. Late on August 29th, sources suggested that Emirati strikes were being conducted in the Arqoub area.

In a statement at the time, the Emirati foreign ministry said that its strikes had targeted “terrorist militias”, though others indicated that the actions were targeting the pro-government Yemeni military. AQAP militants have been previously reported to have fought alongside, and sometimes integrated into, Yemeni government forces. Given this, it is possible that the event reflects a late Emirati strike.

On October 4th 2019, a US Central Command spokesperson told New America that no US military strikes had been conducted in Yemen since June 24th 2019. It is, however, possible that an undeclared strike was conducted by the CIA, or was part of a clandestine US military action.

Given the description of “dozens” killed, minimum alleged militant deaths has been set at twenty-four.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attackers
    United States Armed Forces, United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Arqoub (زنجبار‎) area, for which the generic coordinates are:13.468889, 45.763889. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

United States Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United States Armed Forces
  • United States Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

United States Armed Forces
Official source

On October 4, 2019, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) replied to an email inquiry from New America confirming that “the last strike conducted by CENTCOM in Yemen was 24 June.” Per that statement, there were no CENTCOM strikes in Yemen in September 2019.

The lack of strikes in September makes it more than three months since the last U.S. military counterterrorism strike in Yemen, according to New America’s research. However, it is possible that the United States has conducted covert non-military strikes, and in recent years there have been a small number of strikes attributed by media reports to the United States that CENTCOM has denied conducting

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
  • United Arab Emirates Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attackers
    United States Armed Forces, United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY003

Incident date

July 1, 2019

Location

أشرفية صحنايا, Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.433659, 36.245227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Geolocation accuracy

City

Airwars assessment

Between five and 12 civilians were reportedly killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes that targeted several military sites in the Damascus countryside after midnight on July 1st, 2019, according to local sources.

The strike resulted in the first significant reported civilian harm from recent Israeli actions, with five named civilians locally reported killed – despite several hundred declared airstrikes against Iranian and Hezbollah forces and the Assad regime in recent years. However, it remained unclear whether some or all of the harm had occurred directly as a result of the strikes, or from Syrian counter-fire.

According to Free Deir Ezzor Radio, an Israeli missile (possibly launched by a naval vessel) killed a number of civilians when its impact shattered the glass windows of a house in Sahnaya. The Syrian-regime affiliated SANA News claimed that four civilians were killed, including a baby, in addition to 21 others injured, also including children. Numerous other sources also cited 21 as the number wounded in the attack.

News agency AFP said that six civilians including three children died, along with nine “mostly foreign pro-regime fighters.”

The New York Times, citing an anonymous Syrian government official, placed the civilian fatality toll as high as 10: “Another figure close to the Syrian government who was briefed on the strikes and who requested anonymity to discuss secret military information put the total death toll from the attacks higher, saying that at least 16 had been killed, including five Syrian Army personnel, one Iranian and 10 civilians and that 49 others had been wounded.”

Meanwhile, Step News alleged that “twelve civilians were killed, including four people from one family,” and that about “50 people, including children and infants, were injured by Israeli airstrikes targeting several positions of the Syrian regime and its pro-Iranian militias.” The same source named two locations in discussion of the incident, referring to casualties in Sahnaya and Jdaidt Artouz. However other sources did not cite civilian harm in Jdaidt Artouz.

NFAC, and other sources named two of those killed as “Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha and daughter Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha”, referring to Mr Bakri Pasha as a doctor. Enab Baladi News stated that among those killed were “displaced citizens from the neighbouring city of Darya.”

@zamanalwsl, and other sources, also reported that “a whole family (father, mother and baby) were killed” in the attack, while another source named “Anas  Al Bayat, his baby son Abdul Rahman, and his wife, Rama Arna’out” as among the fatalities.

SANA quoted a military source who reported that their “air defenses intercepted hostile missiles fired by Israeli warplanes from the Lebanese airspace towards some of our military positions in Homs and the surroundings of Damascus.” The news agency added that “due to the pressure which resulted from the explosions which occurred in the sky over Damascus, material damage was inflicted on a number of civilians’ houses in Sahnaya town as the glass of the houses was shattered causing injury to a number of people.”

The Syrian Observatory instead said that casualties occurred at Sahnaya “due to the fall of missile remnants on the area.”

