Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

R1347

Incident date

October 18, 2016

Location

قرية بريهة , Bariha village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that between two and four civilians died and up to another five were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bariha village.

Sound and Picture put the death toll at two, though Euphrates Post said as many as four died.

Radio AlKul added that five more civilians were wounded in the attack.

 

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI295

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

حي الزنجيلي, Mosul, Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3502851, 43.1098795 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the first day of a major Iraqi and Coalition assault to recapture Mosul, nine civilians including five members of one family were alleged killed in an airstrike.

Iraq News reported “intensive Coalition raids on the areas of Bab al Jadid and Hadbah, west of Mosul, with reports of civilian casualties.” Accordng to Islam Memo, “Nine civilians were killed, including five members of one family, as a result of aerial bombing on Monday morning which targeted residential areas in downtown Mosul.” It said the dead included “an eighty-year-old woman and her son, his wife and two of their children.”

Elements of this incident were later confused by some reports with a separate Mosul event on October 18th-19th.

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said “we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (1–2 children2 women)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

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
    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
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition reported that ” Near Mosul, four strikes [2 British] engaged three ISIL tactical units and two staging areas; destroyed 10 mortar systems, five artillery systems, four ISIL-held buildings, four fighting positions, four vehicles, two supply caches, two repeater tower generators, a VBIED facility, and a VBIED; and suppressed four tactical units and three rocket positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (1–2 children2 women)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1472

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1855676, 37.1802235 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 25 people from one family – named as the Eid Kabis family – died including eight children and two or three women and dozens more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Marja neighbourhood. All but one source alleged that Russia carried out the strike.

According to Madar Daily, “14 members of a family were killed in a Russian air strike on the Marjah district of Aleppo, including two six-week-olds and six children under the age of eight.”

Ara News reported that “the field activist, Ali Jaafar, from the city of Aleppo told Ara that ‘Russian warplanes committed a terrible massacre in the Marjah neighbourhood of Aleppo after it was hit by a concussion missile. This caused the death of 15 people with many more wounded, including women and children’.”

Micro Syria put the death toll as high as 25, reporting that “Russian shelling targeted a building containing ten families.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t apportion blame, but stated that 13 people died including 10 children, “the majority from the same family”.

Only the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed towards regime involvement, referring to “government warplanes” in one post and then “government warplanes and its allies” in a subsequent report.

Halab News named 13 victims, and blamed Russia for their deaths.These victims were also named by several other sources.

Multiple reports published distressing images of the dead children – and footage of their funeral.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

Khaled Mohammad Eid Kabis
25 years old male killed
Amina Mohammad Eid Kabis
8 years old killed
Nadia Mohamamd Eid Kabid
4 years old killed
Amina Firas Kabis
7 years old killed
Tima Firas Kabis
5 years old killed
Amar Firas Kabis
2 years old killed
Mohamamd eid Firas Kabis
3 years old male killed
The baby Fatima al Zahra Firas Kabis
2 months old years old killed
Aysha Ahmad Kabis
17 years old female killed
The baby Hasan Yusuf Kabis
2 months old years old killed
Hamouda Hussein Kabis
25 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Lajina Amer Jamal
20 years old killed
Turki Arab
60 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 25
  • (8–10 children1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Disturbing footage of multiple children who were killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Marjah, Oct 17th (via HNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of multiple children who were killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Marjah, Oct 17th (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    At the burial of those children killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid, Oct 17th (via Qasioun news Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A father weeps for his baby who was killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Qasioun News Agency)
  • Moments after the raid on Marjah which killed between 13 and 25 civilians. (via Ara News)
  • White Helmets clear some of the rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via Enabbaladi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child victim of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two child victims of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two child victims of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child victim of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Al Marjah, 17th October 2016. (via Alresalahpress)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 25
  • (8–10 children1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI296

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

Makkuk (near Qaryah), Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Local eyewitness said that two children were killed and another injured badly when Coalition airstrike targeted an ISIL building in Makkuk village in Makhmur near Qayyarah at 10.10am.

While al Rafidain made no mention of civilian casualties, it reported “a rocket attack caused the destruction of an ISIL facility in Qayyarah.”

 

The incident occured at 10:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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
    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
  • Stated location
    near Makkuk (Qayyarah), Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition reported that ” Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and a mortar position; destroyed an ISIL-held building, a mortar system, an oil tanker truck, and a rocket-propelled grenade; and damaged a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1473

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

Al Zar'aroura, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1656062, 36.9718334 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or six civilians including children and women died in a strike on the Al Za’aroura area near Kafr Naha in the western Aleppo countryside, according to sources on the ground. The majority of sources attributed the incident to Russia, though one pointed towards the regime. Several other reports didn’t identify the culprit.

LCCSY put the death toll at five including two children and two women, and blamed Russia.

Halab News, meanwhile, listed unidentified victims as “a child, two men and two women”.

According to Orient, “five civilians were killed and others injured by air strikes carried out by Russia on the outskirts of the town of Kafr Naha in the western part of Aleppo. Aircraft targeted the Al Za’aroura area near the town of Kafr Nahah with rockets. The Civil Defense teams evacuated the injured and victims to medical hospitals.”

@MasarPressNet reported that six civilians died in the attack, but didn’t name the culprit.

