Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS266

Incident date

December 12, 2015

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

Between 13 and 33 civilians, including three women and nine children, were killed and between 30 and 60 injured in airstrikes on Daesh-occupied Mabij, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The IS news agency Al A’maq reported that five non-combatants died and more than 30 were wounded in eight strikes – but they did not state who was responsible.

The Shaam News Network referenced the Al A’maq report but added that activists stressed that the number of dead was 15 people, pointing out that the city was full of ambulances transporting those killed and injured. They said Russia was responsible for the raids.

According to Alaan TV, there were a series of Russian raids on several neighbourhoods in the Manbij. They referenced the official page of ‘Manbej News’ on Facebook which stated that three members of Dash were killed in a raid near the Al Amal Hospital in the city centre and added that although Russian aircraft are bombing areas under Daesh control they are only target civilians.

A media activist named Ghassan told the station that 33 civilians, including 15 children and three women, were killed and more than 60 wounded in Russian strikes targeting Al Jazeera road, the Al Sarab neighbourhood and Shoueihna road near Al Amal hospital, in addition to the area surrounding the Shari court (previously Hnaidal school), which belongs to Dash. He stressed that there were still victims stuck under the rubble.

He added that after the raids citizens were in a state of fear and panic, prompting some “families” to leave the city, but Daesh had arrested a number of people from these families after accusing the civilians who were trying to flee of creating confusion and encouraging others to leave Manbij. He added the citizens of the city had demonstrated against the presence of Daesh in recent months and “arbitrary harassment of citizens and control of their affairs”.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed shelling by the Assad regime death toll, which they put at 13, including eight children and three women.

17 victims were listed by the Violations Documentation Centre.  Six Unidentified male children were also listed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Daughter of Seif Eddin Wiam 1
Child female Named by the VDC killed
Daughter of Seif Eddin Wiam 2
Child female Named by the VDC killed

Family members (3)

Shayer family
Adult female Named by the VDC killed
Shayer family
Adult female Named by the VDC killed
Shayer family
Adult female Named by the VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Basel Deebo al-Hosho
Adult male Named by the VDC. killed
Saif Eddin al-Dado
Adult male Named by the VDC. killed
Ibraheem al-Kassam
Adult male Named by the VDC killed
Mohammad Othman al-Hameed
Adult male Named by the VDC killed
Ibraheem Ahmad al-Saeid
Adult male Named by the VDC killed
Ali Haj Awad
Child male Named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 33
  • (9 children3 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–60
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrike on Manbij, December 12th. (via, Alaan TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russian position: Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 33
  • (9 children3 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–60
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS267

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.136728, 36.829274 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 14 and 20 civilians, including three women and two children, were killed and between two and 12 injured in airstrikes on Al Atarib, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network initially reported that four non-combatants, including one child and one woman died and several were wounded when Russian warplanes allegedly carried out three raids on Al Atarib, completely destroying five houses and three shops. But a subsequent report put the death toll at at least 10, with “many wounded“, adding that some civilians were still stuck under the rubble. Both of these sources stated that Russian warplanes were responsible for the attacks.

The Union of Hama Rebels listed 14 non-combatants killed, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll lower at three with no less than 12 wounded.

The White Helmets also listed 14 killed but did not state who the planes belonged to – neither did Halab News Network, who posted a video showing the aftermath of the attack, referring only to “bombing by warplanes“.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights produced two reports which said that Assad regime was responsible. The initial report put the number killed at four, including one woman and one child, but a second report said that the death toll had risen to 14, including one women and two children.

16 victims were named by the Violations Documentation Centre.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Abdulla Kashto
Adult male killed
Adnan Kashto
Adult male listed under Taibet Al Imam but in notes it says he was displaced from there but was killed in Atareb. killed
Mwafaq Kashto
Adult male listed under Taibet Al Imam but in notes it says he was displaced from there but was killed in Atareb. killed

Family members (5)

Mohammad Eid al-Shoun
Adult male killed
Saeid al-Shoun
Adult male killed
Abdul Razak al-Shoun
Adult male killed
Khaled Saeid al-Shoun
Adult male killed
Nour Udai al-Shoun
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Omar Abdulla Aaroub
Adult male killed
Hasan Mohammad Saeed
Adult male killed
Miriam Hantash
Adult female killed
Hanaa Jwaid
Adult female killed
Abdul Kader Abdul Wahab Abyan
Child male killed
Abdulla Kadro
Adult male killed
Nour al-Badawi
Adult female killed
Hassan Omar Rashid
Age unknown Named by the White Helmets. killed
Abdullah Al Kaddour
Age unknown male Named by the White Helmets. killed
Abdul Razak Razzouk from Tibat Al Imam
Age unknown male Named by the White Helmets.
Mohammad al-Arour
Adult male listed under Orme but in notes it says he was killed in Atareb. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 20
  • (2 children3 women13–14 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets removed the body of a child from the rubble following an alleged Russian airstrike on Atareb, December 12th (via, The White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrikes. (via, Halab News Network)
  • Adnan Kashto, adult male, killed in a contested airstrike. (via, VDC)
  • Mwafaq Kashto, adult male, killed in a contested airstrike. (via, VDC)
  • Video footage showing the extent of destruction to the local infrastructure in Atarib. (via, Qasioun News Network)
  • Trying to salvage what is left following the airstrikes on Atarib. (via, White Helmets)
  • What is left of some local shops in Ararib. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 20
  • (2 children3 women13–14 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS261

