Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS356

Incident date

November 2, 2016

Location

معرة مصرين, Maraat Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.01152, 36.67183 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes variously blamed on the Coalition, on Russia and on the Assad regime targeted Fatah al Sham positions in Maarat Mislin, reportedly also killing four civilians and injuring at least two more.

Initial reports – which said the town was struck three times – claimed either Russia or the Assad regime was responsible. The Syrian Network for example reported that “4 persons at least were killed and others were injured by bombing by warplane over areas in the town of Ma’arrat Misrin in the northern countryside of Idlib, the sources said that they targeted the headquarters area of Fath al-Sham Front.” Shahba Press said ten people were injured.

However a statement issued on March 9th by Fatah al Sham blamed the Coalition: “On Wednesday 2nd November 2016 the protector of internatonal crime the oppressive America targeted one of the centres of al Mujahidin in Maarat Misrin in the Idlib countryside which destroyed the place completely killing all the mujahidin who were inside. The most notable of the martyrs were:

-Adel Abu Mohammad al Ansari

-Abu Hamza al Masri [administrator]

May God receive them in his paradise.This targeting complements the role played by Russia in bombing and destroying and supporting Bashar’s regime.” The press release made no mention of civilian casualties.

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 local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 36.01152, 36.67183  

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Title: an air raid on Maarat Misrin 2/11/2016
  • Translation: warplanes launch raids on the dens of armed militants in Maarat Misrin in response to the repeated attacks of the militants on our people in al Fo’a and Kafriya north of Idlib.
  • Title: UAR’s lens captures the Russian enemy during the moment that they were targeting Maarat Misrin
  • Title: the first moment of the raids on Maarat Misrin 2/11/2016
  • Translation: 4 martyrs and a number of wounded following regime warplane targeting of the city of Maarat Misrin in the northern Idlib countryside with vacuum missiles.
  • Translation: 4 martyrs and around ten civilian wounded following Assad’s warplanes shelling Maarat Misrin in the northern Idlib countryside.
  • Translation: Northern Idlib countryside - 4 civilian martyrs and others injured in Maarat Misrin as a result of the air raids launched by the Russian enemy a short while ago on the city.
  • Translation: Idlib - 4 civilians killed and others injured following the air raids that targeted Maarat Misrin a short while ago.
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
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Maraat Misrin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBV9018087733
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022
  • Nov. 2, 2016, near Maraat Misrin, 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. 3074/CS356 37SBV9018087733

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 1st-2nd the Coalition reported no strikes in Syria.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]