Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS1261

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

حي الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807701, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians including three children died and as many as dozens more were wounded in airstrikes in Aleppo’s Al Salheen, neighbourhood according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

The Smart News Agency, Umayya and Step News Agency were among sources blaming Russia – and put the death count at either seven or eight civilians.

However, Al Jazeera attributed the event to the regime.

Some sources blamed both the regime and Russia. For example, Fouadhallak98 said that five people died and dozens were injured in “Assad/Russian warplanes shelling.”

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian and Assad planes continued their violent air raids using phosphorous and cluster bombs on the neighbourhoods of Aleppo and the towns and villages of its countryside. The raids led to the death of seven martyrs in al Salheen neighbourhood in Aleppo and several wounded in Anadan to the north.”

Multiple reports published images showing significant destruction to the neighbourhood – along with wounded civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • A young boy stands in the middle of a ruined street following an airstrike on Al Salheen, Sept 11th (via Step News Agency)
  • Footage of Russian warplane shelling in Al Salheen, Sept 16th, civilians carry the bodies of victims away from the scene (Youtuvbe via SNN)
  • The White Helmet rescue mission in Al Salheen reveals the human cost of suspected Russian warplane attacks (Youtube via Step)
  • The White Helmet rescue team works through the rubble in Al Salheen in an attempt to find civilians (Youtube via CDS)
  • A civilian is pulled from the rubble in Al Salheen by The White Helmet rescue team, Sept 11th (via Step)
  • Destruction and rubble in Al Salheen - the material consequences of alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Step)
  • A photograph of the buildings in Al Salheen destroyed by alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Step)
  • Local people walk through the streets of Al Salheen - destroyed in susepcted Russian warplane raids (via Step)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of the injured and the dead in Al Salheen reveals the human cost of suspected Russian warplane shelling (Tweet via @laith1919)
  • A man climbs through a demolished building in Al Salheen (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A street in Al Salheen full of rubble and demolished buildings following suspected Russian shelling (via RFS) [Page no longer available accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A civilian male, covered in dust, washes his hands in Al Salheen. (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archived]
  • A stretcher is carried through the streets of rubble in Al Salheen (Tweet via @SMARTNewsAgency)
  • Extensive material damage on the streets of Al Salheen. The White Helmets provide aid to victims of alleged Russian warplane shelling (via @thiqanewsagency)
  • Local people and The White Helmet rescue team at the scene in Al Salheen where suspected Russian shelling hit. (Tweet via @Fouadhallak89)
  • Two babies are carried in the arms of local men in Al Salheen. The aftermath of suspected Russian strikes on the neighbourhood (Tweet via @ZakariaNassani)

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 September 1st – 30th 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 – 8
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1258

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

Umm Jeene, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.763229, 37.247772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Qasioun, “three civilians were killed and others wounded due to Russian warplanes shelling in both Um Jeene and Al-Hootah villages in the western countryside of Aleppo.”

The Step News Agency also put the death toll at three and blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (4) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1259

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

الحامدية, Al Hamdiya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.614779, 36.657085 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Hamdiya village, sources on the ground reported.

According to Shahba, “Many civilians were wounded due to Russian warplanes shelling in Al-Hamediya village in southern Idlib”.

Step News added that “Russian planes targeted the edges of al Hamdiya village south of Maarat al Numan in the southern countryside and there was news of casualties.”

RFS and Omaralmarawi said that many children and women were wounded, but didn’t apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (4) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1260

Incident date

September 11, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Syria News Desk, “seven civilians were killed and dozens wounded in an initial toll following Russian warplane shelling on a vegetable market in al Ferdos neighbourhood in the centre of Aleppo city.”

LCCSY also reported that Russia shelled al Ferdos, but made no mention of civilian harm.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS307

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

المزيونة, Mazyoneh, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.72471, 37.23006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The VDC listed a 33 year old civilian male as a victim of alleged coalition warplane shelling. His name was given as Taha al Afara.

According to Manbij Mother of all the World, Tahal al Afara was killed and “his two brothers Khalaf and Hassan wounded in a coalition strike on his brother’s home in the village of al Mazyoneh – which is between the village of Arba’a Sagheer and al Hamar in the southern Manbij countryside“.

He was also named by Halaab News.

