Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS314

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586273, 37.04739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on A’zaz, according to multiple sources.

The Shaam News Network reported that four Russian airstrikes struck the city.

Activists told SNN that the raids targeted a field hospital and a women’s and children’s hospital, causing severe damage and huge fires which the White Helmets attempted to extinguish. They stated that three civilians were killed, that the hospitals were put out of service and that there were other raids on non-combatants’ homes.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named one young man, Nasser Abd Al H’alia, from the village of Dibssi Afnan, as killed in a Russian air raid that targeted the Aleppo countryside as he traveled to A’zaz and Bab Al Salama on business.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nasser Abd Al H’alia
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A video of a children's hospital burning down after it was targeted by alleged Russians raids. (via, SNN)
  • The White Helmets extinguishing flames at a children's hospital which was targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS158

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

تشرين, Tishreen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34864, 38.221 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unknown casualty event, CENTCOM confirmed on April 22nd 2016 that one civilian was killed during a US airstrike at Tishreen near Manbij.

According to the official release, “On Dec. 24, 2015, in Tishreen, Syria, near Manbij, during a strike on two ISIL fighters in a vehicle, it is assessed that one civilian on a motorcycle was killed riding up to the target area after weapons were already in flight.”

Local media reported that Syrian rebels captured Tishreen from Islamic State that day. According to Step News, “The international coalition launched three raids on residential areas in the area of Tishreen Dam in the Manbij countryside which led to material damage to a bakery and a mosque in the city, though the human cost is not known.”

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • tweet linking to video [no longer available] showing the automatic bakery in Tishreen dam area, Manbij, eastern Aleppo after it was destroyed by warplanes. 24th December 2015
  • Step news tweet reporting news of SDF gaining control of Tishreen Dam following 'intense clashes with Islamic state', 24th December 2015

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3895748, 38.1604528

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    in Tishreen, Syria, near Manbij
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA301229
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 22, 2016

  • On Dec. 24, 2015, in Tishreen, Syria, near Manbij, during a strike on two ISIL fighters in a vehicle, it is assessed that one civilian on a motorcycle was killed riding up to the target area after weapons were already in flight.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS312

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including three children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Arbeen, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

The White Helmets published a number of videos showing them attending the scene, fighting a fire and rescuing an injured person from under the rubble.

One unidentified victim was also accounted for:

Unidentified – adult, male

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hassan Usama Ataya
Adult male killed
Bushra Ahmad Ataya
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Yara al-Hasan
Child female killed
Layan al-Hasan
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Fahed al-Qahwaji
Adult male killed
Fatme Aadel al-Naem
Child female killed
Rabea Basheer al-Hashash
Adult killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children4 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hassan Usama Ataya, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Provided by the VDC of Bushra Ahmad Ataya, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image provided by the VDC of Fatme Aadel al-Naem, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rabea Basheer al-Hashash, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Yara al-Hasan, female child, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via. VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Arbeen, for which the generic coordinates are: 33.538143, 36.364331. 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
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children4 men)
  • 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

RS308

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

الديرونة, Daironeh, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9452092, 36.2151003 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian, Staif al-Wahban, was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Daironeh, Hama, according to the Violations Documentation Center and the Syrian Human Rights Campaign.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Staif al-Wahban
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Daironeh (الديرونة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.9452092, 36.2151003. 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
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS309

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

احرص, Ahras, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4077699, 37.1453087 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven or more civilians including two children were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Ihress.

Al Safira News reported “the death of two children and the injuring of more than 15 others, after more than 15 cars and trucks were bombed with cluster bombs which targeted a convoy of vehicles at a checkpoint between the rebel zones and other areas.”

While most reports only cited one child death, a video issued by Shaam News shows multiple strikes and a second unnamed child victim (pictured.) Halab News placed the death toll as high as 15, which it said included members of the al-Akhras family.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Shahoud Ahmad Rostom
Adult male killed
Nour al-Deen Ahmad Rostom
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Batoul Ahmad Hamida
Child female killed
Ahmad Ali Yehya al-Shami
49 years old male killed
Ibraheem Asi
Adult male killed
Maher Mahmoud al-Khateeb
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A video to show convoy trucks burning after being targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, Al Safria News Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Batoul Ahmad Hamida, a deceased baby, killed on 24th December 2015 by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • Ahmad Ali Yehya al-Shami, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ibraheem Asi, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of a raids as they fell onto buildings, and graphic images of deceased children almost immediately after. (via, SNN)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that airstrikes targeted several vehicles between Ahras and Harbul, Syria. After investigating visual material from sources, we narrowed this location down to a stretch of land near a checkpoint just north of Ahras, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4077699, 37.1453087. The strikes targeted at least four locations within this strip of land.

  • The first strike targeted a vehicle located between the two berms or soil barriers (features A and B)

    Imagery:
    Hussien Khatab

  • Note that feature E refers to a mosque south of the town of Harbul, while feature D refers to a dirt staging area for trucks preparing to enter a checkpoint, and feature C refers to the green field between the photographer and the trucks.

    Imagery:
    Hussien Khatab

  • Satellite imagery showing the features in the witness media.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite imagery showing exact locations of vehicles targeted in airstrike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS307

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

أم القرى, Um al Qura, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3804373, 37.2295277 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian, Ali Al Akhras, was killed in an airstrike on Um Al Qura town, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

SN4HR reported that he died when Russian warplanes allegedly fired missiles on Um Al Qura.

The Violations Documentation Center listed him as killed “due to Russian air forces shelling” but did not state where he was killed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Al Akhras
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ali Al Akhras, killed by contested Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS304

Incident date

December 23, 2015

Location

حي العمال, Al Oummal (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3222686, 40.1443005 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including one child and five people from the same family were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Oummal, according to Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently and the Violations Documentation Center.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that Russian raids killed five members of the Wais al-Saleh family.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Wais al-Saleh family 1
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 2
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 3
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 4
Adult male killed
Wais al-Saleh family 5
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Saed Amer al-Saleh
Adult male killed
Omer al-Askar
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child6 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Saed Amer al-Saleh, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child6 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS306

Incident date

December 23, 2015

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81374, 36.60964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male, Mahmoud Sonae also known as Abo Mehyo of Ariha, was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

Mr Sonae was caught in a major airstrike on Idlib on December 20th, and appears to have died of his injuries three days later.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Sonae
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • An image provided by the VDC possibly of the burial of Mahmoud Sonae. (via, VDC)
  • Another image provided by the VDC. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]