Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

SDF00029

Incident date

September 6, 2023

Location

قرب الصرف الصحي الفاصل بين الطيانة وذيبان, near the sewer pipe between Al Thayana and Dhiban, east of Deir Ezzor, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, a child was injured by the bullets allegedly coming from an SDF checkpoint near the sewer pipe separating the towns of Al-Tayana and Dhiban, east of Deir Ezzor. The incident was reported by multiple local sources indicating that the child was from the town of Al-Tayana.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the shooting to Syrian Democratic Forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (7) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS030

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

جرابلس, Jarabulus, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.819013, 38.009657 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was killed and an unknown number of others were wounded after alleged SDF artillery and rocket shelling on the city of Jarablus, Aleppo governorate, on October 9th 2019.

SyriaTV reported that one civilian was killed and others were injured after rocket shelling in the city center by SDF forces stationed in the village of Zor Maghar. @kassemtljbini tweeted that “there are civilian casualties”. Jesr Press however stated that no injuries were reported.

An Arabic Sputnik News correspondent quoted a source in the SDF, who stated that “one of the gunmen of the ‘Euphrates Shield’, loyal to the Turkish army, was killed and others were wounded by shelling carried out by ‘Kurdish units’ on the city of Jarablus and the city of Mare’.”

On Wednesday evening, SDF forces also allegedly attacked Al Jabal camp, near Jarablus, with artillery and rocket shelling.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Photo of shelling remnants after alleged SDF artillery and rocket shelling on the city of Jarablus on October 9th/10th 2019 (via @moetaz89).
  • Photo of shelling remnants after alleged SDF artillery and rocket shelling on the city of Jarablus on October 9th/10th 2019 (via @moetaz89).
  • Photo of shelling remnants after alleged SDF artillery and rocket shelling on the city of Jarablus on October 9th/10th 2019 (via @moetaz89).
  • Photo of shelling remnants after alleged SDF artillery and rocket shelling on the city of Jarablus on October 9th/10th 2019 (via @moetaz89).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers securing the area around shelling that did not explode after the alleged SDF artillery and shelling strike on Jarablus city (via SDF on Facebook).

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS062

Incident date

October 21, 2019

Location

السوسة, Al Sousa , Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.518701, 40.960742 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two male civilians were reportedly shot by YPG forces in the countryside of al-Sousa.

Euphrates Post reported: “The bodies of the two young men were found n the village of al-Jarzi this morning: Meshaan al-Hamoud Al Ghadab was born in 1992 and his brother-in-law Musleh Khabur al-Saleh was born in 1983 The youths were civilians and do not belong to any military or political party.”

According to the Shaam News Network, “Two young men from al-Jarthi village were found shot dead in the countryside of al-Sousa in the eastern countryside. They were arrested by a SDF checkpoint in al-Bahra town about 10 days ago. They are not affiliated with any military or political party.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Meshaan al-Hamoud Al Ghadab
Adult male killed
Musleh Khabur al-Saleh
Adult male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Sousa (السوسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.518701, 40.960742. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS095

Incident date

June 28, 2020

Location

مارع, Mare’a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4828, 37.1964

Airwars assessment

A child was killed after an unexploded shell from earlier shelling by alleged Kurdish forces on the town of Mare’a exploded on June 28th, 2020. It is unclear when exactly the munition was fired.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had “documented the death of a child under the age of 18, as a result of the explosion of a shell from the remnants of the previous bombing of the Kurdish forces on the town of Mare’a, which is under the control of the pro-Ankara factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo.”

Local activists told Bawabat Aleppo that the victim was the 14-year-old boy Hamza Ibrahim, who was displaced from the village of Khansasir, south of Aleppo. Bawabat Aleppo pointed to the Syrian Democratic Forces as responsible for the previously unexploded mortar shell.

Bawabat Aleppo added that Syrian Civil Defence teams “went to the location of the explosion to secure it and prevent civilians from approaching, fearing the presence of other bombing remnants.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamza Ibrahim حمزة ابراهيم
14 years old male displaced from village of Khanasir killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Mare’a (مارع), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4828, 37.1964. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1965

Incident date

October 2, 2021

Location

مزرعة تشرين, Mazra'a Tishreen, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.132398, 38.869372 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a “young” man, Abboud Al-Akeeb, was allegedly killed by US-led Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces’ raid on Tishreen Farm, north of Raqqa in Syria on 2nd October 2021, according to multiple sources. The attack was reported to have happened at dawn.

Athar Press reported that “American forces and “SDF” carried out raids in the Tishreen farm in the north of Raqqa governate, where the sounds of clashes and strong explosions were heard in the vicinity of the farm.”

Dostor, Al Araby News, and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the campaign was “to search for ISIS cells.” According to the the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the US-led Coalition “carried out an airdrop operation” which resulted in the “arrest of two of ISIS leaders and several women, where a civilian was killed near the site coinciding with the airdrop operation.” Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) reported that after raiding Mr. Al-Akeeb’s house, the military forces had “his parents tied up, and then the body was transferred to an unknown location. It later became clear that the operation was carried out by mistake and that the targeted persons are a family from the town of Sfira who lives next to the house of the slain “Abboud Al-Akeeb.”” RBSS also put the date of the strike on 1st October, although all other sources indicate this happened on 2nd October.

Local sources indicated that this operation coincided with another operation in Shanina. Watan reported that this raid shows an example of how the “US army and its affiliated militias have significantly increased the pace of raids and incursions into eastern Syria, targeting a large number of Syrian Arab tribesmen.”

