Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS031

Incident date

November 25, 2014

Location

بنش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.958429, 36.711587 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were claims that a ‘civilian male’, named as Dergham Karah Ali, was killed in a Coalition airstrike on the village of Binnish in Idlib governorate.

However, two videos later emerged challenging Ali’s non-combatant status. One showed him singing a moderate resistance song.

The second video, posted by Islamic State, indicated that Ali had later become a fighter for ISIS, using the nom de guerre of Abu Hammam.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed the event as ‘non credible’, noting that “November 25, 2014, in Binnish, 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.”

Coalition officials also provided Airwars with a geolocation to within 100 metres of the area reviewed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dergham Karah Ali
Adult male Probable combatant though named by some sources as a non combatant killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Binnish (بنش), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.958429, 36.711587. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video showing Dergham Ali singing a resistance song.
  • Another video of Dergham Ali singing.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Binnish, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBV936818
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • November 25, 2014, in Binnish, 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No coalition airstrikes were officially reported as occurring in Idlib governorate between November 24th-26th 2014.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (6) [ collapse]