Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TI089

Incident date

December 2, 2022

Location

جبل اسوس شارباجار, Mount Assos, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and up to three others were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes/drone strikes on Mount Assos on December 2, 2022.

The mayor of Charbajar, Shaho Othman, told Kurdistan 24  that three people were wounded and three civilians were missing following Turkish airstrikes on Mount Assos. Kurdistan 24 later revised their casualty count to one person killed and two others wounded, adding that four people were hunting in the mountain and hiding in the cave of Kelashin when the strikes occurred and that one person is still missing.

Kurdistan Revolution posted on Facebook that a civilian named Aziz Muhammad Rasool who worked as a farmer was killed and two others were injured.

Roj News Agency, quoting the mayor of Mawat district Kamiran Hassan, reported that a group of civilians were collecting wild herbs in the village of Kalala when Turkish airstrikes hit. Mayor Kamiran Hassan told Rudaw News Network that one civilian was killed and one was injured from the bombing, and that the victims were from the village of Qamish. Medya News put the casualty toll at two civilians killed and three injured, adding that medial teams could not rescue them until late in the day because of fear of a second bombardment.

The majority of sources attributed the incident to Turkish forces, with Rudaw News pointing out that it was unknown whether the bombing was carried out by warplanes or drones.

The incident occured around midday.

  • Aziz Muhammad Rasool Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Alleged strikes on Mount Assos on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by Kurdistan24)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4495

Incident date

December 2, 2022

Location

اليونيسية, Obin (Al Younisiya), Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a child, were killed and up to seven others, including a woman and a child, were injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime guided missile strikes on the village of Obin (Al Younisiya) on December 2, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that three civilians from the same family including a child were killed and five others including a woman and a child were injured by a bombing carried out by Syrian regime and/or Russian forces. The bombing struck a home inhabited by displaced person in the village of Obin (Al Younisiya) and the Civil Defense volunteers took the injured to the hospital to receive treatment.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported a similar casualty count of three civilians killed, including a 15 year old child, and others wounded. Baladi News put the number of civilians killed at three as well and provided their names as Muhammad Al-Aloush, Mahmoud Al-Aloush, and Hamza Al-Aloush (15 years old) and identified six others as being injured, some of them seriously. The Syrian Human Rights Committee put the injury count at seven and added that the dead and injured were displaced from the village of Um al-Khalakhil, in the countryside of Maarat al-Numan, south of Idlib.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the bombing, with Syrian Human Rights Committee attributing the attack to the Syrian regime while others like Baladi News referred only to the Syrian regime and the “militias supporting it” or the Syrian regime and Russian forces (Syrian Civil Defense). The Syrian Civil Defense identified guided heat missiles as being used in the attack while Baladi News referred to them as anti-tank guided missiles.

Multiple sources pointed out that the village of Obin is located close to the frontlines of regime forces in the northern countryside of Latakia.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

  • Muhammad Al-Aloush male killed
  • Mahmoud Al-Aloush male Son of Muhammad Al-Aloush killed
  • Hamza Al-Aloush 15 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Strike target
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteer help civilians injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime strikes on the village of Obin (Al-Yunsiya) on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteer help civilians injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime strikes on the village of Obin (Al-Yunsiya) on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by Omar Talawi via Facebook)
  • Muhammad Muhammad Al-Aloush Abu Aloush, killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime missile strikes on the village of Obin on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by The Supreme Council of the Bouassi clan, the Bakara tribe via Facebook)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime strikes on the village of Obin (Al-Yunsiya) on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by ANews Arabic via Facebook)
  • urgent | The death toll from the regime’s targeting of a house in the village of Obin in the western countryside of Idlib has risen to 3, and others have been injured (@HalabTodayTV)
  • Civil Defense volunteer help civilians injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime strikes on the village of Obin (Al-Yunsiya) on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by @hadikhraat)
  • "Today, Friday, three civilians from the same family, including a child, were killed, and five others were injured, as a result of the Syrian regime forces targeting with a guided missile, a house inhabited by displaced people in the village of #Obin (#Al-Yunsiyah) in the countryside of #Badama, west of #Idlib Governorate, northwestern #Syria" (@AsharqNewsSYR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Strike target
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM361

Incident date

November 30, 2022

Location

village of Ali Foldhere, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Up to 40 members of al-Shabaab were killed and others were wounded by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes or ground operations near the village of Ali Foldhere on November 30, 2022.

