Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CI537

Incident date

March 13, 2017

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al-Jadid / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.32944, 43.095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Relatives, local residents and press sources said up to 29 people from two families were killed after Coalition airstrikes struck their houses in the New Mosul neighborhood of West Mosul. The Coalition later conceded causing 27 deaths in the event.

According to Al Jazeera Iraq, 29 civilians, mostly children and women, were killed and many others were injured due to airstrikes and artillery shelling on the Monday evening. Other sources placed the event at 4pm to 5pm the following day.

Ahmad Al Jomaily reported on Facebook that “Ahmad Al-Abdullah al-Jumaili, his wife and his son Bashar al-Jumaili were killed” and other family members were missing.

Salih Alluhaiby also reported several victims, however without mentioning the names: “It moved to the mercy of God the compassionate, my sister and her daughter and her family and the family’s nephew after the bombing of Coalition aircraft in the New Mosul.”

Om Esraa posted a graphic video on Facebook and said: “Hours ago I communicated with parties in search of something to get us to the family of a disaster under the rubble in the New Mosul [neighbourhood], whose house was bombed the day before yesterday at ten in the morning (…)”.

The Los Angeles Times later reported the following: “Ihab Adnan was finishing removing 27 of his relatives who had been killed in his grandfather’s house in an airstrike on March 14 — a date outside the time frame the U.S.-led coalition is investigating. “Daesh was not letting us go out,” said Ihab Adnan, 35, a laborer, using a common term for Islamic State as he picked his way through the remains of his uncle’s house next door. Adnan pointed to a photo in the ruins of his 13-year-old cousin, Ali Ramadan, whose body was now zipped in a body bag. He said a series of airstrikes began at just after 5 p.m., and “everything was exploding.”

He could hear his relatives screaming next door. Adnan was screaming, too. He emerged to discover several families had been buried in their collapsed houses: 18 in his uncle’s house, 72 in a nearby home, 130 in another. He could hear some of the injured crying. “We were running and taking people out” of the ruins, Adnan said.”

Buzzfeed field investigators also placed the event on March 14th, providing the following incident report to Airwars:

“GPS Coordinates: 36.329583, 43.095028
Date and approximate time: March 14 at around 4pm
Casualties: 26 civilians killed, including nine family members of Yusuf Yahya Abed. This was one house that had been split into two. This was a kinetic strike, launched as part of an ISF assault into the neighborhood.
Comments: This is down the street from Site A. Residents couldn’t say for sure was the target could have been.”

In its September 2017 monthly casualty report, the Coalition accepted responsibility: “March 14, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that 27 civilians in an adjacent structure were unintentionally killed.”

Officials also supplied coordinates to Airwars, which exactly matched those of the al Jadida event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Ali Ramadan 13 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 29
  • (2 children2 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged Coalition airstrikes on New Mosul neighbourhood, which caused the death of two families (via Al Jazeera)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

  • The Military Grid Reference System coordinate (38SLF2901422174), accurate to 1 m, published by the US-led Coalition with their Credible assessment of the civilian harm incident.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    27
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2901422174
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2019
  • March 14, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that 27 civilians in an adjacent structure were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 12th-13th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, an ISIS staging area and an ISIS sniper team; destroyed 16 fighting positions, five VBIEDs, four mortar systems, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two supply caches, two VBIED factories, and a vehicle; damaged 22 supply routes; and suppressed 14 ISIS mortar teams, two ISIS tactical units, and an ISIS sniper team.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 29
  • (2 children2 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3399

Incident date

April 9, 2018

Location

وادي النسيم, Wadi Al Nasim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.916719, 36.641455 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unidentified explosion rocked the neighbourhood of Wadi Al Nasim in the city of Idlib, killing at least 10 civilians and injuring up to 150, local sources said.

Zeiton News said 12 women and seven children were among 29 killed by a long-range ballistic missile launched from Russian battleships. Additional sources, including a military observatory in the region, also reported the use of ballistic missiles by Russian forces.

