Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS124

Incident date

February 12, 2022

Location

جرابلس, Jarablus, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.818497, 38.011029 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians, including up to four children and a woman, most from the same family, were injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of Jarabulus on February 12, 2022.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, five civilians, including four from one family – a man, his wife, and two of their children, one of whom is seriously injured – were injured in a double attack by the Syrian Democratic Forces on Jarabulus. Images posted by the Syrian Civil Defense show two children, a boy and a girl, being treated for their injuries.

Baladi News correspondent in Aleppo identified that the six civilians that were injured were from one family – a father, mother, and four children. The correspondent added that White Helmets worked to transfer the injured to Jarablus National Hospital.

Syrian Human Rights Committee provided the names of four of the civilians injured: child Abdullah Salman (14 years old), child Abdul Rahman Salman (16 years old), the little girl Batoul Salman (5 years), mother Sobhia Asaker.

Euphrates Post reported that three civilians were wounded, including a child, when Syrian Democratic Forces shelled the city of Jarabulus from east of the Euphrates River. Al Khabour 2011 provided a higher casualty count, reporting that six civilians, including children, were injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the two children that were injured as being displaced and another of the civilians injured as being displaced from Homs.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the SDF. However, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights mentioned that the shells were fired from areas controlled by regime forces and the “forces of the SDF-backed Military Council”, without specifically blaming the regime for the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • One of the children injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of the village of Jarablus on February 12, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets respond to alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling near the Euphrates River in the village of Jarablus on February 12, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Blood from one of the victims of alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of the village of Jarablus on February 12, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of the village of Jarablus on February 12, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children and other civilians injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of the village of Jarablus on February 12, 2022. (Image posted by @abuhuzaifa_)
  • Alleged Syrian Democratic Forces shelling of the village of Jarablus on February 12, 2022. (Image posted by @syr_television)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Jarabulus (جرابلس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.818497, 38.011029. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1978

Incident date

February 8, 2022

Location

البصيرة, Bisira, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.154879, 40.426462 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a child, was killed and his father was injured in an alleged airdrop operation by the Coalition and the SDF in the city of Bisira on February 8, 2022.

A tweet from @DeirEzzorNow reported that the International Coalition and HAT forces carried out a landing operation in the city of Bisira that resulted in the killing of the child “Nashwan Al-Jamil” (15) (Qasqas), the wounding of his father, Hassoun Al-Jamil, and the arrest of (3) people. Hassoun was identified as being a “dignitary of the Al-Bukair clan”. Euphrates Post added that Hassoun was had to have his leg amputated.

@DeirEzzorNow also provided the names of the men that were arrested: Hasan Al Jamil, Tariq Al Jamil, Bashir Ghadhban.

The correspondent for Euphrates Post reported that  “SDF” members surrounded the house of Hassoun al-Jamil, a dignitary of the al-Bakeir clan in Deir ez-Zor countryside, and started shooting at his house on the pretext of the house owner’s resistance to them, knowing that “Hassoun” is a civilian and does not belong to any political or military party.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the child that was killed as being the brother of the wanted person, and that their father exchanged gunfire with the SDF and Coalition. North Press Agency referred to two people as being killed, a child and a local sheikh.

Deir Ezzor 24 provided context that Coalition and SDF forces were trying to capture ISIS members who were involved with Iranian networks specializing in weapons smuggling. The civilian casualties resulted from ISIS members using civilians as human shields and the operation was stopped right after the civilian victims were engaged.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • ISIS members arrested by SDF in an operation on February 8, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bisira (البصيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.154879, 40.426462. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS123

Incident date

February 2, 2022

Location

لباب,, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.373781, 37.517244 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, the SDF, the Syrian regime, or the Syrian National Army targeted the city of Al-Bab with missiles and artillery, hitting a number of neighbourhoods in the city, located in the northeast of Aleppo, Syria, on February 2nd 2022. Five to ten civilians were reported killed and at least ten and up to 32 others were reported to have been injured.

SANA was the only local news outlet to report that it was a “mutual bombardment between the Turkish occupation and its terrorists from one side, and militants of QSD from another side.” Despite multiple sources attributing the attack to the SDF, it denied responsibility for this attack and blamed the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army. Reportedly, a representative from the Syrian National Army blamed the Syrian regime. Therefore this event has been recognised as “contested” in our archive, with sources attributing it to multiple belligerents.

The reported death toll was varied too. For example, the Syrian Civil Defense updated a post which said that the number they believed to have been killed was eight, and the number of those who were wounded was 24.  France 24 reported that only five of those killed were civilians. This differs from many other local sources which put the number higher, up to ten civilians.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that seven died and 29 were wounded, while the Qasioun news agency, an activist collective, said eight people were killed and more than 25 were wounded.

In a statement from the “Syrian Interim Government”, it put the number of those killed at nine and injured at 31. They reported that the missile strikes came from Al-Shaala radar and Al-Nairabiya area, under control of the Syrian regime and the PKK/PYD militia.