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russian air raid on the village of al Baghouz in eastern Deir Ezzor led to at least three deaths including a child.

According to area blogger al Hussein al Hashimi “a raid on the village of al Baghouz targeting the home of Raheel al Majoul led to the death of Ibrahim al Majoul. His brother is in a serious condition.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim al Majoul
Age unknown killed
Abu Kamal Majid Ibrahim or Majid Ibrahim al Raheel
13 years old male killed
Saber al Raheel
Age unknown killed
Raheel al Majoul
Age unknown male Brother of Ibrahim al Majoul, in a serious condition. injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abu Kamal Majid Ibrahim or Majid Ibrahim al Raheel, a child killed on 11th December 2015. (via, Deir ezzor is being slaughtered silently)
  • Moments after the village of al Baghouz is placed under attack. (via, Sheitat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the sheep market in the village of Al Baghouz (الباغوز), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.4641667, 40.9452778. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS262

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

هجين, Hajeen, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reported killed and another civilian injured in an alleged Russian airstrike at Hajeen.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]

  • News report on the event. (via, Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

RS256

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.37425, 36.6033 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One male child, Khaled Nihad al-Nuna , was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Zita, according to the Union of Hama Rebels and the Violations Documentation Centre.

Reporting remains confused, with multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zita between December 9th and 12th which resulted in a likely total of six civilian deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Nihad al-Nuna
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A video showing the moment the alleged Russian airstrikes fell on Kafr Zita. (via, The Media Office for the revolution in Hama)
  • Image of the deceased Khaled Nihad al-Nuna. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS257

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

القصابية, Al Qassabiya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4654453, 36.4964532 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and eight civilians including three children were killed and more than 20 injured in an airstrike on Al Qassabiya – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes struck a centre for bread distribution in the town and that survivors feared a repeat attack because warplanes were “still circling the skies of the town.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime.

Three victims were named by the VDC. They also reported one Unidentified male child.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Abdo al-Sheik
Child male killed
ٍSami Abdo al-Sami al-Sayed
Child male killed
Hussain Aamer Efarah
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of children killed by the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrikes. (via, The Youth of the Syrian Revolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic images of children killed in the airstrikes. (via, Baladi Media Network)
  • A graphic video of a decapitated casualty in Al Qassabiya. Was originally a video but it has now been removed. Only a screenshot remains. (via, Ala’ al Deen al Hamwi tweet)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of a wounded child in a medical facility following a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Qassabiya (القصابية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.4654453, 36.4964532. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI155

Incident date

December 10, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Road between Ramadi and Rutba, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians – including a senior veterinarian and his wife – were reported killed when three vehicles were hit in an alleged Coalition airstrike, as they travelled on the road between Ramadi and Rutba.

Dr. Ahmed Hamid Al-Jumaily (pictured) – the director of a major veterinary hospital in Anbar – was killed along with his wife, and his wife’s father. Four or five other civilians also died, named as Hazem Al Sarhan and his wife and children in what was claimed to be a Coalition attack. Ramadi had been the scene of heavy airstrikes for some weeks.

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of no strikes in the near vicinity: “Dec. 10, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

Given the well documented nature of this event, Airwars has requested additional information from the Coalition – and continues to assess this event as likely.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Ahmed Hamid Al-Jumaily
Adult male Director of a veterinary hospital in Anbar killed
Hazem Al Sarhan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Senior vetinarian Dr. Ahmed Hamid Al-Jumaily, killed with 7 others in reported Coalition strike December 10th 2015 (via Heet News)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
  • Stated location
    near Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 9th-10th 2015 the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL boats, five ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL weapons caches, and four ISIL command and control nodes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS255

Incident date

December 10, 2015

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.383201, 37.565723 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one woman and her two children were killed in an airstrike on Baza’a – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Violations Documentation Centre listed three unidentified non-combatants as killed in Russian shelling.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, however, blamed the regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Baza’a, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.383201, 37.565723. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]