Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS053

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

الغنطو, Al Ghantu, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.82179, 36.69605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Centre named Omar Al Sheikh Hammoud from Talbiseh as a civilian victim of a Russian airstrike on Al Ghantu. He had been severely injured in a strike the day before. Video filmed on October 18th shows rebels attempting to shoot down a suspected Russian aircraft over the town. A major Syrian Army ground offensive was also reported in the area.

At Mr Hammoud’s funeral that day, four more civilians were reported killed in a fresh Russian airstrike. As Associated press reported: “The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activist news platform Syrian Revolution Talbiseh said warplanes believed to be Russian targeted mourners at a funeral in Homs province’s al-Ghanto village, killing four civilians. Homs-based activist Bebars al-Telawy said the civilians were burying a man who died from wounds sustained a day earlier when the planes struck.”

One of the new fatalities was named by VDC as Abdulqader Salem al-Hajwani.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Al Sheikh Hammoud
Adult male killed
Abdulqader Salem al-Hajwani
Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Talbissa - the martyr Omar Al Sheikh Hammoud was martyred as a result of the aerial bombardments on the town of Ghintu"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Ghantu (الغنطو), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.82179, 36.69605. 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

The Russians made no public reference to any airstrikes in Homs governorate for October 18th-19th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS138

Incident date

October 17, 2015

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four named civilians were reported killed in an airstrike at Manbij, although opinions were split as to whether the victims had been killed by the Assad regime or by the Coalition. As Ara News noted, “the identity of the planes remains unknown, because of the number of different actors that are bombing the Aleppo countryside including the Coalition, the regime and the Russians. And no side has claimed responsibility until now.”

Several sources named the dead, some named three and others named four civilian men.

The Syrian Network said that three civilians had died – but that they were killed after “regime warplanes fired missiles on Manbej city.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr Mohammad Al Sam’o
Adult male another source says the victim was the son of Dr. Mohammad Al Sam’o, who is the owner of Al Kura al Ardiya bakery. The son was a first year medical student. killed
Fawwaz Al Ahmad Al Mar’i
50 years old male from al Dadat village in the Manbij countryside killed
Ala’a Al Mohammad
Adult male from Kosak killed
Mohammad Hussein Al Jammi
Adult male also named as Ahmad Hussein al Jammi from the village of Karqawi al Akrad killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An activist @SyrianInstitute tweets that the coalition did not report any raids on Manbij on the 17th. He says the planes that targeted the city were the regime's. 18th October 2018

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No reference was made to Manbij in Coalition daily reports for October 17th-18th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS052

Incident date

October 17, 2015

Location

عرفة, Arafeih, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.38178, 37.02376 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young boy named as Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem later died of his injuries, six days after an October 17th airstrike on the town of Arafeih. According to reports the child was injured by shrapnel in the original attack. And on October 31st, a civilian male named as Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha also died as a result of injuries sustained

The source of the airstrike was contested. While most attributed the attack to Russia, some news reports said it was the work of the Assad regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem
Child male Due to the Russian air forces shelling To a displaced camps on a camp of displaced people killed
Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha
Adult male As a result of a cluster bomb remnants of Russian shelling explosion killed

Summary

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

  • VDC names a male child Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem as a victim of a Russian strike on a displaced persons camp. (via VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arafeih (عرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.38178, 37.02376. 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 confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Hama governorate for both October 16th-17th 2015, and October 17th-18th 2015.

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)
  • 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

CI123

Incident date

October 16, 2015

Location

يت, Hit, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.642631, 42.829814 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, ten civilians were killed and 23 wounded after Coalition aircraft struck Hit city, in the west of Anbar province. According to Iraqi Revolution a number of civilian homes at Shap Corniche were destroyed in the attack which had targeted Daesh elements, with children reportedly among the victims. One photograph showed a man cradling dead or injured child.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–33
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Residents at site of alleged Oct 16th Coalition strike at Hit which reportedly killed 10 civilians (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • A man cradles a child casualty of an alleged Coalition strike at Hit, Oct 16th 2015 (via Iraqi Spring)
  • Another image of the aftermath of the event (via Iraqi Revolution)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 15th-17th 2015, no strikes were publicly reported at Hit by the Coalition.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–33
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS051

Incident date

October 16, 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

The White Helmets reported that three children were killed in the countryside near Damascus following a ‘Russian airstrike.’ Al Etihad said the aircraft was a Russian Air Force Su-24. VDC named the children without specifying which nation’s aircraft were responsible. .

