Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS245

Incident date

July 3, 2016

Location

الخفسة, Al Khafsa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52415, 37.95006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were killed and three injured in a US strike at Al Khafsa.

According to the Manbij Coordinating Committee, “the village of Arba’a Kbeer [al Hamr] suffered Coalition raids on the road between Manbij and al Khafsa. There are wounded and one death of a displaced person in the area.” One of the dead men was named as Muhammad Waleed Al Hamood al Sheikho. Those injured were named as the children of Mustapha Ibrahim al Khalif.

Baladi News placed the death toll at four: “Just after midnight Coalition aircraft carried out a series of raids on a number of villages and towns along the Maskana – Manbej road, near al Khafsa and al Ma’moura [al Mahdoum] village at Arba’a Kabir – killing 4 people and leaving several wounded, some critically.”

The US later confirmed it had killed four civilians, noting: “Near Manbij, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL fighting position, it is assessed that four civilians were killed.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown It's unknown how many children were wounded injured

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 36.2308082, 38.021965

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Mohammad Walid al hamoud al Sheikho killed due to his wounds sustained in coalition bombing of al Khafsa in the Manbij countryside.
  • Translation: coalition planes target the village of Arba’a Kbeer in the southern Manbij countryside and there are new of civilian casualties.
  • Translation: #Al Khafsa - the village of Arba’a Kbeer [al Hamr] suffered coalition raids on the road #Manbij #al Khafsa. There are wounded and one death of a displaced person in the area.
  • List of the martyrs killed in Aleppo on July 5th, 2016.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    4
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA060426
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016
  • July 3, 2016, near Manbij, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL fighting position, it is assessed that four civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 2nd-3rd 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Manbij, six strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]