Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

USSOM046

Incident date

March 8, 2016

Location

Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.977202, 44.833162 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 19 alleged militants were killed in a joint operation between US and Somali forces in the village of Awdhegle. US attack helicopters supported US and Somali Special Forces who attacked an al Shabaab target in southern Somalia, the Pentagon and Somali officials said.

The assault took place overnight. The soldiers flew on US helicopters to a landing zone a few miles outside the target in the town of Awdhegle. US troops accompanied the Somali troops but did not “go all the way to the objective,” according to Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis. The US forces “served in an advisory role to enable the Somali operation,” Davis said. “It was their mission. We were acting in an advisory role.”

ENCA reported that “Special forces operatives in two helicopters targeted the Shebaab-controlled town of Awdhegele, about 50km west of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, Somali government officials and a Shebaab spokesman said. ‘We have reports Shebaab militants suffered casualties,” local district commissioner Mohamed Aweys told reporters.'”

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected attacker
    Somali Military Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    19

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the raid targeted a militant base in the village Awdheegle. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the precise location of the raid. The coordinates for the village Awdheegle are: 1.977202, 44.833162.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

New York Times, March 9th, 2016:

"Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said that American attack helicopters were used in the operation, and that American military personnel had accompanied Somali troops but that they did not “go all the way to the objective.”
He would not say whether the Americans stayed on the helicopters throughout the operation.
“I can tell you that U.S. military personnel served in an advisory role to enable the Somali operation,” he said, but insisted that “it was their mission. We were acting in an advisory role.”"

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected attacker
    Somali Military Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    19

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS717

Incident date

March 8, 2016

Location

الجنينة, Al Jneina, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3680555, 40.1196671 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian died in an explosion from the remains of a cluster bomb in Jneina, Deir Ezzor, allegedly dropped by a Russian warplane, according to multiple sources.

Four sources named the civilian as 45-year-old Sawadi Salloum, all saying he was killed in a cluster bomb explosion following a raid that morning.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sawadi Salloum,
45 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI198

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.32504, 43.155519 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a local source, six civilians from the same family were killed after two missiles by allegedly Coalition jets struck their home in the Shura district south of Mosul.

According to Yaqen News, the local Mosul source who reported the deaths also added that “indiscriminate bombardment by Coalition aircraft operations has increased dramatically recently, and led to the deaths of many civilians.”

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF344215
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • March 7, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2911/CI198 38SLF344215

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 6th-7th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI199

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Location

يت, Hit, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.642631, 42.8278537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve civilians reportedly died when their homes were struck in alleged Coalition airstrikes at Hit – although no strikes were publicly declared in the near vicinity.

According to local media, among those killed ‘in Coalition strikes’ were Hadi Hassan Jihad, Bashar Hadi Jihad and five other family members with several more wounded, near the secondary school for girls in Jamyiah neighbourhood; and Fadel Awad Alasaffi and his wife, who died when the nearby Meteorological Department was bombed.

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

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, 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 (2)

Fadel Awad Alasaffi
Adult male (via Heit News al-Hadath) killed
The wife of Fadel Awad Alasaffi
Adult female (via Heit News al-Hadath) killed

The victims were named as:

Hadi Hassan Jihad
Age unknown (via Heit News al-Hadath) killed
Bashar Hadi Jihad
Age unknown (via Heit News al-Hadath) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image of the victim (Bashar Hadi Jihad) who was killed in an alleged Coalition strike at Hit March 7th 2016 (via News From Hit)

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
    38SKC985246
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • March 7, 2016, in Hit, 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. 2912/CI199 38SKC985246

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 6th-7th 2016, the Coalition reported strikes in both Fallujah and Ramadi.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS715

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including two to three children and one woman died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Orm al Kubra according to multiple local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported a “massacre due to suspected Russian forces shelling on regime forces shelling in Owrm Al Kubra town in Aleppo governorate in March 7“. It said at least six civilians including two children and a woman died.

According to Halab News – which also blamed Russia – a woman and three children were among six killed. Al Jazeera also reported that Russian planes were responsible, while AMC and Shahba Press said that Russia used a cluster bombs in the raids.

