Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS682

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

هنيدة, Hunayda, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83234, 38.69938 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, Smart News Agency, four civilians were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hunayda.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hunayda (هنيدة), for which the coordinates are: 35,83234 38,69938. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Hunaida, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 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. (1311)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 9th-10th: the Coalition did not report any strikes near Raqqa, though did note that “Near Tabqah, 14 strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed five vehicles, two fighting positions, and a VBIED; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.“

For April 10th - 11th: the Coalition reported “Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4194

Incident date

November 24, 2019

Location

معارة النعسان, Maarat Naasan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a child, were reported killed and up to five others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Ma’arat AlNaasan in Idlib, on November 24th 2019, according to local sources.

The Syrian Civil Defense said the six civilians are from one family and named the killed ones: Reema Ramadan, aged 60, Mohamed Omar Ramadan aged 40 and Mustafa Ramadan aged 14. The airstrike also injured Radwan Ramadan aged 35, Ahmed Ramadan aged 20 and Walid Ramadan aged 20 as well. The Civil Defense said that civilian homes had been targeted.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian aircraft bombed the center of Ma’arat al-Naasan in the eastern countryside of Idlib with with vacuum missiles, killing three civilians and wounding two others seriously.”

The correspondent for Trib Arab News explained that “the raids caused the death of three civilians from one family and the wounding of others of varying degrees, in addition to extensive destruction of infrastructure and civilian properties, private and public.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said: “At least three civilians, including a child and a woman, were killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on the vicinity of Ma’aret al Na’san village in the northern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on November 24, 2019.”

The majority of sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Russia.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Reema Ramadan ريما رمضان
60 years old female killed
Mohamed Omar Ramadan محمد عمر رمضان
40 years old male killed
Mustafa Ramadan مصطفى رمضان
14 years old male killed
Radwan Ramadan رضوان رمضان
35 years old male injured
Ahmed Ramadan احمد رمضان
20 years old male injured
Walid Ramadan وليد رمضان
20 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (28) [ collapse]

  • Civilian saving a sheep after alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat Al Naasan in Idlib (via SMART)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat AlNaasan in Idlib (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat AlNaasan in Idlib (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat AlNaasan in Idlib (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat AlNaasan in Idlib (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat AlNaasan in Idlib (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat AlNaasan in Idlib (via SCD)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike on Ma'arat Al Naasan (via Shaam)
  • The site that was allegedly targeted by a Russian airstirke in Maarat Al Naasan (via Shaam).
  • Victim of the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @la1mea)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @la1mea)
  • Damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @shaamnews)
  • Damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @shaamnews)
  • Damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @shaamnews)
  • White Helmets sort through the damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • White Helmets sort through the damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • Damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • Damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • Damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @NEDAAPOST)
  • White Helmers treat a victim of the bombing of the town of Maarat al-Naasan on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @mahmoudalbakor1)
  • White Helmets sort through the damage caused by the bombing of Maarat al-Na'san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by Zaytoun Agency)
  • Strikes on the town of Maarat al-Na’san on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @mrasedalshmal)

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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4216

Incident date

December 2, 2019

Location

الغدفة, Al Ghadfa, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman and a man were reported injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrike in Al Gadfa in the countryside of Maarat al-Numan Idlib, Syria on December 2nd, 2019, according to local sources, apparently targeting a civilian home. The “young” man was identified as Hudhayfa Al-Hamoud by local sources.

According to Tmedia_idlib on Twitter, “the civil defense elements inspected the targeted sites and secured them and made sure that there were no other injuries.”

Ammar.kat reported on Facebook that there were two strikes on the same location – one at 10.19 and the second at 10.22. The second strike resulted in the injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hudhayfa Al-Hamoud
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by an airstrike that targeted Al Gadfa in Idlib, December 2nd. A man and a women were reported injured. (via SCD).
  • @anasanas84 posted a photo on Twitter of the alleged targeting of the village of Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • The destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian warplane targeted Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019 (Image via @SyrianCoalition / Twitter)
  • @Tmedia_idlib tweeted a photo of the destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike hit Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • @Tmedia_idlib tweeted a photo of the destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike hit Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • @Tmedia_idlib tweeted a photo of the destruction after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike hit Al-Ghadfa in Idlib on December 2nd 2019.
  • A man was allegedly killed in a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on December 2nd 2019 in Al-Ghadfa (Image via SCD)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM223

Incident date

May 13, 2019

Location

Buusaar, Gedo, Somalia

Geolocation

2.67191, 41.32213 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources alleged that a night time airstrike by an unknown party had targeted al Shabaab at Buusaar in Gedo.

According to Ilwared, “Reports reaching us from Gedo region in southern Somalia say that military planes carried out airstrikes last night as residents told Radio Kulmiye. The planes were reportedly targeting Al-Shabaab bases in Buusar, Gedo region. Several missiles are said to have hit the bases as residents told us.”

Airwars can find no record of a report by Radio Kulmiye for this event.

Asked whether it had been responsible for this event, in February 2020 a senior AFRICOM official told Airwars that this was not the case. However, this may not preclude actions by the CIA which conducts its own undeclared strikes in Somalia.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted an Al Shabaab base in the village of Busaar, for which the coordinates are: 2.67191, 41.32213. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS371

Incident date

October 26, 2019

Location

مقطرة, Meqtera, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.607122, 38.738136 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, Semîra Ana, suffered a heart attack due to fear brought on by Turkish attacks in Meqtera, Tal Abyad.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Semîra Ana
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Meqtara (مقطرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.607122, 38.738136. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS112

Incident date

January 23, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that four civilians were injured in the vicinity of Jenderes in Afrin canton.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sipan Ali
24 years old female named according to a report shared with Airwars injured
Sherevan Amen
32 years old female named according to a report shared with Airwars injured
Chekdar Ezalden
40 years old male named according to a report shared with Airwars injured
Adeb Omer
22 years old male named according to a report shared with Airwars injured

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS400

Incident date

December 9, 2019

Location

تل الورد غربي, Tal Al Ward, Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.797222, 40.338611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, one civilian was reported killed when Turkish forces or Turkey-backed forces launched an artillery attack on Tal Al Ward in Tal Tamr town of Hasakah in Syria, on December 9th, 2019.

No further details are available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Liveaumap Middle East marking the location of the strike on Tal Al Ward (via @lummideast).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention bombing in the village of Tal Al Ward (تل الورد غربي) for which the coordinates are 36.797222, 40.338611 and the village of Al Rubaiat (ربيعات غربي ) for which the coordinates are: 36.820000, 40.333333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS777

Incident date

May 6, 2017

Location

between Al Jizera and Al Shamiyah (Raqqah), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.933065, 39.007732

Airwars assessment

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.