Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS243

Incident date

December 8, 2015

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.252649, 37.079115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight to 13 civilians including three women and three children were reported killed – and dozens injured – in an airstrike on Kafr Hamra 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 said Russian forces were responsible and had pounded the city at midnight. It reported that dozens of wounded non-combatants were recovered from the rubble by the White Helmets, and that bodies were trapped under the walls and roofs of the destroyed houses while fires broke out in the town. The Violations Documentation Centre named nine civilians it said were killed as a result of Russian shelling.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights  the regime was responsible for the raid. It put the death toll at five.

The victims were named by the VDC. including one unidentified adult male.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Maroush Abdo al-Mahmoud
Adult female killed
Samirah Abdo al-Mahmoud
Adult female killed
Abduljalil al-Mahmoud
Child male killed
Hala al-Mahmoud
Child female killed
Yaser Yaser al-Mahmoud
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Haloum al-Aas
Adult male killed
Sabah Sehreep
Adult female killed
Mohammad Sami
Adult male Was initially listed, though his name was later removed. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 13
  • (3 children3 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Hamra (كفر حمرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.252649, 37.079115. 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
    8 – 13
  • (3 children3 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1780

Incident date

July 16, 2018

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.52491, 40.95789 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to thirteen civilians were allegedly killed when Coalition aircraft struck two or more houses in al Soussa, local sources reported.

In September 2019, the Coalition’s monthly civilian casualty report noted: “In Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh explosive factory. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.”

Coalition officials subsequently indicated to Airwars that their own report was possibly a match to this incident. And in May 2020, the Pentagon declared this to be a US-perpetrated civilian harm event.

According to Boukamalna, the house of Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress was targeted on July 16th. This was reiterated by most sources, stating that this led to “his death along with his wife.” Euphrates Post later identified his wife as Mrs. Nabieh and also noted that their daughter or grand-daughter Mona was also killed, in addition to five victims of Iraqi nationality in a neighbouring house.

Later reports noted that the house of Hamid al-Ali, located next to the Mohsen family house, was struck while it was inhabited by an Iraqi refugee family. Baladi News Agency reported that this resulted in “the death of all members of his family of five people, including women and children”.

Al Soussa Youth stated that the strike took place “ten minutes ago”, which corresponds to around 7:20am and Euphrates identified the location of the airstrikes to the Filasteen neighbourhood.

Most sources, including an initial report by Smart News Agency, noted the death of eight civilians, “including at least one woman and several others wounded.” Step News Agency however later reported the highest tally of thirteen civilians killed. According to the news outlet, four airstrikes targeted “the homes of civilians in the town of “Sousse” at seven o’clock this morning”, causing the destruction of three houses.

The report added that the number of victims was likely to rise as people were still trapped under the rubble, “due to the lack of medical staff or civil defense teams in the town, amid a severe shortage of medical and ambulatory materials.”

Al Soussa Youth later reported that Ali Al Muhsin Al-Faris, his wife and the daughter of Muhammad Ali Al-Mohsen had been buried and that “the son of Saleh Al Mohammed Al-Salim and the mother of Walid are in hospital and in a stable condition”.

The incident occured at approximately 7:20 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress
Adult male pictured killed
Mrs Nabieh
Adult female Wife of Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress killed
Mona
Age unknown Daughter or grand-daughter of Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress and Mrs Nabieh killed
Son of Muhammad Al-Ali Al-Muhsin
Age unknown male Said to have been severely injured injured
Son of Saleh Al Mohammed Al-Salim
Age unknown male injured
Mother of Walid
Adult female Association with family unclear injured

Family members (5)

Unnamed victim 1
Adult male Iraqi refugee family killed
Unnamed victim 2
Adult female killed
Unnamed victim 3
Child killed
Unnamed victim 4
Child killed
Unnamed victim 5
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ali Muhsen al Fares, killed in reported Coalition airstrikes on al Soussa (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • A reported photograph of the aftermath of a lethal Coalition raid on al Soussa, July 16th 2018 (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Soussa, for which the coordinates are: 34.528889, 40.9675. The alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the “house of Hamid al-Ali, located next to Mohsen family house,” Airwars was unable to verify the exact location of these civilian houses Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 34.528889, 40.9675

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    in Deir ez-Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU797221
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019

  • July 16, 2018, in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh explosive factory. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition publicly reported at the time that: “On July 16 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed one Daesh vehicle, two Daesh supply routes and one Daesh-held building."

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

From July 11th to 17th, France report that Task Force Wagram carried out six artillery ‘shooting missions’ in the Euphrates Valley. In total since the start of the offensive on May 1st, it’s conducted 195 shooting missions. Aircraft conducted 24 sorties but there were no strikes.

