Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

USSOM314

Incident date

August 8, 2020

Location

Sablale, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.251506, 43.807038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A high-ranking Al Shabaab operative was allegedly killed by a possible US drone strike in Sablale.

Mareeg reported: “A suspected US drone has carried out two airstrikes targeting high-ranking al Shabaab operatives in southern regions of Somalia.

[…]

The 2nd strike also killed a high-ranking al Shabaab operative identified as Ahmed Nour near Sablale town in Lower Shabelle region, according to Risaala.”

Somali Dispatch said: “Somali government officials confirmed to local news media in Mogadishu that Al-Shabaab leaders have been targeted.

Meanwhile, airstrikes hit Sablale, Lower Shabelle, and government officials said the target was an al-Shabaab official, adding that Ahmed Nur, a senior al-Shabaab member, was killed in that attack.”

In an email to Airwars, AFRICOM said it did not conduct the strike. This however leaves the possibility of a CIA strike.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Sablale, for which the generic coordinates are: 1.251506, 43.807038. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI046

Incident date

August 11, 2020

Location

Bradost region, Erbil , Iraq

Geolocation

36.747413, 44.398155 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five civilians were killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes in the Bradost region, Erbil governorate, on August 11th, 2020, according to local sources. The civilians died alongside five Iraqi border guards and five Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members.

Armen Press reported that 15 people were killed in a Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq Iraqi, adding that there were five civilians, five border guards and five PKK members among the victims.

AFP reported that “two high-ranking Iraqi officers were killed Tuesday in what the army said was a ‘blatant Turkish drone attack’ in the autonomous Kurdish region, where Ankara has for weeks been raiding militant positions. The strike killed two border guard battalion commanders and the driver of their vehicle, the army said in a statement.”

Rudaw wrote that “an unmanned drone targeted a meeting between Iraqi border officials and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters and a military vehicle in the northern Erbil province’s Bradost area Tuesday afternoon, officials confirmed.” The mayor of Sidakan, Ihsan Chalabi, identified the two killed officials as Kurds Zubair Hali Bradosti and Mohammed Rashid Sulaiman.

@YourAnonAlerts wrote that a civilian father and his son had been killed in the strikes.

The drone strikes reportedly followed on a shooting between PKK fighters and Iraqi border guards the night before.

Global Village Space reported that “Iraq cancelled a ministerial visit and summoned Turkey’s ambassador as it blamed Ankara for a drone strike that killed two high-ranking Iraqi officers on Tuesday. As the number of civilians killed in the Turkish military campaign increases, Iraq grows increasingly weary.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–10

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Photo taken near Bradost, shortly after the alleged Turkish drone strikes on August 11th, 2020 (via Rudaw).
  • Translation: “Two Iraqi military officers and seven civilians were killed and many were wounded in the past two months, as a result of air strikes launched by Turkish forces inside the territory of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Iraqi government and the Arab countries should not turn a blind eye to all this” (via @bestoon_khalid).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Bradost region, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.747413, 44.398155. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Bradost region.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–10

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI047

Incident date

August 14, 2020

Location

أرادن‎, Araden, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.10894, 43.31806 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three people were killed and another person was injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on a vehicle in the village of Ardana, Dohuk governorate, on August 14th, 2020. It remains unclear whether the victims were civilians.

Rudaw reported: “The director of Bamerni district, Hamid Zubeir, told Rudaw Media Network that Turkish planes targeted a Hyundai Tucson car inside the village at 11 AM this Friday, in which three people were travelling. He added that the bombing resulted in the killing of two of them and the third was seriously wounded, and their identities are not known, indicating that the security authorities have begun investigating the incident.”

The PUK Media correspondent in Dohuk also reported that “the bombing resulted in the death of two people travelling on the vehicle, and another person was severely wounded.”

@Dersi4m, however, wrote that three people inside the vehicle were killed and another one was injured.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Turkish airstrikes on the village of Ardana, Dohuk governorate, on August 14th, 2020 (via @Dersi4m).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Araden (أرادن‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.10894, 43.31806. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4518

Incident date

August 14, 2020

Location

البادية السورية, Syrian Badia, Homs, Syria

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reported killed and injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Syrian desert, or Al Badia Al Souria, on August 14th, 2020.

@so_ria98 reported intense airstrikes by Russian warplanes in several areas of the desert and stated there were reports of civilian casualties, as well as the targeting of a car believed to be a civilian vehicle.

Joftlk Al Hadath also reported killed and wounded civilian victims.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS446

Incident date

August 17, 2020

Location

M4 غرب عين عيسى, M4, West of Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.385278, 38.859444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Deaths and injuries among civilians were reported by local sources as a result of alleged Turkish forces and Turkey-backed militants shelling of Ain Issa, in Raqqa, Syria on August 17th, 2020.

While most sources reported that two civilians were wounded, others reported deaths without a specific number.

@dersi4m tweeted that ‘theTurkish army and it’s jihadist groups shelled this evening the villages Abu Sira, Dibis and the surrounding of the Highway M4 in western of Ain Issa town.Two civilians have been wounded (ANHA).’

@RojavaSiyamend said that ‘Turkish forces bombard Ain Issa town areas with heavy weapons, directly targeting civilians. There are wounded and dead.’

No further information is available yet.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention areas being struck along the M4 highway, among them Abu Surra (ابو سيرا) and Dibis, in the western vicinity of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) town. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ain Issa are: 36.385278, 38.859444.

  • Reports of the incident mention areas being struck along the M4 highway, among them Abu Surra (ابو سيرا) and Dibis, in the western vicinity of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) town.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI048

Incident date

August 19, 2020

Location

كانى ماز, Kani Masi, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.229298, 43.438993 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed by a Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi.

