Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
11041 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS1205

Incident date

September 1, 2016

Location

الزعفرانة, Zafarana, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8933447, 36.7788246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians including a child and one woman died in airstrikes on Zafarana, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the attacks.

The majority of sources, including Yaarabaladeli9, Step News Agency, Alghad Alsoury, and NabdSyria, blamed Russia.

Baladi, also blaming Russia, put the death toll at three including one woman and a child.

According to SND, Russia used phosphorous bombs, leading to the deaths of three civilians.

One sources, Smart, attributed the event to the regime, while a number of others referred only to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad al-Mohammad
Adult male killed
Rula Darwish
Child female killed
Ahmed Al-Shamali
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 (16) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1206

Incident date

September 1, 2016

Location

Maysar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.212011, 37.171227 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three or four civilians died in an airstrike or artillery shelling of Maysar, according to sources on the ground. All but one source blamed regime artillery for the event.

LCCSY reported one civilian died and others were wounded in Russian airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Abdel Rahman Geneidi
40 years old male killed
Ahmad Abdul Rahman Geneidi
35 years old male killed
Youssef Mahmoud Geneidi
18 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (15) [ 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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS304

Incident date

August 31, 2016

Location

تلحوذان, Tal Houdan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.298525, 38.0492592 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were reported killed in the village of Tal Housan, in what Halab Today said was “a result of Coalition aerial bombing and the artillery of democratic forces; and the bombing by Daesh of a car on the outskirts of the village.”

Fierce clashes between ISIL and US proxies the SDF were reported in the vicinity that day. As Lens Young Manbij noted: “People from inside the village have told us that the village has witnessed very violent clashes between the Islamic State and SDF forces, and the village has been under the control of the IS since last night. Its residents have left towards the city of Manbij and Abu Qalqal, and today Monday afternoon warplanes are targeting the village and IS positions with several raids in an attempt to regain control of the village.”

In the second of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, 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:

Ahmed Shamsi Assaf
Age unknown male killed
Mawas Alhaji Musa
Age unknown male killed
Khalaf Al-Hamadeen
Age unknown male killed
Daughter of Abdullah al-Sheikh Khalaf
Age unknown female killed
Displaced person from the Al-Safirah
Age unknown killed
Maha Al-Essa
Age unknown female Wife Isa Al-Ahmad Al-Omari killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Village of Tal Houzan south of Manbej (via Halab Today)

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
    37SDA146174
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • Aug. 31, 2016, in Tal Houdan, 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. 3035/CS304 37SDA146174

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 30th-31st 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, six strikes engaged four separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed five fighting positions, a vehicle, a weapons cache, and two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI283

Incident date

August 31, 2016

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unreported incident, the US admitted three months later that it had killed two civilians in an attack on Ramadi, noting that near Ramadi, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that two civilians were killed.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the city level at 33.437441, 43.286666.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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
    2
  • Stated location
    near Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 31st-September 1st 2016, the Coalition at the tme reported that “Near Ramadi, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed a building and a mortar system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1201

Incident date

August 31, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians including a child and a woman died and as many as 19 others were injured in strikes on Idlib, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. One source reported the use of regime warships in the attacks, while several said that internationally prohibited phosphorous weapons were deployed.

LCCSY and the Syrian Press Center blamed Russia, putting the death toll at two, with as many as 19 others wounded, according to Syrian Press Center.

Al Jazeera made no mention of civilian harm, but reported that Russian warplanes had “destroyed two hospital in Idlib”; while according to Baladi, Russia conducted several raids in the town of Taftanaz, hitting an automated bakery which was put out of service.

Halab News, meanwhile, reported “the martyrdom of Ahmad Nameh, 55-years, and the injury of 14 others as a result of the Russian aviation targeting the city of Idlib with six air raids in the evening [of August 31st].”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “government warplanes and its allies” were to blame for the death of two civilians including one woman.

The Smart News Agency also reported actions by both Moscow and the regime. It put the death toll at three, including a child and a woman – with 17 more injured – and blamed “bombing by regime warships and Russian aircraft”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Nameh
55 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–19
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between August 20th – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–19
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1202

Incident date

August 31, 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

One child, named as 15-year-old child died and up to nine others were wounded in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, local media reported. However, it was unclear who was responsible: most sources didn’t apportion blame – though others pointed to Russia and the Assad regime.

According to @SyrianArwad, “Russian and Syrian warplanes launched air raids on Altmanah, Taftanaz, Binnish, Khan Sheikhoun and Saraqib”.

Among sources blaming Russia were LCCSY and Syria News Desk.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights didn’t mention civilian harm, but reported that “government warplanes bombed near Khan Sheikhoun, causing damage to a warehouse and its contents.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mouhammad Abu Dei
15 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Abo DI, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)
  • The exact moment the raid hit Khan Shaykhun, 31st August 2016. (via, Kaes idelby)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via Syrian PC)

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 August 20th – 31st 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
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1203

Incident date

August 31, 2016

Location

الباب, Serbs, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Serbs, Al Bab, local sources reported.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “two children died when alleged Russian warplanes missiles fired on Sarbas village related to Al Bab area in Aleppo governorate, August 31.”

Halab Today and @ALAMAWI also pointed to Russia.


The Violations Documentation Center – blaming Russian shelling – named two civilian victims and one “fighter”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Qusai Mohammed Abul Khair Al-Jassem
13 years old named by VDC killed
Yasser Ahmed Al-Jassem
8 years old named by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Al Qasem
Age unknown militant, named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ 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 August 20th – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM061

Incident date

August 30, 2016

Location

Gobanle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

3.12222, 44.76507 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US reported that it had conducted a “self-defense strike” against al Shabaab in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia in a press release published on September 7th.

It said the strike hit near Gobanale and had resulted in the deaths of two al Shabaab militants.

The press release reported that during a Somali-led counter-terrorism operation, multiple al Shabaab fighters had approached the force, and that US personnel conducted the action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Gobanala (or Gobanle), for which the generic coordinates are: 3.12222, 44.76507. 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
Official source

"On August 30, 2016 U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-associated terrorist group, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia near Gobanale, Somalia. The strike resulted in the death of two (2) al-Shabaab militants.

During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, multiple armed al-Shabaab fighters approached the force, threatening their safety and security. In response, U.S. forces conducted the self-defense action."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (2) [ collapse]