Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS245

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians including four women and five children were killed in an airstrike on the village of Mraand, 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 said that eight non-combatants died as a result of a Russian missile targeting the village. It added that there were four consecutive strikes, two of them targeting civilian homes and killing women and children, while the other two strikes were on the outskirts of the village.

According to SNN: “Jisr Al Shoughour and its countryside suffer a near daily campaign of aerial bombing and missile by Russian warplanes targeting the city and towns and areas adjacent to the Mountain of the Kurds in the western rural areas of Jisr Al Shoughour.”

The White Helmets took the injured to medical points, although SNN said this proved difficult due to a lack of available ambulances and equipment required to lift heavy debris. The Violations Documentation Centre also listed the victims as having died in Russian shelling.

But in a short news item the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, putting the death toll at eight including three women and five children.

Nine victims were named by the Violations Documentation Centre.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Rafa Mezweq
Adult female killed
Ahmad Mezweq
Child male killed
Ahlam Mezweq
Child killed

Family members (4)

Adnan Hussain Haj Kheder
Child male killed
Wife of Hussain Haj Kheder
Adult female killed
Daughter of Hussain Haj Kheder 1
Child female killed
Daughter of Hussain Haj Kheder 2
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Amount Murad
Adult female killed
Hala Mohammad
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS246

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A male child, named as nine month old Ahmad Hamze Layla, was killed in an airstrike on Anadan, according to both the Violations Documentation Centre and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

It is unclear whether regime or Russian forces were responsible for the alleged raid. The VDC said the victim was killed by Russian shelling with vacuum missiles, while the Syrian Network blamed regime forces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Hamze Layla
9 months years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The baby Ahmad Hamza Layla is removed from rubble in Anadan after an alleged raid by regime forces, according to SN4HR (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another photograph of Ahmad Hamze Layla, a nine month old baby, killed on 9th December 2015. (via, VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Anadan (عندان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.29353, 37.04466. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS247

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Centre named one unidentified adult male as having been killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Palmyra. In addition, the Syrian Human Rights Campaign reported that a boy named as Yazan Jamil el Sha’eel “died of wounds sustained from Russian airstrikes on civilians’ homes.”

According to another source there were heavy Russian air raids on the city that day which led to a number of civilian deaths and injuries: “Dozens of Russian airstrikes by six planes rotating to target the city, resulted in the destruction of big buildings and residential property.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yazan Jamil el Sha’eel
Child male “died of wounds sustained from Russian airstrikes on civilians’ homes.” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS248

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1807607, 37.167263 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians including women and children were killed and more than 15 injured in an airstrike on a bakery in Salheen. Reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network said non-combatants were targeted by Russian warplanes as they went to buy bread. It put the death toll at 8. According to the White Helmets ten people died, though along with the SHRC they did not say who committed the raid. The death toll was put as high as twelve by Radio Al Kul after it said more victims were recovered from the rubble.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for the event, reporting that eight people were killed when warplanes fired missiles close to the bakery, partially damaging it and putting it out of service.

Syria 2011 (which blames Russia) named 3 victims but also reported a young girl – no identification, Woman – no identification and Five other unidentified martyrs.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Mahmoud Ismail
28 years old male killed
Abdullah Faraj al-Ali,
45 years old male killed
Fatima Ahmed A’aqraa
50 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • A woman is rescued from the debris left after an alleged Russian strike on Al Salheen, December 9th. (via SNN)
  • Civilians killed and injured following an attack which targeted a bakery. (via SNN)
  • Destruction to the infrastructure in Al Salheen. (via, SHRC)
  • Aftermath of contested airstrike on the neighbourhood of al Salheen. (via, SHRC)
  • Trying to clear the pathway after an airstrike. (via SHRC)
  • Trying to clear the destruction. (via, Halab News Network)
  • Citizen journalist claiming Russian warplanes attacked Al Salheen. (via, Beha el Halabi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS249

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52777, 36.38582 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twenty-three civilians including eight children and one woman were reported killed and 20 injured in an airstrike on a residential area of Hamouriya, according to multiple sources. Reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network initially said 14 non-combatants died in a “massacre” by Russian warplanes. It later put the death toll at 18. The White Helmets posted videos and images depicting fires and destruction. It initially listed 18 dead, with the final list rising to 23. The civil defence group did not say who was responsible for the raid.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights was alone in blaming the regime, reporting that at least 12 civilians were killed including four children when two missiles hit several shops.

