Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS1022 CS273a

Incident date

July 19, 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

In what has been described as a massacre, committed by both Russian and Assad regime and coalition warplanes, between 10 and 23 civilians were killed and as many as 35 more wounded on July 19th in Idlib city. Other sources claimed that the Coalition was involved in the incident. According to Shaam News Network the raids took place just before midnight.

A local journalist tweeted that three locations in the city were targeted. “Russian warplanes shelling targets three areas in Idlib; Al-Nakhla roundabout, Al-Saha parking lot near Omar Bin Al-Khattab mosque and young offenders jail”. He also reported that 10 were killed and 35 civilians were injured.

Smart News reported that 10 civilians were killed, and a local added that an entire family including a woman and her unborn baby were included in those killed. Smart News called the incident a massacre and also blamed Russia for the airstrikes.

Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “allied warplane shelling” for the airstrike.

A local news channel tweeted that “At least 12 martyrs and and many injured due to Russian warplanes shelling in neighbours of Idlib tonight.” However, another local news channel – Alsouria News – claimed that “23 were martyred including children and no less than 30 wounded in Russian and coalition warplanes shelling in Idlib.” This was the highest reported death toll.

Most of the civilians killed were already displaced from Aleppo, according to Shaam News Network.

Activist Ghayth Al-Sayed told Alsouria “a Russian warplane and another one from the coalition took turns in shelling Idlib with more than 15 raids in the morning which killed 15 in initial toll and wounded more than 30 who were taken to medical points for treatment.”

The scale of the injuries meant that local field hospitals announced it needed quantities of blood for the injured.

The raids continued overnight in Idlib to the 20th of July.

In the second of their March 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 incident occured at approximately 11:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 23
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The destruction caused by alleged Russian and coalition warplanes on 19th July 2016, Idlib. (via Alsouria).
  • Tweet reporting alleged Russian raids on various locations in Idlib city: Al Nakhla roundabout, Al Saha parking lot near Omar Bin Khattab mosque and the Young Offenders jail killing 10 and injuring 35. 20th July 2016
  • Syrian Network for Human Rights tweets that government warplanes [and allies] carried out raids on Idlib on the 19th killing three people at least including a woman and a baby. 20th July 2016
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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
    37SBV865788
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • July 19, 2016, in Idlib, 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. 3017/CS273a 37SBV865788

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 23
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1023

Incident date

July 19, 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

Raids continued overnight from the 19th to the 20th of July in Idlib, and Idlib City, killing up to 23 civilians, according to sources on the ground. Alamawi reported that missiles were continually fired throughout the night and into the next morning. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported sighting helicopters dropping explosive barrels after midnight on areas in the towns of al-Hbyt and al-Taman’aa in Southern Idlib.

On the 20th, Ibn Sina hospital was struck  with missiles, and according to Halab News, it was struck by the Assad regime. Smart News supported this claim.

According to other local sources, Russian warplanes continually raided Idlib overnight with varying death tolls from each source.

The Shaam News Network roundup reported that nine civilians were killed in Idlib, however, other sources placed the numbers much higher.

LCCSY tweeted that there were “‪15 civilian martyrs and others wounded as believed-to-be-Russian warplanes launched over 6 airstrikes on the neighbourhoods in Idlib city.”

The Al Ann TV broadcaster reported that both “Russian and Syrian warplanes carried out more than 7 raids in the morning (of the 20th) and killed more than 15 civilians.” Sinn News placed the death toll slightly higher at “23 people killed and dozens were wounded due to warplane raids on residential neighbourhoods in Idlib.” The source added the registration of more than 21 airstrikes on the city, where the Al-Rawda mosques was bombed by military aircraft. Alsouria News also supported these figures.

Syrian Press Center, however, reported that “tens were killed and wounded”.

According to local news source, Al Khaleej, “Russian warplanes targeted the city of Idlib with 6 airstrikes, killing 15 people in an initial toll, and wounding more than 30 others who were taken to medical points for treatment.”

