Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS375

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were killed – including two children, an elderly man and a first aider – and several wounded in an airstrike on Douma, according to the White Helmets – though they did not say who was responsible for the attack the report stated that residential areas were targeted with cluster bombs.

Shaam News reported that Russian warplanes had allegedly launched several raids on Douma with missiles and cluster bombs, which led to an unspecified number of deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abu Hatem Al Seidawi
Adult male named by Douma Revolution killed
Omar Bewidena
Age unknown male named by Syria2011 killed
Mohammed Jamal al-Ghazzawi
Age unknown male named by Syria2011 killed
Abdullah Injaileh
Child male VDC blamed “warplane shelling“ killed
Ziad Ahmad al-Slaik
Child male VDC blamed “warplane shelling“ killed
Shadi Hammoudeh
Adult male first aider was named by a local activist as having died as a result of cluster munitions killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Abu Hatem Al Seidawi, killed in an alleged Russian or Syrian Regime raid on January 12th 2016. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    First aider, Shadi Hammoudeh, was named by a local activist as having died as a result of cluster munitions. (via, YASER ALDOUMANI2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Abdullah Injaileh, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, YASER ALDOUMANI2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Ziad Ahmad al-Slaik, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Found on VDC and media activist Yasser elFawal alDoumani page)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Shadi Hammoudeh, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Douma Revolution)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not publicly reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ022

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Power plant, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.202222, 20.133611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA reported that it conducted airstrikes against ISIS in Benghazi. The Air Force targeted a field hospital and an ammuniton store in Sidi Faraj, a camp in Garyounis, ISIS centres in Sabri and Al-Leithi and various vehicles at the axis of the Safsafa project.

An UNSMIL report later noted that a power plant had been hit by an airstrike, and condemned the action against civilian infrastructure.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS376

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

طلف, Talaf, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9116252, 36.5593243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to ten non-combatants were reported killed and a number wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Talaf in the Hama countryside, according to local sources.

Fatality claims ranged widely, from one to ten civilians killed. The local Hama Media Centre later issued a video report in which it interviewed local activist Abu Rayan:

“Rayan: The Russian bear targeted us we were sitting peacefully and a rocket landed, there is no FSA here only civilians, look around you.

Q: Who was injured?

Rayan: Children

Q:are the children from Daesh?

Rayan: Yes the children aged four and five years old we moved from here are from Daesh (sarcasm).”

That said, small arms fire can be heard from the town at the time of the airstrike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • An interview with a local civilian by the Hama Media Centre regarding the alleged Russian raids. (via, Hama Media Centre)
  • Footage showing the destruction to civilian homes in Talaf. (via, Hama Media Centre)
  • A video of the raid in the exact moment that the airstrike fell. (via, Abu Obeida Khuzaymah)
  • Footage showing the internal destruction to residential homes. (via, Hama Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A deceased baby which was discovered in the rubble in the aftermath of the raid which struck Talaf. (via, Hama Media Centre)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic footage of the leg of an injured man. (via, Abdalbarey Mstfa)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the alleged Russian raids which killed civilians in Talaf. (via, Al Jisir)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not publicly reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI176

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qaim, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 27th 2017 the Coalition published an assessment of a civilian casualty event dated January 12th 2016, naming Airwars as the source of reporting. The Coalition’s report stated: “1. Jan. 12, 2016, near Al Qa’im, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of available information, it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.” However, Airwars had not reported any strikes in Iraq that date.

After contacting the Coalition, Airwars was told in an email that the assessment had in fact been published with the wrong year. The Coalition’s assessment refers to the alleged strike in Al Qaim in January 12th 2017.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Tel Kepe, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY EVENT

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS377

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

حر بنفسه, Harbnafsa, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9371883, 36.6221952 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians were killed and a number of others wounded in Harbnafsa, according to the Shaam News Network, which blamed Russian warplanes.

