Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISSY019

Incident date

August 19–20, 2021

Location

قارة, Qarah, Rif Dimashq, Syria

Geolocation

34.154232, 36.743259 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four civilians, including a young man, were killed and three to four others were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes or Syrian regime air defense strikes on Qarah on August 19/20, 2021. Sources reported that four additional members of Hezbollah were killed in the strikes.

A tweet from @SARASALLOUM963 quoted the Head of Qara City Council as reporting that “four civilian workers were killed and three others were injured as a result of the Israeli aggression on Qara last night”.

Enab Baladi quoted the Russian “TASS” news agency as reporting that “the warplanes targeted three points in Qara, and three missiles landed on civilian homes, killing four civilians and wounding four others, as well as destroying two houses and damaging nearby buildings” and “the ages of the dead ranged between 20 and 50 years, and the wounded were taken to the hospital in the nearby city of Deir Atiyah”.

@SARASALLOUM963 also identified the name of one of the people killed: Jaafar, the son of Abdul Jabbar Taha, a member of Kefraya and Al Foah, who was expelled from his village in Idlib countryside, was killed. @AuroraIntel referred to Jaafar as being a civilians.

According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, four members of Lebanese Hezbollah were killed and others were wounded in the strikes on weapons warehouses and other military posts belonging to Lebanese Hezbollah in Qarah. They added that Lebanese Hezbollah uses the area to smuggle fuel from Lebanon to Syria.

@QalaatM identified the names of two of the “soldiers” killed in the strikes: Maher Ahmed Hilal and Adel Khader Al-Fatlawi, who was serving in the IRGC-linked Brigade.

Damascus SV reported on both the Hezbollah militia members and the civilians killed in the strikes, indicating that both civilians and belligerents were killed. They quoted Voice of the Capital correspondents in the western Qalamoun, who said that “ambulances loaded with corpses and wounded arrived at several government hospitals”. In addition, they also quoted the Qara City Council’s reported on civilians being killed but added that “local sources accused the anti-missiles fired by the air defenses of killing and wounding civilians”.

Step News reported that in response to the Israeli airstrikes, the Syrian regime launched air defense missiles and an image posted by Damascus Voice shows “remnants of the Russian “Pantsir” air defense missiles”. Syrian Arab News Agency, an agency associated with the Syrian regime, reported that the regime had shot down most of the missiles and were still assessing the outcome.

Tweets from @AuroraIntel and @SAMSyria0 were able to identify the geolocation of the strikes. Sources were conflicted as to whether the Israeli strikes or the Syrian defense strikes were responsible for the civilian casualties.

The incident occured around midnight.

The victims were named as:

Jaafar جعفر
Age unknown male son of Abdul Jabbar Taha, a member of Kefraya and Al Foah killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
    Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Remnants of the Russian "Pantsir" air defense missiles that fell in the residential neighborhoods of the city of Damascus on the evening of August 19, 2021. (Image posted by Damascus Voice)
  • Remnants of the Russian "Pantsir" air defense missiles that fell in the residential neighborhoods of the city of Damascus on the evening of August 19, 2021. (Image posted by Damascus Voice)
  • Jaafar, the son of Abdul Jabbar Taha, a member of Kefraya and Al Foah, who was expelled from his village in Idlib countryside, was killed in alleged Israeli strikes on Qarah on August 19/20, 2021. (Image posted by @SARASALLOUM963)
  • Strikes on Damascus and surrounding areas the evening of August 19, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Strikes on Damascus and surrounding areas the evening of August 19, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Strikes on Damascus and surrounding areas the evening of August 19, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Strikes on Damascus and surrounding areas the evening of August 19, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Adel Khader Al-Fatlawi, identified by @QalaatM as a soldier, was killed in strikes on Qarah on August 19, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Maher Ahmed Hilal, identified by @QalaatM as a soldier, was killed in strikes on Qarah on August 19, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Maher Ahmed Hilal, identified by @QalaatM as a soldier, was killed in strikes on Qarah on August 19, 2021. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)
  • Adel Khader Al-Fatlawi, identified by @QalaatM as a soldier, was killed in strikes on Qarah on August 19, 2021. (Image posted by @QalaatM)
  • Civilian planes flying to Beirut airport were rerouted due to alleged Israeli strikes in Qarah on August 19, 2021. (Image posted by @Intel_Sky)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Qarah (قارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.154232, 36.743259. 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
    Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY018

Incident date

May 10, 2021

Location

عين التينة, Ain Al Tinah, Rif Dimashq, Syria

Geolocation

33.281773, 35.826240 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one man was injured in alleged Israeli strikes on Ain al-Tinah on May 10, 2021. Local sources are conflicted as to whether he is a civilian or militant and one source reported that he later died of his wounds.