According to Syrian Human Rights Network, eight raids struck parts of Idlib on the 20th including “near the cultural centre, al Jala’a gardens and Shia’ar residents”. Further to this, Ara News claimed that the alleged Russian warplanes also occurred around Khaled Shia’ar school and Mashtal and Jala’a parks and Al-Thawra neighbourhood in Idlib.

Shaam News Network argued that “Russian warplanes targeted Idlib City this morning, more than six air raids targeted several locations within the city most notably near the Mosque of the righteous and the University Park Arboretum and dizziness Alkestna civilian homes in Maosafar.”

Other sources pointed out that “the bombing targeted residential buildings, the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent organisation within the city severely damaged a number of houses and civilian cars.”

Al Ann TV reported that overall in Idlib ad its countryside, 80 civilians were killed or injured. Sinn News claimed “activists said the death toll from air strikes in Idlib and its countryside during the twenty-four hours reached 80 people with large numbers of injured people reached more than 200 people.”

Seriously injured civilians were taken to hospitals in Tabaah according to Shaam.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 23
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes. 20th July 2016, Idlib, (via Al-Khalij).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian victim of the contested strikes in Idlib (via Yusufaziz8282 tweet)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian victim of the contested strikes in Idlib (via Yusufaziz8282 tweet)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Heavily injured victim due to the contested strikes in Idlib (via Yusufaziz8282 tweet)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Idlib (via Moaz Al-Shami Youtube)
  • Footages of the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Idlib (viaEdlib Media Center)
  • Broadcaster says that Russian and Syrian warplanes carried out more than seven raids in Idlib this morning and killed more than 15 civilians (via Al-Ann TV)
  • Aftermath of the raids targeting Idlib (via Al-khalij online)
  • Aftermath of the raids targeting Idlib (via Alsouria)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Idlib (via LCCSY facebook)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes targeting Idlib (via LCCSY facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of injured civilians targeted by the contested strikes in Idlib (via Mouaz al Sham)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of injured civilians targeted by the contested strikes in Idlib (via Mouaz al Sham)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 23
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS273

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Location

التوخار كبير, Tokhar Kabir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.63981, 37.98093 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what may have been the single greatest loss of life from a Coalition action in the first two years of its war against Daesh, between 78 and 203 civilians were reported killed in a catastrophic event at the village of Tokhar – the scene of a number of other recent civilian fatalities from alleged Coalition strikes.

The Coalition later admitted that “up to 24 civilians who had been interspersed with combatants were inadvertently killed.”

Local group Manbij Mother of All The World was the first to report the event, initially noting 25 or more fatalities. The group quickly raised the death toll to 56 then 59 civilians, eventually reporting that as many as 203 non-combatants had died. Most others placed the fatality range in the low 100s. Manbij Direct noted shortly after the strike, for example, that “so far there have been 94 martyrs identified, but there are still entire families under the rubble.” So-called Islamic State also issued a tweet mid-morning suggesting that 160 civilians had died. At least 73 deceased civilians have so far been named, including 11 or more children.

There was some confusion about the site of the event. While Manbij Mother of All Worlds said five homes were struck on the outskirts of town, most other sources said a former school being used by displaced civilians was hit.

According to Syria Direct, “The airstrike, at 3:00am Tuesday morning, destroyed a school in a-Tokhar.” The news site quoted local citizen journalist Abu Omar al-Manbiji as saying: “That school housed displaced people from neighboring villages. So far we count 124 dead from the attack, and that number could very well increase.” Others placed the event nearer 5am.

The Coalition told reporters it was aware of the Tokhar allegations and had launched a preliminary investigation.

