Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS223

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

أوجقناه, Ojkana, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4203501, 38.0766392 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

22 civilians including at least 13 children were reported killed and 13 people injured following alleged Coalition airstrikes in Manbij.

The Shaam News Network reported that “Coalition planes launched raids on IS positions in Manbij and the surrounding area which led to the fall of civilian martyrs and wounded.”

The Syrian Press Centre said that “Ten civilians were killed in coalition aircraft bombing of the village of Ojkana a village near the city of Manbej in the countryside north of Aleppo, to coincide with the ongoing clashes in the area.

They added: “The ‘democratic forces of Syria,’ launched a massive offensive supported by the international coalition on the countryside Manbej in an attempt to control the city which is under IS control, the region is witnessing battles and clashes continuing, under air cover from the international coalition, which targeted at midnight the village of Ojkana Village, near Manbej led to the death ten civilians two of whom were identified as Bahjat al Hilal and Hashem al Hilal according to Manbij coordinating committee.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that they were “informed that no less than 10 civilians including 5 family members were killed by aerial bombardment by the U.S led coalition warplanes in Ojana village in Menbej countryside, while no less than 13 others were wounded.”

The Manbij Coordinating Committee too said Coalition raids had killed 10 civilians from the village of Ojkana “of whom Bahjat Hilal and Hashem Hilal are known”, while Shanba Press also put the death toll at 10, but did not say who was responsible for the “air raid“.

Manbij Mother of the World reported: “a family of 23 people was killed in Ojkana which no one is talking about. It includes 12 kids and 5 women. The family of Bahjat Al Hilal, his 2 wives, his children and his grandchildren. His brother Saad al Hilal lives in Lebanon but his wife and 8 children were killed including a one and a half year old daughter.”

In its assessment of the event, Amnesty noted that “Based on the available information, Amnesty International is concerned that the strikes in Ojqana on 3 June, which appear to have been carried out by Coalition aircraft, resulted in heavy civilian casualties possibly due to a failure to adequately distinguish between civilians and military targets, resulting in an indiscriminate attack.”

The Syrian Revolution Network later named the dead.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hashem Helal
Age unknown male killed
Haja Al Met’eb
Adult male killed
Wahida Saadllah Al Helal
Child female killed
Hussein Saadllah Al Helal
Child male killed
So’oud Saadllah Al Helal
Child male killed
Bahjat Saadllah Al Helal
Child male killed
Hashem Saadllah Al Helal
Child male killed
Adnan Saadllah Al Helal
Child male killed
child, from the family of Saadllah Al Hussein Al Helal
Child killed
Bahjat Al Helal
Age unknown male killed
Satah Al Hmidi
Adult male killed
A woman
Age unknown female killed
Hani Bahjat Al Helal
Age unknown male killed
Amani Bahjat Al Helal
Child female killed
Jasim Bahjat Al Helal
Child male killed
A child from the family of Bahjat Al Hussein Al Helal
Child female killed
Foad Al Helal
Age unknown male killed
Heyab Al Abd Al Helal
Adult male killed
Saddam, from the family of Fo’ad Al Hussein Al Helal
Age unknown male killed
A woman from the family of Fo’ad Al Hussein Al Helal
Age unknown female killed
Unborn child, son of Saddam
Child killed
A child from the family of Fo’ad Al Hussein Al Helal
Age unknown
A child from the family of Fo’ad Al Hussein Al Helal
Age unknown killed
Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22 – 23
  • (11–15 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Translation: activists: ten martyrs in an air raid on the village of Ojkana near Manbij, Aleppo countryside.
  • Translation: ten civilians martyred and 13 others injured following coalition bombing of the village of Ojkana east of Manbij. Bahjat al Hilal and Hashem al Hilal are among the ones that are known.
  • Translation: Dozens of young men join the ranks of IS in the city of Manbij Aleppo. (via upload_abo_56ab)
  • Names of the families killed in the air strike (via Manbij mother of the world)
  • Translation: the children in this photo have all been killed following the coalition raids on the village of Ojkana in the Manbij countryside a few days ago.
  • Photo of the aftermath of the air strike (via Manbij Mother of the World)
  • Photo of the aftermath of the air strike (via Manbij Mother of the World)
  • Photo of the aftermath of the air strike (via Manbij Mother of the World)
  • Photo of the aftermath of the air strike (via Manbij Mother of the World)
  • Photo of the aftermath of the air strike (via Manbij Mother of the World)
  • Pictures show the destruction that resulted from the bombardment in Ouj Qanah village in the suburbs of Aleppo, 3 June 2016. (via SNHR)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports for June 2nd-3rd “Near Manbij, 10 strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL cave entrances, two ISIL caves, and an ISIL-used bridge.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22 – 23
  • (11–15 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (19) [ collapse]