Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS486

Incident date

January 28, 2016

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.82179, 36.69605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eleven civilians died including three women and seven children in alleged Russian raids on Al Ghantu, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “warplanes believed to be Russian” killed 11 civilians, including three women and seven children. They said that a man and his wife and three of their children were among those killed.

The Shaam News Network put the death toll at ten, with dozens more wounded and reported “massive destruction to civilian property” as the result of alleged Russian bombing. They posted a very disturbing video depicting casualties, including bodies that had been blown to pieces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Child named by FreeSyria killed
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Adult female named by FreeSyria killed
Age unknown named by FreeSyria killed
Child male named by FreeSyria killed

The victims were named as:

Child named by FreeSyria killed
Age unknown female named by FreeSyria killed
Child named by FreeSyria killed
Age unknown female named by FreeSyria killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • (7 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously disturbing footage of injured civilians. Warning: video shows the remains of a civilians which are so badly damaged they are unidentifiable. (via, SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The burial of deceased civilians following an alleged Russian raid on Al Ghantu. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • The exact moment the alleged Russian raid hit Al Ghantu on 28th January 2016. (via, Media Office Gathering Rebels)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…In the Vadi Kaddahat plain (Homs province), after the UAV confirmation of the data received from the Syrian governmental troops concerning a terrorists’ strong point, the object was engaged. Objective monitoring data registered destruction of two automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns and elimination of 10 militants.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • (7 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS487 CS169

Incident date

January 28, 2016

Location

عجاجا, Ajajah, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.21419, 40.71013 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians were killed including two children, following an airstrike on the village of Ajajah. The attack was initially attributed to the Coalition. However later reports blamed the deaths on Russia.

According to the Syrian Observatory “Two children and a man were killed and others injured in bombing by warplanes believed to be from the international coalition. They targeted areas in Ajajah village, which is controlled by so called Islamic State.

The Union of Hassakah Youth also initially blamed the attack on the Coalition, though later said Russia was responsible: “At about 13:00 Russian MiGs carried out a raid on Al Mafrak road connecting the villages of Ajaja and Al Hadadiya – targeting a filtering stations for crude oil and fuel sale points with two raids five minutes apart. A Russian MIG, white in colour, flew at low altitude. The first raid coincided with regime helicopters flying south to Deir Ezzor and the second raid coincided with the return of another helicopter coming from Deir Ezzor heading north. The two raids and the helicopters flying coincided with coalition planes flying in the skies of the area.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed Russia, alleging that its warplanes launched six rockets on a civilians’ gathering point for selling crude oil. The put the death toll at nine with 15 others wounded.

Some of the victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center including one Unidentified – adult male from Raqqa. Three more civilian bodies were recovered from the scene on February 1st.

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Family members (3)

Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male from Raqqa killed
Age unknown male from Raqqa killed
Adult male from Raqqa killed
Adult male named on the 29th killed
Child male named on the 29th
Age unknown reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Age unknown reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Age unknown reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Age unknown reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Age unknown reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Adult female reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Child male reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Age unknown reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured
Age unknown reported as seriously injured by Hasakhn News injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 15
  • (1–2 children13 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Fadi Hussein al Jaseem, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Ajajah, January 28th 2016. (via Union of Hassaka's Youth)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian strike on Ajajah, January 28th 2016. (via Union of Hassaka's Youth)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

In a report covering the period January 25th-February 1st 2016, Russia made no public mention of strikes in Al Hassakah governorate.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFA537090
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020
  • Jan. 28, 2016, in Ajajah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2903/CS169 37SFA537090

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

There were no public reports of Coalition strikes in Al Hassakah governorate on January 27th-28th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 15
  • (1–2 children13 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS485

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52815, 37.95495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a news roundup, The Shaam News Network reported that several civilians were killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Manbij.

The Network said this was part of a series of raids which included Al Bab, the villages of Berlhan and Trahil, and the city of Manbij. It added that civilians were directly targeted.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Jeb Ghabishah (Aleppo province), a Su-24M bomber destroyed ammunition and POL storages of the ISIS terrorists.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS483

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians have been named as victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar-Rastan, January 27th 2016. One woman was reportedly from Jawala – other sources have claimed that the victims were all displaced peoples.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes “launched dozens of air raids targeted several areas of the northern countryside of Homs leaving many dead and wounded“. Activists told SNN that the planes targeted the cities of Talbissa and Al Rastan, killing one civilian and injuring a number of others. And the local Rastan media office reported that the strikes “resulted in one unidentified woman being martyred and the wounding of approximately ten, including children and women.” Syrian News Desk later reported than there were up to 40 injured civilians.

