Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS215

Incident date

May 20, 2016

Location

أرشاف, Al Arshaf, Intersection of roads, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.51888, 37.271389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to ten civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition evening strike at Al Arshaf village on the outskirts of Ekhitrin town, in the northern Aleppo countryside.

Syria Urgent initially said 6 civilians died – 4 women and two men – with another four injured “following an American raid.” The Syrian Observatory placed the death toll at seven, saying all the victims came from one family. And Shaam News said ten died, including 5 women.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “On Friday evening 20 May 2016 International coalition warplanes launched missiles at the northern eastern parts of Arshaf Town [near subway Akhtarin] in the norther suburbs of Aleppo governorate under the control of ISIS, killing 8 people including 3 children and two women, seven others were injured.”

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes near Aleppo that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event.

VDC later named the following victims, most from one family:

Khadijeh Jamal Rajab – girl

Ineam Jamal Rajab – girl

Mohammad Rajab – man

Bashar Mohammad Bashar – man

Aysha Rajab – woman

Israe Mohammad Rajab – girl

Jamal Rajab – man

Salha Mohammad Jomea – woman

2 unidentified adult males

In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible based on available information: “May 20, 2016, near Arshaf, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

However, based on information published at the time, Airwars continues to assess this event as Fair.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Child female killed
Child female killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (3 children2–5 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translate: Urgent: 4 women, two men killed and 4 others injured following American raid on the village of Arshaf in northern Aleppo countryside (via Age-_Syria)
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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Arshaf, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports the following for Ma’ra in Aleppo governorate for May 20th-21st 2016: “Near Mar’a, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and three ISIL command and control nodes.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Friday 20 May – Tornados destroyed two Daesh headquarters north of Aleppo in Syria, while Typhoons provided close air support to Iraqi ground forces around Fallujah…Intelligence analysis pinpointed two Daesh headquarters in north-west Syria, located 10 and 25 miles respectively north of Aleppo near the fighting along the Mar’a Line. A pair of Tornado GR4s were tasked with their destruction on Friday 20 May. One of the command posts was in a very solidly constructed building, this was targeted with two Enhanced Paveway II 1000lb bombs. A pair of 500lb Paveway IVs were used against the second headquarters. Both targets were destroyed by direct hits.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (3 children2–5 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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

Sources (16) [ collapse]