Rudaw reported: “Khalid Abdulrahman, 60, was killed while trying to rescue his grazing livestock after several Turkish airstrike hit the village of Kani Mazin, according to Kani Masi Mayor Sarbast Akrey.

‘At 1:45pm a drone came and fired two rockets and then a jet came and fired three others. When the jet fired the sixth rocket it hit the vicinity of the village,’ Akrey told Rudaw English.

‘The teacher tried to rescue the livestock which were near a fire caused by the bombardment but he was killed,’ he added.

The outskirts of the village were set alight by the airstrikes, and villagers have failed to extinguish the blaze, according to the mayor.”

According to Shafaaq the victim was 50 years old.

NRT said: “Sub-district director Sarbast Akrayi told NRT Digital Media that the Turkish military attacked the area around 1:30 pm, conducting five bombing runs, which caused significant damage to the villagers’ orchards and groves.”

Several sources said that the victim was the headmaster of a local school.

The incident occured between 1:30 pm and 1:54 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Khalid Abdulrahman
60 years old male Teacher killed

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi on August 19th, 2020 (via Gokturk report)
  • Alleged Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi on August 19th, 2020 (via Wa'ed)
  • Alleged Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi on August 19th, 2020 (via ANF)
  • Alleged Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi on August 19th, 2020 (via ANF)
  • Alleged Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi on August 19th, 2020 (via ANF)
  • Alleged Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi on August 19th, 2020 (via ANF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kani Masi (كاني ماسي) for which the generic coordinates are: 37.229298, 43.438993. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-141

Incident date

August 20, 2020

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.190547, 16.571441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five or more civilians were allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Sirte.

Sirte martyrs posted the victims’ names and said: “These heroes were martyred by the NATO bombing in Sirte on 20 Ramadan of the Nakba year corresponding to 08-20-2011.”

Al Gharib Al Ajli wrote: “Meanwhile, 5 NATO missiles collapsed on our house, 5 terrible fire blocks on a house in a residential neighborhood, the house was destroyed and its columns fell and 5 martyrs fell among the best of the young, one of them was the son of my sister, the martyr Badr al-Naji Khalaf Allah.”

The source added: “They are young civilians, among the best young men in the city of Sirte, they were not on the back of a tank, or they were barricading machine guns.”

Surt Son posted a video of the bodies on Youtube titled: “Massacre led to the deaths of dozens of Libyans as a result of aggression of NATO.”

Various condolence pages commemorated the loss of family members in the incident over the years.

NATO reported striking one command and control node in Sirte on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ali Faraj Sharal Al-Sahqi Al-Werfalli
Adult male killed
Nuri Ghaith Sharr Al-Tariq Al-Werfalli
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Badr Al-Naj Dalhoum Gaddafi
Adult male killed
Abu Bakr Ghaith Hussein al-Gaddafi
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Omar Mukhtar Belkacem Al-Mashay
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 24
  • (5 men)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Omar Mukhtar Belkacem Al-Mashay, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Ahmad Mohammed)
  • Nuri Ghaith Sharr Al-Tariq Al-Werfalli, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Sirte martyrs)
  • Victims allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Sirte martyrs)
  • Omar Mukhtar Belkacem Al-Mashay, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Harkan Arp 77)
  • Omar Mukhtar Belkacem Al-Mashay, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Harkan Arp 77)
  • Abu Bakr Ghaith Hussein al-Gaddafi, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Al Qadaouira martyrs)
  • Nuri Ghaith Sharr Al-Tariq Al-Werfalli, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Warfila Bin Ghazi)
  • Badr Al-Naj Dalhoum Gaddafi, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Al Mou’tasem Billah Alaq)
  • Alleged victim of NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Sirte martyrs)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.190547, 16.571441. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Command and Control Node

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 24
  • (5 men)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM315

Incident date

August 20, 2020

Location

IVO Kurtun Warey, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.61101, 44.330299 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One Al Shabaab member was allegedly killed by a US airstrike near Kurtun Warey.

AFRICOM said in its press release: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting one terrorist in the vicinity of Kurtun Warey, Somalia, Aug. 20. The terrorist, who has a history of working with explosives, was making preparations to emplace Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on a public road.

The command’s initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed one (1) terrorist and destroyed one motorcycle.

U.S. Africa Command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.”

VOA wrote: “An unnamed senior member of the group’s local bomb-making and IED explosives unit was killed in the strike, VOA was told by a senior Somali commander who was not authorized to speak to the media.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Known attacker
    Unknown
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Kurtun Warey, for which the generic coordinates are: 1.61101, 44.330299. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting one terrorist in the vicinity of Kurtun Warey, Somalia, Aug. 20. The terrorist, who has a history of working with explosives, was making preparations to emplace Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on a public road.

“Al-Shabaab continues to put Somali people in danger by ruthlessly attempting to place explosive devices in public areas,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joel Tyler, AFRICOM director of operations. “These extremists continue to terrorize Somali citizens without regard for their safety.”

The command's initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed one (1) terrorist and destroyed one motorcycle.

U.S. Africa Command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.

U.S. Africa Command and our international partners recognize that stability in Somalia will not be achieved through purely military means. It requires providing programs and opportunity for the Somali people.

In support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces use a range of effective and appropriate methods to assist in the protection of the Somali people. Together with partner and allied forces, U.S. Africa Command works on a daily basis to improve security conditions to enhance governance and economic development while preventing al-Shabaab's desire to expand their reach and further export violence.



U.S. Africa Command continues to work with its Somali partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Known attacker
    Unknown
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (7) [ collapse]