Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CI157

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three professors from the University of Mosul were among four civilians and a Daesh official reported killed in an alleged Coaliton airstrike.

According to the National Iraqi News Agency, Salah Mohammed Afri, responsible for student affairs, “was killed along with two [or three] professors appointed by Daesh to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Mosul. They died at a medical complex on the edge of the campus.”

ARA News, citing a Nineveh police official, suggested that the attack had deliberately targeted four university employees and a Daesh official, all of whom were pro-ISIL.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah Mohammed Afri
Adult male responsible for student affairs at University of Mosul killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF294240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 13, 2015, in Mosul, 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. 2870/CI157 38SLF294240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 12th-13th 2015 it was reported that “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL bunker.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI158

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were single-source claims that 19 civilians died in a Coalition airstrike on Mosul.

Citing local residents, the National Iraqi News Agency claimed that “international coalition aircraft bombed residential compounds in the Hadbah area east of Mosul, killing 19 civilians including six women and four children, and wounding six others.”

However Airwars’ own sources in Nineveh have contested the claim, suggesting the event did not take place.

In their January 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
    19
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic

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
    38SLF294240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 13, 2015, in Mosul, 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. 2871/CI158 38SLF294240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 12th-13th 2015 it was reported that “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL bunker.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic

Incident Code

RS274

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sakhour, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. Five additional victims may also have died, including a woman and girl.

Halab TV also reported at least one death from an air raid, though did not identify a perpetrator: “Warplanes launched two air strikes with guided missiles on Al Sakhour neighbourhood, which resulted in the death of one person and wounded several others.“

The pro-Assad SANA agency offered a different version of events: “In the city of Aleppo a military source in a statement to SANA said that army units carried out detailed operations on positions belonging to the terrorist organisation Al Nusra Front and other Takfiri organisations in  Alsakhur neighbourhood and Suleiman al-Halabi which resulted in “the destruction of a convoy of vehicles equipped with machine guns.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Kader al-Issa
Adult male named by the VDC killed
Abdul Kader Abo Ahmad
Adult male named by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike in Al Sakhour.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS273

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three adult males (one named as Othman al-Shayta aka Abu Omar possibly a civilian), were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Harasta.

The same dead were listed by the White Helmets who said that six air raids and artillery bombing on civilian neighbourhoods in Harasta had led to the deaths of three people, the injuring of several others, and the destruction of civilian property. They did not confirm the dead’s combatant status.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Othman al-Shayta aka Abu Omar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of airstrike on Harasta, Dec 13th (via White Helmets)
  • Moments after the airstrike hit Harasta. (via, Syrian Documentation Centre)
  • The aftermath of a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, Harasta City Facebook)
  • Cars and infrastructure destroyed by the airstrikes. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Another video of the streets in the aftermath of a contested airstrike. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Footage of the skies, moments after the airstrike fell. (via, Saria Ebad, with a UMG Harasta Logo)
  • Smoke fills the sky in Eastern Ghouta. (via, Syria Rebels Gathering Posts)
  • Another video of smoke filling the sky. (via, Anas al Khloe)
  • More footage of the immediate moments after an airstrike fell. (via, Baladi News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS272

Incident date

December 13, 2015

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

Between 42 and 70 civilians, including five women nine to 20 children were killed and between 24 and 250 others wounded in aerial and missile bombardments of Douma and nearby locations in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, according to multiple sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that shelling by the regime killed 38, including five women and nine children.

The White Helmets produced a summary of airstrikes in Hamouriya, Sakba, Kafrbatna and Jissrain but did not specify who the warplanes belonged to. It referred to a “deranged aerial and missile bombardment on residential neighbourhoods…in conjunction with the flight of military aircraft“. According to the summary, Hamouriya suffered both an air raid and a missile attack causing fires and destruction to civilian buildings. In total the White Helmets put the death toll at 41, including nine children killed “as a result of the bombing and military aviation, heavy artillery, rockets and cluster bombs and mortar shells at residential neighborhoods in the city.”

All4Syria said that Russia carried out the raids, killing and and wounding civilians. Local activists told the organisation that Russian warplanes dropped four missiles targeting  neighbourhoods in the town of Hamouriya, killing three civilians and wounding others. They also said that Douma was bombarded with rockets and cluster bombs, killing a girl named as Dala’a Kassem Al Bisoani and wounding others. Ten children in total were injured – some critically – in a raid targeting a school in Kafr Batna. They also reported the fire at the warehouse in Sakba, which they said was targeted by regime forces with heavy artillery, reporting the injury of some civilians.

