Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1997

Incident date

February 3, 2024

Location

البلعوم, Al Bal’oum in Al Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 3rd, 2024, one woman was reported injured while she was at home following a series of US strikes conducted on Al-Baloum neighborhood, in al-Mayadeen city, east of Deir Ezzor, in areas reportedly controlled by Iranian militias. The attacks were carried out at around midnight/at dawn, according to local reporting. Sources also reported a number of Iranian militia members and Syrian regime soldiers were killed and injured in the attacks.

Naher media reported that US strikes targeted several locations controlled by Iranian militias, lightly injuring a woman. @DeirEzzore on Twitter/X added that the woman was wounded “as a result of shrapnel flying from one of the militia positions targeted by coalition aircraft” led at dawn on February 3rd. Local sources often refer to US actions in Syria as ‘Coalition’ actions, given the longstanding presence of Coalition forces following the war against ISIS.

The source further said that the victim was injured while she was at home in Al-Baloum neighborhood, Mayadeen city. @asdaslm9 also reported on the woman’s injuries following the raids.

Euphrates Post further explained that an American air strike reportedly hit Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps militia leader Abu Al-Abbas’s villa, located close to Al-Baloum roundabout, in Mayadeen city, though the source did not link the attack to any civilian casualty.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), quoting a military statement, said the Syrian regime condemned US aerial attacks “on a number of sites and towns in the eastern region of Syria, near Iraqi borders, leaving many civilian and military martyrs, injuring others and causing huge damage to private and public properties” at dawn on February 3rd. The source did not add further details regarding the identification of the civilians harmed nor the locations of those strikes. No further information was available at this stage.

Despite local reporting referring to alleged US strikes conducted on multiple locations at dawn on February 3rd, sources did not always provide sufficient detail to distinguish where the militant casualties occurred. As such, Airwars aggregated the following militant death toll estimations in its ranges. In total, the estimated number of combatants killed was estimated between two and 19 while the number of injured varied between eight and 19. The casualties included Syrian regime army members as well as  Iranian militias militants Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among those killed during the strikes, Naher media identified “Shalash Maher Mandil” described as an Iranian militia militant from Deir Ezzor. @DeirEzzore posted an obituary of the combatant and said he was killed on February 3rd by an American bombing conducted “west of the monastery”. @DeirEzzore identified Ali Shawish, a Syrian regime lieutenant from Homs as a second combatant killed by American strikes, and posted a picture of the man in military uniform.

On Facebook, Euphrates Post initially reported that three Iranian militia members were killed and others injured by an alleged drone strike in the outskirts of the city of Al-Mayadeen, east of Deir Ezzor. @DeirEzzore on Twitter/X estimated that two militias members were killed and five others injured. Three of those injured were described as Syrian fighters, members of IRGC. Naher media correspondent  reported that an American strike on the IRGC headquarters allegedly killed or injured three Afghans and three Iraqis. The source further stated that they were later transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital in Al-Mayadeen city. @DeirEzzore noted that the death toll was likely to increase, as “three army members” were in “a serious condition”, two of which from Deir Ezzor. SOHR said that 29 combatants were killed in Deir Ezzor and its countryside following US strikes – among which19 militia members either killed or injured in Al-Mayadeen. This number, according to SOHR,  includes members of the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. SOHR added that some militants were reportedly still under the rubble in the city, fourteen hours after the attacks.

On Twitter/X, @nahermedia initially reported two American air strikes on February 3rd in Mayadeen, targeting IRGC bases in Al-Tammo neighborhood, and then, several minutes later, “more and more strikes now” conducted in the same city. Both posts were published at night shortly after midnight, local time. A video was published on February 3rd by Euphrates Post  recording several alleged US strikes conducted at night on farms in Mayadeen city, in areas described as ‘the most important strongholds’ of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards militia.

On February 3rd, Euphrates Post reported new ‘American air strikes carried out by warplanes’ targeting “Iranian positions close to Al-Rahba castle, Haidariyah and Al-Hashimiyeh”.  Among the areas hit, Naher media correspondent also listed the IRGC headquarters located near the “Ain Ali” shrine in Al-Quria desert, east of Deir Ezzor, and further strikes and raids: strikes conducted in Al-Mayadeen city: “two raids on headquarters in the Al-Tammu neighborhood, another raid on an Iranian militia headquarters near the old sheep auction”, and another raid “targeted a headquarters for the Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas militia in the Al-Baloum area, west and south of the city of Al-Mayadeen.”

