Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS4505

Incident date

June 8, 2020

Location

الموزرة , Al-Muzarra, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and between three and four civilians, including a woman, were injured in an airstrike allegedly carried out by Russian forces on the town of Al-Muzarra in Idlib province on June 8, 2020.

A number of sources state that two males, Hussein Ali al Abboud and 32-year-old Mustafa Abdul Raouf al Hamshou, were the two civilians killed. Several sources state that those injured were members of the same family, and that some were trapped under rubble. Baladi News and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that one civilian was killed but specified that this was a preliminary outcome.

Smart News reported that three other civilians were injured while Baladi News put the number of injured at four. @IdlibPlus also specified that one woman was among the injured. Several sources state that those injured were members of the same family, and that some were trapped under rubble. The civil defense and rescue teams worked to rescue them to the medical points near the area to provide them with the necessary treatment.

Sources state that alleged Russian airstrikes were carried out in coordination with shelling from the Syrian regime in the surrounding area, and they likewise maintain that this constitutes a breach of a previous ceasefire. It is unclear whether the Russian strikes or the regime shelling resulted in the civilian casualties.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Al-Abdo (or Al Abboud) killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • "Two civilians were killed and three others were wounded, including a woman, this afternoon, as a result of Russian warplanes targeting three air strikes, targeting civilian homes in the town of Al-Mozarah in Jabal Al-Zawiya."
  • "The death of two civilians and the injury of three others, including a woman, this afternoon Monday, June 8th, as a result of the bombing by Russian warplanes with three air strikes, the homes of civilians in the town of Al-Muzarra in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, while a civilian was wounded by a missile strike targeting the town of Kastoun, west of Hama.
  • Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians after alleged three Russian air strikes on the homes of civilians in the town of Al-Muzarra in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, June 8th, 2020. (via SCD)
  • Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians after alleged three Russian air strikes on the homes of civilians in the town of Al-Muzarra in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, June 8th, 2020. (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Airstrikes om Al-Muzarra on June 8, 2020. (Image posted by @anasanas84 )
  • Airstrikes om Al-Muzarra on June 8, 2020. (Image posted by @mhmadtr)
  • Mustafa Abdul Raouf al Hamshou, killed in Airstrikes om Al-Muzarra on June 8, 2020. (Image posted by Mohammed Al Hussein via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC418

Incident date

June 9, 2020

Location

وادي جارف, Wadi Jarif, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.131944, 16.271944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Renewed shelling on Wadi Jarif west of Sirte on June 9th, 2020 led to deaths, injuries and displacement among civilians.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy posted “Intensive and random shelling on Wadi Jarif in Serte amid reports of deaths, injuries, destruction, and mass displacement of families.”

Another post encouraged people to head to Ibn Sina hospital to donate blood to civilians wounded in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of the Wadi Jarif (وادي جارف), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.131944, 16.271944. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4506

Incident date

June 9, 2020

Location

بليون, Balyon, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On June 9, 2020, alleged Russian air strikes on Baylon resulted in the deaths of two civilians, including a woman, with multiple sources stating that between four and eight civilians were injured, including several children between the ages of 4-14.

Abdullah Ahmad al-Dani was reportedly killed by a strike on his home on June 9, and a woman, which one source states was Amenah al-Dani, his wife, died several days later from injuries sustained during the strikes. Abdullah was from the nearby village of Kansafra, according to multiple sources, including one that stated that he and Amenah were previously displaced. The UN stated that at least three civilian homes were destroyed in the raid, including that of Abdullah and Amenah. The same source notes that five others were injured in the same home, including two girls and one boy, ages ranging 4-14.

Syrian Civil Defense reported that a civilian was killed and eight others, including five children and a woman were injured in Russian airstrikes that targeted Baylon with three raids when civilians were getting ready to flee. On June 12th, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Amenah Dani from Kansafra village died of her injuries on June 12th, 2020.

Multiple sources note that the strike on Baylon struck residential areas, and took place in conjunction with other strikes by Russian and regime forces in the area, which sources state is in violation of a March 2020 ceasefire agreement. Though all the sources blamed Russian forces, @SyriaCivilDefense said the civilian casualties are a result of Russian airstrikes and artillery and missile shelling of the regime forces on different areas in Idlib and Hama. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria in their report of September 15th, 2020 blamed the pro-regime forces for undertaking the attack without specifying which category of pro-regime forces.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male husband of Amenah Al Dani killed
Adult female wife of Abdullah Al Dani, from Kansafra village, died of injuries on June 12th, 2020 killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (SCD).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes or Syrian regime artillery attacks on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (@SyriaCivilDefense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes or Syrian regime artillery attacks on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (@SyriaCivilDefense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes or Syrian regime artillery attacks on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (@SyriaCivilDefense).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • SCD volunteers in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Baylon on June 9th, 2020 (via SNHR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the civilians injured in strikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Daya`atna via Facebook)
  • One of the civilians injured in strikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Daya`atna via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the civilians injured in strikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Daya`atna via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by @abo_aljod84)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of the man killed in airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4507

Incident date

June 9, 2020

Location

ادلب المدينة, Idlib city, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children, Salah Ghajar, Huzaifa Saadeddin, Rand Saad Eddin, were killed on June 9, 2020 when an unexploded cluster bomb, a remnant of a previous airstrike on Idlib, exploded as they played in the garden of their home.