According to Step News, “the Israeli army targeted a person near the border fence with the occupied Golan on the outskirts of the town of Ain al-Tina. The person is from the town of Hadar, and he was wounded as a result of being directly targeted by Israeli forces.” However, @WithinSyriaBlog referred to the man wounded as being Druze and added that he is a “native of the Israeli-occupied town of Majdal Shams”.

Shaam News reported that Israeli forces “targeted a house” and the strike resulted in one person being injured. A tweet from @ElmasDean identified him as being “seriously injured” and another source described his condition as “his life is in danger”.

@SAMSyria0 named the injured civilian as Al Sheikh Tahrir Mahmoud. @MosheBerkovitch tweeted on May 19th, nine days later, that he died of his wounds.

Euphrates Post identified the “position of the Assad regime and Iranian militias” as being the target of the airstrikes and that “the Israeli bombing resulted in the injury of a civilian, who was transferred to Quneitra Hospital.”

Other sources also identified the injured man as a civilian. However, a tweet from @WithinSyriaBlog referred to Mr. Mahamoud as being ” a fighter in al-Qunitra’s NDF”, adding that “his brothers, Nazir and Tha’air, were both killed in the war and his late father, Walid Mahmoud, was imprisoned by Israel.”

Times of Israel referred to the location of the strikes as an alleged Hezbollah site and added that Mr. Mahamoud worked for Hezbollah. Carmel and North Portal added that foreign forces, including Hezbollah, hire local recruits to work for them in the area and Nziv.net identified the injured man as someone who “cooperates with Hezbollah mainly on drug distribution and observations of the Israeli border.”

All of the sources that reported on the strike identified Israel as being responsible. The Israel Defense Forces refused to comment on the matter.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Al Sheikh Tahrir Mahmoud الشيخ محمود التحرير
Age unknown

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Image of Shiekh Tahrir Mahamoud, killed by alleged Israeli strikes on Ain al-Tinah village on May 10, 2021. (Image posted by @WithinSyriaBlog)
  • Image of Shiekh Tahrir Mahamoud, killed by alleged Israeli strikes on Ain al-Tinah village on May 10, 2021. (Image posted by @WithinSyriaBlog)
  • Image of Shiekh Tahrir Mahamoud, killed by alleged Israeli strikes on Ain al-Tinah village on May 10, 2021. (Image posted by Karmel Portal for the north)
  • Caption translation: Al Sheikh Tahrir Mahmoud, from the town of Majdal Shams al-Mahallah, was injured in the town of Hadar. He was injured at the Ain Al-Tineh site as a result of the attack. (Image posted by @SAMSyria0)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the site of Ain Al Tinah (عين التينة), allegedly on the border of the Golan Heights, located west of Hader (حضر) town. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Hader are: 33.281773, 35.826240.

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 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY011

Incident date

May 1, 2020

Location

معسكر الحسن بن الهيثم للتدريب الجامعي, Al Hassan Bin Al Haitham Military Training Camp, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.685734, 36.734848 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 10 civilians were wounded and taken to hospitals in Homs, Syria after being hit by shrapnel from an explosion, allegedly as a result either of Israeli airstrikes or an accidental explosion, on an ammunition warehouse of Hezbollah within the camp of Hassan Bin Al Haitham on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said they received information that the explosion “was caused by a new Israeli missile strike, which targeted a warehouse of ammunition and missiles belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah in the camp of Hassan bin Al-Haytham located on the road of Homs – Palmyra.” The sources of the Syrian Observatory confirmed that the camp “is for university training, but the Lebanese Hezbollah took it as headquarters a few years ago.”

However, there were different stories about the explosions that were heard in Homs. The Syrian regime said the explosion was a result of human error while moving ammunition there, which had then led to the explosion and the injury of a number of civilians who were passing at that time.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted a regime military source as saying “At 9:25 am on Friday, May 1st, 2020, successive explosions were heard at a military position in the city of Homs, and investigations revealed that these explosions occurred due to human error during the transportation of some ammunition”, the source said. He added that the explosions caused material and human losses due the shrapnel which scattered outside the military position.

However, the governor of Homs, Talal Barazi, said that  “the sounds heard in Homs were caused by explosions in an ammunition depot as a result of an attack on the site. He stressed that the attack included a military site and its nature was not known yet, which led to explosions. Smoke columns emerged from the site, shells fell in its vicinity, and a number of passing civilians were wounded.”

