Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS805

Incident date

May 22, 2016

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported that nine female farmers died when remains of cluster bombs allegedly fired by Russia exploded.

Al Jisr TV also reported this information, but said this occurred in Kafr Hamra – which is possibly a mistake.

Because of near-identical copy by all media, this is presently classed as a weakly reported incident.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (9 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ 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 May 1st – 31st

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (9 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI239a

Incident date

May 21, 2016

Location

القيارة, Qayarrah, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

According to a field investigation conducted by reporters Azmah Khan and Anand Gopal for the New York Times Magazine, one civilian was killed by a Coalition airstrike on an ISIS courthouse in Qayyarah.

According to the reporters, the following occurred: “On or near May 21, 2016, an airstrike struck a house being used by ISIS as a courthouse. Shrapnel and debris from the strike hit on the head and killed a civilian, Ahmed Jasim Muhammad, who was born in 1978.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Jasim Muhammad
36 years old male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS804

Incident date

May 21, 2016

Location

صلاح القرية‬, Salah al Qariya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.243096, 40.260944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to six civilians including two children and two to three women died in airstrikes on Salah al Qariya area, in Albu Umar according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

LCCSY reported the death of four civilians in what they said were Russian strikes. Qasioun put the death toll higher, reporting six civilians killed. It later named the child Salah Kharaba as having died from injuries sustained in a strike by “warplanes” on Deir ez-Zor.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently and Syrian PC news also said four individuals died and a number more were wounded after Russian planes targeted Salah al Qariya.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the regime was responsible, also putting the death toll at four non-combatants including a child and two women.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah Kharaba
Child male killed
Mariam al Falah
Age unknown female killed
Hanan Awwad al Khalifa
Age unknown female killed
Subha al Ahmad
Age unknown female killed
Ayham Mahmoud al Awwad al Khalifa
3 months years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ayham Mahmoud Awad Al Khalifa, three-months-old, killed in an alleged Russian strike on Salah al Qariya, May 21st (via SN4HR)

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 publicly reported any strikes between May 1st – 31st.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS215

Incident date

May 20, 2016

Location

أرشاف, Al Arshaf, Intersection of roads, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.51888, 37.271389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to ten civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition evening strike at Al Arshaf village on the outskirts of Ekhitrin town, in the northern Aleppo countryside.

Syria Urgent initially said 6 civilians died – 4 women and two men – with another four injured “following an American raid.” The Syrian Observatory placed the death toll at seven, saying all the victims came from one family. And Shaam News said ten died, including 5 women.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “On Friday evening 20 May 2016 International coalition warplanes launched missiles at the northern eastern parts of Arshaf Town [near subway Akhtarin] in the norther suburbs of Aleppo governorate under the control of ISIS, killing 8 people including 3 children and two women, seven others were injured.”

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes near Aleppo that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event.

VDC later named the following victims, most from one family:

Khadijeh Jamal Rajab – girl

Ineam Jamal Rajab – girl

Mohammad Rajab – man

Bashar Mohammad Bashar – man

Aysha Rajab – woman

Israe Mohammad Rajab – girl

Jamal Rajab – man

Salha Mohammad Jomea – woman

2 unidentified adult males

In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible based on available information: “May 20, 2016, near Arshaf, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

However, based on information published at the time, Airwars continues to assess this event as Fair.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Khadijeh Jamal Rajab
Child female killed
Ineam Jamal Rajab
Child female killed
Mohammad Rajab
Adult male killed
Aysha Rajab
Adult female killed
Israe Mohammad Rajab
Child female killed
Jamal Rajab
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Bashar Mohammad Bashar
Adult male killed
Salha Mohammad Jomea
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (3 children2–5 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translate: Urgent: 4 women, two men killed and 4 others injured following American raid on the village of Arshaf in northern Aleppo countryside (via Age-_Syria)
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

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Arshaf, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports the following for Ma’ra in Aleppo governorate for May 20th-21st 2016: “Near Mar’a, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and three ISIL command and control nodes.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Friday 20 May – Tornados destroyed two Daesh headquarters north of Aleppo in Syria, while Typhoons provided close air support to Iraqi ground forces around Fallujah…Intelligence analysis pinpointed two Daesh headquarters in north-west Syria, located 10 and 25 miles respectively north of Aleppo near the fighting along the Mar’a Line. A pair of Tornado GR4s were tasked with their destruction on Friday 20 May. One of the command posts was in a very solidly constructed building, this was targeted with two Enhanced Paveway II 1000lb bombs. A pair of 500lb Paveway IVs were used against the second headquarters. Both targets were destroyed by direct hits.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (3 children2–5 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS803

Incident date

May 20, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and between five and ten were injured in strikes on Hraytan, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network said that one civilian was killed and five were wounded in Russian strikes, “noting that one of the raids targeted the al Bara’ bin Malik mosque”. Many other sources also blamed Russia.

