Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISSY013

Incident date

June 24, 2020

Location

معمل تجفيف البصل, Onion Drying Factory, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.013944, 37.065056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were injured in alleged Israeli strikes on an onion factory, reportedly used by Iranian militias as a weapon and ammunitions depot, in Al Salamiya on June 24th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Times of Israel identified the strike location as being “an onion-processing plant and a cattle feed factory converted by Iranian forces into ammunition warehouses”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Israeli strikes targeted an onion factory, which was partially turned into a weapon and ammunitions depot by Iranian forces. According to the SOHR, “their destruction led to huge explosions that lasted for several hours, which caused panic and terror to the people and the flying shrapnel injured civilians.”

Nziv.net also reported that after the attack, “the sounds of ambulances rushing to the attacked site were heard. Confirmed reports confirm that there were casualties at the sites attacked.” In this specific strike, the cultural center was the alleged location of the strikes.

Based on what they identified as reliable sources, the SOHR wrote that the Russian forces had informed the director of the onion factory so that it could be evacuated before the Israeli strikes. According to the SOHR, “the Israeli airstrikes destroyed two of the hangars that were weapons depots, while the third remained, which was rented by a person to manufacture ‘chips’.”

@jamlyyyyy reported that three injured people that were hit by shrapnel were brought to the National Hospital in Salamiya, but the source did not specify whether the victims were civilians. Baladi News also reported three injured but stated that the victims were not identified.

According to Ynet News, an eyewitness told RT: “Everything happened very quickly, it was a matter of seconds. From the moment we heard the sound of the planes until the explosion, seconds, even moments passed. The blow knocked us down as we tried to go up to the second floor to check on the children.”

The regime-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency stated that, according to a military source, Israel targeted several locations in Salamiya and Saboura in Hama governorate at exactly 00:45 AM. The source stated: “As soon as the enemy missiles were discovered, our air defences dealt with them and worked to pursue them and targeted them and shot down a large number of them before [they could] reach their targets, damages were limited to materials.”

@thawraa_syrv posted photos of the cultural centre in the city of Salamiya, writing that it “was which was used by the Iranian militias as their headquarters, the images show its complete destruction as a result of the Israeli raids last night.”

Orient News reported that “activists from Al Salamiya stated that the aerial bombardment of the city was the first of its kind, and affected both the onion factory in the city, a military centre run by Iranian militias in Al Saboura (east of the city), and a military site on an archaeological road, indicating that these places may [have] contained large quantities of arms and ammunition, due to the massive explosions caused by the bombing.”

Orient added: “Although Assad’s media did not report any casualties in the Salamiyah area, activists confirmed that the Salamiyah hospital contained an unknown number of casualties due to the bombing.”

Baladi News wrote that a field source had told Russian press agency Sputnik that it was likely that the shelling came from the Al Tanf area, which is controlled by American forces. Earlier reports indicated that Israeli forces had started to use to base for strikes on the Syrian regime and Iranian militias.

In a special interview with News 13, the commander of the Ramat David base, Colonel III, did not confirm the attack, but agreed to say that “the goal is to reduce the Iranian military presence in Syria and all its elements that threaten the State of Israel.” They added they seven people were killed but did not specify if they were civilians or militants. A tweet from @yonibmen specified that of the seven killed were “5 Iranians and 2 Syrians killed in an Israeli attack in Syria, targets were attacked in the Hamat, a-Sahna and Swida areas in the south”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Iranian military