The Syrian Foreign Ministry later accused Israel of “heinous aggression” according to the Guardian: “Israeli authorities are increasingly practising state terrorism,” the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official Sana news agency on July 2nd. “The latest heinous Israeli aggression falls within the framework of ongoing Israeli attempts to prolong the crisis in Syria,” it added.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the Israeli military had declined to comment on the Syrian claims of civilian deaths, telling its reporter. “We are not commenting on foreign reports.”

According to Masra Al Arabia, the Syrian official media reported that “the Syrian air defenses responded, after midnight, to enemy missiles launched by the Israeli occupation forces at some military sites in Homs and the vicinity of Damascus, killing a number of civilians, including a child, and wounding others in the town of Sahnaya in the southern countryside of Damascus.” A military source told the Syrian News Agency (SANA) that the Israeli warplanes launched their missiles from Lebanese airspace.

SANA’s correspondent pointed out that 4 civilians were killed, including a one-month-old child, and 21 were wounded, including children, in Sahnaya town in Damascus countryside, as a result of the aggression, noting that the wounded were transferred to hospitals where they received the necessary treatment.

Other sites reportedly struck by Israel that night – though with no known associated reports of civilian harm – included Mezzeh military airport, Dimas, Ksoua, Qatana and Khan Al Sheikh.

The incident occured after midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (3)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Armed Forces, Syrian Regime Armed Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (48) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes struck the Syrian regime forces in Damascus countryside on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Video showing the moment of impact when a missile struck the Syrian regime forces in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via Euphrates Post).
  • Medics tending to the civilians who were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Sahnaya town in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Medics tending to the civilians who were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Sahnaya town in the countryside of Damascus on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Video of alleged Israeli missiles on July 1st (via SANA).
  • Video Caption Translation: "Four civilians, including an infant, were killed by Israeli shelling of the Damascus and Homs governorates" (via RT Arabic)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An infant casualty following the airstrike (via @HoseinMortada)
  • Image translation The names of wounded people from Hisham medical clinic Aya Al Shouli 15 years old Bassam Fares Al Eid Al Omar 60 years old Mohammad Shaheen Omar 24 years old (seriously injured) Rami Shaheen Omar 48 years old (seriously injured) Hamad Hatoush 23 years old Hiba Hartoush Al Omar 1 month old Nour Khaled Omar 24 years old Ahlam Al Ali 19 years old Abd Al Rahhman Al Khaled Houssin Al Sheikh Ghayth Kalhous 16 years old Nofal Ali Imad Khaled 24 years old Mohammad Abd Al Kareem 15 years old Ziyna Ma’rouf Abd Al Majeed Ghofran Dakak 13 years old (via @dania_saaty)
  • Translation: “Treating the wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression in the city of #Sahnaya #Damascus” (via @jamlyyyyy).
  • Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha (left) was killed alongside his daughter Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha were killed in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Baladi News).
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a family as a result of the aggression last night on the town of Sahnaya and the martyrs are Anas al-Bayat and his son the baby Abdul Rahman and his wife Rama Arna’out" (via @0pL7NYrCA4SYZ3U)
  • Caption Translation: "Martyr Abdul Rahman, seven months who was martyred in # Sahnaya yesterday by the Zionist raids on the countryside of Damascus" (via @wasem258).
  • Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha was killed alongside his daughter in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via NFAC).
  • Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha was killed alongside her father in alleged Israeli strikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via NFAC).
  • Image of alleged Syrian regime air defence responding to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • Syrian regime air defence reportedly responded to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).
  • Image of alleged Syrian regime air defence responding to alleged Israeli airstrikes on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya on July 1st, 2019 (via Masra Al Arabia).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (أشرفية صحنايا) for which the generic coordinates are: 33.433659, 36.245227. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Armed Forces
  • Israeli Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Armed Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Armed Forces, Syrian Regime Armed Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (48) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3645

Incident date

May 2, 2019

Location

بسقلا, Bsaqla, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and others seriously injured as Bsqala in Idlib was targeted with explosive barrels and naval bombs on May 2nd 2019.

According to local source Step News, “Russian and Syrian warplanes and helicopters” operated over villages and towns in Idlib, striking a bakery and a kindergarten in Basaqla and killing one civilian. Syria.liveuamap reported that the incident took place in the morning.