However, alternative sources said the cause of the explosion could not be identified. Both airstrikes and ballistic missiles from warships in the Mediterranean Sea were reported, while Syria HR raised the possibility of a “booby trapped vehicle explosion.”

The Syrian Civil Defense said the explosion collapsed four residential buildings, including a seven storey building. The headquarters of the Caucasus Army, formerly the Nasra Front, was also damaged. The group belongs to al-Qaeda, according to the Associated Press.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 29
  • (1–7 children12–13 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–154
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

  • Explosion shakes Idlib, leaving 13 dead and 120 injured, Orient TV (April 2018)
  • Dozens dead and wounded in an unknown explosion in the city of Idlib, Smart News (April 2018)
  • The first moments following the explosion in Wadi Naseem, Ebba News (April 2018)
  • The first moments following the explosion in Wadi Naseem, Ebba News (April 2018)
  • The first moments following the explosion in Wadi Naseem, Ebba News (April 2018)
  • The explosion destroyed four residential buildings, Syrian Noor (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Civil defense teams pulled casualties from the rubble, Syrian Civil Defense (April 2018)
  • Civil defense teams pulled casualties from the rubble, Syrian Civil Defense (April 2018)
  • Civil defense teams pulled casualties from the rubble, Syrian Civil Defense (April 2018)
  • Civilians were among the dead, Maamoun al-Khatib (April 2018)
  • Civilians were among the dead, Maamoun al-Khatib (April 2018)
  • There were more than 150 injuries in initial toll, Euphrates Post (April 2018)
  • There were more than 150 injuries in initial toll, Euphrates Post (April 2018)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense ends the search for civilians under the rubble, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • Sources said they could not identify the type of the explosion or the perpetrator, SN4HR (April 2018)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 29
  • (1–7 children12–13 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–154
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS083 CS514

Incident date

February 20, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 29 civilians including up to five children and five women died in airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the US-led Coalition.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented today a massacre that took the lives of a family of 11 men and a woman and a child, they were killed by raids by Turkish warplanes and the shells of their forces that fell on the city”.

Syria News Desk said that five children died in the Turkish bombing.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Coalition for the death of 12 civilians, including 5 children and 4 women”.

Al Hayat also pointed to the Coalition, reporting that “29 were killed and four buildings destroyed  in the coalition air strikes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Unidentified child 1 years old female killed
  • the wife of Mahmoud Hussein Bat-hish Adult female daughter of Alaa al Othman killed
  • the child Hassan Mahmoud Bat-hish Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 29
  • (4–5 children5 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient information available to determine if civilians were present or harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 19th-20th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Bab, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.” For February 20th-21st, they reported: “Near Al Bab, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed four ISIS-held buildings, and damaged an ISIS-held building.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 29
  • (4–5 children5 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1732

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

الشفعة, Al Sha'afa: Al-Kashma district, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 30 civilians were reported killed and “dozens” injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Sha’afa. Most sources stressed that many of the victims were women and children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had documented the deaths of 22 civilians, including 9 children and 7 women and stressed that the toll was expected to rise due to the critical situation some of the injured civilians were in.

Deir Ezzor 24 tweeted that airstrikes had targeted the “Al Kashma district” of Al Sha’afa – later mentioning that more than ten civilians were harmed by the bombardments. Most sources specifically reported that 17 or 26 civilians were killed, with Free Deir Ezzor Radio even reporting “more than 30 martyrs, mostly women and children, as a result of US air strikes at dawn today”.

One activist, who declined to be named, told Smart News reporters that the civilian casualties may be ISIS family members as “the town’s families had left more than a month ago.” This was echoed by tweets from @QSD_Jabha and @Norsforstudies, as well as a Baladi report stating that – according to so-called Islamic State itself – 30 civilians were killed in Al Sha’afa.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for September 2019 – published on November 15th – the alliance classed the event as ‘non credible’, asserting that “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

Coalition officials confirmed to Airwars that their review was a match for this event, and provided coordinates for the area assessed to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • (2–9 children2–7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'News of the massacre of more than 10 martyrs, including children and women, as a result of the bombing of an aircraft believed to belong to the International Alliance'