‘IRAK – SYRIE – CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, l’offensive contre les deux dernières emprises territoriales de Daech a marqué un temps d’arrêt durant quelques jours, afin de stabiliser les zones récemment libérées. L’objectif des forces démocratiques syriennes reste d’éviter que des éléments de Daech ne se laissent dépasser et tentent de conduire des actions sur leurs arrières. L’offensive a depuis repris. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak Pour contrer l’organisation terroriste, plusieurs opérations sont menées par les forces de sécurité irakienne en Ninive et dans le désert de l’Anbar. Elles ont permis cette semaine la destruction de plusieurs tunnels, la mise hors de combat de dizaines de terroristes et la neutralisation de nombreux engins explosifs improvisés. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Formation au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes Élaboré à la demande de l’état-major de la 6e division irakienne, un stage « combat en zone urbaine » a été conduit par la Task Force Monsabert du 9 au 12 juillet. Le format retenu pour cette instruction résulte de l’analyse des retours d’expériences français et irakiens sur l’importance de la maîtrise des actes élémentaires du combat en zone urbaine. Cette formation couvre les techniques de progression, de sécurisation de bâtiment, ainsi que l’ensemble des savoir-faire caractéristiques du combat en zone urbaine. Ce stage, qui s’inscrit dans une dynamique de long terme, devrait contribuer chaque mois à la formation de quinze soldats des bataillons commando de la 24e brigade. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Les artilleurs de la Task Force Wagram demeurent engagés en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Depuis le lancement de l’offensive le 1er mai, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 195 missions de tirs, dont 6 sur la semaine écoulée (bilan du 11 au 17 juillet inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1854 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des operations Sur la semaine écoulée, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 24 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 11 au 17 juillet inclus). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8238 sorties / 1453 frappes / 2244 objectifs neutralisés.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1615

Incident date

November 17, 2016

Location

كفربطنا, Kafr Batna, Eastern Ghouta, Damascuc, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were killed and wounded in an airstrike on Kafr Batna, Eastern Ghouta, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to which belligerent was responsible for the event.

Similar to most other sources reporting on this event, @kafrbatna2011 did not identify the warplanes responsible, they did however report that it was a guided missile: “the warplanes targeted the centre of the city of Kafr Batna by airstrike with a guided missile, resulting in a large number are wounded.”

LCCSY directly attributed responsibility for the event to Russia, stating that there were “13 martyrs in Damascus and its countryside, most of them killed in the Russian raids on Kafr Batna and Saqba.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pointed out that both regime forces and Russian warplanes were operating around Eastern Ghouta that day [17th Nov]. However, they do point towards Russia being responsible for the incident in Kafr Batna: “The regime forces and warplanes shelled areas in the city of Douma in the Eastern Ghouta, which killed two persons including a child, and injured several others. Also the warplanes bombed areas in the city of Saqba and the towns of Hammuriyyeh and Kafr Batna in the Eastern Ghouta, which killed 4 persons and injured others in Saqba.”

Whilst the sources indicate a death toll of between four and 13, none of them attributed a death toll that is specific to the airstrike on Kafr Batna alone.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • 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 (8) [ 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 not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI180

Incident date

January 20, 2016

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Iraqi Spring Media Centre claimed that “Coalition fighters” had struck civilians in north-west Ramadi, killing 13 civilians and injuring a further 18.

Particular news described the alleged Coalition strike as ‘retaliatory’ though gave no further details while noting that there was also significant material damage to civilian houses in the area.

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes near Ramadi that day, the MoD told Airwars: “We cannot make any definitive assessment of possible UK presence from the evidence you have provided, but I can confirm that there was no indication of any civilian casualties in our own detailed assessments of the impact of each of our strikes over the period concerned.”

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLC407010
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Jan. 20, 2016, in Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2891/CI180 38SLC407010

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported heavy strike activity in the area for January 19th-20th 2016: “Near Ramadi, six strikes [2 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar system, three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL RPG system, two ISIL vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), an ISIL building, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL tunnel entrance, two ISIL petroleum oil and lubricant trucks, an ISIL front end loader, suppressed an ISIL mortar system, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1891

Incident date

January 25–26, 2019

Location

الباغوز, Between Al-Baghuz Fawqani town and Al-Marashdah village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition airstrike killed a total of 42 people, including 13 civilians in addition to 29 members of ISIS according to local reports.

Among other sources, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Coalition “shelled places on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, in the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside, where the shelling targeted farms between Al-Baghuz Fawqani town and Al-Marashdah village during the last night.”

The Observatory added that seven civilian victims were from the same Syrian family, of whom three were children. The other six non-combatant victims were men of Iraqi nationality. The death toll was expected to increase because of an unspecified number of civilian casualties with serious injuries.