Dr. Hassan Al Jundi, Homs Health Director, told SANA that “10 injuries had arrived in public and private hospitals in the city as a result of falling flying missiles from the explosion that occurred at a military site, and the necessary aid was provided to them.”

Step News Agency provided the names of that arrived at Homs Hospital with injuries from the explosion: Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ahmad – amputated right leg, Muhammad Ali Ibrahim – two limbs amputated, Muhammad Yusef Milhem – a right hand wound and a back wound, Muhammad Omar Hussein Askari – stable general situation.

Baladi News reported that a number of Hezbollah members were killed and injured as a result of the event. They said that nine militants including officers were killed.

The incident occured at approximately 9:25 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ahmad محمد أحمد الأحمد
Age unknown male Amputated right leg injured
Muhammad Ali Ibrahim محمد علي ابراهيم
Age unknown Two amputated limbs injured
Muhammad Yusef Milhem محمد يوسف ملحم
Age unknown Right hand and back injuries injured
Muhammad Omar Hussein Askari محمد عمر حسين عسكري
Age unknown Stable condition injured
Muhammad Ahmad Al Ahmad محمد أحمد الأحمد
Age unknown male Right leg amputated injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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 killed
    9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Damage after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Damage after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Rubble on the street after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Damaged vehicle after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Damaged vehicle after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Image from a balcony alleging 2 injured in Al Khoudary street. after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Damage after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by @HeshmatAlavi)
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by @HeshmatAlavi)
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by @HeshmatAlavi)
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by Nziv.net)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Hassan Bin Al Haitham (الحسن بن الهيثم) training camp, in the vicinity of the road connecting Homs (حمص) to Palmyra (تدمر). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for this camp are: 34.685734, 36.734848.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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 killed
    9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (27) [ 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

Airwars assessment

Between five and 16 civilians, including two to three children and a woman, were reportedly killed and 21 to 50 others were injured 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.

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.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights provided the names of five civilians killed: Elaf Ratib Bakri Pasha, baby girl; Abdulrahman Anas Abdulrahman Al-Bayat, child; Anas Abdulrahman Al-Bayat, man; Ratib Mustafa Bakri Pasha; Rama Imad Yahya Arnavut, female.

Homs News also reported the names of 20 people injured and treated at 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; Yazan Za’yter 13 years old; Fayha’ Ayoub 30 years old; Ahmad Al Sheikh; Narjas Mheiyedeen

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.” People’s Dispatch reported that 16 civilians, including a child, were killed and 21 others were 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 For Human Rights was the only source that expressed uncertainty, reporting that it was unknown whether the casualties were caused by Israeli shelling or the remnants of the Israeli missiles.

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.

EA Worldview News pointed out that the neighborhood of Sahnaya, where the civilian casualties reportedly occurred, is only a few hundreds yards away from the Mezzeh base. 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 Times of Israel added that one of the locations struck was “a hangar likely storing advanced weaponry or other military equipment” outside of Damascus.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation released a statement condemning the attack “that grossly violate the sovereignty of Syria”.

The incident occured after midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Elaf Rateb Bakri Pasha ايلاف راتب بكري الباشا
Child female Other source named her 'Elas' killed
Rateb Mustafa Bakri Pasha راتب بكري الباشا
Adult male doctor killed

Family members (3)

Anas al-Bayat أنس البيات
Adult male killed
Abdul Rahman عبد الرحمن البيات
Child male Baby, 7 months old killed
Rama Arna’out راما أرناؤوط
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Aya Al Shouli آية الشولي
15 years old female injured
Bassam Fares Al Eid Al Omar بسام فارس العيد
60 years old male injured
Mohammad Shaheen Omar محمد شاهين
24 years old male Seriously injured injured
Rami Shaheen Omar رامي شاهين
48 years old male Seriously injured injured
Hamad Hatoush مادة حرتوش
23 years old male Or Hamada Hartoush injured
Hiba Hartoush Al Omar هبة حرتوش
1 month old years old female injured
Nour Khaled Omar نور خالد
24 years old female injured
Ahlam Al Ali احلام العلي
19 years old injured
Abd Al Rahhman Al Khaled عبد الرحمن الخالد
Age unknown injured
Houssin Al Sheikh حسين الشيخ
Age unknown injured
Ghayth Kalhous غيث كحلوس
16 years old injured
Nofal Ali نوفل علي
Age unknown injured
Imad Khaled عماد خالد
years old male 24 injured
Mohammad Abd Al Kareem محمد عبد الكريم
15 years old male injured
Ziyna Ma’rouf Abd Al Majeed زينة معروف عبد المجيد
years old injured
Ghofran Daqaq غفران دقاق
13 years old injured
Yazan Za’yter يزن زعيتر
13 years old injured
Fayha’ Ayoub فيحاء ايوب
30 years old injured
Ahmad Al Sheikh احمد الشيخ
Age unknown injured
Narjas Mheiyedeen نرجس محي الدين
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 16
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • 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, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ 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).
  • ImageSat International
  • ImageSat International
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Photo taken on July 1, 2019 shows an inside view of a damaged building in the suburb of Damascus, Syria. A total of four civilians, including an infant, were killed on Sunday night as a result of a series of Israeli strikes targeting areas in Syrian capital Damascus and the central province of Homs, said state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
  • Image from @QalaatAlMudiq
  • The wounded being evacuated following alleged Israeli strikes outside of Damascus on July 1, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)
  • The wounded being treated following alleged Israeli strikes outside of Damascus on July 1, 2019. (Image posted by Ynet)