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “Pictures of the cultural center in the city of Salamiyah, east of Hama, which was used by the Iranian militias as their headquarters, the images show its complete destruction as a result of the Israeli raids last night” (via @thawraa_syrv).
  • Damaged cultural centre in Al Salamiya, which was reportedly used by Iranian militias as a weapon depot, after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24, 2020 (via @thawraa_syrv).
  • Damaged cultural centre in Al Salamiya, which was reportedly used by Iranian militias as a weapon depot, after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24, 2020 (via @thawraa_syrv).
  • Translation: “This is what Israeli planes did to the "onion factory" camp of the Iranian militia in the city of Salamiyah, Hama” (via @baladinetwork).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on Al Salamiya on June 24, 2020 (via @thawraa_syrv).
  • Translation: “The effects of the Israeli aggression on the city of Salamiyah in the countryside of Hama” (via @jouhinanewssy).
  • Damaged onion factory in Al Salamiya, which was reportedly used by Iranian militias as a weapon depot, after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24, 2020 (via @jouhinanewssy).
  • Damaged onion factory in Al Salamiya, which was reportedly used by Iranian militias as a weapon depot, after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24, 2020 (via @jouhinanewssy).
  • Rubble in Al Salamiya after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24, 2020 (via @jouhinanewssy).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Salamiya on June 24, 2020 (via @jouhinanewssy).
  • Translation: “Targeting a factory where Iranian forces are present, peaceful Syria tonight” (via @doghlas_m).
  • Translation: “Hama – pictures of the destruction due to the Israeli air strikes that targeted Iranian militia sites in the onion plant in the city of Al Salamiyah in the eastern countryside of Hama yesterday” (via @Ahmad_1alshble).
  • Damaged onion factory in Al Salamiya after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24th, 2020 (via @Ahmad_1alshble).
  • Damaged onion factory in Al Salamiya after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24th, 2020 (via @Ahmad_1alshble).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Salamiya, June 24th, 2020 (via @Ahmad_1alshble).
  • Damaged onion factory in Al Salamiya after alleged Israeli airstrikes on June 24th, 2020 (via @Ahmad_1alshble).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Onion Drying Factory (معمل تجفيف البصل) being struck in the city of Al Salamiyah (سلمية‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.013944, 37.065056. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Iranian military

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY010

Incident date

April 27, 2020

Location

العادلية, Al Adliya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.373980, 36.347236 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on the town of Al Adliya, Damascus countryside, on April 27th, 2020, according to local sources. Other sources stated that civilians died due to remnants of anti-aircraft missiles fired by the Syrian regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “three civilians were martyred and others were wounded, as a result of shrapnel of missile fragments on their homes in the Al Adliya and Al Hujayra regions of the southern countryside of Damascus.” The source, however, stated it was not known “whether the shrapnel was caused by Israeli missiles, or by the air defence missiles of the Syrian regime”.

While several sources reported three killed and three injured civilians in both Al Huyajra and Al Adliya, others specified how many casualties fell in each town. Several sources stated that two civilians were killed and three others, including a six-year-old, were injured in a similar incident in the town of Al Huyajra, approximately seven kilometres away from Al Adliya, while a woman was killed in Al Adliya.

Haaretz News quoted local sources as saying that “Four members of a pro-Iran militia and three civilians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a Damascus suburb in the early hours of Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Syria’s official news agency SANA earlier reported three civilians had been killed and four injured, including a child.” However, they did not specify which location these casualties occurred.

The regime-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency, for example, wrote that “a woman died in the Al Adliya area as a result of the aggression.”

Shaam News Network, however, reported that the civilians in Al Adliya and Al Hujayra were killed and injured “by shrapnel from remnants of anti-aircraft missiles from the regime’s militias, coinciding with the Israeli warplanes carrying out airstrikes on Iranian militia positions at dawn today, April 27, according to the expectations of identical local sources.”

Shaam furthermore reported, according to local courses, that “eight Israeli airstrikes were carried out by Israeli planes targeting the sites of the regime and Iranian militias in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and its surroundings, at dawn today, without revealing the size of the human and material losses inflicted on the locations of the targeted militias”.

