Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS166

Incident date

January 18, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Union of Hassakah Youth, an adult male non-combatant named as Ammar Al Khayran was killed in a Coalition strke on Raqqah. According to the group, the victim “came from Mabrouka in the western countryside of Rass Al Ain.” Other sites also reported his death, which was additionally claimed for both January 17th and January 19th.

According to Ara News, in an evening strike the international Coalition targeted “three locations near Raqqa city with a drone, which led to the destruction of a tactical unit belonging to Daesh.” Citing Raqaa is Being Slaughtered, the article also reported that there had not as yet been any reports of civilian casualties from the event.

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:

Ammar Al Khayran
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Jan. 18, 2016, in Raqqah, Syria, 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. 2901/CS166 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports for January 17th-18th 2016 that “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL underground facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI179

Incident date

January 18, 2016

Location

المعارض المنفيس, Mosul, Exhibitions area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.344167, 43.188333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources claimed that 11 civilians were killed and 6 others wounded after Coalition aircraft allegedly targeted cars in the Exhibitions area east of Mosul.

According to the National Iraqi News Agency, residents in the city’s Exhibitions area said the casualties occurred when aircraft fired on vehicles: “The bodies of civilians were handed over to the forensic medicine department, while those injured were taken to hospitals in Mosul.” Al Mustaqbal also noted the event, though their story appears to be based on NINA’s report.

Al Araby said that 10 civilians died in the event while a further 11 were injured, noting that local sources “did not know whether the bombing had inflicted casualties (on Daesh) or not.”

Responding to a request for clarification, the UK MoD told Airwars: “There is no credible indication of potential UK involvement” in the alleged event of January 18th.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying it had not conducted strikes in the near vicinity: “Jan. 18, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–11
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reported for January 18th-19th 2016 that “Near Mosul, five strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, four ISIL fighting positions, and an ISIL cash collection point.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–11
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS418

Incident date

January 18, 2016

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult female civilian, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hayyan, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khawla Mohammad Siraj
Adult female killed

Summary

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

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1847

Incident date

January 18, 2017

Location

إدلب., Idlib city, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured – and several others possibly killed – in an alleged Russian airstrike on a bus garage in Idlib, according to sources on the ground.

@nabdsyria1 reported that “Russian raids targeted the Bulman Garage and the Central Bank in Idlib”.

According to Idlib Media Centre, “three [civilians] were wounded when Russian occupation planes targeted the coach station in Idlib”.

Aljazeera also reported civilian harm: “Activists said that several were wounded and killed by raids targeting the garages area in the city of Idlib.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • The aftermath of a strike on a bus garage in Idlib, Jan 18th (via Zaitonmag)
  • Translation: 'photos of the destruction left by Russian occupation planes on the coach station inside the city of Idlib following a raid on Wednesday, Jan 18th' (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Translation: 'photos of the destruction left by Russian occupation planes on the coach station inside the city of Idlib following a raid on Wednesday, Jan 18th' (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Translation: 'photos of the destruction left by Russian occupation planes on the coach station inside the city of Idlib following a raid on Wednesday, Jan 18th' (via Idlib Media Centre)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1846

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

تدمر , Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.569294, 38.291216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Palmyra Media Centre, reported; “Russian planes bombed the outskirts of Palmyra in the al Dawa and Sha’er and Huweissass areas. Planes also bombed an area of a Bedouins’ gathering near Palmyra which led to the deaths of two people.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS416

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

وادي العرايس, Wadi Al A’rayess, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.54654, 36.3946 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network published two videos depicting destruction in the Al Kalassi neighbourhood of Aleppo. The first showed a woman after she became homeless when “the aggressors destroyed her home“; the second depicted wounded civilians “following the strike on the area of Wadi Al A’rayess.”

There are currently no further details  on the alleged strike or who was responsible for it.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A distressed woman crying out after her home was destroyed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded civilians depicted following an alleged airstrike on Wadi al A'rayess. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS417

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that “warplanes believed to be Russian” bombed areas in Al Bab city in the northern countryside of Aleppo. The Observatory said the alleged attack resulted in injuries and casualties, including women and children, but did not provide numbers.

However, Halab Today TV and North Media Institute said that regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS414

Incident date

January 17, 2016

Location

معردبسة, Ma’ardabssa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7772965, 36.769352 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed and several other civilians injured following an alleged Russian raid on the town of Ma’ardabssa, according to the Shaam News Network.

Fresh Syria reported that “a woman was killed  in the village of Ma’ardebsah Idlib, a result of the Russian aviation targeting the village on Sunday afternoon with three air raids. The raids also resulted in a number of people being wounded, some of them critically”.

Free Syria also reported three Russian strikes but did not mention casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dibeh Mohammad al-Shamali –
Adult female said that she was killed by regime shelling killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin makes no mention of carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (4) [ collapse]