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 Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 16
  • (2–3 children1 woman2 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–50
  • 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, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–9

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-200119-B

Incident date

January 20–21, 2019

Location

السويداء, As-Suwayda, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two belligerents, specifically members of the Syrian regime military, were killed and 15 others were wounded in alleged Israeli airstrikes on As-Suwayda on the evening of January 20, 2019/morning of January 21, 2019.

According to Euphrates Post, “two elements of the Assad regime were killed and others were wounded following raids carried out by the Israeli warplanes targeting Radar Jina in the east of the town of Al Kafar, south of the city of Al Suwaida.”

Smart News Agency gave the information that “2 killed and 15 wounded by Israeli air strikes on military positions in al-Suwayda (local medical sources).”

Another post by Euphrates Post specified “Israeli air strikes on the military airfield in the western countryside of Al Suweidi.”

Step News Agency also reported that “Israeli raids also targeted a number of the regime’s positions in the Quneitra hills and al-Tha’la airport in the western province of Suweida. The raids also targeted the area of ​​the “radar” East of al-Suwayda, amid a general outage of electricity throughout the province.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published an overall report on Israeli strikes, including the relevant information “the Israeli forces carried out tens of land and air strikes by their warplanes and ground-to-ground missiles, where the bombardment lasted less than 60 minutes and targeted areas extending from the southwest of Rif Dimashq to al-Thula airbase in the western countryside of al-Suwaidaa.” They identified Iranian, Hezbollah, and regime sites as being struck and gave the overall estimate of “the killing of 11 people including 2 Syrian nationals” but didn’t specify if they were killed in this location or in Damascus.

Following the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said  “Last night, the air force strongly attacked Iranian targets in Syria after Iran launched a missile from there at our territory.” The Israeli military also issued the statement ““We have started striking Iranian Quds targets in Syrian territory. We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory.”

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    15

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    15

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-200119-C

Incident date

January 20–21, 2019

Location

دمشق, Damascus, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between four and nine belligerents, specifically members of the Syrian regime military, were killed and six others were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus after midnight between January 20, 2019 to January 21, 2019.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that strikes were carried out in the “vicinity of Damascus International Airport” and gave an overall assessment that the strikes resulted in the “killing of 11 people including 2 Syrian nationals” but did not specify if those were in Damascus or in other locations. They also identified Iranian, Hezbollah, and regime forces as being hit in the strikes.

According to Sputnik News, “four members of the Syrian army were killed and six wounded in the Israeli bombing of Syria last night, the National Center for Defense Management in Russia said, citing partial damage to the infrastructure of Damascus International Airport.”

The BBC reported “A statement issued later said Israeli fighter jets had hit munition storage sites, a site located in Damascus International Airport, an Iranian intelligence site and an Iranian military training camp. The jets also struck several Syrian military air defence batteries after dozens of surface-to-air missiles were launched.”

A post by Free Deir Ezzor Radio included details that “Israeli raids targeting the capital Damascus and destroying weapons depots and military points for the Iranians and Lebanese Hezbollah in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport.” Manartalforat2018 also posted that “The Israeli army is launching large-scale raids on targets belonging to the Iranian Quds militia within Syrian territory.”

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the strikes occurred at 1:10am and added that “the Israeli aggression was carried out from above the Lebanese territory, the Galilee and Lake Tiberias, using various types of weapons.”

Step News Agency gave the specific location “a number of Israeli missiles targeted the vicinity of Damascus International Airport, adjacent to an operations room belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.”

The Israeli Defense Force issued a statement on January 20th that “We have started striking Iranian Quds targets in Syrian territory. We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory.” They did not reference any specific location.