The New York Times reported that “The Pentagon claimed that the 2016 strike had killed as many as 24 civilians, but some estimates ran much higher than that, possibly higher than 200.” Witnesses recounted to the reporter that “as the fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces and ISIS grew more and more intense, some 200 villagers from homes near the front line trekked to the outer edge of Tokhar and took shelter in four homes, in a place far from the fighting. They assumed they would be safe there, because ISIS had not been near any of the homes. But on July 19, coalition forces carried out a series of strikes.”  The reporter put the death toll at at least 120 people killed in the Tokhar strike ad spoke with more than a dozen, who showed her debilitating injuries. “Some told me that so many people were killed that there weren’t enough young men left to pull the bodies from the rubble. It took nearly two weeks, and even then, some of the victims were never found.”

The Coalition provided this information to the NYT reporter: “A dynamic strike had been called in by a Special Operations force — I later learned from another source that it was Task Force 9 — in northern Syria. Members of Task Force 9, which was supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces, had received reports of ISIS fighters traveling in areas that were “devoid of civilians.” Concluding that the fighters were assembling for a counterattack against the S.D.F., the task force destroyed three “staging sites” and five vehicles. They were confident of having killed 85 ISIS fighters, but the assessment team later concluded that between seven and 24 civilians “may have been intermixed” with ISIS fighters. ”

The US’s proxies said they had supplied the intelligence for the strike, with the SDF noting in a statement that “a large group of Daesh militants was moving in the vicinity of the village and within Altokhar, with their vehicles and military equipment… We had received information that the village is free from civilians.”

The SDF also claimed local groups were fabricating civilian casualty claims, in order to aid ISIL and discredit Kurdish forces.

In contrast, the US’s other proxy the Free Syrian Army condemned “the horrific massacres committed – and which are still being committed – by the international coalition aircraft against unarmed civilians in the city and countryside of Manbej.”

The Assad regime-controlled SANA instead claimed French aircraft were reponsible for the deaths: “French warplanes working as part of the so-called ‘international coalition’ led by the United States over the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic committed an illegal and bloody massacre (which is an affront to humanity) near the Syrian-Turkish border. They targeted with a violent aerial bombardment the village of Greater Tokhar, a peaceful village located in the northern outskirts of the city Manbej – exterminating entire families and flattening homes in an inhumane manner.”

In a case study issued in October 2016, it was noted that “Satellite imagery from 21 July 2016 analysed by Amnesty International indicates nine locations in which houses were severely damaged or destroyed – although given other fighting and air strikes in the area they cannot be conclusively linked with the same air strikes.” The international NGO added that “The attacks appear to have been conducted without adequate precautions taken to safeguard civilians and may have amounted to indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks.”

And following its own lengthy investigation, the Syrian Network noted: “SNHR documented the killing of 98 civilians, including 59 children and 27 women, in a bombing by fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes on Al Toukhar village.”

On December 1st the Coalition issued a lengthy statement in which it conceded it had killed civilians – though far below public estimates: “During a strike that killed nearly 100 ISIL fighters, and destroyed 13 fighting positions, seven ISIL vehicles, two VBIEDs, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system, it is assessed that up to 24 civilians who had been interspersed with combatants were inadvertently killed in a known ISIL staging area where no civilians had been seen in the 24 hours prior to the attack. Reports indicated that approximately 100 ISIL fighters were preparing for a large counterattack against partnered Syrian Arab Coalition/Syrian Democratic Forces and, unknown to Coalition planners, civilians were moving around within the military staging area, even as other civilians in the nearby village had departed over the previous days”

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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khaled Al Nasser
Age unknown male killed
Nasim Al Nasser
Age unknown male killed

Family members (7)

Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Age unknown male killed
Samiya Al Shaikh Mousa,
Adult female Wife of Mahmoud Abdurrahman killed
Nisreen Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Adult female killed
Batoul Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child female killed
Eman Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child female killed
Maher Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child male killed
Enas Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child female killed

Family members (8)

Bakkar Al Ramadan
Age unknown male killed
Ramadan Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Mohammad Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Mahmoud Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Ibrahim Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Raghad Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child female killed
Duha Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child female killed
Khalaf Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed

