Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

YS072

Incident date

November 19, 2019

Location

أعزاز, Azaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586736, 37.042624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and between seven and 15 others including two children injured in an alleged YPG artillery attack on Azaz in Aleppo governorate, Syria on November 19th, 2019, according to local sources.

The civilian killed was identified as Muhammad Mustafa Amouri, aged 30 and he died shortly after he was moved to hospital. According to @Gaber11518504, Muhammad’s two brothers were killed before and he was the only remaining son for his family.

According to Al Modon, six katyusha rockets landed on a al-Jawalat Street in the middle of the popular market, at times when it was crowded causing a big number of casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Syrian child injured in an alleged YPG attack in Azaz - Aleppo was moved to a Turkish hospital (via Qasioun)
  • Aftermath of an YPG alleged attack on Azaz in Aleppo. (via Qasioun)
  • Aftermath of an YPG alleged attack on Azaz in Aleppo. (via Qasioun)
  • Aftermath of an alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Aleppo (via AMC)
  • Alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • Alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • Alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • One civilian killed in an alleged YPG attack on Azaz - Nov 19th, 2019 (via STEP)
  • A child injured in an alleged YPG attack on Azaz in Aleppo - Nov 19th, 2019 (via AMC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Al Jawalat (الجوالات) street, within the city of Azaz (اعزاز), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.586736 37.042624. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1},"geometry":{"type":"LineString","coordinates":[[37.04297751188278,36.58773310965431],[37.04284608364105,36.58742944206568],[37.04271465539932,36.587061162748725],[37.04252153635025,36.586520585831856],[37.04242497682571,36.586124303934064],[37.04217553138733,36.58547603405187]]}}]}

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4204

Incident date

November 26, 2019

Location

معرزيتا,, Maarzita, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime air or artillery strike on Maarzita on November 26th, 2019, according to local sources.

Syria Live blamed the regime, reporting: “[There were] civilian injuries due to the artillery shelling of pro-Assad forces on Maarzita town in the southern countryside”.  Step News Agency, however, claimed that the civilians were injured in a Russian raid on the town.

Step Agency reported that helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the town. Ballade News claimed instead that the town was bombed with “rocket launchers and heavy artillery strikes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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

RS4226

Incident date

December 4, 2019

Location

النهر الأبيض, Nahr Abyad, Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr al-Shughour, Idlib governorate, on December 4th, 2019, according to sources.

Shaam News Network reported that “activists said that heavy airstrikes by Russian warplanes targeted the Nahr Abyad area in the Jisr al-Shughur area, leaving wounded civilians”.

@ZaitunAgency, @media_idlib and Husam Ahmad Saloum said Russian warplanes carried out 11 airstrikes on Nahr Abyad.

Three planes were used to carry out the strike, according to Husam Ahmad Saloum.

The Facebook page, Edlib News Report 2020, said the strikes had targeted an ammunition depot belonging to the Turkestan Party.

All of the sources said Russian planes had carried out the strikes.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight on December 4th, 2019.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Photo taken after alleged Russian airstrike on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr Al Shughur on December 4th, 2019 (via JMC on Facebook).
  • Photo taken after alleged Russian airstrike on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr Al Shughur on December 4th, 2019 (via JMC on Facebook).
  • Photo taken after alleged Russian airstrike on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr Al Shughur on December 4th, 2019 (via JMC on Facebook).
  • Photo taken after alleged Russian airstrike on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr Al Shughur on December 4th, 2019 (via JMC on Facebook).
  • Photo taken after alleged Russian airstrike on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr Al Shughur on December 4th, 2019 (via JMC on Facebook).
  • Rescue workers are seen following an alleged Russian airstrike on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr Al Shughur on December 4th, 2019 (Image uploaded by @media_idlib)
  • Rescue workers are seen following an alleged Russian airstrike on the Nahr Abyad area in Jisr Al Shughur on December 4th, 2019 (Image uploaded by @media_idlib)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM242

Incident date

July 29, 2019

Location

Bu'aale, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

1.251778, 42.575959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Voice of America correspondent Harun Maruf, two airstrikes by an unknown party struck al Shabaab targets in southern Somalia. One unsuccesfully targeted a ‘senior ISIS figure’ near Buaale.

According to Maruf’s tweet, “There are reports of 2 new airstrikes  in S. Somalia overnight. A strike in Jamame area reportedly hit a graduation ceremony of new recruits for Jaysh Ayman, the Al-Shabaab unit that operates in Kenya; the 2nd strike in Buale area missed to hit a senior Al-Shabaab figure, source.”

No additional public details are presently known about this event.