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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Near al Shafah
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 15, 2019
  • February 28, 2018 near Al Shafah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 28th, the Coalition reported: “On Feb. 28 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of four engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged two Daesh tactical units and destroyed a Daesh supply route and a Daesh-held building.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Wednesday 28 February – Typhoons attacked two Daesh armoured vehicles in eastern Syria, and cratered a road to prevent it being used to move supplies or truck-bombs…Royal Air Force aircraft continued to fly daily armed reconnaissance patrols over eastern Syria, but the next air strikes did not occur until Wednesday 28 February. One flight of Typhoons delivered attacks with Paveway IVs against two Daesh armoured vehicles spotted by the Syrian Democratic Forces to the north-east of Abu Kamal, with one of the weapons being accurately delivered through cloud against a target which the aircrew could not themselves see. A second Typhoon flight conducted Paveway attacks on a key road in the area, cratering it to prevent the terrorists from moving equipment along it, particularly heavy truck-bombs.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Feb 28th to March 6th, France reports 30 air sorties providing intelligence support to SDF forces engaged on the ground. No strikes were conducted. Task Force Wagram continued its support for security operations carried out by the ISF in the Euphrates Valley. This week, four shooting missions were carried out (2 interdiction missions and 2 illuminance missions.)

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Sur le théâtre irako-syrien, les opérations se poursuivent. Les objectifs demeurent de défaire les dernières poches terroristes en Syrie et de sécuriser le territoire irakien. Poursuite des combats en Syrie En Syrie, les forces démocratiques syriennes poursuivent leur effort contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie présentes sur les rives orientales de l’Euphrate, l’une située autour de Dashisha le long de la frontière avec l’Irak et l’autre dans la vallée de l’Euphrate à proximité d’Abou Kamal, autour de la ville d’Hajin. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, conduisant une vingtaine d’opérations par semaine, les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent la sécurisation du territoire. Ces opérations se concentrent autour des principales agglomérations, mais aussi dans le désert de l’Anbar où de nombreuses caches terroristes ont été récemment décelées et détruites. Retour progressif des réfugiés en Irak En Irak, la situation des populations civiles revient progressivement à la normale. Au cours des deux dernières semaines, principalement dans la province de Ninive, environ cent trente mille personnes déplacées ont rejoint leurs localités d’origine. ACTIVITÉ DE LA FORCE Formation au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes En fin de semaine dernière, la Task Force Narvik a terminé un stage de quatre semaines au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes. Ce stage s’est déroulé du 6 février au 1er mars et a permis de former aux techniques d’infiltration une vingtaine de soldats irakiens appartenant à l’Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS), unité d’élite des forces de sécurité irakiennes. Les principaux savoir-faire transmis ont été la lutte contre les IED, le combat en zone urbaine, les techniques d’infiltration et de reconnaissance dans la profondeur et le secourisme au combat. La Task Force Wagram en appui des opérations de sécurisation La Task Force Wagram poursuit son appui aux opérations de sécurisation menées par les forces de sécurité irakiennes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Cette semaine, quatre missions de tirs ont été réalisées (2 missions d’interdiction et 2 missions d’éclairement – bilan du 28 février au 6 mars). Depuis le début de sa mission, la TF Wagram, a réalisé 1629 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations L’activité des forces aériennes françaises engagées dans l’opération Chammal se concentre sur l’appui aux forces démocratiques syriennes combattant dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Dans ce cadre, les aéronefs engagés dans l’opération Chammal ont réalisé cette semaine 30 sorties aériennes orientées sur l’appui renseignement aux forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 28 février au 6 mars). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total depuis le 19/09/14 : 7845 sorties / 1443 frappes / 2233 objectifs neutralisés.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • (2–9 children2–7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS824

Incident date

May 14, 2017

Location

عكيرشي, `Ukayrishah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.85817, 39.126332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 30 civilians – mostly women – were killed when alleged Coalition airstrikes hit al A’Keirshi village in the countryside of Raqqa, according to local media.

The victims were reportedly farm workers who were travelling in three cars to their place of work when they were struck by the air raid.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Euphrates Post, which provided the most extensive coverage of the incident, both reported that 22 people were killed.