The incident occured at approximately 5:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Iranian military

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damaged building after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Hujayra or Al Adliya on April 27th, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Translation: “Three civilians were killed and three others were wounded in the towns of Al Hujayra and Adliya, as a result of the Israeli aggression” (via SANA).
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on a southern Damascus suburb on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Israel Hayom, attributed to Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Explosions over Damascus during alleged Israeli strike on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Ynet News)
  • Damage caused by an Israeli strike on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Ynet News)
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on a southern Damascus suburb on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Kan News)
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on a southern Damascus suburb on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Kan News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Adliya (العادلية), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.373980, 36.347236. 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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Iranian military

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY009

Incident date

April 27, 2020

Location

الحجيرة , Al Hujayra, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.43897, 36.31820 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including a woman, were killed and three others, including a 6-year-old child, were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on the town of Al Hujayra, Damascus countryside, on April 27th, 2020, according to local sources. Other sources stated that the civilians died due to remnants of anti-aircraft missiles fired by the Syrian regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “three civilians were martyred and others were wounded, as a result of shrapnel of missile fragments on their homes in the Adliya and Al Hujayra regions of the southern countryside of Damascus.” The source, however, stated it was not known “whether the shrapnel was caused by Israeli missiles, or by the air defence missiles of the Syrian regime”.

The regime-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency reported that “enemy missile fragments landed in the populated towns of “Al Hujayra” and “Al Adliya”, which caused the death of three civilians, and the injury of three others, including a six-year-old child.”

Haaretz News quoted local sources as saying that “Four members of a pro-Iran militia and three civilians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a Damascus suburb in the early hours of Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Syria’s official news agency SANA earlier reported three civilians had been killed and four injured, including a child.” However, they did not specify which location these casualties occurred.

In an article, SANA quoted the governor of Quneitra, Hammam Dabiyat, who stated that Israeli forces had targeted civilians homes in the town, killing a man and his wife, and wounding three others, including a child.

SANA also quoted the governor of Damascus countryside, Alaa Ibrahim, who further specified that the house of a displaced family from the city of Quneitra was targeted, “which led to the death of the husband and his wife, and the injury of their child and another person and the wife’s mother. The injured were treated at Al Mujtahid Hospital, while a woman died in the Al Adliya area as a result of the aggression.”

Dr Salah Ismail, head of the ambulance department at the Al Mujtahid hospital, stated that ” three cases of people from one family with injuries and wounds arrived at the hospital this morning from the Hujayraarea.” Two of the victims were lightly injured, while the third case, a child, remained under medical observation.

Shaam News Network, however, reported that the civilians were killed and injured “by shrapnel from remnants of anti-aircraft missiles from the regime’s militias, coinciding with the Israeli warplanes carrying out airstrikes on Iranian militia positions at dawn today, April 27, according to the expectations of identical local sources.”

Shaam furthermore reported, according to local courses, that “eight Israeli airstrikes were carried out by Israeli planes targeting the sites of the regime and Iranian militias in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and its surroundings, at dawn today, without revealing the size of the human and material losses inflicted on the locations of the targeted militias”.

The incident occured at approximately 5:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman1 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
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damaged building after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Al Hujayra or Al Adliya on April 27th, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Translation: “Three civilians were killed and three others were wounded in the towns of Al Hujayra and Adliya, as a result of the Israeli aggression” (via SANA).
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on a southern Damascus suburb on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Israel Hayom, attributed to Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Explosions over Damascus during alleged Israeli strike on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Ynet News)
  • Damage caused by an Israeli strike on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Ynet News)
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on a southern Damascus suburb on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Kan News)
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on a southern Damascus suburb on April 27, 2020. (Image posted by Kan News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Hujayra (الحجيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.43897, 36.31820. 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
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman1 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
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4294 IRS004

Incident date

January 1, 2020

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians including seven children and two women were reported killed, and 16 others including three children and three women – one of whom was pregnant – were injured in an alleged Russian, Iranian forces or Syrian regime shelling with a cluster missile or a rocket carrying cluster bombs on ‘Martyr Abdou al Sheikh Salameh Primary School’ and the surrounding area in Sarmin, Idlib, Syria on January 1st, 2020 according to local sources.

The Smart News Agency said the shelling targeted the school, a nearby kindergarten and a market.

The victims included a teacher and four students, two of whom were IDPs originally from Ma’arat Al Nu’man, as some sources said the school housed IDPs.