Shabelle Media Network quoted the Somali government who announced that an operation carried out by the National Army, National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), and international partners in Ali Foldhere resulted in the death of up to 40 members of al-Shabaab and the wounding of others.

Garowe Online reported that the al-Shabaab militants were targeted while they were plotting their own attack in the town.

Reuters described the location of the operation as being in a forest near the village of Ali Foldhere under Mahaday town of Middle Shabelle region.

@BCFinucane pointed out that this was another operation with support from Somalia’s “international security partners” who were not specified. Garowe Online pointed out that similar military operations in the past involved US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS].

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4494

Incident date

November 30, 2022

Location

البارة,ادلب, Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian shelling of the town of Al-Bara on November 30, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that artillery shelling by the Syrian regime and Russian forces resulted in the minor injury of a child and the destruction of civilian homes. @HalabTodayTV also reported that a child was injured.

Local sources put the time of the shelling at midnight local time.

Sources were conflicted as to who carried out the shelling, with @Almohrar1 attributing the attack to Russian forces while the majority of others blamed the Syrian regime.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • A while ago, artillery shelling targeted the center of the village of Al-Bara, south of Idlib
  • "A child was injured and civilian homes were destroyed as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces targeting the town of Al-Bara, south of Idlib" (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian shelling on the town of Al-Bara on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Alhaqiqa Idlib via Facebook)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian shelling on the town of Al-Bara on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Alhaqiqa Idlib via Facebook)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian shelling on the town of Al-Bara on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Alhaqiqa Idlib via Facebook)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian shelling on the town of Al-Bara on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Alhaqiqa Idlib via Facebook)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian shelling on the town of Al-Bara on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Alhaqiqa Idlib via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS575

Incident date

November 29, 2022

Location

قرية صوغانكي, Soghnaki village.Sherawat district.countryside of Afrin, Aleppo , Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 29th 2022, two civilians were reportedly injured following Turkish artillery shelling on Soghnaki (Soghanaki) village in Sherawa district, Aleppo governorate.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • On November 29th 2022, several villages were reportedly targeted by Turkish artillery shelling in Sherawa district. Photo: Rojnews

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM360

Incident date

November 26, 2022

Location

Bulo Madina, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

More than 60 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes or ground operations on the outskirts of the village of El-Dhere on November 26, 2022.

Horn Diplomat Media quoted Somalia’s deputy information minister, Abdirahman Yusuf Omar Adala, who said that in addition to a similar operation carried out in El-Dhere, a military operation in the village of Bulo Madina resulted in the death of 60 al-Shabaab terrorists. Both operations were carried out by the Somali army with support by “local militias and international security partners”.

No other details on this operation were available at the time.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    60

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    60

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM359

Incident date

November 26, 2022

Location

El-Dhere, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Over 100 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes or ground operations on the outskirts of the village of El-Dhere on November 26, 2022.

Voice of America quoted Somalia’s deputy information minister, Abdirahman Yusuf Omar Adala, who said that an operation conducted by the Somali army, backed by locals and international partners assisting from the air, resulted in the death of more than 100 al-Shabaab militants, including 10 “ringleaders”, on the outskirts of the village of El-Dhere. The operation reportedly resulted in the liberation of El-Dhere from al-Shabaab control and the seizure of their weaponry.

Local sources provided similar casualty figures and details they also obtained from the Somali government.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    100

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by operation carried out by Somali army and International partners in El-Dhere village on November 26, 2022. (Image posted by @SONNALIVE)
  • Destruction caused by operation carried out by Somali army and International partners in El-Dhere village on November 26, 2022. (Image posted by @SONNALIVE)
  • Weapons seized during operation carried out by Somali army and International partners in El-Dhere village on November 26, 2022. (Image posted by @SONNALIVE)
  • Destruction caused by operation carried out by Somali army and International partners in El-Dhere village on November 26, 2022. (Image posted by @SONNALIVE)

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    100

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM358

Incident date

November 24, 2022

Location

Bulo Madina, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

15 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes or ground operations near Bulo Madina on November 24, 2022.

Somali National Television posted on Twitter that 15 al-Shabaab militants were killed by an operation carried out by Somali security forces with the support of airstrikes from “international security partners” near Bulo Madina. @HarunMaruf added that the 15 militants killed had survived the operation the day before and were tracked down.

@GaroweOnline pointed out that no independent sources have been able to verify the government’s casualty claims.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    15

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    15

Sources (7) [ collapse]