According to Alhasaka Alarabea, at least 20 people died, while Q_Alenzy referred to the victims as “cotton workers”, reporting that they were returning from work when their cars were struck.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syran Network for Human Rights both out the death toll lower, at at least 12. At least eight others were reported wounded by RBSS.

Al Hasaka Rasd reported that “20 female agricultural workers” died in the Coalition strike, while the Smart News Network – citing Reuters – put the death toll as high as 30, of which it said 22 were women.

Euphrates Post listed two female internally displaced people in addition to the victims mentioned below.

RBSS named one of the victims (and provided a picture) as:

Nawwaf Mohammed Al Turki al Sawa’an [M] – Al Ragga Truth also named him, saying he died when Coalition planes targeted his motorbike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Rakiya Hassoud al Ahmad Adult female killed
  • Khazna Al Abboud Al Hussein Adult female killed
  • The daughter of Khalaf Al Jassem al Hamoud Adult female killed
  • Hanan al Faisal al Khalaf Al Turki Adult female killed
  • Jaziya al Al Jassem al Saleh al Tammas Adult female killed
  • Maha al Abboud al Hussein Adult female killed
  • Mohammad al Ali al Ahmad al Saleh Adult female killed
  • Nawwaf Mohammed Al Turki al Sawa’an Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 30
  • (11–22 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–12
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Nawwaf Mohammad Al Turki al Sawa’an, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al A'keirshi, May 14th (via RBSS)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, 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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV1138368199
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 12th-13th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a front-end loader, an ISIS crane, and a house-born improvised explosive device.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 30
  • (11–22 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–12
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS974

Incident date

July 8, 2016

Location

دركوش, Darkoush, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9916361, 36.3938856 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twenty six named civilians including a child and eight women died and up to 70 more were wounded in an airstrike on a residential neighbourhood and popular market in Darkoush, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. The strike reportedly took place at midday on July 8th.

Sources disputed claims over the aircraft used in this attack. Alan TV and Syrian PC reported that Russian warships and missiles were used. Ara News claims that missiles were fired from warships and warplanes followed with shelling. Both DW News and BBC Arabic reported shelling by warplanes.

Syrian Network for Human rights claimed that both Russian and Assad regime warplanes were responsible for the damage, whereas Syrian Newsdesk blamed only Russia.

Halab Today reported sighting the use of “long ranging missiles”.

Numerous sources reported the names of the dead which included a list compiled by Darkoush Hospital where the majority of the casualties and wounded civilians went.

A further 35-70 people were wounded in the airstrike. Syrian Newsdesk reported that the numbers of wounded were so high that “medical points in neighbouring areas asked people to donate blood”.

According to Shaam News Network, Assad regime warplanes did not only target Darkoush, but on the same day “targeted Kfrcharim city in the north-west of Idlib, which resulted in the fall of martyrs and wounded a number of civilians.”

Sambo1982ksa put the death toll as high as 30, and also blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Ameen Umran Age unknown male from Darkoush killed
  • Abdullah Hashmo Age unknown male from Ariha killed
  • Youssef Jamal Al-Deen Age unknown male from Darkoush killed
  • Salwa Al-Sharawi Age unknown female from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed
  • Maram Milshoo Age unknown female from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed
  • Adeela Ma’tooq Age unknown female from Ariha killed
  • Manal Sha’ar Age unknown female from Idlib killed
  • Ali Al-Ali Al-Mutalak Age unknown male from Aleppo, Al-Ees killed
  • Ahmad Al-shkih Taha Age unknown male from Idlib killed
  • Khaled Basha Age unknown male from Idlib killed
  • Mohammed Hassan Age unknown male from Kafr Nabilm killed
  • Abdullah Ibrahim Fayez Safureya Age unknown male from Darkoush killed
  • Qamar Al-Basha Age unknown female from Idlib killed
  • Abdul-Aziz Bushnaq Age unknown male from Hraytan killed
  • Abdullah Fayez Mohammed Age unknown male killed
  • Fawzy Haitham Al-Kurdi Age unknown male from Maarat Al Nu'man killed
  • Abdul-Salam Dawood Age unknown male killed
  • Fatima Abdallah Sha’arawi Age unknown female killed
  • Lina Milsho 3 months years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26 – 30
  • (1 child8 women15 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35–70
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (24) [ collapse]