The incident occured at 01:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military
Official source

The Israeli Defense Force issued a statement on January 20th that "We have started striking Iranian Quds targets in Syrian territory. We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-110119

Incident date

January 11–12, 2019

Location

دمشق, Damascus, Syria

Airwars assessment

Eight alleged Israeli strikes were launched on Damascus International Airport at 11:15pm on January 11/January 12, 2019.

Syrian Arab News Agency reported that “at 11:15 before midnight, Israeli warplanes coming from Galilee area launched several missiles towards the surroundings of Damascus and our air defenses immediately intercepted them and downed most of them.” The result was “only material damage to one of the ammunition warehouses at Damascus International Airport.”

A military source told Sputnik Arabic that “eight Israeli rockets fired from Lebanese territory to target sites west of the Syrian capital Damascus, pointing out that the Syrian defenses have been dropped so far 6 of them.” They also added that “one of the Israeli missiles hit an ammunition depot in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also identified strikes being “carried out against Al-Kiswah area and other areas in the south-western Rif Dimashq.”

According to Euphrates Post, the airstrikes at Damascus International Airport were launched against members of the regime and Iranian forces. However, a post from Shabab Al Soussa identified Lebanese Hezbollah positions as being struck in the bombing.

Free Deir Ezzor Radio reported that the bombing was against ” four large Iranian cargo planes (Hercules), three of which were completely destroyed.” A post from Manartalforat2018 also identified a warehouse in the airport as being involved as well.

Alhal Net added that the airstrikes “hit Iranian weapons stores, followed by the firing of missiles from the defenses of the Syrian regime in the # Almaza airport. Weapons depots of Iran “in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport, near the seventh bridge” [were struck], noting that the shipment of weapons targeted “were unloaded in a warehouse belonging to the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, near the headquarters of militias stationed in the vicinity of the airport.” In addition, “the 91st Brigade in the vicinity of Al-Kaswa, and the brigade 137 in the vicinity of Zakiya in the countryside of Damascus” were also hit.

Haaretz reported that “Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV said the attack was broader than usual, targeting areas ranging from the eastern Damascus suburb of Dmeir to Kiswa south of capital all the way to the village of Dimas in the west near the Lebanon border.”

Israel also reportedly confirmed the strike, with Haaretz publishing “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Sunday morning that Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks against Iranian and Hezbollah targets, confirming reports of an Israeli airstrike in Damascus on Friday night. Speaking at the start of the weekly government meeting, Netanyahu said the Israel Air Force attacked Iranian weapons depots at the Damascus International Airport in Syria over the weekend. “The accumulation of recent attacks proves that we are determined more than ever to take action against Iran in Syria,” Netanyahu said.

The Times of Israel also reported that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday confirmed that Israel conducted an airstrike against Iranian targets in Syria over the weekend, which he said destroyed a number of weapons caches in the Damascus airport. “The Israel Defense Forces has attacked hundreds of Iranian and Hezbollah targets. Just in the past 36 hours, the air force attacked Iranian depots full of Iranian weapons in the Damascus International Airport.”

Satellite images taken by ImageSat International and reported by Haaretz show “a photo of a structure said to be an Iranian weapons depot from December 23 alongside a photo from Monday, where the structure is no longer there. ISI added that the warehouse that was struck apparently contained Fajr-5 rockets. The company added that the size of the warehouse and of the trucks that can be seen in the earlier photo standing outside of the structure “appear to fit the assessment that the warehouse was used to store rockets.”

There were no reports of casualties among civilians or belligerents.

The incident occured at 23:15:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: Alleged Israeli strikes on Damascus International Airport on January 11/January 12, 2019. (Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Caption translation: Alleged Israeli strikes on Damascus International Airport on January 11/January 12, 2019. (Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Images taken by ImageSat International and published by Haaretz that show the before and after of an alleged Iranian weapons storage struck by Israeli airstrikes near Damascus Airport on January 11/12, 2019.
  • Images taken by ImageSat International and published by Haaretz that show the before and after of an alleged Iranian weapons storage struck by Israeli airstrikes near Damascus Airport on January 11/12, 2019.
  • Images taken by ImageSat International and published by Haaretz that show the before and after of an alleged Iranian weapons storage struck by Israeli airstrikes near Damascus Airport on January 11/12, 2019.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military
Official source

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday confirmed that Israel conducted an airstrike against Iranian targets in Syria over the weekend, which he said destroyed a number of weapons caches in the Damascus airport. “The Israel Defense Forces has attacked hundreds of Iranian and Hezbollah targets. Just in the past 36 hours, the air force attacked Iranian depots full of Iranian weapons in the Damascus International Airport.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military

Sources (29) [ collapse]