Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS153

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Location

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3333335, 40.1499999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and her two children were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Dayr ez Zawr city.

Reuters cited the Syrian Observatory as reporting that “In Deir al-Zor city, another air strike overnight killed a woman and two of her children.”

In comments relating to the previous incident, an anonymous US official told AP that “Radar shows Russian bombers making seven passes over the city of Deir el-Zour dropping munitions.”

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
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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
    37SFV045106
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 6, 2015, in Deir Ez Zor, Syria, 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. 2884/CS153 37SFV045106

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported that for December 6th-7th 2015 “Near Dayr Ar Zawr, four strikes struck four ISIL oil well-heads.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS234

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 20 civilians were reported killed – including 6 to 7 children and 2 women – and about 40 injured in an alleged Russian airstrike with vacuum missiles on Zamalka, according to multiple sources.

Al Jazeera reported that 12 civilians including two children died in the attack, while All4Syria said nearly 50 non-combatants died or were injured when four rockets were fired on Zamalka, stating that most of the casualties were women and children. It also said  activists who documented the alleged attack were unable to identify all of the dead because so many bodies were torn apart in the raid, with parents finding four decapitated children.

An All4Syria.info report added that the White Helmets moved the wounded to medical points in the region, while other medical sources suggested that the death toll increased because of the limited resources of the medical points.

The White Helmets themselves said they had spent nearly four hours attending the site and found the body of a woman under the rubble of buildings in a residential area, while another body was found on one of the roofs of surrounding buildings. They also reported that a child died as a result on injuries, putting the death toll at 16.

The Shaam News Network also put the death toll at 16 after a residential area was targeted. Like All4Syria.info, they stated that many of the bodies were unrecognisable, concluding that “this has always been the city similar to the bombing amid reports targeting popular market and the fall of the martyrs and the wounded.”

The victims have been named by VDC and Syria 2011.

Two unidentified victims were also listed:

Unidentified 1 – adult, male

Unidentified 2 – adult, male

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Fadi Basel Harata
Child male killed
Saleh Harata
Child male killed
Mohammad Harata
Child male killed
Basel Harata
Adult male killed
Basima Harata
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Samer Nizar al-Baghdadi
Child male killed
Aamer Nizar al-Baghdadi
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Zain Adnan al-Otri
Adult male killed
Adnan Ahmad al-Otri
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Hala al-Rhayem
Child female killed
Bassam al-Rahim
Adult male killed
Hassan Kbara
Adult male killed
Kamel al-Ghosh
Adult male killed
Qamara or Amra al-Ajhar
Adult female killed
Nizar al-Baghdadi
Adult male killed
Kamra Al Ajhar
Age unknown killed
Bassila Hrata
Age unknown female [“Her body was recovered from under the rubble this morning.”] killed
Mohammad Majed Kbara
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 20
  • (7 children3 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets pulling a dead child out of the rubble, 6 December 2015. (via, SNN)
  • The immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike on Zamalka. (via, White Helmets)

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
    18 – 20
  • (7 children3 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS232

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

15 civilians including eight children and five women were reportedly killed and 25 injured when Russian warplanes allegedly bombed the city of Raqqa, according to multiple sources.

Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered said non-combatants were killed in the agricultural fields west of the city in Al Kahtaniya farm and at the crossroads of Hitteen farm.

The Daesh-linked news agency Al A’maq reported the same casualty figures as Raqqa is Being Slaughtered and said the Russian raids targeted the edge of the city. Shaam News Network also reported on the alleged incident, but referred to the Al A’maq report.

The Network stated: “After a lull for a few days, Raqqa is again facing all sorts of planes. The Russian enemy started a new series of raids on the city, targeting a number of areas within the city, causing extensive damage to residential buildings and killing 15 martyrs among civilians, while Daesh did not announce targeted places or those killed in the ranks of the organization. Activists said that the targeting was on various locations, Al Ta’la’e camp and Al Fouroussiya on the edges of town, areas used by IS in the past.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (8 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on farmland on the outskirts of Raqqa, Dec 6th (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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (8 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS233

Incident date

December 6, 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

Three non-combatants including one child were reported killed and several injured in an airstrike on Douma – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

According to Al Jazeera Russia was responsible for the raid. But the Syrian Network blamed the regime, naming one child, Ibrahim Hadid, who “died in regime artillery mortar shell fired on Duma city in Rif Dimashq governorate, December 6.”

Additionally, All4Syria reported that air strikes on the city of Zamalka in the Ghouta Zamalka area of eastern Damascus (see entry below) coincided “with artillery shelling on the city of Douma in the eastern Ghouta, causing the deaths of three civilians, including a child and wounded several others have been their ministry to medical points,” suggesting again that the regime was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Hadid
Child male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A member of the White Helmets holds the body of a child following an alleged Russian airstrike on Douma, 6th Dec (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
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

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]