Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
11040 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS353

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Daesh agency Al A’maq produced a brief report saying that six civilians including four women and two children were killed – and 23 others injured – in a Russian air raid on Ar Raqqa.

In a detailed report Alaan TV noted: “At twelve o’clock noon a Russian plane targeted the city with two raids at a hostel and on the perimeter of the governor’s palace. At five o’clock in the evening there was another raid on a residential building next to the Sultanate restaurant leaving six dead, two of them children. A final strike hit the Farmers Union without major injuries.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (6) [ 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 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Raqqa governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

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 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI174

Incident date

January 8, 2016

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Sofiya, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Some local media reported that two families consisting of 14 civilians were killed in an unattributed airstrike on Sofiya in Ramadi. While Yaqen also reported that 14 civilians had died, it blamed the deaths on Iraq Army artillery.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying that it conducted no strikes nearby that day: “Jan. 8, 2016, near Ramadi, 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.”

Given that the Coalition has confirmed strikes on Ramadi that day, we have requested additional information.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

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 Ramadi, 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
Official source

The Coalition noted significant activity in the vicinity for January 8th-9th 2016: “Near Ramadi, six strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 21 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL sniper positions, two ISIL recoilless rifles, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility, two ISIL weapon caches, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS352

Incident date

January 8, 2016

Location

حزرما, Hazarma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51718, 36.48874 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one child were killed in airstrikes on Hazarma, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attacks were the work of the Russians or the Assad regime.

The White Helmets reported on two raids by “warplanes before sunset” which targeted a civilian home, leading to the death of three non-combatants (“an entire family“), including a child. Many more were injured.

Shaam News reported that Russian warplanes carried out two airstrikes using high explosive missiles targeting a residential building. Activists told SNN that civil defence teams managed to retrieve three dead people, including a father and his daughter – displaced from the town of al Ibada – from the rubble. A third person was also killed, from the town of Qasmiyeh.

SNN concluded their report by saying “the town of Hazarma is one of the most crowded places, after many families flocked to the town to escape the fighting in Al Marj region and is home to a lot of families displaced from other areas in the eastern Ghouta.“

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Douma Revolution however, regime warplanes killed three civilians (one a female child) when they bombed areas of Hazarma.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Zahra Zaheer Mu’ti
Child female named by the White Helmets killed
Zaheer Mu’ti
Age unknown female named by the White Helmets killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Darwish
Age unknown named by the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ 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 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI173

Incident date

January 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

Local media service Hit News claimed that Coalition airstrikes had struck a residential building in Hit. No further details are presently available.

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.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ 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
    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

  • Jan. 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. 2890/CI173 38SKC985246

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 6th-7th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Hit, two strikes struck an ISIL VBIED factory.”

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS163

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1320519, 38.9661026 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight children and three women were widely reported killed, in what most sources claimed to be a Coalition airstrike.

While Raqqah is Being Slaughtered and Radio Alkul did not attribute the attack, the Syrian Observatory blamed the Coalition: “Eight children and three citizen women were killed in a bombing by the international coalition’s warplanes on Khuzaymah village at the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah city, which is witnessing clashes between Syrian Democratic Forces against the “Islamic State.” The eight bodies of the children were brought to hospitals in Al-Raqqah city, while the bodies of the women were buried.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (8 children3 women)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition declared a strike in the vicinity of Ayn Isa, Al Raqqah governorate for January 7th-8th 2016: “Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and suppressed a separate ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (8 children3 women)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS350

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

أبو طلطل, Abu Taltal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.33714, 37.52333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four named civilians from one family including a child died when Russian warplanes allegedly fired missiles on the town of Abou Taltal in Aleppo governorate.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Aref Hazouri
Adult male VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Inas Hazouri
Child female VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Firas Hazouri
Adult male VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Mogammad Hazouri
Adult male VDC has named the following as having died “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • 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]

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 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • 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

Incident Code

RS351

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

سفلانية, Suflaniyah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.40929, 37.57825 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six non-combatants – three named women and three children – died when Russian warplanes allegedly fired missiles on the village of al Saflaneh in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

The Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies additionally named Sweilem Ahmed, a child, as also having died from “the indiscriminate shelling of the Russian Air Force.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Laian Mohammad Raslan
Child female “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Nour Mohammad Raslan
Child male “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed

The victims were named as:

Samiha Abdo Rostom
Adult female “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Mahdia Ahmad al-Barho
Adult female “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Rana Jihad Ramo
Adult female “due to Russian air forces shelling“ killed
Sweilem Ahmed
Child named by The Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children3 women)
  • 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]

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 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children3 women)
  • 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

RS349

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve civilians were killed including two to three women and two to four children and  as many as 85 injured in airstrikes on Arbeen, according to multiple sources – although reports were conflicted as to whether Russian or Assad regime forces were responsible.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 18 non-combatants died including women and children – with tens injured – in regime airstrikes and shelling in Eastern Ghouta. Among the casualties were four children and two women “killed in the aerial bombardment and shelling by the regime forces which targeted cities of Arbeen and Zamalka.”

However, a subsequent SOHR report blamed “warplanes believed to be Russian“, adding that they killed at least 10 people, including two women in “intense bombing“.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said regime shelling claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians, including one child and two women, adding that “even the rescue and aid teams were targeted with a Russian raid“. According to Shaam News Network, however, Russian warplanes killed 12 and injured more than 80.

The White Helmets published several reports on the incident but referred only to “warplanes” carrying out up to 13 raids with vacuum missiles which left 12 dead and up to 85 injured, including women and children, but said that the number of dead was likely to rise due to the severity of injuries. They added that there had been great destruction of civilian neighbourhoods.

The White Helmets as also named one unidentified victim.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ala’a Sleiman Al Najjar
Age unknown named by the White Helmets killed
Nadia Mamdouh Al Najjar
Age unknown named by the White Helmets killed
Abd Al Rahman Adnan Al Najjar
Age unknown named by the White Helmets killed
Mohammad Adnan Al Najar
Age unknown male named by the White Helmets killed

The victims were named as:

Sleiman Ramadan
Age unknown named by the White Helmets killed
Ameer Abdo Al Marji
Age unknown named by the White Helmets killed
Mohammad Deeb Omar Al Bakouni
Age unknown male named by the White Helmets killed
Mahmoud Al Kahhala
Age unknown male named by the White Helmets killed
Mohammad Omar Rihan
Age unknown male named by the White Helmets killed
Ahmad Al Harbawi
Age unknown named by the White Helmets killed
Jihad Al Sheikh
Child named by the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (2–4 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–85
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage of deceased bodies and injured civilians being taken from the scene into an ambulance. (via, The White Helmets)
  • Smoke rises from the scene of the incident in Arbeen. (via, The White Helmets)
  • Chaos as White Helmets run to the scene to rescue civilians in Arbeen. (via, The White Helmets)
  • White Helmets leave their van to make it to the buildings on foot due to rubble blocking the roads. Burning buildings can be seen at the end of the footage. (via, The White Helmets)
  • A photo of the alleged plane which dropped the airstrikes on Arbeen. (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 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (2–4 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–85
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]