One source notes that Huzaifa and Rand were sister and brother, while several note that Salah was the last remaining survivor of his family, who were killed in a massacre in Wadi Al-Naseem over a year earlier. The victims of that massacre allegedly included Salah’s mother, father, and brothers.

Sources unanimously agreed that the deaths resulted from an unexploded bomb, which many state was a cluster bomb, that was dropped during a previous strike. Several sources claim that the bomb was the result of a Russian strike, while others do not mention the belligerent or state more ambiguously that the strike was from Russian-Syrian forces. Multiple sources note that children are especially vulnerable to unexploded ordnance, and many similar incidents have been recorded over the last several years. Several sources note that the home was located in an area of Idlib under the control of the group Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed factions. A nonprofit, Ataa Relief, claimed that their organization had sponsored Salah Ghajar after his family was killed in Wadi Al-Naseem.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

The victims were named as:

Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The three children killed on June 9th, 2020 by the explosion of a cluster bomb from previous bombing in Idlib City. (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of the children killed when an unexploded cluster bomb explored in Idlib on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC419

Incident date

June 10, 2020

Location

الساعدية, Al Sa'adeh, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.889481, 13.180569 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Libya Al Ahrar reported that “the remains of a citizen were found in a civilian car, likely hit by a missile attack in the Al Sa’adeh area by the Haftar militia at the beginning of its aggression on the capital.”

Also Burkan Al Ghadab Operation page posted the news saying that “Al-Jafara Security Directorate members find the remains of a civilian in a civilian car that has traces of missile shelling in Al Sa’adeh area, according to eyewitness accounts from the people of the region that the car was bombed by Haftar’s aircraft at the beginning of its militia’s aggression on the capital Tripoli.”

The date of the incident and other details are not available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).
  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).
  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).
  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Sa’adeh (الساعدية), possibly in vicinity of the Al Sa’adeh Mosque (مسجد الساعدية). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the mosque are: 32.889481, 13.180569.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC420

Incident date

June 10, 2020

Location

وادي جارف, Wadi Jarif, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.131944, 16.271944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed after a mortar fell on her house in Jarif in Sirte on June 10th, 2020. She was identified by local sources as Dr. Malak Saleh Al Wafi.

“Dr. Malak Saleh Al-Wafi dies after a shell landed in their house in Jarif,” said Libyan woman doctors.

No further information is currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of the Wadi Jarif (وادي جارف), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.131944, 16.271944. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

IRS005

Incident date

June 12, 2020

Location

الفوعه, Al Fou’a, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Five children were reportedly injured in alleged Iranian airstrikes on the town of Al Fou’a, Idlib governorate, on June 12th, 2020, according to conflicting reports.

@FdzPWRe6ruAGFPd tweeted that “five children were injured due to an unknown explosion in the town of Al Fou’a in the northern countryside of Idlib. Conflicting reports stated that it was an Iranian reconnaissance plane destroying a missile targeting the area.”

@ShabhaPress reported that the five children were targeted in a drone strike from an unidentified belligerent.

Shaam News Network reported that a small reconnaissance plane was deliberately targeting the town with a “suicide bomb”. SNN also did not identify the culprit.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI037

Incident date

June 14, 2020

Location

Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.318611, 41.861111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were allegedly injured by a Turkish airstrikes on Sinjar.

ANF reported: “In Shengal, areas where civilian settlements and Serdeşt hospital are located, were bombed. According to the first information, there are some injured civilians. In addition, the people suffered material damages as a result of the bombing carried out by the Turkish state.”

Gilgo tweeted: “Injured civilians reported by Ezidi locals in Zerdeşt hospital near Şengal as a result of Turkish air raids. Airstrikes continue after a 40 minutes break. Difficult to get reports out due to intensity of bombardment.”

The New Arab published additional information on the strikes without mentioning civilian harm: “A military official said in the fourth regiment of the Iraqi army stationed in the vicinity of Sinjar that fighters targeted between the hours of twelve and a half and twelve and forty minutes, Sunday, locations and caves inside Mount Sinjar, indicating in a telephone conversation with the New Arab, that columns of smoke were seen rising from the place before To return the aircraftMinutes later to target other locations in the same area, and he heard the sounds of secondary explosions believed to be caused by a pile of weapons or ammunition.

He added, ‘The sites belong to most of the units,’ referring to the militia of Sinjar Protection Units, the local arm of the PKK in Iraq.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of Turkish airstrieks on Sinjar on June 14th, 2020 (via Heyva Sor a Kurdistane UK)
  • Aftermath of Turkish airstrieks on Sinjar on June 14th, 2020 (via Heyva Sor a Kurdistane UK)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sinjar, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.318611, 41.861111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]