The  White Helmets’ released a final list with names including one unidentified person.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ibtisam Abdel Nasser al-Khatib
Child killed
Raghad Abdel Nasser al-Khatib
2 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Al Kassir
Child male killed
Taka Sarya al Zein
Child killed
Hadi Darkish
Child killed
Abdel Nasser al-Khatib
Child male killed
Mayssa Wahba
Age unknown killed
Islam Al Hassan
Child killed
Yamen Amin Abbas
Child killed
Ibrahim al-Shami
Age unknown killed
Said Abdel Al Jawad
Age unknown killed
Ismail Mohammed al-Khatib
Age unknown killed
Saeed Ismail al-Khati
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Wasim Al Kharbotal
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Mou’een Al Zein
Age unknown male killed
Khalid Saeed Al Zoubi
Age unknown killed
Mohamed Mohamed Hadida
Age unknown male killed
Mohamed Mohamed Al Outani
Age unknown male killed
Tahssin Al  Durra
Age unknown killed
Samer Safayya
Age unknown killed
Jalal A’llam
Age unknown killed
Khalid Al Sheikha
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (8 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    White Helmets fighting fires in Hamouriya. (via, White Helmets)
  • Civilians being rescued by the White Helmets. (via White Helmets)
  • The moment the airstrike occurred on December 9th in Hamouriya. (via, White Helmets)
  • On the ground moments after the airstrike fell. (via, White Helmets)
  • Fires being put out after contested airstrikes. (via, White Helmets)
  • An interview with a local civilian. (via, Hamouriya Media Centre)
  • Graphic image of a deceased child. (via SNN).
  • Fires which broke out following a contested airstrike. (via SNN)
  • A body dragged from the rubble in Hamouriya. (via, SNN)
  • Injured civilian being loaded into a truck following an airstrike in Hamouriya. (via, SNN)
  • An injured civilian being carried from the scene. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (8 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI153

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

الشركة, Ramadi, Sharika, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.430833, 43.315278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported killed and 17 injured in an alleged Coalition or Iraqi strike on the centre of Ramadi.

According to FaceIraq, the source of the claim appeared to be Sputnik News, which itself reproted that “According to Iraqi security sources, who asked not to be named, a Coalition strike on the ‘Company’ area of central Ramadi, under the control of Daesh, killed four civilians and wounded 17 others.”

The Iraqi Revolution site – which posted footage of casualties of the incident – blamed the attack on “the army of the brutal enemy” – though it was not clear whether this implied the US-led Coalition or the Iraq Army.

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence: “Dec. 9, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.”

Airwars is seeking additional information from the Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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 (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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • 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

  • The report contained insufficient information on the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 8th-9th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, four strikes struck three separate large ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL bed down locations, two ISIL light machine guns, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL tactical vehicle, three ISIL buildings, four ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), an ISIL VBIED factory, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL compound, an ISIL resupply location, two ISIL command and control nodes, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS250

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

النشابية, Al Nashabiya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514157, 36.487656 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians were killed, including six children, and 14 more people wounded including a woman, in airstrikes and ground assaults on Al Nashabiya.

According to Shaam News the civilian deaths were a result of “violent attacks” by Russian warplanes and Assad’s forces. Activists published images showing the bodies of children who had “been broken in pieces by the fall of Assad shells at civilian homes.”

SNN reported that the area adjacent to Nashabiya had been experiencing intense battles in recent days.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (5–6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Interviews with civilians in the aftermath of airstrikes on al- Nashabiyya. (via, Syriahr)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a seriously injured, possibly deceased child following an alleged Syrian Regime and Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured child in a medical facility in Al Nashabiya. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a deceased child. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of a deceased child in the aftermath of an airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child receiving treatment in a medical facility following an airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a seriously injured child. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (5–6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • 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

Incident Code

CI154

Incident date

December 9, 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

One child was reported killed and three civilians injured in an alleged Coalition strike at Mosul.

Mosul Nawen and Iraqi Spring claimed the attack was carried out by a drone, on the east side the city (‘left bank’).

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence of civilian harm: “Dec. 9, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, 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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information 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

For December 8th-9th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]