In total, SOHR indicated that “26 vital positions of the Iranian militias” were hit by American strikes, including “positions in Al-Tamo Neighbourhood, Ain Ali Base, Al-Shably Neighbourhood, Al-Haidariya and grain silos (…) in Al-Mayadeen City”.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 targets
    Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–19
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–19

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • @nahermedia
  • @DeirEzzore
    @DeirEzzore
  • Source: @DeirEzzore
    source: @DeirEzzore

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

TAMPA, Fla. - At 4:00 p.m. (EST) Feb. 02, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States. The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions. The facilities that were struck included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle storage, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 targets
    Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–19
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–19

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY033

Incident date

April 29, 2023

Location

حمص, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.640616, 36.707550 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 29th 2023 the Israeli military reportedly launched missiles which Syrian air defence systems reportedly shot down around 12:55 am in the city of Homs, Syria. There were discrepancies in the accounts of the incident, with some sources reported that three civilians were injured while other reported that four Syrian soldiers were injured.

Local sources varied on their descriptions of the strikes and their resulting damage. Most accounts corroborate the timeline of the missile being launched at midnight and shot down, igniting a petrol station, fuel tankers and trucks.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also claimed that a munitions depot, under Hezbollah control was hit. SOHR – quoted in Aaswat News, Bladipresse, and Achrafieh News – verified that the missiles hit after midnight but claimed that it struck an ammunition depot belonging to the Lebanese “Hezbollah,” in the area of the Dabaa military airport in the countryside of Homs, which led to its complete destruction, as well as weapons trucks. There were a few accounts by the Observatory, including one claim by sources that the “the gas station belongs to a person affiliated with the Lebanese “Hezbollah”. The Observatory later reported that the incident injured “four Syrian soldiers, and destroying a truck carrying weapons belonging to (Hezbollah).” SOHR also reported that “violent explosions were heard as a result of the explosion of the ammunition stored in the warehouse, and fires were seen burning at the site, without information about human losses so far.”

A tweet from @aabnour quoted Intel Times Hebrew that identified the location as “a military convoy belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah, which was parked at the “Shahr Al-Alewi” gas station near the town of Shinshar on the Damascus-Aleppo road.”

Military sources, who were quoted by Aaswat News, Syrian Arab News Agency (Syrian regime-controlled news), BBC, Almehwar News and other media, claimed that three civilians were injured. Social media posts captured the fire outbreaks.

According to an Israeli website quoted on Halab Today TV,  the missile was prompted by an “Antonov 74” medium sized Iranian cargo plane’s activity in the area.  The IDF did not comment officially on this strike. Homs is near three air defense bases, one of which is in Shinshar, and two are near the suburb of Al-Andalus.

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 12:55 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–4

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Posted by Achrafieh News)
  • Location of the strike, posted by @HalabTodayTV.
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Image posted by Lebanese-forces)
  • Location of the strike, provided by Intel Times Hebrew and posted by @aabnour
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Israel bombed weapons depots in Homs, Syria, tonight. The bombing was the heaviest in years
  • From #Homs, last night - side effects indicate what was in storage

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an vehicles being struck in the vicinity of Shaher Alolaiwi Station (محطة شاهر العليوي). According to research conducted by @aabnour, the potential location of this strike is: 34.640616, 36.707550. Cross referencing evidence from audio-visual material from sources, we are however unable to confirm it as an exact location due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–4

Incident Code

ISSY032

Incident date

April 4, 2023

Location

الكسوة, Al Kisswa, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.358774, 36.252222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 4th, 2023 at 12:15am, an airstrike either launched by Israeli forces or an air defense missile launched by the Syrian regime hit a glass factory in Al-Kisswa, south of Damascus, in Rif Dimashq, resulting in the death of up to two civilians.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a Syrian regime-controlled news source, reported that two civilians were killed and martial damage was caused by the airstrikes. According to Orient news, Amr Niam was one of the people killed and he was described by loyalist pages as someone who reportedly fought 12 years ago with the Assad militia and was killed by “friendly fire” after his demobilization.