Family members (8)

Hasan Ibrahim Al Ousi
Age unknown male killed
Zreifa Al Ousi
Adult female Wife of Hasan Ibrahim Al Ousi killed
Abdou Hasan Al Ousi
Child male killed
Mohammad Hassan Al Ousi
Child male killed
Mahmoud Hasan Al Ousi
Child male killed
Na’iema Hasan Al Ousi
Child female killed
Eman Hasan Al Ousi
Child female killed
Zahra Hasan Al Ousi
Child female killed

Family members (17)

AbdulMalek Rajab Qaso
Age unknown male killed
Gharam AbdulMalek Qaso
Child female killed
Fa’eda AbdulMalek Qaso
Child female killed
Nagham AbdulMalek Qaso
Child female killed
Mohammad AbdulMalek Qaso
Child male killed
Qusai Rajab Qaso
Age unknown male killed
Houriya Mohammad Rajab Qaso
Age unknown female killed
Rihana
Adult female Wife of Loai Rajab Qaso killed
Qusai Loai Rajab Qaso
Child male killed
Ghosoun Loai Rajab Qaso
Child male killed
Hayat Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Adult female killed
Odoula Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Adult female killed
Yaser Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Child male killed
Dahiya Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Adult female killed
Mohammad Rajab Mowelid Qaso
Child male killed
Mais
Adult female Wife of Mohammad Mowelid Qaso killed
Yaser Mohammad Mowelid Qaso
Age unknown male killed

Family members (14)

Sanaa Mowelid Al Kabir
Adult female killed
Fatouma Mowelid Al Kabir
Adult female killed
Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Age unknown male killed
Wife of Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Adult female killed
Son of Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child male killed
Daughter of Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Moweld Al Kabir
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Hayat Muhajeri
Adult female Wife of Qasim Mowelid killed
Mohammad Mowelid Qasim Al Kabir
Child male killed
Doaa Qasem Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Son of Qasom Mowelid Al Kabir
Child male killed
Ghofran Qasim Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed

Family members (17)

Abd Mawwas Al Abd
Age unknown male killed
Sukaina
Adult female Wife of Abd Mawwas Al Abd killed
Sham Abd Mawwas Al Abd
Age unknown female killed
Mayyada Abd Mawwas Al Abd
Child female killed
Fatouma
Adult female Wife of Mawwas Al Abd killed
Second wife of Mawwas Al Abd
Age unknown female killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Haloum Al Abd
Adult female Sister of Mawwas Al Abd killed
Child, son of Halloum Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Halloum Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Halloum Al Abd
Child male killed

Family members (8)

Mohammad Suliman Al Thaher
Child male killed
Ammar Suliman Al Thaher
Child male killed
Yaser Suliman Al Thaher
Child male killed
Daughter of Suliman Al Thaher
Child female killed
Walid Al Thaher
Child male killed
Daughter of Suliman Al Thaher
Child female killed
Rehab Al Thaher
Child female killed
Daughter of Suliman Al Thaher
Child female killed

Family members (3)

Amina Al Mawwas
Age unknown female Wife of Hussein Al Saleh killed
Khaled Hussein Al Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Aziza Mohammad Haj Saleh
Child female killed

Family members (2)

Nadwa
Age unknown female Wife of Jasim Al Bakkar killed
Ahd Jasim Al Bakkar
Age unknown female killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Mohammad Abu Ibeid
Child female killed
Marwa
Age unknown female Wife of Mohammad Abu Ibeid killed

Family members (2)

Hadi Kamel Hasan Al Sattou
Child male killed
Amouna
Adult female Wife of Kamel Hasan Al Sattou killed

The victims were named as:

Fatima Qaso
Adult female killed
Fa’eda
Adult female killed
Yasmin
Adult female killed
Maha
Adult female killed
Child, son of Saeed Al Ahmad
Age unknown male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    78 – 203
  • (25–71 children7–29 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    85

