Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

YS116

Incident date

September 7, 2021

Location

الشيخ ناصر, Al Sheikh Nasser, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52484, 37.68642 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured and livestock were killed in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces or regime artillery shelling of Al Sheikh Nasser village on September 7, 2021.

The Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) reported that a civilian was injured in Al Sheikh Nasser village by artillery shells coming from an area controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and regime forces. Zaman Al Wasl that the civilian’s injuries were to varying degrees.

Images posted by SCD show a cow that was killed in the strikes along with extensive property damage. @HalabTodayTV also reported that in addition to the civilian that was injured, a number of livestock were killed.

The Nedaa Post correspondent reported that “the Syrian Civil Defense teams in the Al-Bab area in the countryside of Aleppo provided first aid to the injured and secured the place after the shelling stopped.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes, with some sources only referring to the sources as originating from areas controlled by the SDF while others attributed the strikes directly to the SDF.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a building caused by strikes on Sheikh Nasser village on September 7, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • A cow killed by strikes on Sheikh Nasser village on September 7, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Damage to a building caused by strikes on Sheikh Nasser village on September 7, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sheikh Nasser (الشيخ ناصر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.52484,37.68642 . Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS475

Incident date

October 2, 2021

Location

قرية معلك, Malak village, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.386051, 38.860960 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one child was injured in alleged Turkish shelling on the village of Malak on October 2, 2021.

According to Alyaum TV, a civilian who was tending to his sheep was injured in Turkish shelling of the village of Malak.

Xeber 24 reported that the civilian injured was a 16 year old boy named Adel Muslim and he was transferred to Ain Issa district hospital to be treated for his wounds. At the time of the strikes, Adel was grazing his sheep near the Ain Issa camp when a shell landed near him and hit him.

All of the sources that reported on the strike attributed the shells to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

16 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Adel Muslim, 16 years old, who was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Malak on October 2, 2021. (Image posted by ANF News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Malak (معلك), allegedly located 1km west of Ain Issa (عين عيسى). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ain Issa are: 36.386051, 38.860960.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3341

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Location

القادرية, Al Qadriya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.898908, 36.309807 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 12-year-old girl reportedly died due to a heart attack as she escaped her school in the village of Al Qadriya when the area was targeted by alleged Russian or Syrian regime warplanes.

@mohanadalshekh reported that Lujain Rashid (12) from Al Qadriya village in Jisr Al-Shughour countryside died “as a result of the stopping of the heart muscle as she escaped from school due to the attack of a warplane on the villages of Jisr Al Shughour.”

Smart News Agency reported that activists from the village of Al Qadriya stated that the “military aircraft, likely to be Russian, launched a raid on residential neighbourhoods in the city of Jisr Al Shughour”, and that fear made her heart stop as she fled the school. Human Voice reported the warplanes were Syrian regime aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

12 years old female from the village of Al Qadriya, died due to a heart attack when she heard the sound of warplanes killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Lujain Rashid (12) died of a heart attack when she heard the sound of warplanes near her village Al Qadriya on March 26th, 2018 (via @mnafsyria).

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS119

Incident date

November 2, 2021

Location

قرف مغار, Qerf Maghar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.682222, 38.0525 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two girls were killed and three to four children were injured in alleged SDF shelling or unknown unexploded ordinances in the village of Qerf Maghar on November 2, 2021.

Zaman Al Wasl reported that two girls were killed and four other children were seriously injured in an unknown explosion in the village of “Qerf Maghar”. Their correspondent added that most of the children affected were from the same family and that the explosion could be the result of unexploded remnants, while other sources identified all of the children as being from the same family.