Several other sources including the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that the civilian who was killed was a child.

SN4HR, Smart News and a number of other sources claimed that the attack on Basaqla was carried out by helicopters of the Syrian Regime and added that the strike was carried out with explosive barrels.

According to Smart News, six others were wounded, although Syria.liveuamap claimed that a total of seven others were wounded.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Armed Forces, Syrian Regime Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense forces carrying one of the wounded victims of an alleged Russian barrel bomb that struck Basqala on May 2nd (via Syria.liveuamap).
  • An alleged Russian airstrike hits Bsaqla, May 2nd.
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Bsaqla, May 2nd. (via Sada news)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Bsaqla, May 2nd. (via Sada news)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Bsaqla, May 2nd. (via Sada news)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Bsaqla, May 2nd. (via Sada news)
  • Image of a Russian warplane bombardment of the town of Basqla in rural Idlib on May 2nd 2019. (via @NewsCountryside)

Russian Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Armed Forces
  • Russian Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Armed Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Armed Forces, Syrian Regime Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3627

Incident date

April 27, 2019

Location

Al Latamnah, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Hamah Now reported that “a civilian was injured by Russian air strikes on the town of Al Latamina, north of Hama.”

Multiple other sources reported Russian strikes on the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had “monitored more Russian air strikes in the town of Al Latamina in the northern suburbs of Hama, where Russian helicopters fired two missiles each on, after Russian warplanes had targeted the town with four air raids”

According to Step, there had been “a bombardment with rocket launchers from the Russian camp south of Halfaya city targets the town of Al Latamina”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Armed Forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'A third Russian raid on the city of Al Latamina,'
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeted the outskirts of the city of Al Latamina in the northern suburbs of Hama with air raids.'
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes targeting the vicinity of the city of Al Latamina in the northern suburbs of Hama'
  • 'Russian warplanes bombard the city of Al Latamina in the countryside of Hama'
  • 'Air raid of Russian Aggression on the outskirts of the city of Al Latamina in the countryside of Hama'
  • 'The first moments of the air raids targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Al-Latamina'
  • Russian raid on the city of Al Latamna on April 27th, 2019. (via @4Moq3mep7QbgEdT)
  • Russian raid on the city of Al Latamna on April 27th, 2019. (via @4Moq3mep7QbgEdT)
  • Russian warplanes targeted the outskirts of the city of Al Latamna in the northern suburbs of Hama, with air raids on April 27th, 2019 (via @IdlibPlus).

Russian Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Armed Forces
  • Russian Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Armed Forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3616

Incident date

April 6, 2019

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that long-range high-explosive ballistic missiles struck the city of Jisr al-Shughour. Step News specified that ten missiles struck residential buildings and infrastructure in the city. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the strikes struck an area near the Mamoun Haj Yahya School in al Shamali al Sharqi neighborhood, severely destroying the school’s building, putting the school out of service.

While most sources said the event happened on April 8th, @AJA_Syria tweeted (on April 8th): “Pictures of the effects of the destruction caused by the bombing a few days ago on the city of Jisr al-Shughour”.

Mustafa Al Haj Yousif, director of the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib,  said that two missiles struck another school called “Ruqiya bint Malik” in addition to a number of residential houses.

Some sources blamed Syrian regime forces while other sources blamed the Russian forces. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both, reporting that Syrian-Russian Alliance forces were responsible for the attack.

Several sources such as Jisir TV claimed that the missiles were fired from Russian battleships stationed off the coast of Lattakia in the Mediterranean Sea, while others reported that the missiles were fired from positions of the regime forces in Tel Sheikh Yusuf or Henderat in Aleppo.

Most sources reported that 12 people were injured. Step News specified that among the wounded were 10 children, a woman and a young man, although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the 12 wounded included a woman and nine children. Smart News was the only source that reported 14 children were wounded in addition to a woman, although it also published the statement of Mustafa Al Haj Yousif who claimed that 12 children and two women were injured in the attack.

Jisir Media center identified the victims.