Multiple sources claimed that Russian warplanes used barrel bombs on the vicinity causing huge destruction to the infrastructure.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samer Abdul Bari Harba
38 years old named by Homs Media Centre killed
Fahimah Ibrahim Youssef
50 years old named by Homs Media Centre killed
Amal Ahmed Alsayedali
13 years old female named by Homs Media Centre killed
Mohamed Mahmoud Younis
6 years old male named by Homs Media Centre killed
Alaa Ibrahim Riad
32 years old named by Homs Media Centre killed
Umm Hassan A’armoush
Age unknown named by Homs Media Centre, displaced from Homs killed
Jasem al-Khidr
Age unknown named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The exact moments the alleged Russian raid hit Ar Rastan on 27th January 2016. (via, Ar Rastan Media Office)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child awaits medical treatment following an alleged Russian raid in Ar Rastan. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More injured children following an alleged Russian raid in Ar Rastan. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A deceased man following an alleged Russian raid in Ar Rastan. (via, Homs Media Centre)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…In the Vadi Kaddahat plain (Homs province), after the UAV confirmation of the data received from the Syrian governmental troops concerning a terrorists’ strong point, the object was engaged. Objective monitoring data registered destruction of two automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns and elimination of 10 militants.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS484

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

جرابلس, Jarablus, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.818256, 38.009676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a news roundup, Shaam News reported that several civilians were killed and wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Jarablus.

The Network said this was part of raids on neighbourhoods in the city of Al Bab, including the villages of Berlhan, Trahil and the city of Manbij. It added that civilians were directly targeted.

VDC lists one unidentified civilian male as having been killed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Jeb Ghabishah (Aleppo province), a Su-24M bomber destroyed ammunition and POL storages of the ISIS terrorists.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS481

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

حي الطحطوح, Al Tahtu (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3142322, 40.1628184 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Amid multiple air raids on civilian towns in Deiz ez-Zor, Russian warplanes are alleged to have killed an adult male civilian at Al Tahtu.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdallah Elaytan
Adult male named by Deir Ezzor 24 killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdallah Elaytan, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 27th January 2016. (via, Deir Ezzor 24)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS482

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

كفر لاها, Al Houla, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8943617, 36.4957666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including one woman and two children (a boy and a girl) were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Laha, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Observatory initially reported that five non-combatants died when “warplanes believed to be Russian which targeted places in Kafr Laha village at al-Houla.” They then reported that this had risen to six and that the death toll was expected to rise because some people were in a critical condition.

Activists told Shaam News that warplanes struck the towns of “al Houla and Deir Foul which led to the death of 3 martyrs and 40 wounded in al Houla.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

50 years old killed
38 years old killed
32 years old killed
13 years old killed
6 years old male killed
Umm Hassan A’armoush
Age unknown displaced from Homs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    41–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of an injured man receiving medical support following an alleged Russian raid on Al Houla, 27th January 2016. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressing footage of injured and deceased civilians in a chaotic medical facility following an alleged Russian raid on Al Houla, 27th January 2016. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of a seriously injured child following an alleged Russian raid on Al Houla, 27th January 2016. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Al Houla, 27th January 2016. Injured civilians shown being taken from the scene. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid. Some similar images can be seen as the previous source. (via, Aleppo Media Centre)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…In the Vadi Kaddahat plain (Homs province), after the UAV confirmation of the data received from the Syrian governmental troops concerning a terrorists’ strong point, the object was engaged. Objective monitoring data registered destruction of two automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns and elimination of 10 militants.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    41–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS480

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

أبو حمام, Abu Hamam, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.82365, 40.65961 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including one women and two children were killed and several others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on the al Shaitat area of Abu Hamam, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently.

The Syrian Observatory reported the deaths of two children, one woman and one man in a Russian raid on the town.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently also put the death toll – again blaming Russian warplanes – at four and named one child victim.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rimas Abd Al Razzak Al Ali
Child male named by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Rimas Abd Al Razzak Al Ali, killed by an alleged Russia raid on 27th January 2016. (via, Deir Ezzor is being Slaughtered Silently)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Long-range bomber aviation aircraft supported units of the Syrian governmental troops which defended the city of Deir ez-Zor. The airstrikes carried out by Tu-22M3 bombers from the territory of the Russian Federation jointly with tactical aviation from the Hmeymim airbase, engaged 23 important terrorists’ objects in that district. The attempt of terrorists to assault Deir ez-Zor was frustrated.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]