Local sources noted that a school and a market were specifically targeted by these air strikes. Al Jazeera released the name of the schools that was struck and damaged as the Salama Abboud School, and Enab Baladi News listed the name as Martyr Abdo Salama school. The names of the victims, both children and adults, were later released and were as follows with children listed first: Hoor Al-Serjawi, Yahya Raed Sarmini, Mohammad Abdel-Fatah Al-Shater, Abdul al-Serjawi, Ali Nazir Muta’b, Child Abdul Qadir Shakol, Abdel Aziz Eid. Adult victims are listed as follows: Abdul Rahman Dibo Aref, Abdul Rahman Dibo Aref’s wife, Muhammad Bassas, Fatima Abdo Ghazal.

Zarman al Waskl News later increased the number of fatalities from six to ten.  Civil Defense reported ten dead and twelve wounded, while another local source claimed seven civilians were killed, including three children, two women, and two men. The majority of the dead were from a family of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who escaped Maarat and fled to Sarmin for safety. A later local source then increased the number of the dead to nine children, while Enab Baladi News said eight killed and fifteen wounded. The director of Civil Defense, Mustafa Hajj Youssef, told Enab Balidi that eight civilians had died, and sixteen civilians were wounded. Conflicting reports emerged as Watan FM Radio and Zaituna News both reported that eight civilians had died, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that four children and two women were killed, and Ebaa News reported that five children were killed. Smart News released a later reported detailing eight dead civilians and twenty-five wounded, and UNICEF identified the age of the children to be between six and thirteen.

The Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets) in Idlib described the attack as a “massacre”, and posted: “Abdelkader’s mother sent her child to school to learn, despite the inherent dangers because she wanted him to have an education. Today [Jan 1st] regime forces killed Abdelkader, four of his friends, and two of his teachers, after they targeted their school in Sarmin City in Idlib with cluster bombs.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) expected the death toll to rise since ten of the injured including the pregnant woman were left in a critical condition.

@john_marquee geolocated the remains of the Tochka missile used in the strikes.

While some sources said the attack was launched from the Mediterranean, referring to the Russian forces, others said it was launched from Sinjar area in Idlib where the Syrian regime army operates.  However, Nors for Studies said it was likely initiated by the Iranian forces from Aleppo’s southern countryside.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdul Rahman Dibo Aref
Adult male killed
Abdul Rahman Dibo Aref's wife زوجة عبد الرحمن ديبو عارف
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Hoor Ismail Serjawi حور إسماعيل سرجاوي
Child female killed
Abdelkader
Child male killed
Yahya Raed Sarmini
Child male killed
Muhammad Yahya Al-Bassas
Age unknown male killed
Yasser Ahmed Al-Kayyari ياسر أحمد الكياري
Adult male displaced from the village of Abu al-Dhuhr killed
Ali Nazir Muta’b
Child male killed
Mohammad Abdel-Fatah Al-Shater محمد عبد الفتاح الشاطر
Child male killed
Abdel Aziz Eid عبد العزيز عيد
Child male killed
Fatima Abdo Ghazal فاطمة عبدو غزال
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 11
  • (4–7 children1–2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–16
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Iranian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military

Sources (61) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (46) [ collapse]