The Shaam News Network said Russian and regime warplanes were responsible, and that there had been more than 70 raids targeting civilians’ homes and schools. It put the death toll at 70 including more than 20 children, with 250 wounded – 30 of whom had lost limbs. A video posted by SNN was entitled “The Russian enemy turns schools into slaughterhouses of children“.

Douma, Samba, Jissrain, Ain Tarma, Zamalka, Jobar and Hamouriya were “all areas under risk of full annihilation,” SNN concluded, but the harshest massacres were in the city of Douma it said, which was targeted by the Russian aviation in a barrage of missiles and cluster bombs which hit a primary school and adjacent residential buildings.

Other sources also said that both Russia and the regime were responsible: the Douma Coordinating Committee put the death toll at more than 40, with dozens wounded. The Syrian Press Center said 46 died and more than 200 were wounded; Eldorar reported that 45 died, including children, dozens were injured and medical facilities were put out of service, blaming “warplanes” and the Assad regime; Madardaily quoted information supplied by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: at least 28 civilians killed, including two children and dozens wounded – in bombing by regime rockets cities in Douma and Sakba, adding that in the west of Damascus regime helicopters dropped 34 explosive barrels on the city of Darya, killing at five people, while at least eight, including a child died and 35 were injured when about 50 shells fell on areas of Damascus and its suburbs.

But Ennabbaldi stated that only the regime was responsible for the attacks, putting the total killed at 40.

White Helmets reported seven unidentified victims.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Tasnim Alsa’our
Child named by White Helmets killed
Rahaf Abdul Aziz
Child named by White Helmets killed
Marwa Saeed Ghazi
Child named by White Helmets killed
Ghaida al Salahi
Child named by White Helmets killed
Hadeel Hayrab
Child named by White Helmets killed
Noor Al Msalmanah
Child named by White Helmets killed
Maysa Al Madder
Child named by White Helmets killed
Rayyan Al Shawa
Child named by White Helmets killed
Fariss Al Hammouri
Child named by White Helmets killed
Ahmed Al Tabbakh
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Albawabiji
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Al Haffar
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mazen al Saleh
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Rateb Awad
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Yassin Awad
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Khadija Haroun
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Maher Kashoot
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Fariss Alaarot
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Ahmed Hanafi
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohamed Ali Satoott
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Khitam Hamid
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Ihsan al Mardini
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Iman Abdul Nafi’
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Zakaria Humaid
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Faress Blalah
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Subhi Abboud
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Adnan Al Duj
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Alaa Hamad
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Fayez Ghazzawi
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Fayez Ghazzawi
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Al Sheikh Bakri
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Noor Al Huda Kaloot
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Mostafa Shishakli
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Khatib
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Subhi Alsa’our
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Radwan Mohammad
Age unknown the media activist, named by SNN killed
Dala’a  Kassem Al Bison
Child named by All4Syria killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (9–20 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–250
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (44) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of a man screaming in distress, amidst the rubble in the aftermath of the airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Disturbing footage of the airstrike as it fell and the aftermath. Wounded being carried from the scene. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Extremely disturbing footage of civilian casualties including men, women and children before their bodies have been removed from the scene. (via, SNN)
  • Child named, Tanssim Al Sa’our, killed on December 13th 2015. According to the source, the other child (below) in the photograph was her sister who was also seriously injured. (via, Douma Coordinating Committee)
  • A view of the neighbourhood as the airstrike fell. (via, SNN)
  • Locals trying to rescue injured civilians from the rubble. not long after the airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    White Helmets carry an injured civilian to a medical facility. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of a seriously injured man receiving treatment in a medical facility. (via, SNN)
  • Damage to the local infrastructure. (via, SNN)
  • Chaotic scenes not long after Douma was hit with airstrikes. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in a medical facility. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured woman in a medical facility. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians stand in disbelief. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child receives medical treatment on the floor as there are not enough beds for all the injured civilians. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man grieves for the loss of family or friends. (via, SNN)
  • Clouds of ash fill the sky in Douma. (via, SNN)
  • Another image of the sky not long after the airstrike fell. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a man receiving medical treatment. (via, SNN)
  • Streets deserted in the aftermath. (via, SNN)
  • Media activist Radwan Mohammad, killed in the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • Another photograph of Radwan Mohammad. (via, SNN)
  • Moments after the contested airstrike fell on Douma. (via, SNN)
  • A view of the neighbourhood moments after the airstrike fell. (via, SNN)
  • Clouds of dust engulf the area. (via, SNN)
  • The skies filled with dust in Douma. (via, SNN)
  • A different view of the area. (via, SNN)
  • A photograph of the one the youngest victims (not even a year old) from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrikes. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A distressing image of a deceased baby. Same baby pictured above. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the floor following an airstrike in Douma. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the bodies of deceased children in Douma. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a deceased person still on the ground following an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)
  • Smoke pollution in Douma following an airstrike on a residential neighbourhood. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood and books scattered on the floor outside a school which was targeted in an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image of blood on the steps of a school. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child's schoolbag left on the steps of a school targeted by an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A drawing done by a child, left outside a school following an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The doors of a school which was targeted by airstrikes. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the floor inside a school room. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image of blood on the floor inside a school room. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood smeared on the floor. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the floor beneath a chalk board inside a school room. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image of blood on the floor. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    School books and bags left on the floor in a desperate attempt to escape. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the steps of a school in the aftermath of an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (9–20 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–250
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS271