Syria LiveMap reported seven civilian deaths, which it said took place on the edge of al Baghouz around dawn.

One named ISIS fighter, Bashar al-Ajami, was also reported killed. He was identified as a commander of the al-Hesbah organization, allied to ISIS.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the Coalition conceded the killing of three civilians and the injuring of a fourth in a strike near Marashdah.

According to the report, “January 25, 2019, near Marashidah, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 2664 37SFU781164”.

Asked whether this might be a match for this incident, a Coalition official told Airwars: “Looking at the two reports, there is a chance these two are related as your report mentions some corroborating information, however it appears that this [Airwars] report is an aggregate of incidents and thus it is difficult to single out specific incidents with any certainty.”

Because of our inability to dis-aggregate this event, Airwars has created a separate civilian harm assessment for the confirmed Coalition event [CS1891a]. We have also modified this civilian casualty range to avoid double counting.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.” The coordinates provided are different than CS1891a, confirming that the Coalition was declaring a separate event.

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 6:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (3 children1–2 women6–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    29

Sources (13) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near al Baghouz, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU77772017798
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • Jan. 25, 2019, near al Baghouz, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 2934/CS1891 37SFU77772017798

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between Jan. 13 - 26, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 645 strikes consisting of 1,360 engagements in Syria, and conducted nine strikes consisting of 12 engagements in Iraq.

In Syria, 645 strikes engaged 394 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 244 fighting positions, 172 supply routes, 85 staging areas, 21 vehicles, 17 buildings, 15 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, 14 mortar launching sites, 13 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive devices, 12 command and control nodes, nine tunnels, eight weapons catches, seven pieces of engineering equipment, five launching sites for unmanned aircraft systems, two weapons storage facilities, two mortar tubes, two improvised explosive devices, one unmanned aircraft system, one machine gun, one logistic node and one check point.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Jan 23rd-29th, France report that French Rafales conducted 7 strikes south of Hajin on ISIS fighters in the mid-Euphrates Valley.

CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie Les Forces démocratiques syriennes, dont l’offensive est appuyée par les forces aériennes d’une part et l’artillerie de la Task Force Wagram d’autre part, ont poursuivi leur progression dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate. Après la reprise et la libération de Marashida, les opérations de reconquête des territoires occupés par Daech, menées par les FDS, entrent dans leur dernière phase, avant une période de sécurisation qui lui succèdera. Poursuite des actions en Irak La situation sécuritaire en Irak est stable, et les Forces de Sécurité irakiennes maintiennent un rythme opérationnel élevé. Elles poursuivent leurs efforts visant les flux et ressources logistiques, ce qui se concrétise par des prises de quantités importantes d’explosifs, de munitions et d’armement aux dépends de Daesh, dont il faut rappeler le régime de semi-clandestinité, notamment dans la région du plateau d’Hawija, entre Bagdad et Mossoul. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force (TF) Wagram appuie les forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. La TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 33 missions de tir (7 éclairements, 4 appuis, 22 aveuglements – bilan du 23 au 29 janvier inclus). Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des operations Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 26 sorties aériennes (bilan du 23 au 29 janvier inclus). Les Rafale français ont conduit 07 frappes cette semaine au sud de la ville d’Hajine sur des combattants de Daech, dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, là où les Forces démocratiques syriennes produisent leur principal effort. La phase de transition entre le départ du groupe aéronaval américain « USS Stennis » et l’arrivée de renfort d’avions de chasse américains explique l’augmentation du volume des sorties aériennes dont certaines ont été  effectuées depuis la Base aérienne des Emirats Arabes Unis. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La Task Force (TF) Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’assistance et de conseil de l’état-major de la 6ème division irakienne, qui est en charge de la sécurisation de l’ouest du grand Bagdad. Elle conseille également ponctuellement les brigades qui lui sont subordonnées. La Task Force Narvik quant à elle continue sa participation à l’instruction opérationnelle de l’ICTS (Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service).

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (3 children1–2 women6–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    29

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1948

Incident date

March 7, 2017

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963172, 38.035655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 13 civilians, including children, were killed and up to another nine were wounded as airstrikes on Maskanah, Aleppo, local sources reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Sources reported between 10 and 13 civilian casualties, however, most said there had been 10 fatalities. @alrefaira added that children were among the victims. 

@ameer_alabad blamed “Russian and Syrian raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS701

Incident date

April 17, 2017

Location

الحسينية, Al Hussayniya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.358889, 40.151111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 7 and 13 civilians including two women and two children died and 12 more were wounded in an airstrike which hit near the Faculty of Agriculture building in Hussayniya. Between 6 and 9 ISIL fighters were also said to have died.

While most sources attributed the incident to the Coalition – with some specifically blaming the US – others said that warplanes belonging to the Syrian regime were responsible.

