Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS231

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.569294, 38.263063 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three adult male civilians were reported killed and 20 wounded in an alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra, according to the Shaam News Network.

SNN reported that three Russian fighter jets launched multiple air raids, with half of them concentrated on the city of Palmyra and the other half on the outskirts.

The raids reportedly caused “massive destruction, where entire neighbourhoods were razed to the ground.”

Three victims were initially named by the Violations Documentation Centre.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammad al-Saleem al-Shalil –
Adult male killed
Yazan Jameel al Shail
Child Died from his injures on the 8th of December. killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mahmoud Mezel
Adult male killed
Khaled Abdulsattar al-Muhaya
Adult male He died, “due to his wounds sustained from Russian air forces shelling” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Palmyra (تدمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.569294, 38.263063. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI150

Incident date

December 5, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Warrar, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.429722, 43.277222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources claimed that at least five civilians – mostly children and women from two displaced families – were killed and six to 12 wounded after an aerial bombing of their home in the Warrar area of Ramadi.

Al Samaria quoted what it said was an anonymous source in the Daesh-occupied city: “Two missiles from military aircraft landed today on two houses in downtown Ramadi, killing five people, including women and children, and wounding six others, including women and children… The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, and the bodies to the forensic medicine department.”

A number of graphic photos depicted dead and injured children.

In a posting since deleted, Al Fallujah News described the attack as the result of “government shelling,” and also posted video of a 2am attack on the city which it said was by government forces.

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence: “Dec. 5, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

However given the confirmed proximity of Coalition strikes on the day, Airwars is seeking additional clarification.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1–4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of the supposed victims and the aftermath of the attack
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 Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information 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 reported continued heavy strikes at Ramadi for December 4th-5th 2015: “Near Ramadi, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL bunker, two ISIL VBIEDs, 15 ISIL fighting positions, 12 ISIL buildings, three ISIL light machine guns, three ISIL RPGs, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL assembly area, five ISIL staging areas, an ISIL weapons cache, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1–4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS230

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

الناجية, Najieh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7894815, 36.2177181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male and one child died in an alleged Assad regime airstrike on Najeh, according to the Violations Documentation Center.

Radio Al Kul said one person died and three were injured – but instead attributed responsibility to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ziyad Fato
Adult male killed
Mohammad Khaled Bakour
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of adult male, Ziyad Ahmad Fato, killed on 4th December 2015. (via, Idlib Civil Defence)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Najieh (الناجية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.7894815, 36.2177181. 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

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Idlib.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS229

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

الأربعين‎, Al Arbain, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.353889, 36.558333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Union of Hama Rebels, the SHRC and the VDC have all named five civilians including two women, whom they say died in a Russian airstrike on the village of Al Arbain.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Mohammad Mubarak
Adult male killed
Mohammad Ahmad Mubarak
Adult male killed
Ghusoun Mohammad Mubarak
Adult female killed
Najah Mohammad Mubarak
Adult female killed
Samer Ahmad Mubarak
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Arbain, for which the generic coordinates are: 35.353889, 36.558333. 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

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS227

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

احرص, Ahras, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.401129, 37.14446 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what appears to be a separate incident from the Maskaneh event previously listed, five non- combatants were reported killed when Russian warplanes allegedly struck a convoy of trucks carrying aid to the areas controlled by rebels in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

Shaam News Network cited the Anatolia News Agency as saying the trucks were carrying fuel for the White Helmets in Aleppo when the road connecting Kafrnasseh and Ihress was targeted by waplanes. The Network added: “Russia has recently been targetting trucks carrying relief materials and commercial goods from northern areas in Syria near the border crossings with Turkey.”

A reporter at the scene for Zaman said five civilians died and ‘several were injured’ in what was described as the third day of such Russian attacks.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Burning trucks in the aftermath of the airstrikes on Ahras, December 4th 2015. The trucks were supposedly carrying oil from Daesh. (via, Zaman Press for News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Incident Code

RS228

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

جسرين, Jissrain, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51049, 36.38865 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 16 and 30 civilians were reported killed and more than 50 others injured (“most of them women and children”), when Russian warplanes allegedly dropped four missiles on the popular market town of Jissrain (‘Two Bridges’), destroying residential buildings and shops according to reports.

Activists told  Shaam News Network that the civilians had been “shot to pieces.” Reported deaths quickly rose from 11 to 27 and then to 30, with dozens of people injured, some critically. Local hospitals were said to have been overwhelmed.

Civilians killed have been named by VDC.  2 unidentified women, 2 unidentified men and 1 unidentified child was also discovered.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Suleiman Darweish
Adult male killed
Rafat Darweish
Adult male killed
Abdulrazzaq Darweish
Adult killed
Daughter of Nazem Darweish
Child female killed
Daughter of Abo Diab Darweish
Child female killed
Mohammad Khaled Darweish
Child male killed
Abdulrhamen Jabri Darweish
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Dia al-Nabki
Adult male killed
Wael al-Nabki
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Hassan al-Khateib
Adult male killed
Mohammad Zuheir Abdulhay
Adult male killed
Khaled Abdulqader Makawi 
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 30
  • (3–6 children2 women10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage showing victims following an alleged Russian airstrike on Jissrayn. (via, Coordination Committee of Jissrayn- Eastern Ghouta)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia made no public mention of carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 30
  • (3–6 children2 women10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS225

Incident date

December 4, 2015

Location

كقر بطنا, Kafr Batnah, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.513015, 36.374424 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 16 non-combatants including 3 to 6 children were reported killed, and dozens injured, in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Kafr Batnah according to reports by the Shaam News Network and others.

SNN said Russian warplanes launched rockets on the main square in the town. It added that the planes returned to carry out more strikes when paramedics arrived on the scene.

A graphic video posted by SNN shows a burning car, and a voice off camera said that there were six children in the vehicle.

While most sources blamed Russia, the VDC said the Assad regime was responsible for 15 deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Firas Abdulhay
Child male killed
From Abdulhay Family
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Kheir Ashoush
Adult male killed
Omar Ghuzlani
Adult male killed
Muhi al-Dein Antar
Adult male killed
Muhi al-Dein Makawi
Adult male killed
Subhi Sadeih
Adult male killed
Ahmad Balour
Adult male killed
Abdulrahman Mando
Adult male killed
Ahmad Saqan
Adult male killed
Layla al-Aqad
Adult female killed
Ola Haytham Darweish
Child female killed
Mohammad Ali Tah
Adult male killed
Rafiqah Dabaan
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (3–6 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic video showing a burning car with children trapped inside. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in a medical facility following a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)
  • Injured child following an airstrike in Kafr Batnah. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Some victims of a contested airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More victims of Kafr Batnah. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A young boy injured after an airstrike on his neighbourhood. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child in a medial facility in Kafr Batnah. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim. The image also shows the scale of damage to the local infrastructure. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim still in the rubble of a destroyed building. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More images documenting the destruction to the local infrastructure. (via, SNN)
  • A man carrying an injured child. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the airstrikes on 4th December 2015. (via,SNN)
  • Local civilians carrying an injured child into an ambulance. (via, SNN)
  • A local market destroyed. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (3–6 children2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS226

Incident date

December 4, 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

Three civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike with more than 15 missiles on the road between Maskan and Kafrnasseh, Aleppo, according to the Shaam News Network.

Shaam also asserted that once ambulance rescue services arrived the planes struck again, injuring members of the White Helmets who attended the scene. All4Syria said 20 civilians were injured in the event.

The site Syria 2011 named the dead.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Mohammed Alabso
28 years old killed
Khalil Haj Khalil Ripper
40 years old killed
Ali Ismail Junaid
27 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]