Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS157

Incident date

December 16, 2015

Location

عيساوي, `Isawi, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.6888933, 39.0555596 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person named as Ahmad Al A’bd was reported killed and his cousin Wa’el Al A’bd injured after unexploded ordnance detonated – allegedly the result of a Coalition airstrike on the village in June.

In their January 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)

Ahmad Al A’bd
Adult male reported killed after unexploded ordnance detonated killed
Wa’el Al A’bd
Adult male Ahmad's cousin, injured in the incident injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Al A’bd (via Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEA050604
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 16, 2015, in Isawi, 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. 2885/CS157 37SEA050604

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The precise date on which the unexploded ordnance was originally dropped is unclear, though Welati refers to four Coalition strikes on June 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS283

Incident date

December 16, 2015

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight people were reported killed and 40 wounded in three alleged Russian night time airstrikes on Al Bab according to multiple sources. Though the ISIL-lnked news agency Al A’maq claimed the deaths were “as a result of the Russian strikes” VDC blamed the fatalities on “the regime air forces’ shelling with explosive barrels on a popular market.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hasan Nako or Hasan Zakour al-Naqour
Adult male killed
Zakaria Mostafa Abo Kasheh or Zakarya Musyafa Abo Kasheh
Adult male killed
Abd al-Hamid Abo Kasheh or Abdulhameed Abo Kasheh
Adult male killed
Yehya Kazkaz or Yehya Mustafa Kezkaz
Adult male killed
Mohammad Mahmoud al-Sabhah
Adult male killed
Sabreen Nemeh
25 years old male killed
Daughter of Redwan al-Bzaighi
Adult female killed
Wife of Redwan al-Bzaighi’s
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (1 child2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abd al-Hamid Abo Kasheh, killed in Al Bab by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, VDC)
  • Yehya Kazkaz, killed in a contested airstrike. (via, VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a market in the city of Al Bab (الباب).Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Bab are: 371972, 37.51631.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (1 child2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.

Incident Code

RS284

Incident date

December 16, 2015

Location

الناجية, Najieh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7894815, 36.2177181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male named as Shadi Samir Bakkour was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Najieh, with two or more others injured.

The local civil defence team tweeted “One martyr, several injured from Russian airstrikes with vacuum bombs on Najiah village in Jisr el Shoughour countryside.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shadi Samir Bakkour
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Najieh (الناجية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.7894815, 36.2177181. 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

No Russian reports were published for December 16th-18th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS282

Incident date

December 15, 2015

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian, named as Khaled Iyad al-Khaled, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Idlib city, according to the Violations Documentation Centre and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Iyad al-Khaled
Adult male named by VDC 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 15th-16th 2015, Russia reported that “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 59 combat sorties engaging 212 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah provinces… Near Maarat an-Numan (Idlib province), a Su-25 attack aircraft destroyed a large ISIS base. In a separate building, there was an ammunition and materiel depot, as well as a command centre of illegal armed groups. Data concerning the coordinates of this object had been received by the Russian Defence Ministry from representatives of the Syrian opposition. After the data had been checked by the Information centre in Baghdad and unmanned aerial vehicles conducted additional reconnaissance of the base, a Su-25 attack aircraft eliminated this facility.”

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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS279

Incident date

December 15, 2015

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.964534, 38.036764 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

26 to 30 civilians including five women were killed and dozens injured in airstrikes on Maskaneh, 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 reported that Russian aircraft committed an “appalling massacre” when warplanes targeted Maskaneh’s popular market “Bazaar” in two airstrikes.

Activists told SNN that the market was packed full of civilians, meaning that the death toll exceeded 30 and that many of the dead were unrecognisable due to deformation of bodies.

SNN noted that although Maskaneh is under IS control, the raids are only targeting markets and civilians.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported on the attack, initially putting the death toll at least 12 and then 30, including five women. They also noted that four IS militants were killed. Although they stated that “warplanes” were responsible, they did not say who they belonged to.

According to the IS agency Al A’maq, 24 were “dead and injured“, with most of them being women. They said that there had been three Russian raids.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at 20, said that regime missiles were to blame.