Local sources which had lower estimates were Hawar News Agency, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria, who put the death toll as six and those injured at 15. @HoranFreeMedia put the death toll as five and injured at ten.

@DeirEzzorNow reported that Muhammad Abd al-Rassaq al-Sheikh Issa, a male, was killed, who was from the city of al-Mayadin. Three others who were injured were displaed from Deir Ezzor, from Al-Bukamal, identified as Yasser Al-Aseel (who was apparently taken in an ambulance to Turkey), male; Azzam Al Jaleed, male; and Abdulaziz Al-Debs, also male.

Al Bab reported the numbers of their estimates, nine killed and 30 wounded and were able to identify some civilians’ names. The civilians killed were reported to be: Zakaria Ragab (M), Taha Debek (M), Mohamed Sheikh Issa (M) (mentioned above, different spelling), Ahmed Al-Ali and five others who are unidentified. 22 names were known to be injured: Azam Al Jaleed (M) (mentioned above, different spelling), Hamza Al-Obaid (M), Younis Al Jassim (M), Salim Al Salim (M), Abdul Aziz Al Debs (M) (mentioned above, different spelling), Ahmed Jaboli (M), Yahya Al Shaoui (M), Amal Alfrej (F), Heba Al-Mohammed (F), Ahmed Hazoury, Arif Bakour (M), Rama Nassany (F), Muhammad Abdul Razzaq (M), Omar Faris (M), Abdul Jalil Fatyan (M), Alaa Arafat (M), Khaled Nazir (M), Abdul Ghani Hamidi (M), Ahmed Khaled (M), Ahmed Ghazal (M), Adel Shalash (M), Yasser Al-Aseel, (M) (mentioned above, different spelling).

Both Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian Civil Defense reported that four months after the incident, a little girl named “Islam” died from her wounds sustained in the attack. Volunteer “Alaa Al-Salloum”, who was one of the volunteers who helped her after the attack, said “Islam entered a coma since then, it was I have a great deal of hope that she will recover, go to her school, receive evacuation with her friends, but she went to her school only… She went and I can’t see her anymore.”

Due to the seriousness of injuries, the death toll was reported as expected to rise and many of the injured were taken to the city’s main hospital. Although @DeirEzzorNow first estimated five deaths, they later updated their post and reported that ten people were killed, so this is reflected in the alleged death toll in this assessment. Halab Today TV put out a call for the Al-Bab city hospital’s appeal to donate blood.

The missiles were reported to have fallen on commercial markets and residential areas near the city hospital,which were “crowded with civilians.” 7al News reported from a witness that most of the shelling was carried out around the Olive Branch Roundabout, Zamzam street, Al-Nofoutiya Market, and Al-Ra’i street.

Euphrates Post reported that there was a “state of panic and tension prevailing the city” and the correspondent also reported that the bombing came from SDF military points staioned in the “Radar al-Sha’ala” area, west of the city of Al-Bab.

Issam al-Rayes, a displaced person in the city of al-Bab, spoke to “Al-Hol Net” noting that “today’s bombing is one of the most violent attacks that the city has been subjected to during the past year.”

A Syrian Civil Defense volunteer talked about the emergency response, “there was a girl less than ten years old, her mother and sisters standing next to her, unable to do anything. I immediately carried her to the ambulance. She didn’t get better from her face or her injuries.”

The Syrian Democratic Forces denied responsibility for this attack, saying that their reported responsibility was “fabricated and repeated allegations without evidence.” According to Enab Baladdi, the SDF “”stressed that its military forces had nothing to do with the bombing or other similar incidents that were exposed to the areas of influence of the Turkish-backed “Syrian National Army,” north of Aleppo governorate.” According to 7al, a source in the Ankara-backed “National Army”, who preferred not to reveal his name, told “Al-Hol Net”, that “the bombing in particular was from the village of Shaala, west of the city of al-Bab, specifically from the section under the control of the “Syrian Army”, while the “National Army” factions responded by bombing the rocket launchers with several artillery shells.

According to Orient, Military sources in the area accused the SDF militia “PYD” of being behind the missile shelling on the city, especially that the massacre came hours after a Turkish air bombardment targeted SDF positions in the countryside of Hasaka near the Iraqi border and other locations in Iraq, and the Turkish bombing resulted in killing Dozens of militia members were wounded.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, “the city of Al-Bab is one of the largest cities in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, and it has become a last resort for a large number of displaced people from various Syrian regions, especially after the waves of displacement caused by the attacks of the regime forces and Russia in 2018 and 2019.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