Sources (65) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of an alleged Coalition strike near Manbij July 19th are buried in a mass grave (via Manbij Mother of All Worlds)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 36.6398429, 37.9810023

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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    24
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA089554
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 1, 2016

  • July 18, 2016, near Manbij, Syria: During a strike that killed nearly 100 ISIL fighters, and destroyed 13 fighting positions, seven ISIL vehicles, two VBIEDs, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system, it is assessed that up to 24 civilians who had been interspersed with combatants were inadvertently killed in a known ISIL staging area where no civilians had been seen in the 24 hours prior to the attack. Reports indicated that approximately 100 ISIL fighters were preparing for a large counterattack against partnered Syrian Arab Coalition/Syrian Democratic Forces and, unknown to Coalition planners, civilians were moving around within the military staging area, even as other civilians in the nearby village had departed over the previous days.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 18th-19th 2016 the Coalition reported. “Near Manbij, 18 strikes struck 15 separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 13 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL mortar system, seven ISIL vehicles, two ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, an ISIL staging area, and an ISIL tactical vehicle.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    78 – 203
  • (25–71 children7–29 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    85

Sources (65) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI268

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Location

الشرقاط, Al Shirqat, Salaheldin, Iraq

Geolocation

35.5045616, 43.2404709 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reported killed and at least half a dozen civilians injured in an alleged Iraqi government or Coalition airstrike at Sharqat. The casualties were said to have occurred when a Daesh headquarters was bombed in the late morning.

Al Samarra TV reported that three families were injured and one woman killed… after inaccurate shelling by Iraqi aircraft of a Daesh prison. A number of Daesh fighters also reportedly died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No strikes were publicly reported for Sharqat itself. For July 18th-19th 2016, the Coalition noted the following: “Near Qayyarah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL headquarters and an ISIL training camp.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1016

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1995518, 37.1815538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians including three children died and 15 more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike which destroyed a four-story residential building in Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to BNN, earth missiles and cluster bombs were both used in the airstrike.

Smart News blamed Russian warplanes for the raid. Qasioun News also blamed Russia for the attack, as did as did Syrian Press Center and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

However, LCCSY and other local news sources reported the airstrike to have been carried out by Assad regime warplanes.

Al Jazeera blamed both Russian and Syrian regime warplanes.

Enab Baladi reported that four people were killed in the attack. Jisrtv put the numbers slightly higher at nine.

Shahba Press added that 15 more people were wounded.

Qasioun reported that “tens were wounded, including women and children and many were taken to makeshift clinics”.

On the 19th of July, the day after the attack, Smart News reported that as many as 11 civilians had been killed with others injured, including women and children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Omar Kassas
35 years old male killed
Nihad Omar Kassas
12 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Mahmood Aswad
15 years old male killed
Mohammed Hamdo Makhzom
60 years old male killed
Mohammed Zakko
Child male killed
An unidentified body
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A local resident holds the body of a child following the airstrikes with earth missiles and cluster bombs which targeted a residential building. 18th July 206. (via, Shahba Revolution).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defence forces remove injured civilians and the dead from the rubble. 18th July 2016. (via, Jisrtv)
  • Footage shows the destruction in Al Qaterji, Aleppo after alleged Russian shelling (Youtube by Baladi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child covered in rubble in Al Qaterji, Aleppo (via Syria-revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets put the dead in body bags - killed in alleged Russian warplane shelling. (via Smart)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1017

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various sources reported that airstrikes on a residential area in Kafr Hama, Aleppo, killed up to three civilians, including one boy.

BBC Arabic filed a report which read, “according to opposition source, Russian warplanes launched extensive shelling in Kafr Hamra”. Meanwhile, al Jazeera reported that both Russian and Assad regime warplanes were launching missiles in the area.

Enab Baladi News and Qasioun both blamed Russia for the raids, whereas Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime for the attack.

Halab News Network named three civilian fatalities, listed below.