However Orient TV, Zaman al Wasl and Step News said that regime artillery was responsible for the deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS378

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

معرسة الخان, Ma’arasta Al Khan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.38032, 37.0744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 10 civilians including three women and two children were killed and ten to 12 wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Ma’aratsa Al Khan, according to multiple sources. The targets appear to have included a civilian bus.

The Shaam News Network reported that “Russian aircraft committed a massacre in the town of Ma’arasta Al Khan west of the two Shi’ite villages“, claiming 13 lives and wounding more than a dozen.

The White Helmets put the death toll at 10, with 12 others wounded, but did not say who the “warplanes” that carried out the two raids belonged to.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights produced three reports.The first blamed the Assad regime and said 10 civilians including three women were killed.

However, subsequent reports said Russian warplanes were responsible for shelling the road that leads to the town of Hayyan, next to “the Great Mosque in Ma’ar Setat Al Khan town in northern Aleppo suburbs that is under the control of armed opposition.” It put the death toll at 12 civilians including two children and two women, adding that almost 12 others were injured.

Orient TV interviewed a survivor who placed the death toll as high as 22: “We don’t understand why we are being targeted; the front line is over there, why are we civilians being targeted? Not a single military person is here, yet more than 5 women and 7 or 8 children and 10 men waiting to collect bread were killed.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Mohammad Awso
Adult male the VDC it blames Syrian Regime aircraft killed
Wafaa Mohammad Misto
Child female the VDC it blames Syrian Regime aircraft killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • Members of the White Helmets rescue victims of an airstrike by "warplanes" on Ma'arasta Al Khan, January 12th 2016. (via, The White Helmets)
  • Interviews discussing the airstrike in Ma'arasta Al Khan which killed between 10 and 22 civilians. (via, Al Jazeera)
  • White Helmets who attempt to clear the rubble of a civilian home which was destroyed by an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • White Helmets clearing the rubble, possibly in an attempt to rescue a trapped civilian, 12th January 2016. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Chaos in Ma'arasta Al Khan as civilians and White Helmets attempt to clear the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • A car damaged in the raids. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Another photograph showing the extent of damage to the residential homes in Ma'arasta Al Khan. (via Radio Al Kul)
  • A damaged van from the alleged raid on Ma'arasta Al Khan. In the background an Ambulance can be seen. (via. Radio Al Kul)
  • Another car damaged in the raids. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • A photograph showing the extent of the damage to the inside of a Mosque in Ma'arasta Al Khan. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Another image showing the extent of the internal damage to the Mosque in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Another image showing the extent of the internal damage to the Mosque in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Damage to the infrastructure of the Mosque following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on 12th January 2016. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Part of a shop or market which was damaged in the alleged airstrikes. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Damage to the infrastructure of the Mosque following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on 12th January 2016. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • A civilian casualty is carried from the scene where the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike hit. (via Radio Al Kul)
  • Valuable items are transported form the Mosque in order to protect them from the rubble. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • An injured civilian is rescued from the rubble. (via, Radio Al Kul)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian is rescued from the rubble by the White Helmets. (via, Radio Al Kul)
  • Damage to the infrastructure of civilian homes. (via, Radio Al Kul)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS379

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.864249, 36.804977 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to five civilians including four women and one child were killed in an airstrike on Saraqib, according to multiple reports. While most sources blame Russia for the attack, others claim the Assad regime was responsible.

Shaam News said Russian forces carried out a “massacre” in which five non-combatants including children died. It reported that this was one of three incidents in Idlib on this day, the others being in Ma’arat al Nu’man and Sarmada.

