Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

USYEMTr121

Incident date

November 25, 2017

Location

غرب مرخة العليا, West of Merkhat Al Olya, Shabwah, Yemen

Geolocation

14.589742, 45.644669 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US strike killed seven AQAP militants in Shabwa governorate on November 25th 2017, a US Central Command spokesperson told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. This confirmed earlier local reports that a US drone strike had killed at least three alleged AQAP militants in a Wadi, in the Merkhat Al Olya district of Shabwa, on that evening. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Sources reported various overall death tolls as a result of the strike. Initial reporting by Al-Masdar Online suggested that, according to a local source, three militants were killed, though most later reports suggested that five to seven had died. One source, @demolinari, gave an initial figure of three, but later updated the tally to five. AFP reported that, according to a security official, the strike targeted three vehicles, killing seven. A local-language source, Voice Yemen, reported a death toll of eight militants, though no other known sources gave this figure.

To account for these varying reports, Airwars has assessed that between five and eight alleged militants were reportedly killed in this strike.

After the strike, academic Dr Elisabeth Kendall tweeted that pro-AQAP sources had named the dead as ‘Amar al-Hamiqani, Humam al-Baydani, Abu M. al-Baydani, BaHila al-Waqqari al-Abyani, Abu Sa’d al-Yazidi al-Abyani. Some suggested that the strike was intended to kill an AQAP leadership figure.

The US attack was variously reported to have targeted between one and three cars, though alleged images of the site only showed one vehicle. One local source told Al-Masdar Online that the car was transporting weapons for the group, while others suggested that the vehicles were travelling to Bayda governorate.

According to Xinhua, a tribal chief said that “a drone kept hovering for hours and then struck a car carrying five al-Qaida operatives in Markhah area of Shabwa… The vehicle was completely destroyed and none of the citizens approached the scene to see, for fear of new air bombings”. Some claimed that the drone had signalled with lights to warn locals away from the site of the strike.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–8

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Alleged images of the strike location showed one destroyed Toyota Land Cruiser in Wadi Merkhat, though some sources suggested that two or three vehicles had been destroyed (@demolinari, November 25th 2017)
  • Alleged images of the strike location showed one destroyed Toyota Land Cruiser in Wadi Merkhat, though some sources suggested that two or three vehicles had been destroyed (@demolinari, November 25th 2017)
  • Alleged images of the strike location showed one destroyed Toyota Land Cruiser in Wadi Merkhat, though some sources suggested that two or three vehicles had been destroyed (@demolinari, November 25th 2017)
  • Alleged images of the strike location showed one destroyed Toyota Land Cruiser in Wadi Merkhat, though some sources suggested that two or three vehicles had been destroyed (@demolinari, November 26th 2017)
  • Alleged images of the strike location showed one destroyed Toyota Land Cruiser in Wadi Merkhat, though some sources suggested that two or three vehicles had been destroyed (@demolinari, November 26th 2017)
  • The strike reportedly targeted AQAP militants as they travelled from Shabwa governorate to Bayda governorate, possibly transporting weapons (@ExeIntelUz, November 26th 2017)
  • The strike reportedly targeted AQAP militants as they travelled from Shabwa governorate to Bayda governorate, possibly transporting weapons (@ExeIntelUz, November 26th 2017)
  • The strike reportedly targeted AQAP militants as they travelled from Shabwa governorate to Bayda governorate, possibly transporting weapons (@ExeIntelUz, November 26th 2017)
  • The strike reportedly targeted AQAP militants as they travelled from Shabwa governorate to Bayda governorate, possibly transporting weapons (@ExeIntelUz, November 26th 2017)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck within Wadi Merkhat (وادي مركة) in the Merkhat al Olya (مرخة العليا) district. However, @ExeIntelUZ reports this strike occurring west of Merkhat Al Olya, in the vicinity of the highway connecting the governorate of Shabwa (شبوة) to Al Bayda (البيضة). Since research does not show whether Wadi Merkhat exists, or whether it is located in that area, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the alleged location are: 14.589742, 45.644669.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck within Wadi Merkhat (وادي مركة) in the Merkhat al Olya (مرخة العليا) district. However, @ExeIntelUZ reports this strike occurring west of Merkhat Al Olya, in the vicinity of the highway connecting the governorate of Shabwa (شبوة) to Al Bayda (البيضة). Since research does not show whether Wadi Merkhat exists, or whether it is located in that area, we were unable to verify the location further.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

Jess,

This is the most current CENTCOM information on strikes against AQAP and ISIS in Yemen.