Incident date

December 13, 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

The Al A’maq agency (linked to so-called Islamic State) produced multiple reports on alleged Russian airstrikes which targeted the city of Maskaneh.

They stated that two raids hit a popular market in the city, killing 25 civilians, injuring 33 (including 10 in critical condition) and causing destruction of property.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the Assad regime was responsible for the raids, which also destroyed a number of shops.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Osama Abo Sanad al-Dohaj wife
Adult female Listed by the VDC killed
Osama al-Dhouj
Child male Listed by the VDC killed
Osama Abo Sanad al-Dohaj
Child male Possibly a repeat of the above, Listed by the VDC killed

Family members (2)

Haji Hasan al-Mohammad
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Bakour Obaid al-Mohammad
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Thorya Mosa al-Sayer
Adult female Listed by the VDC killed
Jomea al-Shawakh
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Abd al-Kareem Abdo
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Mohammad Khairo Alloush
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Abd al-Majeed al-Taha
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 25
  • (2–3 children2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A video with locals carrying an injured civilian following an airstrike on Maskaneh, Dec 13th. (via, Halab Today)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 25
  • (2–3 children2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI156

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.52068, 43.00152 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family of five including three children was killed in a US airstrike on the Albothiab Island area of Ramadi.

The deceased, the Kazem family, were later named by Al Fallujah News.

CENTCOM confirmed the casualty event on April 22nd 2016, noting: “On Dec. 12, 2015, in Ramadi, Iraq, during a strike on ISIL personnel at a suspected ISIL checkpoint, it is assessed that five civilians were killed after they unexpectedly moved into the target location after weapons were already in flight.“

It was also reported that the day before the incident, Iraqi government aircraft had targeted civilian taxis in the same area, killing two.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Duraid Ibrahim Kazem
Adult male Father, named by Al Fallujah News killed
Nebras Abdul Alkarim
Adult male Mother, named by Al Fallujah News killed
Mustafa
Child male Child, named by Al Fallujah News killed
Mohammed
Child male Child, named by Al Fallujah News killed
Farah
Child female Child, named by Al Fallujah News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Family of five killed in a reported Coalition strike December 10 (via Ramadi News)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 33.437441, 43.286666

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    in Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLC144108
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 22, 2016

  • On Dec. 12, 2015, in Ramadi, Iraq, during a strike on ISIL personnel at a suspected ISIL checkpoint, it is assessed that five civilians were killed after they unexpectedly moved into the target location after weapons were already in flight.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Ramadi, six strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, two ISIL command and control nodes, an ISIL assembly area, two ISIL fighting positions, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS156

Incident date

December 12, 2015

Location

كبش, Kabsh, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1308734, 38.8404465 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least six civilians were killed and four injured in what was reported as a Coalition drone strike at Kabsh in northern Al Raqqah.

The attack targeted what was described as “a small convoy of vehicles transporting passengers”. A minibus carrying the civilians was said to have been destroyed.

The Syrian Press Centre was the only source not to attribute blame to the Coalition, citing “an unknown party”.

In July 2017, the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence of civilian harm: “Dec. 12, 2015, near Kabsh, Syria, via Airwars report: 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.”

Given that the Coalition has confirmed targeting vehicles at Raqqah that day, Airwars has requested additional information – and continues to assess this event as likely.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (6) [ 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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Kabsh, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 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
Official source

The Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in Al Raqqah for December 11th-12th 2015.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]