Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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]

Incident Code

RS274

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sakhour, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. Five additional victims may also have died, including a woman and girl.

Halab TV also reported at least one death from an air raid, though did not identify a perpetrator: “Warplanes launched two air strikes with guided missiles on Al Sakhour neighbourhood, which resulted in the death of one person and wounded several others.“

The pro-Assad SANA agency offered a different version of events: “In the city of Aleppo a military source in a statement to SANA said that army units carried out detailed operations on positions belonging to the terrorist organisation Al Nusra Front and other Takfiri organisations in  Alsakhur neighbourhood and Suleiman al-Halabi which resulted in “the destruction of a convoy of vehicles equipped with machine guns.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Kader al-Issa
Adult male named by the VDC killed
Abdul Kader Abo Ahmad
Adult male named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike in Al Sakhour.

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS273

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three adult males (one named as Othman al-Shayta aka Abu Omar possibly a civilian), were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Harasta.

The same dead were listed by the White Helmets who said that six air raids and artillery bombing on civilian neighbourhoods in Harasta had led to the deaths of three people, the injuring of several others, and the destruction of civilian property. They did not confirm the dead’s combatant status.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Othman al-Shayta aka Abu Omar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of airstrike on Harasta, Dec 13th (via White Helmets)
  • Moments after the airstrike hit Harasta. (via, Syrian Documentation Centre)
  • The aftermath of a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, Harasta City Facebook)
  • Cars and infrastructure destroyed by the airstrikes. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Another video of the streets in the aftermath of a contested airstrike. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Footage of the skies, moments after the airstrike fell. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Smoke fills the sky in Eastern Ghouta. (via, Syria Rebels Gathering Posts)
  • Another video of smoke filling the sky. (via, Anas al Khloe)
  • More footage of the immediate moments after an airstrike fell. (via, Baladi News)

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
    0 – 1
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS271

Incident date

December 13, 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

The Al A’maq agency (linked to so-called Islamic State) produced multiple reports on alleged Russian airstrikes which targeted the city of Maskaneh.

They stated that two raids hit a popular market in the city, killing 25 civilians, injuring 33 (including 10 in critical condition) and causing destruction of property.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the Assad regime was responsible for the raids, which also destroyed a number of shops.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Osama Abo Sanad al-Dohaj wife
Adult female Listed by the VDC killed
Osama al-Dhouj
Child male Listed by the VDC killed
Osama Abo Sanad al-Dohaj
Child male Possibly a repeat of the above, Listed by the VDC killed

Family members (2)

Haji Hasan al-Mohammad
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Bakour Obaid al-Mohammad
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Thorya Mosa al-Sayer
Adult female Listed by the VDC killed
Jomea al-Shawakh
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Abd al-Kareem Abdo
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Mohammad Khairo Alloush
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Abd al-Majeed al-Taha
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 25
  • (2–3 children2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A video with locals carrying an injured civilian following an airstrike on Maskaneh, Dec 13th. (via, Halab Today)

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
    24 – 25
  • (2–3 children2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]