  • SCD volunteer rescuing a civilian after the shelling on a school in Sermin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via Horrya Press).
  • SCD volunteers rescuing casualties of the shelling on Sarmin in Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • SCD volunteers rescuing casualties of the shelling on Sarmin in Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • A civilian injured in the alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime shelling on Sarmin in Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Translation: "8 civilians were killed including 4 children and 2 women and 16 others injured, on the morning of Wednesday, as a result of attacking a school in the center of Sarmin town east of Idlib with a rocket carrying cluster bombs. The shelling that hit the school which was full of students and teachers resulted in a massacre of children and women."
  • An image of the school that was targeted with the shelling on Sarmin in Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via MMC).
  • Images of the missile used in the shelling on a school in Idlib Jan 1st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Images of the missile used in the shelling on a school in Idlib Jan 1st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • A van affected by the shelling that took place on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via MMC).
  • Images of the missile used in the shelling on a school in Idlib Jan 1st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Civilians reported injured and killed in the shelling on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (MMC)
  • Images of the missile used in the shelling on a school in Idlib Jan 1st, 2020 (via MMC)
  • Images showing the school that was targeted with shelling in Sarmin (via MMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians reported injured and killed in the shelling on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (MMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hoor Serjawi was reported killed in the alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime shelling on Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020. (via MMC)
  • Mother of Abdelakder, a child killed in the attack, is paying farewell to her son (via SCD).
  • Aftermath of the shelling on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020. (via IdlibPlus)
  • Civilians including children reported killed and injured on the shelling on a school in Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime shelling on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020. (via IdlibPlus)
  • Images of the missile allegedly used in shelling the school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020. (via IdlibPlus)
  • Images of the school building allegedly targeted with a Russian or Iranian missile (via EMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in the shelling on the school in Sarmin, Idlib (via EMC)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime shelling on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020. ( (via EMC)
  • Images of the missile used in the shelling on a school in Idlib Jan 1st, 2020. (via EMC)
  • Aftermath of the attack on the school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via EMC)
  • Van directly affected by the shelling of the school and its surrounding in Sarmin in Idli. (via EMC)
  • Images of the missile used in the shelling on a school in Idlib Jan 1st, 2020. (via EMC)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime shelling on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020. (via EMC)
  • SCD Rescuing civilians including children killed and injured in the shelling on the school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020. (via @ShahbaPress)
  • Abdulkader was reported killed in the attack on a school in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via @abuhuzaifa)
  • AbdulQader's mother paying farewell to her child who got killed in the attack on the school (via @abuhuzaifa).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in the attack (copyright Smart, published in the public interest).
  • Civilians reported killed and injured in the shelling on the school. (copyright Smart, published in the public interest)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The school targeted in the shelling (copyright Smart, published in the public interest)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians killed and injured in the attack (copyright Smart, published in the public interest)
  • Victims of the alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime shelling on a school and its surrounding in Sarmin, Idlib on Jan 1st, 2020 (via SN4HR)
  • Image of the targeted school (via SOHR)
  • Geolocation of the airstrikes by @john_marquee

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Hoor Al-Serjawi", a child killed in strikes on Sarmin on January 1, 2020. (Image posted by @fatina_sam98)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • The child Ali Nazir Miteb, another martyr in the Sarmin massacre, bringing the number of martyrs to 9. (Image posted byNabil Shiar via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 11
  • (4–7 children1–2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–16
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Iranian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military

Sources (61) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY008

Incident date

December 21–22, 2019

Location

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

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least three people were killed in alleged Israeli strikes between Sayyida Zainab and Aqraba on December 21-22, 2019. Sources are conflicted as to whether those killed were militants or civilians.

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

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “Israeli missile strikes south of the capital Damascus, killed at least three people of non-Syrian nationalities, where they are likely to be Iranians who were killed by fall of a rocket on the area between Sayyida Zainab and Aqraba south of the capital Damascus yesterday evening, and information about more casualties were reported.” However, this source did not specify if those killed were militants or civilians.

The Times of Israel also identified three people killed in the strikes, referring to them as “non-Syrian fighters”.

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

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

Fars News furthermore posted photos that were allegedly showing General Ali Haj attending Friday prayers on December 27th, 2019. Many articles have quoted General Hajizadeh since the alleged incident, including a profile done by the Middle East Eye that refers to him as the “Iran’s drone mastermind” and “the new Soleimani”.

There was no immediate comment from Israel, who told Fox News they don’t comment on foreign media reports of airstrikes.

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

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

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

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

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

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    0 – 3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY005

Incident date

November 19–20, 2019

Location

بيت سابر, Beit Sabir, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.328061, 36.000645 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a woman, were killed and at least one child was injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, around 1:30 AM on November 20th, 2019, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported “the death of a Syrian civilian and his wife after they were pulled from under the rubble of their house in Beit Sabir village in Sasa area, after the fall of a missile on their house due to Israeli shelling.”