  • Muhammad Abd al-Rassaq al-Sheikh Issa Age unknown male killed
  • Zakaria Ragab Age unknown male killed
  • Taha Debek Age unknown male killed
  • Ahmed Al-Ali Age unknown male killed
  • Yasser Al-Aseel Age unknown male injured
  • Azzam Al Jaleed Age unknown male injured
  • Abdulaziz Al-Debs Age unknown male injured
  • Hamza Al-Obaid Age unknown male injured
  • Younis Al Jassim Age unknown male injured
  • Salim Al Salim Age unknown male injured
  • Ahmed Jaboli Age unknown male injured
  • Yahya Al Shaoui Age unknown male injured
  • Amal Alfrej Age unknown female injured
  • Heba Al-Mohammed Age unknown female injured
  • Ahmed Hazoury Age unknown injured
  • Arif Bakour Age unknown male injured
  • Rama Nassany Age unknown female injured
  • Muhammad Abdul Razzaq Age unknown male injured
  • Omar Faris Age unknown male injured
  • Abdul Jalil Fatyan Age unknown male injured
  • Alaa Arafat Age unknown male injured
  • Khaled Nazir Age unknown male injured
  • Abdul Ghani Hamidi Age unknown male injured
  • Ahmed Khaled Age unknown male injured
  • Ahmed Ghazal Age unknown male injured
  • Adel Shalash Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (1 child4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–32
  • 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime, Kurdish Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (54) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (40) [ collapse]

  • Euphrates Post reported from the destruction after missiles hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022.
  • Euphrates Post reported from the destruction after missiles hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022.
  • Euphates Eye reported from Al-Bab where missiles fell on crowded street market killing up to ten civilians.
  • Euphates Eye reported from Al-Bab where missiles fell on crowded street market killing up to ten civilians.
  • @DeirEzzorNow showed the destruction after missiles hit Al-Bab in the market and a crowded street (Image via Twitter)
  • @DeirEzzorNow showed the destruction after missiles hit Al-Bab in the market and a crowded street (Image via Twitter)
  • Syrian Network for Human Rights uploaded a photo of the destruction after missiles hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via SNHR / Facebook)
  • Syrian Civil Defense supported the victims and attended the incident after at least one missile hit Al-Bab causing up to ten civilian deaths (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • Syrian Civil Defense supported the victims and attended the incident after at least one missile hit Al-Bab causing up to ten civilian deaths (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • Syrian Civil Defense supported the victims and attended the incident after at least one missile hit Al-Bab causing up to ten civilian deaths (Image via SCD / Facebook)
  • Smoke after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd killing up to ten civilians (Image via @77Mikiy / Twitter)
  • Smoke after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd killing up to ten civilians (Image via @77Mikiy / Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of the dead and injured were uploaded online by @Almohrar1 (Image via Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of the dead and injured were uploaded online by @Almohrar1 (Image via Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of the dead and injured were uploaded online by @Almohrar1 (Image via Twitter)
  • Halab Today TV reported on the destruction after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via @HalabTodayTV / Twitter)
  • Halab Today TV reported on the destruction after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via @HalabTodayTV / Twitter)
  • Halab Today TV reported on the destruction after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via @HalabTodayTV / Twitter)
  • Halab Today TV reported on the destruction after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via @HalabTodayTV / Twitter)
  • Blood covered market stalls and vegetable stands were turned over when a missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 killing allegedly up to ten people (Image via @Gurbtwatan / Twitter)
  • Blood covered market stalls and vegetable stands were turned over when a missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 killing allegedly up to ten people (Image via @Gurbtwatan / Twitter)
  • Destruction after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (@YusufAd76532779 / Twitter)
  • Destruction after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (@YusufAd76532779 / Twitter)
  • Destruction after at least one missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (@YusufAd76532779 / Twitter)
  • Muhammad Abdul Razzaq Sheikh Issa was allegedly killed when a missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (@nahermedia / Twitter)
  • The statement from the "Syrian Interim Government" (@STMAbdurrahman / Twitter)
  • The statement from the "Syrian Interim Government" (@STMAbdurrahman / Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Some of the victims after a missile was reported to have hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via @rdwanalshhwan / Twitter)
  • Destruction after at least one missile was reported to have hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via @YusufAd76532779 / Twitter)
  • Horan Free Media reported that five people were killed and more than ten were wounded in a missile shelling in Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via @HoranFreeMedia / Twitter)
  • Destruction after a missile was reported to hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via AA)
  • Jesr Press reported from destruction after a missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Jesr Press)
  • Jesr Press reported from destruction after a missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Jesr Press)
  • Jesr Press reported from destruction after a missile hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Jesr Press)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the missile attack on Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via Mahmoud Al Ahmad / Facebook)
  • Ahmed Ibn Abdul Jalil Al-Ali was allegedly killed by a missile that hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via Syira.Aleppo.QebetAlsheih / Twitter)
  • Taha Salem Al-Debek was allegedly killed by a missile that hit Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via Hamda Same / Facebook)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that a young girl, Islam, was a victim of the missile attack on Al-Bab on February 2nd 2022 (Image via Facebook)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention shelling in the vicinity of Olive Branch Roundabout (دوار غصن الزيتون،), Zamzam Street ( شارع زمزم،), Al-Nofoutiya Market (سوق النوفوتيه،), and Al-Ra’i Street in Al Bab (الباب). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the exact location of the strike to these coordinates: 36.373781, 37.517244.

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  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources. Imagery: Syria Civil Defense

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources. Imagery: Halab Today TV

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Kurdish Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Kurdish Forces
  • Kurdish Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (1 child4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–32
  • 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime, Kurdish Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (54) [ collapse]