Human Rights Watch said the attack on the hospital wounded 13 women and children. “On April 8th, two munitions struck a residential neighborhood about 60 meters from the school, blowing out the school’s doors and windows and wounding 13 women and children who were inside.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Family members (4)

Family members (2)

Family members (2)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • SIght of alleged Russian missile strikes on the city of Jisr al-Shughour on April 8th (via LCCSY).
  • SIght of missile strikes on the city of Jisr al-Shughour on April 8th (via @abuhuzaifa_).
  • Syrian Civil Defense carrying wounded children after missile strikes struck Jisr al-Shughour on April 8th (via @ShahbaPress)
  • Jisr al-Shughour before alleged missile strikes struck on April 8th (via Jisir Media TV).
  • Jisr al-Shughour before alleged missile strikes struck on April 8th (via Jisir Media TV).
  • Jisr al-Shughour after alleged missile strikes struck on April 8th (via Jisir Media TV).
  • Jisr al-Shughour after alleged missile strikes struck on April 8th (via Jisir Media TV).
  • Video showing destruction caused by alleged missile strikes
  • Video showing alleged shelling of long-range missiles on Jisr al-Shughour on April 8th (via Halab Today TV).
  • Video showing the aftermath of alleged long-range and high explosive missiles struck Jisr al-Shughour (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Destruction caused by alleged airstrikes struck Jisr al-Shughour (via @AJA_Syria).
  • Long-range missile attack on the town of Jisr al-Shughour (32 km west of Idlib city) in northern Syria on April 8th, 2019. Copyright SMART, published in the public interest.
  • Pictures of the effects of the destruction caused by the bombing earlier on the city of Jisr al-Shughour. (via @AJA_Syria)
  • Pictures of the effects of the destruction caused by the bombing earlier on the city of Jisr al-Shughour. (via @AJA_Syria)
  • Pictures of the effects of the destruction caused by the bombing earlier on the city of Jisr al-Shughour. (via @AJA_Syria)
  • Pictures of the effects of the destruction caused by the bombing earlier on the city of Jisr al-Shughour. (via @AJA_Syria)
  • The SCD’s ordnance disposal team found the remnants of a 300mm 9M55K Smerch cluster munition rocket and unexploded 9N235 fragmentation submunition in the yard of Walid Shaaban secondary school in Jisr al-Shughour after an attack on March 3, 2020. © 2020 Syrian Civil Defense. (Via HRW)

Russian Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Armed Forces
  • Russian Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr092

Incident date

July 23, 2017

Location

جبل المراقشه, Jabal Al Maraqisha, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.561668, 46.134923 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Geolocation accuracy

Subdistrict

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that US airstrikes, or possibly US naval strikes, targeted alleged AQAP militants in the Al Maraqisha area of Abyan governorate, late on July 23rd 2017. Other sources reported similar strikes in the area the previous night, though did not assign responsibility to the US. There were no known reports of civilian harm.

Twitter user @demolinari, a usually reliable source, indicated on July 23rd that there were reports of US strikes in the area. Some, such as @drwaheepsaad and @Sbyhy1, specified that strikes targeted locations in Al-Maraqisha including Mogan, Husn Saeed, and Al-Maroun.

The latter source, @Sbyhy1, stated late on July 23rd that there was “news of deaths”. Given this, Airwars has assessed that at least two militants were reportedly killed in the alleged strikes.

Earlier sources from the previous night, also describing attacks in the same area, did not assign responsibility to the US. These sources further suggested that strikes targeted the Al-Waddi district of Abyan, from the direction of Al-Maraqisha, and one, @AdenNowNews, reported “hundreds of deaths”. Since these reports did not assign responsibility to the US, they are not accounted for in a unique event.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    United States Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention strikes in the Jabal Al Maraqisha (جبل المراقشه) area that includes the coastal portion to the south, allegedly targetting Mojan (موجان) at: 13.425116, 46.171369; Al Maroun (المرون), Malaj (املج), and Husn Said (حصن سعيد) at: 13.433773, 46.270462. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Jabal Al Maraqisha are: 13.561668, 46.134923.

  • Reports of the incident mention strikes in the Jabal Al Maraqisha (جبل المراقشه) area that includes the coastal portion to the south, allegedly targetting Mojan (موجان), Al Maroun (المرون), Malaj (املج), and Husn Said (حصن سعيد).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

United States Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United States Armed Forces
  • United States Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    United States Armed Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]