Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1928

Incident date

August 31, 2019

Location

كفرجالس, Kafr Jalis, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.977803, 36.643374 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an airstrike confirmed by CENTCOM, US forces struck what it reported to be an Al-Qaeda command center in northern Idlib. Local sources reported that the US strike struck a military headquarters belonging to “Ansar Al-Tawhid” in the town of Kafr Nabil, but added that civilian houses were struck nearby as well, resulting in a number of deaths and wounded.

The US Central Command under the Pentagon reported that US forces had struck an al-Qaeda facility north of Idlib in Syria on Saturday. According to Lieutenant Colonel Earl, “the operation targeted al-Qaeda leaders in Syria responsible for attacks that threaten American citizens, our partners and innocent civilians,” Brown, the head of media operations at the Central Command, told Reuters in an e-mailed statement.

However, local sources claimed that children and women from the families of members of ISIS living in the area were killed in the attack as well. According to Syria TV, 23 people were identified, including four people under the age of 18 and seven unidentified bodies. According to Alaraby, the children and women were family members of the terror organisation.

Step News Agency reported that 14 members of ISIS were killed and more than 23 were wounded. In addition, the source reported that a civilian by the name of Ahmed Youssef Yassou was killed when rocket shelling hit his farm.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that 29 people were killed, 22 wounded and one person went missing; 21 year old Khaled al-Sha’ban. The source identified the names of 22 victims. It further stated that the seven unidentified bodies were saved for forensic medicine.

Baladi estimated a total death toll of 30 people, most of whom were buried under the rubble, while Alquds reported on a total of 51 dead.

Russia accused the US of “endangering” a ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib province by carrying out the airstrike.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Youssef Yassouf
65 years old male killed
Abdul Rahman Qandah
19 years old killed
Samir Ahmed Mohammed Ali
22 years old killed
Musa Ja'ma
21 years old killed
Suleiman Khaled Khatib
15 years old killed
Basil Al Khalaf
Age unknown killed
Khalid Mohammed Fadl
17 years old killed
Muath Samir Fadel
16 years old killed
Abdul Salam Sayah
12 years old killed
Amjad al-Abrash
24 years old killed
Yacoub Ibrahim al-Rahman
20 years old killed
Omar Mohammed Aldani
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Mutasim Parish
21 years old killed
Abdul Hamid Satouf Al-Satouf
12 years old killed
Mohammed Omar Yehia Hababa
12 years old killed
Ibrahim Mahmoud Mohammed Ali
21 years old killed
Nizar al-Shami
20 years old killed
Yasser Khaddour
23 years old killed
Khaled Abu Khattab
Age unknown killed
Nasser Abu Abdul Majeed
Age unknown killed
Huthayfa Abu Abdul Hakim
Age unknown killed
Aref Hamjou
15 years old killed

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 35.97781, 36.64317

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22 – 29
  • (6 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    14–51
  • Belligerents reported injured
    23

Sources (16) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Kafr Jalis, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBV8750684056
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022
  • Aug. 31, 2019, near Kafr Jalis, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 2776/CS1928 37SBV8750684056

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22 – 29
  • (6 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    14–51
  • Belligerents reported injured
    23

Sources (16) [ collapse]