Asked whether it had been responsible for this event, in February 2020 a senior AFRICOM official told Airwars that this was not the case. However, this may not preclude actions by the CIA which conducts its own undeclared strikes in Somalia.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the Bu’aale area. The coordinates for the town of Bu’aale are: 1.251778, 42.575959. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS096

Incident date

January 20, 2018

Location

تمادا, Tarnada villlage, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.493056, 36.879444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Smart News Agency reported “the injury of 11 people, including two children, between the Al Ashrafieh neighbourhood and Tarnada village” in an alleged Turkish bombing.

No further details or known sources are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tarnada villlage, Afrin (تمادا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.493056, 36.879444. 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
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS400

Incident date

December 9, 2019

Location

Tal al-Ward, Tal Tamr, Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Rojava Information Centre tweeted: “…On 9th December Turkish proxy forces attacked the surroundings of Zirgan (Abu Rasin) town with mortar and heavy weapons. One villager was killed in Tal al-ward”.

No further details are currently available,.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2385

Incident date

August 13, 2017

Location

حمادة عمر, Hamada Omar, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.025374, 37.423313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecific number of civilians were wounded due to an aerial bombardment of Hamada Omar and the surrounding vicinity, according to local media. All the sources either attributed blame to Russia or did not attribute any blame.

There are no reports of civilian fatalities.

AE News reported that ” warplanes continude intensive shelling since yesterday evening [Aug 13th], on areas of controlled by Daesh in the eastern Hama countryside. More strikes targeted areas in the villages of Hamada Omar and Akash and Koleb Taurus and the wounded civilians in in the area of Aqirbat”.

One source reported that rockets were fired onto the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ 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 August 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4281

Incident date

December 22, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان , International road to Ma'arat Al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians were killed as the result of an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on a convoy with displaced people on the international road to Ma’arat Al Numan on December 22nd, 2019, according to local sources. On December 28th, a local source reported that one of the victims died of his injuries sustained in the attack.

Step News Agency put the preliminary death toll at three killed civilians and an unknown number of wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that seven civilians were killed.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the death of the brothers Muhammad and Ahmad Subhi Sharaf al Din, displaced from Taqana village, and their father. Ahmad Okab identified the name of their father: Sobhi Sharaf El-Din.

Eyewitnesses told Smart News Agency that “Russian warplanes targeted the cars of the displaced and an agricultural tractor carrying a displaced family and the furniture of its house in the city of Ma’arat Al Numan (32 km south of Idlib), killing two civilians and wounding another, as a result of which he was transferred to a nearby hospital.”

@abuhuzaifa_ posted a video on Twitter reportedly showing the remains of children burned in the incident.

The Step News Agency correspondent stated that “the Syrian and Russian aviation are trying to cut off the road for civilians trying to get out of the city of Ma’arat Al Numan, by targeting the cars of the displaced people on the international road at the northern entrance to the city”. Shaam News Network added that the bombing happened despite activists’ “escalating calls to stop the shelling and allow civilians to leave”.

On December 28th, 2019, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Mustafa Absi al Khalaf died because of wounds he sustained as a result of this incident.

@john_marquee provided the geolocation for the incident.

While nearly all sources pointed to Russian forces, Step News Agency reported that the aircraft that carried out the strikes belonged to the Syrian regime. @HadiAlabdallah pointed out that vacuum missiles were used in the attack.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Destruction after alleged Russian or Syrian regime aircraft bombed a convoy with displaced people on the International Road to Ma'arat Al Numan on December 22nd, 2019 (via Euphrates Post).
  • Displaced woman sitting on the side of the road after alleged Russian or Syrian regime aircraft bombed a convoy with displaced people on the International Road to Ma'arat Al Numan on December 22nd, 2019 (via Shaam News Network).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video posted on Twitter of reportedly the remains of children burned in an alleged Russian airstrike on a convoy of displaced people on the International Road to Ma'arat Al Numan on December 22nd, 2019 (via @abuhuzaifa_ ).
  • The body of a victim on the side of the road after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the international road to Ma'arat Al Numan on December 22nd, 2019 (via Smart News Agency).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Mustafa Absi al Khalaf, killed in strikes on Maarat al-Numanon December 22, 2019. (Image posted by Syria Today Network)
  • Mustafa Absi al Khalaf, killed in strikes on Maarat al-Numanon December 22, 2019. (Image posted by Mustafa Abu Abdo)
  • Mustafa Absi al Khalaf, killed in strikes on Maarat al-Numanon December 22, 2019. (Image posted by Mustafa Abu Abdo)
  • Mustafa Absi al Khalaf, killed in strikes on Maarat al-Numanon December 22, 2019. (Image posted by Mustafa Abu Abdo)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]