Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS297

Incident date

August 17, 2016

Location

خان طومان, Khan Touman, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1177702, 37.0513916 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were reports that the Coalition or possibly Russia destroyed the Khan Tuman bridge south of Aleppo city in a night time raid. Casualties were reported among civilians, which one source said amounted to ‘dozens.’

Al Jazeera cited armed opposition sources as saying that “international Coalition aircraft destroyed the vital Khan Tuman bridge, causing deaths and injuries – including among those displaced from inside Aleppo to the southern countryside.”

Orient News cited a local activist as saying: “The fact is that the bridge does not pose any importance, not military significance for the rebels or even fighters who can cross from other points. It is only important for humanitarian vehicles, civilian cars and ambulances.”

The Coalition was blamed in part because of the precision nature of the attack. As Radio Hara noted, “our correspondent confirmed that the Russians repeatedly tried to destroy the bridge in dozens of raids, but those attempts failed.” Only Orient News said that Russia itself was responsible for the August 17th strike.

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, 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.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Khan Touman (خان طومان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.1177702, 37.0513916. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aleppo today correspondent reported that the international coalition targeted Khan Tuman Bridge, which is the only road between Aleppo city and its southern countryside. The correspondent explained that the target was on Wednesday 17/8/2016 at 2 at night severe missile destruction, which led to the destruction of large parts of the huge bridge and tunnel underneath it, in addition to the death of many civilians and the destruction of about five cars loaded with vegetables and food were heading to the besieged neighborhoods in Aleppo

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
    37SCV246987
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020
  • Aug. 17, 2016, in Khan Touman, 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. 3032/CS297 37SCV246987

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 16th-18th the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in the direct vicinity of Aleppo, though others in the governorate.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]