The mayor of the village, Muhammad Al Safadi, told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that Ayoub Al Safadi and his wife Nadia Al Safadi were killed when a missile destroyed the two-storey building they resided in. Their 14-year-old son Ahmad Al Safadi was injured, but in good condition after receiving treatment in Abaza hospital. Beat Tema reported that the father of the family worked as a tailor.

Ahmad told SANA: “We were sleeping and heard strong voices, and within less than a minute the house above us was destroyed. I was transferred to the hospital in a state of loss of consciousness.”

Another son of the victims, Muhammad Al Safadi, is a soldier in the Syrian Arab Army and stated: “I was in my place of service when I received a call after two o’clock at night to know that my father was martyred and my younger brother was taken to the hospital.”

According to some sources, including @kholoudahassan, there were two sons pulled from underneath the rubble. According to Zaman Al Wasl, the incident occured at 1:30 AM.

Arab48 reported several wounded civilians, writing: “A medical source at the Qatana National Hospital confirmed that a man and a woman were killed, while a number of others were injured as a result of the raids on the town of Beit Saber, in Saasa, southwest of Damascus.” Other sources also reported several injured but did not specify the number.

According to SANA, Damascus countryside governor Alaa Ibrahim stated that “the rescue teams will remove the debris in Sasa area where a house was damaged, and three survivors were pulled from under the rubble, adding that the rest of the family’s members whose house was targeted by the Israeli brutal aggression are being rescued.” The governor also added that the governorate will provide assistance to those who were affected by the alleged Israeli strikes, and will rebuild the damaged homes.

Zaman Al Wasl wrote that “the recent Israeli raids came hours after Tel Aviv announced that it had been struck by a barrage of missiles fired from Syrian territory, claiming that it had intercepted all these missiles, which failed to reach their targets.”

Times of Israel reported that at least 23 fighters were killed in the Israeli strikes, 16 of them likely Iranians. France 24, quoting Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the number of fighters killed at 11, including seven foreign fighters. Neither source identified which location that fighters were killed in.

One of the casualties is believed to be the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. A soldier in the Syrian regime army, Jaafar nour al-Deen, was also killed in the Israeli strikes but for both cases, it is unclear in which location they were killed.

Times of Israeli also pointed out that “video footage from Syria appeared to show a Syrian air defense missile crashing to the ground in a heavily populated area shortly after launching, which may account for some of the casualties” but provided no other specific information.

The IDF released a statement acknowledging the strikes they carried out on Syria, writing “#BREAKING: We just carried out wide-scale strikes of Iranian Quds Force & Syrian Armed Forces targets in Syria in response to the rockets fired at Israel by an Iranian force in Syria last night.” In their Hebrew language report, the IDF specifically refers to being carried out “in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front.”

The incident occured at approximately 1:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ayoub Al Safadi أيوب الصفدي
Adult male killed
Nadia Al Safadi ناديا الصفدي
Adult female killed
Ahmad Al Safadi أحمد الصفدي
14 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (47) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “The effects of the destruction caused by the Israeli aggression in the town of Beit Saber in the Sa'sa region” (via SANA).
  • Ayoub al Safadi was killed alongside his wife in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Zaman Al Wasl).
  • Translation: “Pictures of shrapnel from one of the missiles of the Israeli aggression that hit a house in Sa`sa, which resulted in the destruction of the house. The family consisting of a father, mother and two sons were pulled out from under the rubble. The martyr Ayoub Ahmed and his wife and son from the village of Beit Saber in the countryside” (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir on November 20th, 2019 (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir on November 20th, 2019 (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir on November 20th, 2019 (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Civilians at the site after alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • Damaged civilian home after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • House in rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • Civilian home in rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • Ahman Al Sadafi, who was injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on his home in Best Sabir, killing his parents (via Sham Sewar).
  • Image of Abu Muhammad Ayoub Al-Safadi, killed along with his wife, in Israeli strikes on the Damascus countryside on November 19-20, 2019. (Image posted by Radwan Al Safadi , relative of Muhammad)
  • Funeral for Abu Muhammad Ayoub Al-Safadi and his wife, killed along with his wife, in Israeli strikes on the Damascus countryside on November 19-20, 2019. (Image posted by Radwan Al Safadi , relative of Muhammad)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Jaafar nour al-Deen, one of the #SAA soldiers killed in the Israeli strikes yesterday. He was not part of the Iranian revolutionary guard but a regular Syrian army soldier. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incidnet mention a residential building being struck in the village of Beit Saber (بيت سابر). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 33.328061, 36.000645.