According to the Step News Agency, which put the death toll at 12, warplanes “bombed the crossing between the swimming pool and Nadi Al-Muhandessen. The raids targeted the Agriculture Directorate, 100 meters from a crossing. The strike occurred while IS was crossing a IS checkpoint, killing at least six members of IS, destroying two cars and killing seven civilians including two children.”

Shariqya added that the raids led to “the collapse of a four-storey building adjacent to the agriculture building, which fell on a number of civilian carpenters who were on their lunch break.”

Euphrates Post initially reported that Tariq Ahmad al-Assaad was killed but later reported that he was found alive after he had “managed to emerge from the rubble and went to his home where, it is should be noted, his family was holding a condolence and funeral for him.”

Cyberman and Samidon specifically blamed the US, putting the number killed at 13, while Syrian Mirror reported that the Coalition had carried out several strikes with 12 rockets.

However, Jisr TV and Smart blamed the regime, with the latter reporting: “The activists pointed out that seven civilians were killed and others were wounded by the bombing of the agricultural building in the village of Hussayniya by warplanes likely belonging to the regime. The activists pointed to the absence of an ISIL headquarters in the building”.

Some other sources did not identify the culprit, referring only to “warplanes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hamad Hussein Ibrahim
killed
Fayyad Hamad Hussein Al – Ibrahim
Child killed
Hussein Hamad Hussein Ibrahim
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Hussein Al-Aliawi
Age unknown male killed
Ali Hussein Al Ali Al Khalif
Age unknown killed
Tariq Ahmed Mukhlaf
Age unknown male possibly Tariq Ahmad al Assad – see above killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Tariq Ahmad al-Assaad, initially reported as killed in an alleged Coalition raid on Husseiniya, however, it was subsequently reported that he dug his way out of the rubble and returned to his home (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incidents mention the town of Al Hussayniya (الحسينية), Deir Ezzor governorate, for which the coordinates are: 35.358889, 40.151111. The ‘Faculty of Agriculture’ (كلية الزراعة) is often mentioned in reports. This could hence be the possible location of the incident. The coordinates for Al Hussayniya’s Faculty of Agriculture are: 35.35166667, 40.15416667.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Husseiniya, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 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. (1338)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine ISIS oil equipment items, five well heads, and one vehicle; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

For April 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed four ISIS well heads, a command and control node and an ISIS vehicle.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS247

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

جنديرس,عفرين , Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians including two or three children and five women died and up to 32 more were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes in Jindires, Syria, local media said. However, it is possible that reports are referring to several events in Jindires, and may include T131-T133, listed above. Moreover, several sources published images which appeared to pertain to these other incidents, suggesting that the figures provided were a summary of events during the entire day of March 5th.

The source Cahida Dersim referred to a Turkish shelling of the village of Miska Jorin, and went on to say that 13 civilians including three children had died in Jindires on march 5th.

Other reports also referred to “Jindires”, rather than Miska Jorin or any other location specifically.

IC Afrin resistance, for example, reported that “Turkish warplanes bombed the center of Jindires. Civilians were injured and killed. There are still people under the ruins. They can’t be freed because the attacks are still ongoing”.

However, there was some confusion in tweets by IC Afrin Resistance: the first said that 13 civilians were wounded in Jindires, while the second said that 13 (including three children) were killed.

Hawar News published a video (below) depicting the shelling. It reported that “preliminary reports said that there were martyrs and wounded among civilians, but because of the intensive shelling we did not get the number of martyrs and wounded.”

One victim killed in Jindires was named by Arin Chikhmous as Mohammed Alo, 20 years.

According to ANHA, “in the morning hours, the Turkish occupation army bombed the center of Janders city with more than 20 booby-trapped barrels, directly targeting unarmed civilians in the district center causing the martyrdom of 13 civilians, including 3 children and 5 women, and injuring more than 14 civilians.”

Rok Online put the death toll higher. It said: “The Turkish forces carried out a massacre in the area of Jendiris on Monday [March 5th] after launching violent raids on the region, killing 15 people and wounding about 8 others, including children and women, in addition to the destruction of buildings and shops.”

SDF military media on Facebook reported that “after the failure of the Turkish occupation army to break into the region of Jendrissa, Turkish warplanes carried out crazy raids on the civilian neighborhoods, causing four massacres in one day.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Alo
20 years old male unclear whether he died i Jindires, Afrin or Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2–3 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–32
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath in the city of Jonderes, Afrina, after reportedly being hit by Turkish strikes on 5 March, 2018 (via Evlyn hassan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Afrin Resistance)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Cahida Dersim)
  • Just moments after the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Hawar news)
  • A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Yikiti)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس,عفرين ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2–3 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–32
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]