  • The damage caused to the residential buildings in Darkoush, 8th July 2016. (via Syria Live Network tweet).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A tweet showing graphic images of victims, the source alleged Assad responsible (via @7aneen_alwajih)
  • Footage of the destruction in Darkoush after alleged airstrikes, the source alleged Russia responsible (Youtube via Alan TV)
  • A vehicle ablaze in Darkoush after strikes launched from suspected Russian warship (via Syrianpc)
  • Civilians tend to victims stuck under the rubble, after alleged Russian strikes launched from warships (via Ara news)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The Civil Defense use a digger to remove victims from a destroyed building in Darkoush (via BBC Arabic)
  • Vehicles and buildings in flames following alleged airstrikes on Darkoush (via DW news)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The youngest civilian killed in the alleged strikes, Lian Milsho, three months old (via Eithad press)
  • Distressing footage of victims and wounded following suspected Russian or Regime attacks on Darkoush (Youtube via Baladi News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilian children in Darkoush, the aftermath of suspected attack from Russian warship (via syriahr)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child under medical supervision following alleged airstrikes (via Smart)
  • Material destruction, the aftermath of alleged warship missiles (tweet by @Syriamubasher)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians, including children, after suspected Russian strikes on Darkoush (tweet by @mozahim7171)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child wounded by suspected Russian strikes (Tweet by @123Rania123) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child covered in bandages, the aftermath of suspected Russian attacks on Darkoush (Tweet by @123Ranis123) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    People look after the wounded after a market in Darkoush was allegedly struck by Russian missiles (via @Sambo1982 ksa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A market struck by Russia in rural Idlib, resulting in significant civilian harm (Tweet via @sambo1982ksa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic images of civilian children killed and wounded in Darkoush (Tweet by @darkosh11)
  • A medic attempts to resuscitate one of the wounded in Darkoush (Tweet by @Alwasakuwait)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured and killed in the streets of Darkoush after suspected Russian attacks (Tweet by @7aneen_alwajih)
  • The names of those injured and killed in Darkoush, listed by the local hospital (Tweet by @sayedissa00)
  • Material destruction after alleged rocket strike in Darkoush (Youtube by Gift of the Givers Foundation)
  • Further material destruction in buildings in Darkoush (Youtube via Gift of the Givers Foundation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of severely wounded civilians in Darkoush (Youtube via Gift of the Givers Foundation)

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 July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26 – 30
  • (1 child8 women15 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35–70
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS279

Incident date

December 15, 2015

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.964534, 38.036764 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

26 to 30 civilians including five women were killed and dozens injured in airstrikes on Maskaneh, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian aircraft committed an “appalling massacre” when warplanes targeted Maskaneh’s popular market “Bazaar” in two airstrikes.

Activists told SNN that the market was packed full of civilians, meaning that the death toll exceeded 30 and that many of the dead were unrecognisable due to deformation of bodies.

SNN noted that although Maskaneh is under IS control, the raids are only targeting markets and civilians.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported on the attack, initially putting the death toll at least 12 and then 30, including five women. They also noted that four IS militants were killed. Although they stated that “warplanes” were responsible, they did not say who they belonged to.

According to the IS agency Al A’maq, 24 were “dead and injured“, with most of them being women. They said that there had been three Russian raids.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at 20, said that regime missiles were to blame.