Al Hall reported that “scores of civilians were killed, on Tuesday, and wounded more than a hundred others, a result of air strikes Russian warplanes, which targeted the cities and towns of Idlib countryside“, but they said that the Assad regime was responsible for the raid on Saraqib, which killed five civilians, including an unborn child in a mother’s womb, and left a number wounded. After two other incidents in Idlib on this day, activists said that hospitals were filled with wounded people and that there was an acute shortage of medical supplies.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed regime warplanes – again putting the death toll at five.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the number killed in Idlib had risen to 43 including four children and six women – blaming Russia and saying that the number of deaths was likely to rise due to the severity of injuries sustained in the three attacks.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Alaa Haj Musa
Adult female killed
Watfe Haj Musa
Adult female killed
Rahaf Haj Musa
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Nermin Habeeb
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (0–1 children4 women)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (0–1 children4 women)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS380

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.18553, 36.72231 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

26 civilians including seven children and two to three women were killed – and up to 100 others injured – in airstrikes on Sarmada according to multiple sources.

Shaam News reported on three incidents on Idlib on the same day (Maarat Al Numan, Saraqib, Sarmada), and said 13 non-combatants were killed and dozens injured in two strikes by Russian warplanes in Sarmada.

Al Hall said Russian planes bombed the town with high-explosive rockets, killing 20 civilians (including women and children) and wounding dozens more, who were transferred to Turkish hospitals.

Al Khaleej put the death toll higher at 25 with nearly 100 wounded, many critically. Al Jazeera also blamed Russia (putting the number killed at 15), but the White Helmets only referred to attacks being carried out by “warplanes” and did not say who they belonged to. They said 27 civilians were killed, with 52 wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published several brief reports in which it at first said the Assad regime was responsible for killing up to 22 including seven children and three women. But in a detailed later report it stated that Russian warplanes had killed 25 people (including five children and three women) in Sarmada.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Son of Safwan Abdul Lateef al-Sayed
Child killed
Safwan Abdulateef al-Sayed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Abo Hanan al-Nahhab
Adult male killed
Abo Ali al-Nahhab
Adult male killed

Family members (3)

Abdul Rahman Waleed Abo Ras
Child male killed
Hanaa Waleed Abo Ras
Child female killed
Tasneem Khaled Abo Ras
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ali Qadour
Adult male killed
Mohammad Abdul Salam Naser
Child male killed
Jomaa Mohammad Dyab Jallad
Adult male killed
Hasan Mohammad Sadeq Dwaider
Adult male killed
Ibaa Jazzar
Adult female killed
Mohammad al-Hsain al-Sahl
Adult male killed
Ahmad al-Fityan
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Zaki Hablous
Adult male killed
Mustafa Abdul Jabbar al-Qadd
Adult male killed
Abdo Mohammad Adas
Adult male
Wafaa Saied Ahmad
Adult female killed
Aya Husam Mustafa Alloush
Child female
Ayleen Hasan Mohammad Sadeq Dwaider
Child female killed
Sara Abdulla Khansa
Adult female killed
Mohammad Mahmoud al-Ali
Adult male
Basel Abo Ayman
Adult male
Ahmad Malek al-Awad
Adult male
Ali Hsain al-Alayan
Adult male
Mohammad al-Mesleh al-Rajab
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • (7 children2–3 women16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian is rescued from the rubble by the White Helmets. (via, Asi News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian being pulled out of the remains of his car. (via, Salah Fojo)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Abdul Salam Naser, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Mohammad Abdul Salam Naser, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Hasan Mohammad Sadeq Dwaider, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abo Hanan al-Nahhab, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Abdul Rahman Waleed Abo Ras, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Hanaa Waleed Abo Ras, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad al-Hsain al-Sahl, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Ayleen Hasan Mohammad Sadeq Dwaider, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on 12th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • White Helmets rescue civilian casualties and begin to clear up the rubble after an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • An image showing damage to civilian homes. (via, SNN)
  • Footage highlight the destruction to the civilians homes. (via, Salah Fojo)
  • White Helmets arriving at the scene in the aftermath of the incident. (via, The White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man pulled out from under some rubble. (via, Salah Fojo)
  • Footage showing the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid. (via, Salah Fojo)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dozens of men work on rescuing a seriously injured man who is trapped under the rubble following an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, The White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • (7 children2–3 women16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]