According to Baladi, “rocket-propelled grenades” struck the area – but the source didn’t apportion blame.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to the regime, reporting that “at least five victims died due to government warplanes (allies) missiles fired on Al Za’rora area near Kafr Naha town in Aleppo governorate, October 17, 2016.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1–2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Destruction to civilian homes depicted here in Al Zar'aroura. (via Baladi news Network)
  • Civilians digging through and saving what is left of their homes in Al Zar'aroura following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on 17th October 2016. (via SNN)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)
  • Civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via baladinetwork)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1–2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC045

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

ميناء درنه, Derna Port, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.763333, 22.654722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One fisherman was killed and another injured when an airstrike hit their boat in the waters off Derna, according to local reports.

Al Nabaa reported that one civilian was killed and another wounded in an LNA airstrike on the port of Derna. Al Nabaa later reported the dead man was a fisherman who was killed when his boat was hit off the coast.

Alwasat reported the strike occurred at 11 AM and listed the dead man’s name as Wanis al-Haj. His injured colleague was named as Akram Bouktaouh. The report noted that there had reportedly been warnings issued not to fish in the area as boats might be targeted. Ean Libya gave the dead fisherman’s name as Wanis al Haj.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wanis al-Haj
Adult male Via Alwasat killed
Akram Bouktaouh
Adult male Via Alwasat injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the body of fisherman Nis al-Haj who was killed followed an alleged LNA airstrike on the port of Derna (via Alwasat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Derna Port (ميناء درنه), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.763333, 22.654722. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1474

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Halab News named a civilian as killed in an alleged Russian strike on Kafr Halab.

According to Al Jazeera, “cluster bombs and rocket-propelled grenades targeted the town of Kafr Halab in the western countryside.”

@FREE_TV_SYRIA, @24Aleppo, @ShahbaPress were among other sources reporting that Russian cluster bombs hit the train station in the village. @24Aleppo said that civilians were injured as a result of this attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamido al Eido
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1475

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

عويجل, Oweijal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.179537, 36.952987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what multiple sources described as a “massacre”, between 40 and 55 civilians – many of them reportedly children and women – died and up to 70 more were wounded in airstrikes on the village of Oweijal. The strikes resulted in widespread destruction to civilian homes – and, according to several reports – the destruction of an entire neighbourhood. @ALAMWI, for example, reported that “ten houses were completely destroyed”.

The majority of sources blamed Russia for the event, though there were two allegations against the Assad regime.

Most sources put the death toll between 25 and 30 civilians. Several said that this was a double-tip strike, with warplanes returning a second time to target those involved in the rescue operation. Orient News reported that victims included ” members of the civil defence, paramedics and media personnel”.

According to the Shaam News Network, “activists said that the Russian warplane targeted a residential area in the town of Oweijal with several missiles, which resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians. The area was targeted for a second time as ambulance teams gathered to aid the victims of the first strike”.

The highest death count was given by @watannews2015 at 55 civilians, “half of them women and children”.

Alsouria pointed directly to “the planes of Bashar al-Assad’s regime”, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights – who put the initial death toll at 14 – blamed “government warplanes and its allies”.

Halab News reported that Russia hit the village with “four bunker-busting missiles” and listed the following civilians as killed “following Russian raids” on the town. 14 named and 26 were left unidentified. Al Jazeera also put the death toll at 40.

@spm_syria reported the “disappearance of the young media Zain Ali” and published his photo.

According to Defence_arab, “A Russian warplane fired a concussion at the village of Oweijal, killing 32 people and injuring sixty others. A residential area of ​​about 10 buildings was destroyed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Taha al Hamdo
Adult male killed
Wife of Taha al Hamdo
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Taha Ahmad al Hussein
Age unknown killed
Hassoun Hussein
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Hussein abd al Razzaq
Age unknown male killed
Nouri Mohammad al Nouriyawi
Age unknown killed
Abdo Ahmad al Nouri
Age unknown killed
Abd al Salam al Moun
Age unknown killed
Abdel Qader al Hadidi
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud al Kibish
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud Abdo al Nouri
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud Hussein al Taha
Age unknown killed
Abd al Hamid Mohammad Hamdo
Age unknown killed
Hanaa Ahmad Mahmoud
Child killed
Abdallah al Milhem
Age unknown male media reporters injured
Abdul Razzaq Shakurdi
Age unknown male media reporters injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 55
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Civilians dig through the rubble find what is left of their posesions following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Oweijal, Oct 17th (via Qasioun)
  • Media colleague Abdallah al Milhem, injured in the raid. (via HNN)
  • Media colleague Abdul Razzaq Shakurdi, injured in the raid. (via HNN)
  • Interviews with local civilians about the raids which allegedly hit Oweijal on 17th October 2016. (via AjisirTV)
  • Disappearance of the media activist "Zain Ali" in the raid on Owejial. (via spm_syria)
  • Houses entirely destroyed in the raid. (via Alamawi)
  • Houses entirely destroyed in the raid. (via SyrianCoalitoin)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Oweijal, 17th October 2016. (via watannews2015)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Oweijal, 17th October 2016. (via watannews2015)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Oweijal, 17th October 2016. (via watannews2015)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Oweijal, 17th October 2016. (via watannews2015)
  • A crater from the alleged airstrike on 17th October 2016. (via plespost)
  • A woman grieves in the aftermath of the alleged airstrike. (via plespost)
  • A man sits amongst the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged airstrike. (via plespost)
  • A woman grieves in the aftermath of the alleged airstrike. (via plespost)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 55
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (28) [ collapse]