Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS342

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.91856, 36.63489 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

During an airstrike on a vehicle in Idlib the Coalition killed one man and reportedly injured four more civilians. The Coalition later admitted responsibility for the one death.

According to Step News, “One person was dead and 4 civilians wounded in a car explosion in the city of Idlib after it was targeted by an international coalition drone.”

All4Syria identified the man killed as a “leading leader in Fateh al Sham Front” who was “assassinated” by a drone. They added that the strike led to “the killing and wounding of a number of civilians.” In other accounts Enabaladi similarly reported that an “unmanned” aircraft (which it said belonged to the United States) killed a leader in Fateh al Sham, who the outlet said was Turkish. Sky News Arabia said a “Coalition drone” strike killed the leader and everyone else in the car.

An account in Qasion cited “fighter jets belonging to the international coalition” for the strike, which it said killed the death of the leader and two additional members of the Front.

Videos posted by several outlets, including extremely graphic footage posted by Shaam News Network showed the aftermath of the attack.

In a December 1st 2016 press release, the Coalition reported that “During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that one civilian was inadvertently killed when he entered the target area after the munition was released.”

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Remains of a vehicle targeted by the Coalition in Idlib October 17th 2016. The attack also reportedly injured three civilians (via Step News)
  • Photo of the aftermath of the area (via SOHR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the aftermath of the area (via SOHR)
  • Photo of the aftermath of the area (via SOHR)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.93062, 36.63393

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Idlib, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBV866775
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 1, 2016

  • Oct. 17, 2016, near Idlib, Syria: During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that one civilian was inadvertently killed when he entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 16th-17th the Coalition reported no strikes in the vicinity.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ 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

RS1464

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

قطنا, al Qatana, Rif Dimashq, Syria

Geolocation

33.441037, 36.0841 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died and several more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Qatana neighbourhood, according to local media. Most sources blamed Russia, though some reports said that the regime also carried out strikes in Aleppo during this period, meaning that its involvement can’t be definitively ruled out. Moreover, a number of sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the casualties.

LCCSY, Syrian Press Center, @insrepTeam, @ALAMAWI, Jisrv and the Step News Agency blamed Russia, and put the death count at either one or two civilians.

According to Foucsaleppo on October 17th, “Russian and Syrian planes have stepped up raids in the eastern regions of Aleppo during the last two days to reach most of the besieged neighborhoods of Marjah, Al-Haidariyah, Al Qatana, Al-Qatraji, Al Maysar, Bab Al-Nairab, Sheikh Fares, Dhahra Awad and Karam Al Tarab. This resulted in more than 65 martyrs. Some of the wounded were left in a serious condition, meaning that the number of martyrs is likely to increase”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (17) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1465

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died and five more were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Sukkari neighbourhood, according local media.Halab News put the death toll at one and blamed Russia. Smo-sy and @ALAMAWI were among other sources that attributed the event to Moscow.

The Smart News Agency reported that “two civilians died and five others were wounded Sunday morning [Aug 16th] in an air strike on the al-Sukki neighborhood in Aleppo, according to activists from Smart.”

A number of other sources didn’t identify the warplane responsible for the attack.

Radio Harafm commented that civilians were burned and trapped under the rubble suggesting fires were involved. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ 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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1466

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

النزهة, Karam al Nuzha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.171001, 37.150269 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and several more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo’s Karam al Nuzha neighbourhood, local media reported. While most sources blamed Russia, several others noted that the regime was also conducting strikes in Aleppo during this period of time, meaning that it’s involvement can’t be ruled out.

According to @dodoo559, “two raids from the Russian warplanes targeted Karam al Nuzha neighbourhood killing two people, including Hussein Madllal, 22, and wounding a child.”

@SmartNewsAgency blamed “Russian warships” and “Russian warplanes” for the death of two civilians

Alaraby reported that “Russian and regime warplanes continued their raids on the eastern part of the opposition-controlled city of Aleppo, killing more civilians. The warplanes launched several raids on Bab al-Nasr neighborhood in the old city of Aleppo, while two civilians were killed and others were wounded by air strikes on the neighbourhood of Karam al Nuzha”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Mdalal
22 years old male named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (14) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS338

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

الجرنية, Al Jarnia, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.16054, 38.23337 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

12 civilians were killed, including a number of women and children, and several people injured following an alleged Coalition strike, according to local reports.

A number of outlets, including Step News Agency, Sada al Sham and Al Jisr TV reported that 11 civilians were killed in the attack, though this figure appeared to originated from ISIL-controlled Al A’amaq Agency, which also fingered the Coalition. Al Jisr TV reported that 2 women and 1 child were among the dead. Sada al Sham referred to “several” wounded.

The Syrian Observatory cited “warplanes believed to be from the international alliance” and referenced “the death of several people from the same family.” Other outlets, including Zaitoun Mag, noted the attack came just two days after a similar bombing in Al Ghazli, Raqqa governorate.

LCCSY put the death toll at 12 and also blamed the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Mohammad Abdallah al Borsan's family
Age unknown Whole family killed killed

Family members (7)

Mohammad Beik al Abdallah al Borsan
Age unknown male killed
Abdallah
Age unknown female Mohammad Beik al Abdallah al Borsan's son killed
Borzan
Age unknown male Mohammad Beik al Abdallah al Borsan's son killed
Mohammad Beik al Abdallah al Borsan's three daughters
Age unknown female killed
Mohammad Beik al Abdallah al Borsan's wife
Age unknown female killed
Mohammad Agha Anwar al Borsan's daughter
Age unknown female killed
Borsan Naser Al Ahmad Al Borsan
Child male killed

Family members (1)

Shawakha al Satam’s family
Several memebers

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (2–7 children3–6 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Borsan Nasser al Borsan (via RBSS)
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 Al Jurnia, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 15th-16th the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIL supply routes and destroyed a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (2–7 children3–6 women)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]