  • Reports of the incidnet mention a residential building being struck in the village of Beit Saber (بيت سابر).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Close up of the exact location.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    SANA

  • Distribution of tags according to material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military
Official source

Tonight (Tuesday), IDF fighter jets attacked dozens of military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian army. The targets included surface-to-air missiles, headquarters, weapons depots and military bases in Syrian territory.

The attack was carried out in response to the rocket launch by an Iranian force from Syrian territory into Israeli territory, with the intention of hitting Israeli territory. During it, Syrian surface-to-air missiles were fired despite a clear warning issued to avoid this fire.

"The framework for the IDF's activities is clear and the initiative, it is important to note, is in our hands," described the IDF spokesman, Hedi Zilberman. "24 hours ago, four rockets were fired and intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. We conducted an expedited combat procedure, along with a series of air force attacks we carried out tonight. The attack was extensive compared to the time it took place, it was carried out in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front. "

The Iranian attack on Israeli territory yesterday is further and clear proof of the current Iranian purpose in Syria. This establishment poses a danger to Israel's security, regional stability and the Syrian regime. "As part of the operation, we acted against the host factor - the Syrian factor, and also against Quds Force for its variety of militias," the IDF spokesman added.

The IDF also considers the Syrian regime responsible for what is happening in its territory, and warns it against acting or allowing action against Israel. Such actions will provoke a sharp reaction.

The IDF will continue to act firmly and decisively against the Iranian establishment in Syria, and is highly prepared for a variety of scenarios and will continue to act as much as necessary for the security of the citizens of the State of Israel. "Yesterday we completed a large and extensive exercise that lasted two days with the participation of the Galilee Design and the Volcano Design."

The guidelines of the Home Front Command must be obeyed, which will be updated if necessary.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (47) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY006

Incident date

November 19–20, 2019

Location

الجزيرة الثالثة, قدسيا‎, Block Three, Qudsaya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.535944, 36.181175 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two children and a woman were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Qudsaya suburb in Damascus on November 20th, 2019, according to local sources.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a young woman was injured by shrapnel due to the Israeli shelling in Qudsaya suburb”. Reportedly, explosions were heard in the capital Damascus and its vicinity at 1:30 AM. Sources told the SOHR that “the explosions were caused by the regime’s air defenses while trying to intercept Israeli missiles that targeted positions of the regime and Iranian militias.”

Qasioun News wrote that “shrapnel from one of the missiles also hit a residential building in the Qudsaya suburb, west of Damascus, wounding a girl and causing extensive damage to the building.” According to Manal News, the girl was taken to Al Mouwasat Hospital for treatment.

The regime-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency reportedly spoke to residents of the targeted building. Iyad Al Mousawi, a resident of the building, stated: “At about 1:30 AM we felt a big shaking of the building and the sound of a strong explosion, and immediately I went to my children’s room. They were sleeping to find the flames of fire and thick smoke filling the place as a result of the shrapnel of a missile. I took them out and my wife, as one of them was injured.”

The SANA story indicated that there were two injured children, writing that “Mrs. Ahlam, the mother of the girl, who was injured in the other apartment within the damaged building, said: ‘After the smoke and dust disappeared, I saw my 17-year-old daughter crying out while she was soaked in her blood so that her father would take her to the Mouwasat Hospital in Damascus, where she is currently receiving treatment.'” Other sources only reported one injured girl.

Step News Agency reported Israeli strikes on military targets in Damascus, writing that their correspondent “confirmed that the Syrian regime’s positions were set ablaze in the vicinity of Mazzeh airport in Damascus. Ambulances and fire engines were heard there after the raids.” Local sources also reported that the Israeli raids around 1:30am also killed a family in Beit Sabir village (see event ISSY005).