HNN did not name the culprit, but said warplanes targeted the town with rockets.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • 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
    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 published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS716

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians – one woman and a child – died in an airstrike on Palmyra according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

Shaam News Network reported: “Russian planes supported Assad’s forces by bombing clash points. They targeted the city of Palmyra with dozens of strikes which caused the death of a child and a woman, and several injured.”

Multiple sources reported the death of the child Ahmed Mohammed Al-Saud, aged a year and a half, due to Russian strikes which hit a house in the Gateway area.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Big Syrian Revolution also named Rasmiyeh Askar Al Hamra though killed by regime warplane missiles. Revolution Coordination in Palmyra said she died in a Russian strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Mohammed Al-Saud,
1.5 years years old male from From al A’bbara, Homs killed
Rasmiyeh Askar Al Hamra
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Martyr, God willing, the child Ahmed Mohammed Al-Saud, and who was martyred yesterday by the Russian aggression raids on the city. God accepted among the martyrs, and has inspired his family patience and solace" (via Revolution Palmyra)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS714

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Location

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738466, 37.0479584 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15 and 23 civilians died and up to 132 were injured in airstrikes on Abu al Duhur, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. There were claims of a ‘double tap’ strike – with aircraft returning to attack rescuers.

In a series of Tweets, AEJKhalil reported that 20 civilians died when Russian warplanes allegedly carried out airstrikes “on a mini gas shop” in Abu al Duhur. Tweets included graphic images of charred bodies.

Videos posted by Khairo Al-Hamwi and Abu Al-Duhur also said Russia was responsible. According to Orient News, 17 civilians died in “three air strikes from warplanes, followed by barrel bombs from helicopters” – suggesting a possible joint Russia-regime action.

However, the Shaam Network reported that regime warplanes carried out several raids: “Activists said warplanes launched three air strikes targeted rocket houses the town center resulted in the ignition large fires and destruction solution, followed by the bombing of apartment buildings with explosive barrel bombs carried out by a helicopter on the same site.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed the regime, putting the death toll at at least 19 including three women.

AlAan TV too blamed the regime and reported: “The number of people killed in these raids has reached 15 dead and more than 132 wounded. We got these figures from the medical staff in the countryside of east Idlib.  [Jet] fighter and two explosive barrels targeted the city center and the fuel station and a fire broke out. There are also unidentified bodies, and the injured and wounded were deformed and couldn’t be identified“.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Mohammad Nawaf al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mohammad al-Jasem
27 years old male killed
Hsain al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
47 years old male killed
Ahmad Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
27 years old male killed
Husam Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Hsain Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
15 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud al Ali
Age unknown male From Rasm al A’abed, Aleppo killed
Faisal al Dannash
Age unknown male From Baya’iat al Dannash, Aleppo killed
Khaled al Ahmad
Age unknown male From Umm Jreen, Aleppo killed
Husam Mohammad al-Ali
18 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 23
  • (1 child3 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–132
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Images of air strikes on Abu al-Duhur (via AEJKhalil tweet)
  • The aftermath of the strikes on Abu al-Duhur (via AEJKhalil twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    GRAPHIC. Victims of the strikes on Abu al-Duhur (AEJKhalil twitter)
  • Al-Aan TV reportedthat the number of people killed in these raids has reached 15 dead and more than 132 wounded. Numbers reportedly attained from the medical staff in the countryside of east Idlib. It was reported that one [Jet] fighter and two explosive barrels targeted the city center and the fuel station and a fire broke out. There are also unidentified bodies.
  • Strikes on Abu al-Duhur, which the news site attributes to the Syrian regime (via All45Syria)
  • Strikes on Abu al-Duhur, which the news site attributes to the Syrian regime (via All4Syria)
  • Image of what according to The Syrian Reporter is a Russian airstrike on Abu al-Duhur (via The Syrian Reporter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 23
  • (1 child3 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–132
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS713

Incident date

March 6, 2016

Location

خربة كيار, Khirbet Kyar village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3280136, 37.6507568 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Khirbet Kyar, according to local sources.

HNN named Afaf Kareem Al-kharaf, a 42-year-old female, as killed in a Russian strike. The victim was also named by DAD Human and Ho_maf, though these sources didn’t say who was responsible for her death. Syria News Desk reported that Russia had carried out a raid on the village.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Afaf Kareem Al-kharaf
42 years old female killed
Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]