Athar Press quoted the head of the municipality of Al-Kisswa, Muhammad Al-Hayek, who said that “the young man (Omar Naim) works as a watchman in the glass warehouse that was targeted at dawn today.” @Kenan80490227 on Twitter corroborated that he was a facility guard, writing about the attack “in which the facility guard spent his last night before he was killed”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights posted on Twitter that one of the dead was a member of “Hezbollah”.

The glass plant sustained infrastructure damage as well. Al-Hayek clarified that the 500 square meter factory was almost. completely damaged. He said, “The glass goods in it have become like sand, in addition to the roof of the warehouse falling to the ground along with the walls,” indicating that this warehouse is private and does not belong to any government agency.

A military source speaking to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) claimed that the Syrian regime air defence system intercepted the missiles and shot them down. Radio Al Kul quoted Voice of Capital, which attributed the civilian casualties to a Syrian regime air defense missile and not an Israeli missile.

The incident occured at 00:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Amr Naim
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • An Israeli missile targeted a glass factory in the Al-Kiswah area in the countryside of Damascus, owned by craftsmen in Damascene glass. The scenes show the recovery of a number of civilian martyrs who were in their workplaces in the factory.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Kisswa (الكسوة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.358774, 36.252222. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Incident Code

ISSY029

Incident date

February 19, 2023

Location

كفرسوسة, Kafar Sousa, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and 15 others were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes or Syrian regime defensive missiles on the neighborhood of Kafar Sousa in Damascus on February 19, 2023. Up to 13 militants were also killed and others were wounded.

Syrian Arab News Agency, a Syrian regime run news source, reported that as a result of Israeli air aggression against Damascus and its vicinity, five people were killed, including a soldier, and 15 civilians were injured, some in critical condition.

A tweet from @SARASALLOUM963 identified recruiter Axem Esper (M) [non-civilian], doctor Asif Mahmoud (M), and Colonel Amjad Ali (M) [non-civilian] as victims killed by Israeli strikes on Kafar Sousa. Damascus voice also identified two of the victims on Facebook: “Axem Ibrahim Esber,” the personal escort of the commander of the Damascus Center for the Baath Brigades, member of the People’s Assembly, and head of the Al-Wathba Club, Dr. Youssef Hassan Al-Salama.

@SAMSyria0 tweeted that Dr. Asif Mahmoud was a doctor of internal medicine and cardiac diseases.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) put the number of casualties at 15 killed and others wounded, without specifying how many civilians were among the toll. The “Voice of the Capital” website quoted by Al Araby stated that the bodies of at least 10 people were recovered from the damaged building. Orient News added that the strikes resulted in the death of six Iranians, including two high-ranking officers, and the injury of others.

According to @SARASALLOUM963, the building in Kafar Sousa that was subject to Israeli airstrikes was evacuated. SOHR referred to the location of the strikes as “an Iranian area and school” which resulted in the destruction of a building while @maarouf_lilian tweeted that the strikes hit “an operations headquarters and a meeting of Iranian leaders”. However, @obretix who geolocated the incident pointed out where the Iranian School is located but added that the school wasn’t the target.

Syria TV specified that the raids hit a headquarters of the “Iranian Revolutionary Guard” militia in the security square area in Kafar Sousa,  located near the headquarters of “Unit 840” of the “Revolutionary Guard”. Al Araby News also quoted the “Voice of the Capital” website which stated that the building struck in Kafar Sousa belongs to businessman Fadel Balawi, owner of the Al-Fadhel Money Transfer Company linked to the Lebanese “Hezbollah.” The car garage and rooms under the building’s floor sustained the most damage.

Shaam News reported that according to some Hebrew language media, the bombing of Kafar Sousa may have been caused by “Syrian surface-to-air missiles, not Israeli missiles” while other sources refer to senior figures who were intentionally targeted in the Israeli strikes in Kafar Sousa.