Multiple sources reported that others were wounded, with no specific numbers.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mohammed Khatib
40 years old male killed
Mohammed Haj Ali
17 years old male killed
Mahmood Mohammed Hayek
29 years old

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defence Forces carrying an injured civilian from the site of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Kakaria Nassani tweet)
  • Civil Defence Forces carrying an injured civilian from the site of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Kakaria Nassani tweet)
  • Civil Defence Forces carrying an injured civilian from the site of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Kakaria Nassani tweet)
  • Possibly iimage of the airstrike in Kafra Hamra, 18th July 2016. (via, Halab Today tweet)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 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
  • (1 child2 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1018

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Location

Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In multiple alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes which struck residential buildings, in Aleppo’s Al Maysar neighbourhood, a family of five and an elderly man were reportedly killed.

BBC reported that “according to opposition source, Russian warplanes launched extensive shelling in Kafr hamra and Al-Maysar.”

AMC News blamed the Assad regime for the strike, while Al Jazeera pointed to both the regime and Russia.

But reports by Smart New, Halab Today and Jisrtv attributed the event to solely Russia.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, there were “no less than six raids” on Al Maysar – though Halab Today pout the number as high as 12.

Alabary News reported  that “warplanes thought to be Russian struck a building and killed a family of a mother, a father, and three children who were living in the building.”

Halab News named identified five victims, seen below, including two children.

Qasioun said that seven other civilians were injured in the airstrike, adding that many were in a critical condition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Hussein Al-Zukhri
Age unknown male killed
Saleh Mohammed Al-Zukhri
5 years old male killed
Abdul-Kader Mohammed Al-Zukhri
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Badriya Lhamdeya
38 years old female killed
Saleh Mohammad Diyab
70 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man is rescued from the rubble caused by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which targeted a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A body dragged from the rubble. Al Maysar., 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians being rescued from under the rubble following the airstrikes on Al Maysar neighbourhood, Aleppo (via AMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian child victim of the alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which targeted a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which targeted a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via, Mohammed Hasami tweet)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians of the alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes which hit a residential area in Al Maysar. 18th July 2016. (via iphs _tr tweet)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 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
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS269

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Location

التوخار كبير, Tokhar Kabir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.6398429, 37.9810023 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to sixteen civilians including two or more children were reported killed in an alleged noon Coalition airstrike on Al Tokhar, a village near Manbij in northern Aleppo governorate.

In its own report on the event the Syrian Network noted: “Fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes fired a missile that targeted a residential house that is owned by Al Durj family in northwestern Al Toukhar village, affiliated to Manbej city in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, which resulted in the killing of 16 civilians – most of whom were from the same family – including two children. Al Toukhar village was under the control of ISIS on the day of the incident and it is now held by the Kurdish-majority Syrian Democratic Forces.”

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Ali Mohammad Al Durj
Age unknown male killed
Hasan Ibrahim Al Durj
Age unknown male killed
Son of Hasan Ibrahim Al Durj
Child male killed
Son of Hasan Ibrahim Al Durj
Child male killed
Ahmad Ali Al Akhras Al Durj
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Hasan Ibrahim Al Durj
Child male killed
Hasan Mohammad Ali Al Durj
Age unknown male killed
Khalaf Mohammad Ali Al Durj
killed
Hussein Saad Ali Al Durj
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Aboud Shaikh Al Haji
Age unknown male killed
Khaled Shaikh Al Haji
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Bakkar Ali Bakkar Al Emiri
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Hussein Al Hamid Al Emiri
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Abd Al Hmeidi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 16
  • (2–4 children2 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 5 people killed in coalition raids on al Tokhaz village north of Manbij.
  • Translation: activists: 8 martyrs including women and children in coalition raids on al Tokhaz village near Manbij in the Aleppo countryside.
  • Some of the victims killed in the alleged air strike (via Al Tokhar al Kabir)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Manbij, 11 strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 22 ISIL fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 16
  • (2–4 children2 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]