Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS255

Incident date

July 9, 2016

Location

الخفسة, Al Khafsa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2308082, 38.021965 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what appears to be a separate incident from the two Manbij events for July 9th outlined above, up to five civilians reportedly died in a Coalition strike on Al Khafsa town.

As Syria News Desk noted, “A civilian source from inside Manbij told Syria news desk that 5 civilians were killed and 15 others injured, including some who are in a critical condition, following the targeting of coalition planes with more than 10 raids the garage of al Khafsa town and the area around the automatic bakery and al Sarab bridge west of Manbij which led to the destruction of the bridge and three entire residential buildings.”

The Syrian Observatory reported only one death, “of a child under the age of 18.”

In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA121099
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • July 9, 2016, in Al Khafsa, 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. 3004/CS255 37SDA121099

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 8th-9th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL-used bridge…. Near Manbij, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL-used bridge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]