It has been more than two years since Airwars has documented any alleged civilian casualties in Raqqa attributed to US-led Coalition and the SDF.

In a civilian casualty assessment released April 16th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “After a thorough review of all CJTF-OIR’s strike and operation history, no strike or operation was identified +/-24 hours, in the vicinity of the allegation.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Abboud Al-Akeeb
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abboud Al-Akeeb, allegedly killed by US-led Coalition and SDF raid on Tishreen Farm, Raqqa on 26th September 2021. (Image via @SOHEB2019 / Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mazra’a Tishreen (مزرعة تشرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.132398, 38.869372. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 3, 2023

  • October 02, 2021, near Mazra’a Tishreen, Syria, via Airwars report. After a thorough review of all CJTF-OIR’s strike and operation history, no strike or operation was identified +/-24 hours, in the vicinity of the allegation. 3310/CS1965 37SDV8824698641

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS146

Incident date

August 3, 2022

Location

اعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 3rd 2022, between three and six people, including up to four women, were reported injured by artillery shelling which hit the city of Azaz, Aleppo, Syria as a result of reported SDF (YPG/PKK) or Syrian regime forces action.  The incident was reported to have taken place in the evening.

@jabha_sy reported that the list of the names who were wounded were:

Mounira Jaban, aged 19
Asia Amin, aged 54
Souad Kaddour, aged 17
Safaa Amin, aged 17
Unidentified child

The Syrian Civil Defense took the injured to the hospital and secured the area where the incident took place.

Most of the sources reported that this was a result of SDF action, including Syrian Network for Human Rights, however it was also reported that it could have been the Syrian regime as the artillery shelling orginated from areas controlled by both actors.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Mounira Jaban
19 years old female injured
Asia Amin
54 years old female injured
Souad Kaddour
17 years old male injured
Safaa Amin
17 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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 attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • @IdlibPlus reported that six civilians were injured when a missile strike hit Azaz city, Aleppo (Image via Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that six civilians were injured as a result of Syrian regime or SDF missile fire in Azaz city, Aleppo, Syria on August 3rd 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that six civilians were injured as a result of Syrian regime or SDF missile fire in Azaz city, Aleppo, Syria on August 3rd 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • @Sharqya_reporte tweeted photos of the damage as a result of reported SDF action in Azaz in Aleppo, Syria on August 3rd 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • @Sharqya_reporte tweeted photos of the damage as a result of reported SDF action in Azaz in Aleppo, Syria on August 3rd 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • @77Mikiy tweeted that shells landed in a civilian house in Azaz on August 3rd 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • @77Mikiy tweeted that shells landed in a civilian house in Azaz on August 3rd 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • @77Mikiy tweeted that shells landed in a civilian house in Azaz on August 3rd 2022 (Image via Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense tweeted that the civilians were transported to the nearest hospital (Image via Twitter)

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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 attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00011

Incident date

August 30, 2023

Location

الصنور, Al Sanour, Abo Hama, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 30th, 2023, during clashes in Abo Hama between SDF forces and tribal fighters, Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah, 15 years old, and young man Bashar Al-Abd Al-Ali, were killed and 10 other civilians were injured, according to reports from multiple news agencies and the boy’s family.

Sada Al Sharqieh was the sole report found within the sources to report that Bahar Al-Abd Al- Ali had been killed and Shaam News was the sole report found within the sources to allege that 10 civilians had been injured.

According to reports from @freesyriachann, @Rian_almasri, @EuphratesPost, and others, Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah was killed by a stray bullet, and they did not allege any specific belligerent was responsible, while Shaam News, Alaraby News, @SyriaFreew, and others allege that SDF fighters were responsible for his death. Further details about Bashar Al-Abd Al-Ali or injured civilians were not available within the sources, except that they had been victims of the violent clashes in Abo Hama, east of Deir Ezzor. Shaam News reported that Abo Hama was hit by “indiscriminate shelling by the SDF with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades” and @yasersoufi alleged SDF forces hit civilian homes with mortar shells and heavy artillery.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah
15 years old male killed
Bashar Al-Abd Al-Ali
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah, 15 years old, killed during clashes between the SDF and tribal fighters in Abo Hama on August 30, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah, 15 years old, killed during clashes between the SDF and tribal fighters in Abo Hama on August 30, 2023. (Image posted by Khaled via Facebook)
  • #SDF militias target civilian homes in the town of #Abu_Hamam, east of #Deir_ez-Zor, with mortar shells and heavy artillery

YPG Assessment:

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

Tribal Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Tribal Forces
  • Tribal Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00042

Incident date

September 21, 2023

Location

بلدة غريبة, Ghariba, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young boy, Muayad Ahmed al-Khudair, was injured on September 21st, 2023 in the town of Ghariba, when he was struck by bullets allegedly fired by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Al-Khudair, who has been reported as either 12 or 13 years old, was herding sheep near the bank of the Euphrates River when he was shot.

Euphrates Post alleged the SDF was stationed on the other side of the river. Naher Media corroborated this claim, stating that the SDF was firing from a military point located there.

Al-Khudair, who was taken to a hospital, was said to be in critical condition at the time of reporting.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muayad Ahmed al-Khudair
Child male 12-13 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Muayad Ahmed al-Khudair, believed to be either 12 or 13 years old, was herding sheep when hit by a bullet allegedly fired by the SDF

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]