Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS1241

Incident date

September 8, 2016

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including as many as four children died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Qasioun reported the death of a female child, blaming the regime. Other sources also published images of a dead child.

According to LCCSY, “regime warplanes fired C5 missiles and used heavy machine guns in Khan Sheikoun and killed three children and wounded dozens.” Though in a later report, LCCSY appeared to change its position and attribute the event strikes to Moscow.

Smart, also pointing towards the regime, said that “three children from the Al-Kutayni family were killed and 20 wounded”. Nabdsyria put the death toll as high as five.

Other sources – Syriamubasher and RFS north – blamed Russia.

The Syrian Observatory joined several other sources in not apportioning blame. It reported: “Warplanes targeted areas in the city of Khan Shaykhun south of Idlib province, killing a baby and injuring several people, including citizen women and children. The number of children killed rose to four since Monday morning, including three children from one family; two of whom were brothers. The death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation in addition to the presence of missing people under the rubble”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed
A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed
A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photographs of children killed or severely wounded following suspected Regime shelling (Tweet via @edlepnews)
  • A street in Khan Sheikhoun full of rubble and clouds of smoke following suspected Regime warplane attacks (via Qasioun)
  • Plumes of smoke rise above Khan Sheikhoun after suspected Regime warplane shelling (via LCCSY)
  • Local people salvage materials from a demolished building in Khan Sheikhoun (via Smart)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby killed in the suspected warplane shelling on Khan Sheikhan - the source did not apportion blame (Tweet via @syria191124)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Regime warplane attacks, laid and covered on the streets of Khan Sheikhoun (Tweet via @jisrtv)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child killed in suspected Regime attacks - the body was laid on top of a UNHCR blanket (Tweet via @PrimoAhmad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child is comforted by an adult after sustaining injuries in alleged Regime offensive (Tweet via @ALAMAWI)
  • An ambulance at the scene in Khan Sheikhan (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A burnt out vehicle on the street in Khan Sheikhan - material evidence of alleged warplane strikes (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A White Helmets member rides down the in street Khan Sheikhan where the suspected airstrikes took place (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A plume of smoke above Khan Sheikhoun the source alleged C5 missiles used by warplanes responsible - they did not apportion blame (via Syrianpc)

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 – 5
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1239

Incident date

September 8, 2016

Location

ياقد العدس, Yaked al A'adas, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2645222, 37.0187463 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One female child died and several other civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Yaked al A’adas, according to local media.

The majority of sources blamed Russia, though several did not identify the warplanes responsible for the event.

According to reports the girl was originally from Aleppo.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shahed Murjan
7 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (11) [ 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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1240

Incident date

September 8, 2016

Location

Sabkha al Mo, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.492409, 38.340225 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians – a woman and two men – died in an alleged Russian airstrike on a car in Sabkha al Moh, local media reported.

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian planes targeted a civilian car carrying traveling bedouins [one woman and two men] in the area around Sabkha al Moh south of the city of Palmyra which led to their martyrdom.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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

CS306

Incident date

September 7, 2016

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.18986, 40.62009 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, CENTCOM reported on 13 September 2016 that non-combatants may have been killed or injured after a non-ISIL vehicle strayed into a strike kill box. “In a strike on Sep. 7, near Dayz Az Zawr, Syria, on an ISIL target, what appeared to be a non-military vehicle drove into the target area after the weapon was released from the aircraft,” CENTCOM reported.

Two months later it confirmed one civilian death, noting that “near Dayz Az Zawr, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL oil collection point, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.”

No civilian deaths were reported at the time, though fierce clashes were reported on the day in the vicinity of Shadadah, including strikes by unidentified aircraft. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered reported that “warplanes target al Sina’a and al Huweika neighbourhoods as well as the area surrounding the military airport and the southern entrance to the city.” Other strikes were reported at the al Hamidiya neighbourhood and at al Husseiniyah and the 7km area.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of 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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated this to the nearest city at 35.3353632, 40.1380348

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 Dayz Az Zawr, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU475953
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • September 7, 2016, near Dayz Az Zawr, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL oil collection point, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 7th-8th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Dayz Az Zawr, one strike destroyed four ISIL oil tanker trucks.”

Summary

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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1238

Incident date

September 7, 2016

Location

Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Al Latamna Youth reported the death of one civilian male following cluster bomb raids by suspected Russian planes on the town of Kafr Zita.  No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Saleh
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mahmoud 'Abd al-Qadir al-Saleh - killed by suspected cluster bombs in Kafr Zita (via Al Latamna Youth)

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1237

Incident date

September 7, 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

As many as 28 civilians died and up to 57 more were wounded in airstrikes on the Sukkari neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible.

Sources reported three or four raids, with the lowest civilian death toll given as 12 by Ara news.

Syria News Desk reported that “20 civilians were killed, including five children, and more than 15 others were wounded due to the Russian warplanes targeting the popular vegetable market and residential buildings in the central neighborhood of al Sukkari with two rockets. Abu Mohammed al-Halabi of Syria News Desk said that buildings collapsed on top of their occupants”.

Smart was among many sources attributing the event to Moscow. It reported that as well as the strike on the vegetable market, there was shelling “near Al-Ikhlas mosque”. It put the death toll as 28 civilians including 17 women and children with a further 49 people injured.

Elwatan also said 28 died but added that as many as 57 were also wounded.

According to LCCSY, also blaming Russia, most of those killed and wounded were women and children – victims of “two vacuum missile attacks on the residential houses”.

However, Zamanalwasl, AMC and Alitihadpress said that the regime was responsible.

