Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

SDF00020

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

مدينة هجين, city of Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On September 2nd 2023, several sources reported that the Syrian Democratic Force (SDF) had carried out an alleged ‘bombardment’ of the city of Hajin, east of Deir Ezzor in Syria. At least two civilians, a woman and her child were killed during the incident, and up to 14 civilians were injured. All sources agree that the injured civilians were mostly or all women and children.

Nahr Media reported that the SDF carried out the alleged bombardment whilst stationed in the Al-Majanda area, on the bank of the Euphrates River. Most sources do not specify the type of weapon that was used during the incident, describing the alleged attack as a ‘bombardment’ and/or ‘bombing’. However, @DeirEzzor24, @DeryNews and @Dadyodelal allege that the SDF used a missile/missiles to attack the city of Hajin on September 2nd 2023.

Most sources agree that a woman and her child were killed during the alleged ‘bombardment’ of the Al-Islah area in the city of Hajin. @ralshhwan9 provided the names of the two civilians killed during the incident: Salma Ismail Al-Lahna, twenty-six years old, killed, female; Fatima Al-Saleh Al-Munif, five years old, killed, female.

@DeirEzzore and @monayadskaif have also reported that another child of the Abab Al-Munif family, who is not named but identified as the brother of Fatima Al-Munif (9 years old), was injured during the incident and had his leg amputated. @DeirEzzore added that two other relatives were also injured.

Most sources agree that fourteen civilians were injured during the incident. @DeirEzzore, @NorsForStudies and @moayadskaif report that of those injured, seven were children and five were women. However, some local sources provided injury numbers as low as four, but it is unclear whether these are referring to a specific incident within the escalation in Hajin or are early casualty numbers.

Following the incident, an unspecified number of the injured civilians have received medical treatment at the Hajin General Hospital, with @syrrev1 reporting that the hospital has announced a need for O+ and A+ blood groups to come forward and give blood donations.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Salma Ismail Al-Lahna
26 years old female killed
Fatima Al-Saleh Al-Munif
5 years old female killed
brother of Fatima Al-Munif
9 years old male injured
Relative of Al-Munif family
injured
Relative of Al-Munif family
injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–14
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured following a bombardment carried out by the Syrian Defence Force in the city of Hajin, Syria (Image posted by @Derynews via Twitter, on September 2nd, 2023)
  • Alleged SDF bombardment of the city of Haji on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by Furat News via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    #Deer Al Zour Scenes documenting the wounded who were injured in the bombing of the SDF militia on the town of #Hajin, east of Deir ez-Zor, in addition to the death of a mother and her daughter in the bombing of the town.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–14
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00014

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

قرية الصبحة, Al-Sabha Village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 2 September 2023, a civilian was reportedly injured by a mortar shell from the Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of Al-Sabha in the Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside.

The majority of the sources that reported on the incident stated that “A civilian from the village of Al-Sabha was injured as a result of the town being targeted with mortar shells by the SDF militia.” Click News and Enab Baladi reported that four civilians were injured in the town of Al-Sabha, but all other sources count those casualties in a separate incident in Al-Basira hill from snipers.

All of the sources that reported on this incident attributed the shelling to the SDF.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00015

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

بلدة ذيبان, Dhiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 2 September 2023, a father and his son were reportedly injured by a drone strike affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces in the town of Dhiban, located in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

A twitter post from Naher media identified Abdul Salam Muslat Al-Khater and one of his children as the civilians injured in the incident. The civilians both sustained serious injuries as indicated in a Facebook post by Sound Deir Ezzor.

According to Shaam News, the strike allegedly took place on a civilian car in the town of Dhiban, whilst a series of Twitter posts from @DeirEzzore and @samfreesyria77 mention that the strike took place in a residential home.

The incident reportedly took place at dawn as stated by the Syria News Agency. Multiple sources added that the drones used explosive shells.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdul Salam Muslat Al-Khater عبدالسلام مسلط الخاطر
Adult male injured
Child of Abdul Salam Muslat Al-Khater
Child injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00019

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

أطراف قرية دويرة قرب قباسين، في ريف حلب الشرقي, the outskirts of the village of Douira, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three people, a man, a woman and a male child from the same family, were injured by artillery shelling allegedly carried out by the SDF and/or the Syrian regime in a makeshift camp for displaced people on the outskirts of the village of Douira, near the town of Qabasin, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo at dawn on Saturday, September 2nd 2023. The woman was seriously injured and in critical condition according to the Syrian Civil Defence (SCD). @sa5rmiami claimed that all three civilians were seriously injured. The SCD took the injured to Al-Bab City Hospital for treatment.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported the story of “Sonia”, the young daughter of the man injured in this shelling, whose brother and sister were also injured. Her family lived in the tent after they were displaced from the village of Al-Awisha, near Tadef, east of Aleppo and the story reported her confusion at losing her home once again as their tent was destroyed by the attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the shelling was carried out by regime forces alone. Shaam News claimed that both the Syrian regime and the SDF were responsible for the attack. Baladi News, @AlfratNda, Ouz’han and @sa5rmiami reported the incident was carried out by the SDF alone.