The incident occured at 00:22:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Asif Mahmoud
Age unknown male killed
Youssef Hassan Al-Salama
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (29) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damascus recently
  • One of the victims of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Dr. Asif Mahmoud, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Brigadier General Sharaf Eng. Amjad Ahmed Ali, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Brigadier General Sharaf Eng. Amjad Ahmed Ali, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Brigadier General Sharaf Eng. Amjad Ahmed Ali, a victim of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Part of the damage to the historic Damascus Citadel after the Israeli attack yesterday.
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by Damascus voice via Facebook)
  • Scenes of the extent of the destruction caused by the Israeli bombing of Kafar Souseh neighborhood in #Damascus, Syria
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @maarouf_lilian)
  • A citizen documents from inside his house the moment an Israeli missile exploded. Lee targeted a residential building in the Kafarsouseh neighborhood of the capital, Damascus, a short while ago.
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and surrounding areas on February 19, 2023. (Image posted by @obretix)

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY027

Incident date

August 12, 2022

Location

الحميدية, Al Hamidiya, Al Qunaytirah, Syria

Geolocation

33.157384, 35.846972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Israeli forces attack targeted the town of Al-Hamidiya in the Quneitra countryside, in Al Qunaytirah, Syria, on August 12th 2022 which allegedly wounded at least two civilians.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an Israeli tank fired three shells when two people appoached the area and Step Agency reported that the Israeli forces fired at a military site belonging to the Hezmollah militia.

Shaam reported that “the Israeli occupation army radio said that the [Israeli military] attacked a site in Syra in Quneitra that was used by Hezbollah for surveillance, while Iranian sites said that the shelling targeted shepherds as they approached the disengagement zone, and another Russian said that the bombing targeted farmers near the buffer zone with Syria.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Hamidiya ( الحميدية), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.157384, 35.846972. 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
    Artillery
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY026

Incident date

July 6, 2022

Location

المرج, Al Marj, Quneitra, Syria

Geolocation

33.280500, 35.830590 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 46 year old man was killed in alleged Israeli drone strikes on the town of Al Marj west of Hader on July 6, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a civilian or a member of Hezbollah or regime forces.

Shaam News reported that an Israeli drone killed “Farid Fouad Mustafa” in the area of Hadi’s quarry, adding that he was a member of the “Ba’ath Party” in his town and “he is known for his slander, his participation in a number of massacres and thefts, and his thirst for blood”.

Syrian Arab News Agency, the regime-controlled news agency, also reported that a young man was killed, referring to him as a civilian, and stating that he was killed near his home by an Israeli rocket while @AsharqNewsSYR stated that Mustafa was 46 years old and was killed when the bombardment hit his workplace.

However, @najlaasaadee identified Mustafa as being part of the auxiliary forces of the Syrian Army. @aabnour referred to Mustafa as being “a close associate of the Hezbollah militia” and then went on to say that he  ” is considered one of the personalities close to the Iranian militias and works with a group of elements in the trade and promotion of narcotics for their benefit”.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Israel, and @AsharqNewsSYR added that the drone came from the Syrian Golan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "Farid Fouad Mustafa", killed by an alleged Israeli drone strike on Al Marj on July 6, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether he was a militant of a civilian. (Image posted by @najlaasaadee)
  • "Farid Fouad Mustafa", killed by an alleged Israeli drone strike on Al Marj on July 6, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether he was a militant of a civilian. (Image posted by @aabnour)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Marj (المرج) area, allegedly west of the town of Hader (حضر), in the vicinity of Hadi (هادي) quarry. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Hader are: 33.280500, 35.830590.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY024

Incident date

July 1, 2022

Location

سهل عكار, Sahel Akkar, Tartus, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Israeli strikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), two civilians, including a woman, were injured and material damage was caused when Israeli missiles struck a number of poultry farms near Hamidiya town. A military source told SANA that “at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, the Israeli enemy carried out an air missile aggression from over the Mediterranean Sea, west of the Lebanese city of Tripoli, targeting several poultry farms in the vicinity of Hamidiya town, south of Tartous.”

SANA provided the name of one of the victims: “Ali Rahmoun, from the village of al-Qubaiba, who suffered a broken leg in the attack, said that the Israeli missiles caused damage to his house and more than three kilometers of agricultural land planted with aborigines, in addition to two water wells.”

@TvIdlib reported that “dead and wounded” were a result of the Israeli airstrikes on “the positions of the Assad militia and the Iranian militias” but did not identify whether the casualties were civilians or militants.