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Taha Al-Afara
33 years old male killed
Khalaf Al-Afara
Age unknown male injured
Hassan Al-Afara
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Taha al Afara 33 years old martyred and his two brothers Khalaf and Hasan injured in coalition raid on the house of his brother in al Mazyouneh village which is between the villages of Arba’a Sagheer and al Hamar in the southern Manbij countryside.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCV399548
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Sept. 10, 2016, in Mazyoneh, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3041/CS307 37SCV399548

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 10th-11th, the Coalition report “Near Manbij, one strike destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery system”.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS308

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95809, 39.00111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to six civilians died when a Coalition drone strike targeted a car allegedly belonging to members of Deash in the al Jameli neighborhood of Raqqa, according to local sources. CENTCOM later conceded that “near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that five civilians were killed.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “A car in the center of Al-Raqqah city the main stronghold of the Islamic State in Syria[was] targeted by a drone“. Step News said two members of Daesh were killed inside the car.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, an explosion was heard as “a result of a raid by a drone targeting a car near al Jameli building in the city centre.”

Raqqa Post also reported that five named civilians died, and added: “The international Coalition against Daesh led by Washington launches every now and then drone attacks against Daesh members and HQs in the city and usually these cause casualties among civilians who are living under the fundamentalist regime’s ‘mercy’ – and who are unable to leave the city due to IS forbidding the residents from leaving their lands.”

Shahba Press put the death toll at four, while Raqqa News Network said five died.

Syrian Press Center reported six civilian deaths, including one woman, while Radio al Kul said two were killed.

According to Step News, four civilians who were near the exploding car were killed by shrapnel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Louay Attoura
Adult male killed
Yusuf Najjar
Adult male killed
Walid al Sheikh
Adult male killed
Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa
Adult male killed
Majed Hussein al Faraj
Age unknown male killed
Ghada abd al Fattah
Adult female Wife of Farid Ba’aj, from Deir Ez-Zour killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa, killed in an alleged Coalition drone strike on Raqqa, Sept 10th (via Raqqa post)
  • Walid al Sheikh (via RBSS)
  • Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa (via RBSS)
  • Majed Hussein al Faraj (via RBSS)
  • Translation: Activists: 4 civilians killed and others wounded in air raids on al Jameli neighbourhood in al Raqqa before mid night.
  • Translation: 5 martyrs killed yesterday in an air raid carried out by a drone targeting a car belonging to daesh in al Jameli neighbourhood.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.9505639, 39.0094148

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV001793
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that five civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 10th-11th 2016 the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two supply routes and a vehicle“.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM064

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

سااكوو, Saakow, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

1.637795, 42.452829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a Freedom of Information response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in  May 2019, this previously unknown confirmed US strike took place in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia against an unspecified “al-Shabaab Named Objective”.

This incident was not previously publicly known. No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of the town Saakow, for which the coordinates are: 1.637795, 42.452829. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

According to a Freedom of Information request in May 2019, this previously unknown US strike took place in IVO Saakow, Somalia against an "al-Shabaab Named Objective".

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1257

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

Kafr Zita or Latamenah (Hama) or Idlib, Hama or Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 16 civilians – with four or five from one family – died in shelling on Latamenah, according to local media. However, there were allegations against both Russia and the Syrian regime. It was reported that Kafr Zita was under regime artillery shelling – with possible regime strikes also reported in Latamnah.

According to the Step News Agency, “two members of the rebels were killed and others wounded in Russian shelling in Latamenah. Four civilians from one family including a child were killed in artillery shelling in Kafr Zeita”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “16 died in Hama, most of them killed in Russian airstrikes on Kafarzita, Latamnah, and Idlib city.”

Jisrtv added that “two civilians were killed in warplanes shelling in Latamenah.”

RFS put the death toll in Latamenah as one – but didn’t identify the warplane responsible.

LCCSY also reported Russian strikes on Kafr Zita, Latamenah and Idlib city, which resulted in civilian deaths.

Other sources including Qasioun and Jisrtv said that a whole family consisting of four or five people (a mother, father and two children, according to Qasioun) died in regime artillery shelling on Kafr Zita.

A number of sources also reported regime shelling in Kafr Zita and Latamenah, resulted in an unspecified number of civilian deaths and injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 16
  • (2 children1 woman1 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Missiles fired at Latameh, Sept 10th, allegedly by Russian warplanes (Youtube via Mahmood Al-Hamwi)

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 September 1st – 30th 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 – 16
  • (2 children1 woman1 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 (11) [ collapse]