The VDC also accounted for three unidentified victims:

Unidentified 1 – adult, male

Unidentified 2 – adult, male

Unidentified 3 – adult, male from Homs

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Ali Mohammad Jasem al-Ammash Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Wazeer Saleh al-Shebli Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Mahmoud Mohammad al-Ibraheem Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Ali al-Merie Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Mohammad al-Hmoush Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Hsain Ahmad al-Mahmoud al-Jadaan Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Wife of Ismael Ahmad al-Ekle Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Hasan al-Ghrad Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Mohammad Ahmad al-Saleem al-Issa Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Awsh al-Hadi al-Sheikh Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Kareeme al-Mahmoud al-Ello Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Nuriye al-Ibraheem al-Mehsen Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Raed Hsain Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Wife of Ali al-Ammash Adult female named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Malek Hasan al-Hammo Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Fares al-Jumaa al-Muwali Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Abdul Hadi Musa Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed
  • Aboud Saleh al-Khlaif al-Sayyad Adult male named by the VDC as killed by Russian aircraft killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26 – 30
  • (5 women21 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

  • The market in Masskana following alleged Russian strikes, December 15th. (via SNN)
  • In the aftermath of the airstrikes on Maskana. A truck which has been caught in the raid too. (via, SNN)
  • A van destroyed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a deceased man. (via, SNN)
  • An injured man in a medical facility. (via, SNN)
  • The streets in the aftermath of the contested airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Damaged infrastructure. (via, SNN)
  • Residential buildings destroyed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • Walls of a building totally demolished by an airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians grieve for their loved ones. (via, SNN)
  • A huge crater formed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • Another photograph showing the size of the crater formed by the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • More evidence to show the damage to the infrastructure. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

For December 15th-16th 2015, Russia reported that “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 59 combat sorties engaging 212 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah provinces… In the Aleppo province, a Su-24 bomber made a strike on an ISIS concentration of manpower and military hardware. Objective monitoring data confirmed elimination of not less than 10 militants and 3 automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26 – 30
  • (5 women21 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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

CI626

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

اليرموك, Mosul, Yarmouk, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336804, 43.083396 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported a major incident in Yarmouk neighbourhood, West Mosul, where airstrikes allegedly killed more than thirty civilians.

The local Facebook group Sawlf Ateka named the victims as: “Imad Abdul Ghani Al-Rashdi and his mother, his wife, four daughters, the daughter of his brother Iyad and five other families after they fled to their neighbor’s home.” According to the report, an ISIL member had been on the roof of their house, so they fled to the neighbour’s house. The ISIL combatant escaped, but the house where the families were hiding was then hit by airstrikes. According to Sawif Ateka “They are now under the rubble. We appeal to the counter-terrorist units to evacuate the bodies. The site of the incident is opposite the Yarmouk Bridge and the Maysaloun Preparatory School for Girls.”

MNN reported that A-10 aircraft carried out the bombings in Yarmouk. This type of aircraft is used only by the US in Iraq, so could point at Coalition involvement. However, none of the other sources indicated who was responsible.

Yarmouk Coordination spoke of a total of 73 dead, mostly children and more than 200 wounded in “American-Iraqi” bombings in Mosul over a period of three days.

Nineveh Media Centre later named Mohamed Abdel Wahab Ibrahim El Sayegh (see photo below) as also having died in the attack. Yarmouk neighbourhood was reportedly liberated by Iraqi forces that day.

In a later report. the Iraqi Observatory gave more details: “The monitoring network documented at the Iraqi Observatory on April 10 the killing of five families in the Yarmouk district of the right-hand side of the city of Mosul, after their house was targeted by air strikes. A displaced man from the city of Mosul reported that a bomb exploded near the Yarmouk Bridge, killing one of his cousins, his mother, his wife, four daughters, his nephew and five other families who were gathered in one house. He added that the house was bombed an hour after the escape of one of the elements of the organization that was on the roof of the house, likely to kill thirty civilians whose bodies are still under the rubble.”

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Imad Abdul Ghani Al-Rashdi Adult male killed
  • Mohamed Abdel Wahab Ibrahim El Sayegh Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28 – 30
  • (7 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mohamed Abdel Wahab Ibrahim El Sayegh was reportedly killed after a mortar hit his house in Yarmouk neighborhood (via Ninawa Media Center)
  • Imad Abdul Ghani Al-Rashdi

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 9th-10th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, five mortar systems, three medium machine guns, and a vehicle; damaged 22 supply routes; and suppressed four mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28 – 30
  • (7 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]