Several raids – including one on the mosque – were equally reported by the White Helmets, but they did not identify the warplanes responsible. They published footage which included the extinguishing of a fire and said that ten civilians were wounded in additional to the one who died.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and multiple other sources blamed the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also attributed the attacks to “government warplanes” which it said had “partially destroyed” the mosque.

Mamoun-sy said on Twitter that the person killed was a child. The Violations Documentation Center named one victim of “warplane shelling” as 17-year-old Mohammad Mahmoud Hijazi.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Mahmoud Hijazi.
17 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of the shelling in Hraytan is pulled from the rubble (via White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the air strikes
  • SN4HR: government warplanes fired missiles on the vicinity of Al Baraa Bin Malek Mosque in Hraitan city in Aleppo governorate, partially destroying the mosque, May 20.
  • Syrian civil defence battling fire after the air strikes.

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 May 1st – 31st

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 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI238

Incident date

May 19, 2016

Location

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.3532137, 43.7875674 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, up to six civilians including four children were killed and 13 people injured in an alleged Coalition or Iraqi government strike on Fallujah.

According to Yaqein, “four civilians including a child were killed and 12 others wounded mostly children and women. Most of them were seriously injured as a result of the retaliatory shelling and indiscriminate government and international airstrikes.”

The casualties occurred in the Abu Alwan area of the city, during an intense campaign before a major assault to liberate Fallujah from so-called Islamic State.

later named some of the casualties: “The child Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi has been killed along with his mother and young brother, while his father is in a serious condition between life and death.“

In the first 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Child male killed
the mother of Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Adult female killed
the brother of Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Child male killed
Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of the child victim which reportedly killed by Coalition or Iraq government airstrike on Fallujah, May 19th 2016 (via Fallujah Now)

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
    38SLB871911
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • May 19, 2016, in Fallujah, Iraq, 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. 2953/CI238 38SLB871911

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 18th-19th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Fallujah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI239

Incident date

May 19, 2016

Location

معسكر الغزلاني, Mosul, Ghazlani, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.302955, 43.128271 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Yaqen, claimed that 40 civilians were killed and injured in Coalition airstrikes on Mosul.

According to the local news group, “A source said that ‘the bombing targeted areas of the Ghazlai camp project as well as the University of Mosul, and the shelling was followed by another bombing which targeted the same areas after the gathering of civilians and ambulances at the first bombing site.’ The source added that ‘serious damage was caused to civilian houses and shops near the shelling areas.‘”

No additional information is presently known.

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes near Mosul that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 40
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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
  • Stated location
    Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 18th-19th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL assembly areas and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 40
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS214

Incident date

May 19, 2016

Location

الحمرات, Al Hamrat, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.916095, 39.1645432 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family was reported killed in a contested airstrike at Al Hamrat in Raqqa governorate.

Shaam News blamed the US-led Coalition: “Activists said that aircraft believed to be from the international coalition bombed Al Hamrat in the eastern Raqqa countryside this morning, leading to the martyrdom of the family of Abdul Al Hadi Hassan Al Abd al-Hadi Albouhbal including children and women after targeting their home with several missiles.”

Other sources including local Civil Defence did not attribute responsibility for the deaths, citing only warplanes. At least one local activist blamed Russia for the attack. And Jisr TV blamed the Assad regime. Commenting on the confusion, Syrian Al Hall cited a local witness: “The source said there was no confirmed reports on the identity of the planes that carried out the bombing but it is likely to be the coalition given the accuracy of the targeting and the closing of the area by Daesh after the raid.”

In its reporting of at least four airstrikes by unidentified aircraft, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered noted: “The areas targeted by air raids in the eastern countryside of the city of Al Raqqa were:

– the council of the village of Hamra Ghnam and the school nearby

– civilian homes in Badr farm

– Al Muntazaha village the home of Anoun al Sultan

– al Jirka village the home of Abd al Hadi Hassan al Bouhbal killing 3 of his children and his wife.”

On the same day, Coalition aircraft dropped leaflets on Raqqa city urging residents to flee an imminent assault to dislodge so-called Islamic State.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abd al Hadi Hassan al Bouhbal's child
Child killed
Abd al Hadi Hassan al Bouhbal's child
Child killed
Abd al Hadi Hassan al Bouhbal's child
Child killed
Abd al Hadi Hassan al Bouhbal's wife
female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: an entire family killed after their home was targeted by warplanes in the town of al Hamrat in the eastern Raqqa countryside.
  • Translation: an entire family martyred following bombing by warplanes the area of al Hamrat int he eastern countryside.
  • Translation: civilians dead and wounded following 4 raids by warplanes on the town of al Hamrat eastern Raqqa countryside.
  • Translation: #Al raqqa coalition planes throw leaflets over Raqqa says ‘The time has come to leave al Raqqa’ in a letter addressed to the civilians asking them to leave the town (via RBSS)

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

The Coalition noted no strikes near Raqqa for May 18th-19th 2016.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]