SANA added that the airstrikes caused material damage to the irrigation and electricity networks, in addition to citizens’ private properties. The director of Water Resources of the province, Muhammad Mahrez, told SANA that the aggression destroyed three irrigation channels irrigating approximately 100 hectares, resulting in about 50 million Syrian pounds of damage, and the director of Electricity in the province, Abdel Hamid Mansour, indicated that, due to the aggression, the electrical network suffered great damage, including poles and electricity transmission lines. A citizen named Alaa Ibrahim, from the town of Al-Jamasa, explained that his loss due to the attack is 52 sheep and two cows, in addition to agricultural instruments, which are his only source of livelihood.

@TheSyrianTweet also reported damage to agricultural facilities, including damage to “8 greenhouses with a damage rate of 50-80%, two farms, a cow facility, and a number of farmers’ fields in the area planted with maize and some summer crops”.

A tweet from @SAMSyria0 reported that the sites that were hit by airstrikes “do not have any military character”. However, @AlHadath identified “facilities used by Hezbollah” as being the intended targets and Times of Israel reported that the strikes hit “a weapon transported by sea, possibly using Iranian ships that docked at the port last week” as part of Syria and Iran’s attempt to establish a new air defense system.

All of the sources attributed the strikes to Israel and @DagnyTaggart369 identified “four Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter jets” as being responsible.

The incident occured at approximately 6:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ali Rahmoun
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Hezbollah, Iranian military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (23) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @TheSyrianTweet)
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @TvIdlib)
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @TvIdlib)
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SteeleSyAA)
  • Alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hamidiya town on July 2, 2022. (Image posted by @SteeleSyAA)

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
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Hezbollah, Iranian military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY020

Incident date

November 24, 2021

Location

حمص, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.725548, 36.710839 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed and another was injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Homs on November 24, 2021. Conflicting reports were given as to whether two of the people killed were civilians, with up to three others being identified as members of the regime forces.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a regime-controlled media source, reported that two civilians were killed and another civilian was injured, in addition to six soldiers who were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes at 1:26am. The source added that the Syrian air defenses had shot down most of the missiles.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) gave a conflicting report that “the death toll in the targeting rose to 5, two of the militias loyal to the Lebanese Hezbollah, whose nationality has not yet been known, and 3 members of the regime forces. Both of them were in civilian clothes during the targeting, and it turned out that they were soldiers later on.”

A Facebook post from Free Dier Azour Radio named the three members of the regime forces that were killed: Sultan Qilih, Zine El Abidine Qataz, Ibrahim Karim.

SOHR added that the killings were a result of both the Israeli airstrikes and the remnants of missiles from the “air battle between the regime’s air defenses and the Israeli missiles” and specified that he Israeli targeting caused the death of at least 4 people and the injury of others, two of them were killed in the western suburbs, and two were killed as a result of the fall of the remnants of missiles, without specifying if this occurred in a different location.

AFP quoted the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying that the strikes occurred in an area near three villages in the west of Homs province. A Facebook post from Nors Studies identified the location of one of the strikes as occurring near Kabash Gas Station on Lebanon Road.

Jerusalem Post quoted opposition-affiliated Halab Today TV that “10 members of Hezbollah were injured after a site the movement uses as a military headquarters and to store logistical equipment was targeted in the airstrikes.” The source also quoted Al-Araby Al-Jadeed in reporting that “at least 10 missiles hit positions belonging to Syrian regime forces west of the city of Homs, causing casualties among civilians, Syrian soldiers and Iran-backed militants. One of the sites targeted was located in the Syrian Gas Company, according to the report. The two civilians were reportedly killed by a missile that hit a civilian area near a gas station west of Homs.”

AFP reported that the Israeli military declined to comment on “reports in the foreign media.”

The incident occured at 01:26:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6–10

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Funeral for the three members of the Syrian regime forces killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on November 24, 2021. (Image posted by Free Dier Azour Radio)
  • Funeral for the three members of the Syrian regime forces killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on November 24, 2021. (Image posted by Free Dier Azour Radio)
  • Funeral for the three members of the Syrian regime forces killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on November 24, 2021. (Image posted by Free Dier Azour Radio)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the western suburbs of Homs (حمص), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.725548, 36.710839. 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
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6–10

Sources (13) [ collapse]