A number of other sources didn’t apportion blame, referring only to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Abdul-Ghani Kazaz
40 years old killed
Jamil Mohammed Sa’eed
52 years old killed
Hussein Mahmood Al-Jasim
12 years old killed
Ahmad Salem Ashrafi
23 years old killed
Ahmad Bader Aldeen Banshi
18 years old male killed
Ali Al-shaghel
Age unknown killed
Mahmood Mahmood
Age unknown male killed
Unidentified child
2 years old killed
Murjan
7 years old killed
Abdo Abdallah Rahhal
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 28
  • (5 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–57
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets rescue mission in Sukkari, Aleppo. Footage contains distressing and graphic material of both wounded and killed civilians (Youtube via Insaan Rights Watch)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian covered in blood in Sukkari, the human impact of alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Smart)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A street scene in Sukkari following alleged Russian warplane shelling. Local people stand over the bodies of victims and blood covers the street (via Zamanalwasl)
  • The White Helmets alongside local people in Sukkari - upheaval caused by suspected Russian shelling (via Baladi)
  • Civilians survey the destruction on a street in Sukkari, Aleppo, full of rubble following suspected Russian shelling (via Syrianpc)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressed civilians in Sukkari - bodies of victims on stretchers and trees fallen, the impact of alleged Regime warplane shelling (via Alitihadpress)
  • The search for wounded civilians continued into the night in Sukkari (Tweet via @HalabNewsN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children who survived the suspected warplane shelling on Sukkari (Tweet via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Buildings burn in Sukkari, the consequences of alleged warplane shelling (Tweet via @aa_arabic)
  • A child civilian cleaned and treated for wounds sustained in alleged Russian shelling on Sukkari (Tweet via @AleppoAMC)
  • The destroyed streets of Sukkari, Aleppo. The aftermath of suspected Russian warplane shelling (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Local people survey the scene in Sukkari - mass material destruction and civilian cost, the impact of suspected Russian shelling (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Russian warplanes allegedly struck Sukkari - the photograph shows significant damage to buildings in addition to the human cost (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Significant material destruction in Sukkari, Aleppo (via HNN Facebook) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Small children treated by medics in Sukkari for injuried sustained in alleged Russian warplane shelling (via AMC)
  • Two young children weep in the streets of Sukkari, their father was killed by alleged Russian warplanes (Youtube via AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Distressing footage of children wounded and crying whilst receiving medical treatment in Sukkari (Youtube via AMC)

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
    10 – 28
  • (5 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–57
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1236

Incident date

September 7, 2016

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 19 civilians including six children died and up to 50 more were wounded in air and/or artillery strikes on Tadef in Aleppo, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible: the majority blamed Russia (citing the use of cluster bombs), though there were also allegations against the Syrian regime and Turkey.

Radio Alkul was among several sources that referred to “unidentified warplanes”. It put the death toll at ten with “dozens” more wounded.

Qasioun reported that it had been unable to identify whether the warplanes were Russian or Syrian. It also put the death toll at 10 with 30 more civilians injured.

However, according to gate Ahram, Turkish warplanes carried out the attack.

Souriat also reported on the allegations against Turkey – as well as providing more details on the event and the victims. It said: “Activists on social networking sites said that Turkish warplanes targeted Tadef, killing and wounding civilians. But sources in the city Tadef denied that the Turkish aviation targeted the town. It confirmed that the warplanes which carried out raids that killed ten civilians, but that the culprit was either Russian or the Syrian regime.

“The Ronaha channel on Facebook has published a story saying that the Turkish aviation targeted the town, then the channel published a story accusing the Syrian regime, without deleting the previous news. At the same time, activists quoted by the agency Hawar said that Turkey targeted Tedef, but the Hawar agency said that in fact the Syrian regime carried out the raids”.

Sources blaming the regime included Abdalghfourbyab, and LCCSY. the latter put the death count at 19 with 50 more wounded.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 14 civilians died including 10 members from one family. Al Jazeera put the death toll at 15.

Syrian News Desk, meanwhile said that a Russian aerial bombardment had coincided with regime artillery strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Asmaee
Adult male killed
Son of Mohammed Asmaee
Child killed
Son of Mohammed Asmaee
Child killed

Family members (2)

A civilian from Sado Hamid’s family
killed
A civilian from Sado Hamid’s family
killed

Family members (2)

A civilian from the Wahab family
killed
A civilian from the Wahab family
killed

The victims were named as:

A civilian from the Ubaid family
Age unknown killed
A civilian from the Kharenq family
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 19
  • (1–6 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike with cluster bombs on Tadef, Aleppo, Sept 7th (via AlKhaleejNews)
  • Remnants of cluster bombs found in Tadef, Aleppo - the source alleged Russian warplanes responsible (via AlKhaleejNews)
  • A man carries a civilian child in his arms who appears either wounded or killed in suspected warplane shelling (Tweet via @Alkhabar)
  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016

    SN4HR report entitled: ‘no less than 49 massacres in September 2016 including 46 at the hands of the russian and Syrian regimes’ details impact of strikes in Tadef, Aleppo (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016_en

    SN4HR report entitled: ‘no less than 49 massacres in September 2016 including 46 at the hands of the russian and Syrian regimes’ details impact of strikes in Tadef, Aleppo (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 19
  • (1–6 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS305

Incident date

September 6, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Halaab News, named the child Zuheir Mohammad al Maghrabi as having been killed in an alleged Coalition raid on Manbij.

No further details are currently available.

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:

Zuheir Mohammad al Maghrabi
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    37SDA065429
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Sept. 6, 2016, in Manbij, 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. 3036/CS305 37SDA065429

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 5th- 6th, the Coalition reported: “Near Manbij, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position” and for September 6th – 7th: “Near Manbij, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]