· One strike against ISIS in al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen, Nov. 26. killing three terrorists.
· One strike against AQAP in Shabwah Governorate, Yemen, Nov. 25 killing seven terrorists.
· One strike against ISIS in al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen, Nov. 23, killing two terrorists.
· Two strikes against AQAP in al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen, Nov. 19-20. The strikes killed two AQAP terrorists Nov. 19 and five terrorists on Nov 20.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

MAJ Brown
CENTCOM Media Operations

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–8

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC417

Incident date

June 8, 2020

Location

غرب سرت, Western Sirte, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Five people, including paramedics, were killed in alleged LNA airstrikes with a Russian warplane on western Sirte on June 8th, 2020. Reportedly, GNA vehicles were targeted, including an ambulance.

Libya Observer reported that, according to a source within the GNA that “a MiG 29 warplane, which Russia gave to Haftar recently, had raided Libyan Army positions in western Sirte, targeting several vehicles, including one ambulance, and killed five people – paramedics included.” According to Libya Observer, all victims were GNA fighters. Airwars counts medical personnel as civilian casualties.

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 – 3
  • (2–3 healthcare_personnel)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    GNA
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Western Sirte (غرب 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.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 healthcare_personnel)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    GNA
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI040

Incident date

June 19, 2020

Location

Barwari, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.221806, 43.232818 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed by a Turkish airstrike in Barwari.

Barzan Sadiq tweeted: “Another civillian killed in Barwari area, western Duhok by Turkish attacks. So far five civillians killed since Turkey began their military operation against PKK in Kurdistan Region.”

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Barwari, for which the generic coordinates are: 37.221806, 43.232818. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr228

Incident date

June 24, 2020

Location

وادي عبيدة, Wadi Obaida, Ma'rib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.515556, 45.395278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants in the Wadi Obaida area of Marib city, in Marib governorate, on the evening of June 24th 2020, according to some sources. There were no known reports of civilian harm.

One source, @ksa2030_n, claimed that a senior AQAP leader was killed in the strike.  The Yemen Press Agency reported that the militants were targeted as they attempted to escape from fighting against Saudi-led coalition forces in Qaniyah, in nearby Bayda governorate.

US Central Command told Airwars that no US military strikes were conducted in Yemen during June 2020. It is, however, possible that an undeclared strike was conducted by the CIA, or as part of a clandestine US military operation.

The incident occured in the evening.

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 Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Wadi Obeida (وادي عبيدة) area, east of Mar’ib (مأرب) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Wadi Obeida are: 15.515556, 45.395278.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Wadi Obeida (وادي عبيدة) area, east of Mar’ib (مأرب) city.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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 Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • 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

RS3889

Incident date

July 10, 2019

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that two or three civilians were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib, Hama governorate, on July 10th, 2019.

According to Zaitonmag, “the city of Saraqib was subjected to an airstrike targeting the eastern neighbourhoods of the city with two missiles, wounding three civilians.”

@mahmoudalbakor1 tweeted: “Planes of the Al Assad terrorist forces targeted the industrial zone in the city. The bombing caused great damage to industrial and commercial shops and homes surrounding the area, and two people were injured.”

@abuhuzaifa_ also reported three wounded. According to @bakerahmd299, the victims were “lightly wounded”.

While several sources blamed the Syrian regime for the airstrikes on the city, others, such as @AbuWael_Daraya, blamed Russian warplanes. Geiroon gave a summary of airstrikes on Hama governorate on July 10th, writing that both Russia and the Syrian regime were actively conducting airstrikes in the area that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “Planes of the Al Assad terrorist forces targeted the industrial zone in the city. The bombing caused great damage to industrial and commercial shops and homes surrounding the area, and two people were injured.” (via @mahmoudalbakor1).
  • Damaged buildings after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on July 10th, 2019 (via @mahmoudalbakor1).
  • An injured victim is being carried away after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on July 10th, 2019 (via @mahmoudalbakor1).
  • Translation: “Several civilian casualties as a result of the warplanes targeting the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib, with air strikes” (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Saraqib on July 10th, 2019 (via @mahmoudalbakor1).

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
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2981

Incident date

February 5, 2018

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single source event, Edlib Media Center reported: “a civilian is wounded as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft in residential neighbourhoods in the city of Saraqeb in eastern Idlib.”

Currently, there are no further details availble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ 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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS459

Incident date

November 23, 2020

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387671, 38.863106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians were injured as a result of alleged Turkish mortar shelling on Ain Issa countryside in Raqqa on November 23rd, 2020.

According to Ronahi, populated areas in the villages of Saida, Maalak, Ain Issa camp, and the vicinity of the district center in Ain Issa were targeted with hundreds of mortar shells and heavy artillery during midnight.

According to ANHA, this shelling accompanied a Turkish ground operation in Ain Issa where SDF was fighting back.

No further information is available.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) and its surroundings, for which the generic coordinates are; 36.387671, 38.863106. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]