The VDC also accounted for three unidentified victims:

Unidentified 1 – adult, male

Unidentified 2 – adult, male

Unidentified 3 – adult, male from Homs

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdulla Sraj al-Ali
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Kawthar Hsain al-Ali
Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed

Family members (2)

Abdulla Mahmoud Mustafa Sarraj
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Mahmoud Hasan Taleb Sarraj
Child male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed

Family members (2)

Hameed al-Nafea
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Hasan al-Nafea
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed

Family members (2)

Alaa al-Rahhal
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Alaa al-Rahhal
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed

The victims were named as:

Ali Mohammad Jasem al-Ammash
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Wazeer Saleh al-Shebli
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Mahmoud Mohammad al-Ibraheem
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Ali al-Merie
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Mohammad al-Hmoush
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Hsain Ahmad al-Mahmoud al-Jadaan
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Wife of Ismael Ahmad al-Ekle
Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Hasan al-Ghrad
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Mohammad Ahmad al-Saleem al-Issa
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Awsh al-Hadi al-Sheikh
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Kareeme al-Mahmoud al-Ello
Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Nuriye al-Ibraheem al-Mehsen
Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Raed Hsain
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Wife of Ali al-Ammash
Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Malek Hasan al-Hammo
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Fares al-Jumaa al-Muwali
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Abdul Hadi Musa
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
Aboud Saleh al-Khlaif al-Sayyad
Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26 – 30
  • (5 women21 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • The market in Masskana following alleged Russian strikes, December 15th. (via SNN)
  • In the aftermath of the airstrikes on Maskana. A truck which has been caught in the raid too. (via, SNN)
  • A van destroyed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a deceased man. (via, SNN)
  • An injured man in a medical facility. (via, SNN)
  • The streets in the aftermath of the contested airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Damaged infrastructure. (via, SNN)
  • Residential buildings destroyed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • Walls of a building totally demolished by an airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians grieve for their loved ones. (via, SNN)
  • A huge crater formed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • Another photograph showing the size of the crater formed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • More evidence to show the damage to the infrastructure. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 15th-16th 2015, Russia reported that “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 59 combat sorties engaging 212 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah provinces… In the Aleppo province, a Su-24 bomber made a strike on an ISIS concentration of manpower and military hardware. Objective monitoring data confirmed elimination of not less than 10 militants and 3 automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26 – 30
  • (5 women21 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS276

Incident date

December 14, 2015

Location

حي المرجة, Al Murja, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1867279, 37.1785927 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians including one woman and one child were killed – and many injured – in airstrikes on the Al Murja neighbourhood in Aleppo – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes using cluster bombs were responsible, leading to the death of seven people.

SNN noted: “Russian jets have raided Marjah district using rockets containing cluster bombs that are internationally prohibited,” and led to the  fall of seven martyrs and  many  wounded.

They stated that the White Helmets were still removing un-exploded bombs, adding that cluster bombs were forbidden internationally, explaining that they  “explode before they reach the earth’s surface and containing hundreds of bomblets spread over a wide area after the explosion, it is possible that the number of these bombs settle on the surface of the ground without exploding, becoming a threat [that] may remain for decades.“

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at three including one woman and open child, blamed missiles from regime warplanes.

The VDC also listed two Unidentified males.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamdo Sheikh al-Jebb
Adult male named by the VDC killed
Ibraheem Arbash
Adult male named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman4 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    5 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman4 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS275

Incident date

December 14, 2015

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including one child were killed in airstrike on Maarat Al Numan, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Both Shaam News Network and Almarra Today reported that the Russians were responsible for firing cluster bombs on the city, while the White Helmets posted a video showing its members sheltering from what was reportedly a third assault.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime warplanes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmad Razouk al-Barbash
Adult male named by the VDC killed
Laser Barbash
Adult male named by the VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Bassam al-Ghareeb “al-Teeti”
Adult male named by the VDC killed
Raja Keshto
Adult male named by the VDC killed
Abrar al-Kurdi
Child female named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child4 men)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing cluster bombs on the ground following an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Chaos in the aftermath of an airstrike. Cluster bombs are also shown in the footage. (via, Almarra Today)
  • White Helmets survey the area and put out fires in Ma’arat Al Nu’ma following an airstrike. (via, The White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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
    5
  • (1 child4 men)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI157

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three professors from the University of Mosul were among four civilians and a Daesh official reported killed in an alleged Coaliton airstrike.

According to the National Iraqi News Agency, Salah Mohammed Afri, responsible for student affairs, “was killed along with two [or three] professors appointed by Daesh to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Mosul. They died at a medical complex on the edge of the campus.”

ARA News, citing a Nineveh police official, suggested that the attack had deliberately targeted four university employees and a Daesh official, all of whom were pro-ISIL.

In their January 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:

Salah Mohammed Afri
Adult male responsible for student affairs at University of Mosul killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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
    38SLF294240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 13, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, 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. 2870/CI157 38SLF294240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 12th-13th 2015 it was reported that “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL bunker.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]