According to the Syrian Civil Defence and @AsharqNewsSYR, the shelling originated from areas under the joint control of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • A child named Sonia whose sister, brother, and father were injured by shelling of their IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the @AlfratNda)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the @AlfratNda)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the @AlfratNda)
  • A missile targeting a displaced family in their tent in the village of Douira in the #Aleppo_countryside, fired from an area controlled by Assad and #SDF militias.
  • The effects of the bombing that targeted tents housing displaced people on the outskirts of the village of Douira near Qabasin, in the eastern countryside of #Aleppo, at dawn today, Saturday, September 2, which led to the injury of 3 civilians (a man, a woman with serious injuries, and a child, from the same family).
  • “The source of the bombing is areas under the joint control of the regime forces and the #Syrian Democratic Forces”... Effects of artillery shelling that targeted tents sheltering displaced people on the outskirts of the village of Douira near Qabasin, east of #Aleppo

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG 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
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00018

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

قرية العجمي شرق بزاعة, village of Al-Ajami, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman was injured in shelling in the village of Al-Ajami, east of the town of Bazaa, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo on Saturday, September 2nd 2023.Orient News and @AsharqNewsSYR reported the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out the shelling. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the shelling was from regime forces.

Shaam News reported that the eastern countryside of Aleppo had experienced an escalation of bombing from SDF forces. Al Arabia Syria reported that, according to the Syrian Civil Defence, the bombing originated from an area jointly controlled by regime and SDF forces.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported that the injured were transferred to Al-Bab City Hospital, east of Aleppo.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00017

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

عرب حسن, Arab Hassan, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed and another injured due to shelling and attacks in the village of Arab Hassan in the Jarabulus countryside, east of Aleppo on 2 of September, 2023. This attack was attributed to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Russian forces and the Syrian regime as the area is said to be under their control.

No other identifying information about the civilian casualties is known.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the attack between the SDF, Russian forces, and Syrian regime, with local sources @SRP_Revolution and @ralshhwan9 stating that Russian airstrikes with vacuum missiles were launched at the village of Arab Hassan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    YPG, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One woman was killed and another injured as part of alleged attacks by the SDF, Syrian regime and Russian forces on 2 September, 2023. (Image posted by @Rian_almasri)
  • Damage allegedly caused by vacuum missiles in the village of Arab Hassan on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by @SRP_Revolution)
  • Damage allegedly caused by vacuum missiles in the village of Arab Hassan on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by @SRP_Revolution)
  • Damage allegedly caused by vacuum missiles in the village of Arab Hassan on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by @SRP_Revolution)
  • Damage allegedly caused by vacuum missiles in the village of Arab Hassan on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by @SRP_Revolution)

YPG Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    YPG, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00016

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

مدينة البصيرة, city of Al-Basira, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Ongoing clashes between the SDF and the Arab clans led to between four and six civilians, including a woman, being injured on September 2, 2023. These civilian injuries have been attributed to snipers of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) operating in Al-Basira, by local sources.

Nahr Media reported that six civilians were injured (one woman and five men) by SDF snipers but within the same article quoted a correspondent who said that snipers injured five civilians, including a woman, making it unclear which of the casualty tolls is accurate. Other sources on Twitter such as @ralshhwan9 and @Sharqya_reporte placed the number of civilians injured by SDF snipers in Al-Basira at four. One of these civilians, injured on the shoulder was identified as Khalil al-Deitri and another who sustained a head injury was identified as Taha al-Mallouh. An Ain Al-Furat Network correspondent quoted by Eye of Euphrates added that Taha was taken to the hospital and was in serious condition due to his injury.

All of the sources attributed the civilian injuries to the SDF, specifically snipers. According to Naher Media, SDF forces were sending reinforcements to Al-Basira under cover of shelling and that the snipers were deployed on” Al-Basira Hill, on the reservoir, and on high-altitude civilian homes near the hill” after expelling the residents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    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
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    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
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00013

Incident date

September 1, 2023

Location

جديد_بكارة, Jadid Bakara, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 15 year old child named Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid was killed on the 1st of September 2023, after a rocket propelled grenade was dropped by a drone allegedly controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the village of Jadid Bakara in the Deir Ezzor eastern countryside. Sources across local news and social media corroborated the information, attributing the strikes to the SDF.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid رائد محمد الزيد
15 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A 15 year old named Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid was killed by by a missile allegedly fired from a drone by the SDF in Jadid Bakara on September 1, 2023. (Image posted by @nahermedia)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]