@Step_Agency tweeted that in addition to the two girls killed, three civilians were wounded and that the explosion was caused by a mortar shell launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces. However, @feryal222kakhi reported that the girls were killed by a hand grenade that they were playing with.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the location of the explosion as near the house of the village’s mayor.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the explosion was caused by shelling from SDF forces or an unexploded ordinance/landmine.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A White Helmet volunteer finds a shoe at the site of an explosion that killed two children and injured four others in the countryside of Jarabulus on November 2, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qarf Maghar (قرف مغار), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.682222, 38.0525. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3359

Incident date

March 31, 2018

Location

الهبيط, Al Habit, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4379459, 36.5379524 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Shaam News Network, reported: “Russian and Regime warplanes launched dozens of very violent air raids on the cities and towns of Idlib, causing dozens of martyrs and wounded civilians…There were a number of wounded in Khan Shekhun, Mhambel, Al Naqir, Al Habit, Muka, Al Taman’a, Al  Khwain and Sefwhen in the southern countryside, Jisr al-Shaghoor, Marj Zuhaour and Al Zyadiya in the western countryside.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4429

Incident date

December 27, 2021

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma'arat Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.012172, 36.6730499 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian strikes near a poultry farm and IDP camp outside of Ma’arat Misrin on December 27, 2021.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that three workers, including a child, were injured in Russian airstrikes on a poultry farm outside of Ma’arat Misrin. @thiqanewsagency also tweeted that three civilians had been injured in the strikes.

Zaman Al Wasl added that some of the civilians injured were in critical condition and that the area bombed was near a gathering of camps and El Dorar identified the camps as being for IDPs.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified three airstrikes as having hit west Ma’arat Misrin but added that “no casualties have been reported”.

A tweet from @anasanas84 reported that the air raids on Ma’arat Misrin resulted in massive destruction to property. Syrian Network for Human Rights specified that the missiles struck three adjacent poultry barns, partially damaging the three barns, one of which was being used as a special food preparation facility. The source added that the facilities are in a “residential area free of any military presence or equipment”.

The majority of the sources attributed the airstrikes to Russia and @Ahmadmuaffaq identified vacuum missiles as being used by Russian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The effects of the destruction caused as a result of the alleged Russian air strikes on the outskirts of the city of Maarat Misrin in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ma’arat Misrin (مَعَرَّةُ مِصْرِينَ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.012172, 36.6730499. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3029

Incident date

February 17, 2018

Location

اللطامنة, al-Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were possibly left wounded as aerial and/or artillery shelling struck al-Lataminah, Hama, local sources reported, who pointed to Russia as responsible.

Numerous sources reported how al-Lataminah had been subject to aerial, and possibly also artillery shelling, the latter reported by Hamah Now.

However, it was unclear among the sources whether the incident resulted in civilian harm. Only one source, Shaam News Network, reported about “a number of wounded” following the shelling of al-Lataminah.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1978

Incident date

February 8, 2022

Location

البصيرة, Bisira, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.154879, 40.426462 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a child, was killed and his father was injured in an alleged airdrop operation by the Coalition and the SDF in the city of Bisira on February 8, 2022.

A tweet from @DeirEzzorNow reported that the International Coalition and HAT forces carried out a landing operation in the city of Bisira that resulted in the killing of the child “Nashwan Al-Jamil” (15) (Qasqas), the wounding of his father, Hassoun Al-Jamil, and the arrest of (3) people. Hassoun was identified as being a “dignitary of the Al-Bukair clan”. Euphrates Post added that Hassoun was had to have his leg amputated.

@DeirEzzorNow also provided the names of the men that were arrested: Hasan Al Jamil, Tariq Al Jamil, Bashir Ghadhban.

The correspondent for Euphrates Post reported that  “SDF” members surrounded the house of Hassoun al-Jamil, a dignitary of the al-Bakeir clan in Deir ez-Zor countryside, and started shooting at his house on the pretext of the house owner’s resistance to them, knowing that “Hassoun” is a civilian and does not belong to any political or military party.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the child that was killed as being the brother of the wanted person, and that their father exchanged gunfire with the SDF and Coalition. North Press Agency referred to two people as being killed, a child and a local sheikh.

Deir Ezzor 24 provided context that Coalition and SDF forces were trying to capture ISIS members who were involved with Iranian networks specializing in weapons smuggling. The civilian casualties resulted from ISIS members using civilians as human shields and the operation was stopped right after the civilian victims were engaged.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Nashwan Al-Jamil نشوان الجميل
15 years old male killed
Hassoun Al-Jamil حسون الجميل
male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • ISIS members arrested by SDF in an operation on February 8, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bisira (البصيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.154879, 40.426462. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (21) [ collapse]