Times of Israel reported that at least 23 fighters were killed in the Israeli strikes, 16 of them likely Iranians. France 24, quoting Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the number of fighters killed at 11, including seven foreign fighters. Neither source identified which location that fighters were killed in.

One of the casualties is believed to be the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. A soldier in the Syrian regime army, Jaafar nour al-Deen, was also killed in the Israeli strikes but for both cases, it is unclear in which location they were killed.

Times of Israeli also pointed out that “video footage from Syria appeared to show a Syrian air defense missile crashing to the ground in a heavily populated area shortly after launching, which may account for some of the casualties” but provided no other specific information.

The IDF released a statement acknowledging the strikes they carried out on Syria, writing “#BREAKING: We just carried out wide-scale strikes of Iranian Quds Force & Syrian Armed Forces targets in Syria in response to the rockets fired at Israel by an Iranian force in Syria last night.” In their Hebrew language report, the IDF specifically refers to being carried out “in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front.”

The incident occured at approximately 1:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mrs. Ahlam السيدة أحلام
Adult female injured
Daughter of Mrs. Ahlam بنت السيدة أحلام
17 years old female injured

The victims were named as:

Child of Iyad Al Mousawi ولد اياد الموسوي
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (25) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)
  • Workers clean up a home damaged from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
    Siblings of the 17 year old girl who was injured in strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Mrs. Ahlam, the mother of the girl, who was injured in strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Iyad Al-Mousawi, a resident of one of the apartments in the damaged building in the suburb of Qudsaya. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Mrs. Ahlam, with an image of her daughter Maysam, who was injured in strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Damage to a home from Israeli strikes on the Qusdaya suburb of Damascus on November 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Jaafar nour al-Deen, one of the #SAA soldiers killed in the Israeli strikes yesterday. He was not part of the Iranian revolutionary guard but a regular Syrian army soldier. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Qudsaya (قدسيا‎) suburbs, in the vicinity of Damascus (دِمَشْق‎). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have  narrowed the location to the Third Island (الجزيرة الثالثة) area,in houses referred to as the Youth Dormitory (السكن الشبابي). The exact coordinates for this building are: 33.535944, 36.181175.

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  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Sputnik

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    SANA

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    SANA

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military
Official source

Tonight (Tuesday), IDF fighter jets attacked dozens of military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian army. The targets included surface-to-air missiles, headquarters, weapons depots and military bases in Syrian territory.

The attack was carried out in response to the rocket launch by an Iranian force from Syrian territory into Israeli territory, with the intention of hitting Israeli territory. During it, Syrian surface-to-air missiles were fired despite a clear warning issued to avoid this fire.

"The framework for the IDF's activities is clear and the initiative, it is important to note, is in our hands," described the IDF spokesman, Hedi Zilberman. "24 hours ago, four rockets were fired and intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. We conducted an expedited combat procedure, along with a series of air force attacks we carried out tonight. The attack was extensive compared to the time it took place, it was carried out in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front. "

The Iranian attack on Israeli territory yesterday is further and clear proof of the current Iranian purpose in Syria. This establishment poses a danger to Israel's security, regional stability and the Syrian regime. "As part of the operation, we acted against the host factor - the Syrian factor, and also against Quds Force for its variety of militias," the IDF spokesman added.

The IDF also considers the Syrian regime responsible for what is happening in its territory, and warns it against acting or allowing action against Israel. Such actions will provoke a sharp reaction.

The IDF will continue to act firmly and decisively against the Iranian establishment in Syria, and is highly prepared for a variety of scenarios and will continue to act as much as necessary for the security of the citizens of the State of Israel. "Yesterday we completed a large and extensive exercise that lasted two days with the participation of the Galilee Design and the Volcano Design."

The guidelines of the Home Front Command must be obeyed, which will be updated if necessary.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY003

Incident date

July 1, 2019

Location

أشرفية صحنايا, Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

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]