However Shaam News described the attack as having been the work of the Syrian regime aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anas Mohammad Khdair
Child male killed
Mahrous Mohammad Khdair
Child male killed
Abdul Rahman Emad al-Akhras
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the dead children in hospital, following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 16th October 2015. (via Syrian Civil Defence in Damascus Suburbs)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

According to the Kremlin “Russian aviation performed 36 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus and Aleppo provinces” on October 16th-17th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS049

Incident date

October 16, 2015

Location

تيرمعلة, Teir Ma'ala, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.802364, 36.709287 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

For the second day in a row Russian aircraft reportedly targeted Teir Ma’ala, this time killing nine or more civilians according to reports. “Russian warplanes launched two raids on the town of Teir Ma’alah missiles, one of which targeted the area around the town mosque, which killed nine and about four wounded, mostly women and children,” reported Smart News.

Footage reportedly showing the attacks also features announcements from the local mosque to take shelter during the raid.

The Violations Documentation Center later named eleven civilians, ten of them adult and one female child.

Local Pro-government site Al Ahed reported only that nine ‘militants’ were killed in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Dahham al-Kusa
Adult male killed
Ayman Abdul Razak Qanatri
Adult male killed
Abdul Wakeel Ahmad al-Ibraheem
Adult male killed
Basem Abdul Kareem al-Ibraheem
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Abbas al-Kusa
Adult male killed
Ahmad Faisal Abbas
Adult male killed
Abdul Hakeem al-Satouf "al-Dairi"
Adult male Also known as 'Bassam' killed
Mustafa al-Ahdab
Adult male killed
Udai Ayman Qanatry
Adult male killed
Mohammad Adnan al-Ahdab
Adult male killed
Israa Mefleh Abbas
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child10 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Adnan al-Ahdab named as a civilian victim of the strike on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Udai Ayman Qantary named as a civilian victim of the strike on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Footage purporting to show the 'Russian strike' on Teir Ma'ala, 16th October 2015. (via Syrian Revolutionaries Gathering)
  • Al Jisr Tv footage showing what it says is 'the Russian raids on the village of Teir Ma'ala', 16th October 2015. (via Al Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia once again made no reference to any airstrikes in Homs governorate for October 16th-17th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child10 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS050

Incident date

October 16, 2015

Location

كفر كرمين, Kafr Karmin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.16432, 36.79017 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between ten and 13 civilians including five children died in a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Karmin.

The Syrian Network later named some eight of the including one man, two women and five children.

One eyewitness said the attack came “Exactly after Friday prayer [when] Russian planes targeted the village of Kafr Karmeen and killed between five and ten martyrs.”

While most sources blamed Russia, Smart News, Ara News and Al Araby said regime aircraft were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sjay Saleh al-Hameed
Adult male 38 years old from Darkoush town killed
Jamileh Mosa Ramadan
Adult female 60 years old killed
Abeer Mostafa Jowani
Adult female 35 years old killed
Jamileh Ahmad Abdullah
Child female 12 years old killed
Iman Abdullah Al Abdullah
Child female 2 or 3 years old killed
Marya Abdullah Abdullah
Child female 5 months old or 2 years old killed
Ayoush Mohamad Ali
Child female 2 years old killed
Hiba Abdullah Abdullah
Child female 1 year old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (5 children2 women1 man)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the victim Sjay Saleh al-Hameed killed in Kafr Karmin, Aleppo.16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Photo Sjay Saleh al-Hameed killed in Kafr Karmin, Aleppo.16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • AA Turkish news agency footage of the aftermath of what it says was the Russian strike on Kafr Karmin in which it reports ten civilians were killed including three children, 16th October 2015. (via AA)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

According to the Kremlin “Russian aviation performed 36 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus and Aleppo provinces” on October 16th-17th 2015.

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
  • (5 children2 women1 man)
  • 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

CI122

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.37459, 42.45731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unknown casualty event, the US confirmed on January 29th 2016 that its aircraft had injured at least two civilians in a targeted strike on an ISIL religious judge three months earlier.

According to CENTCOM, “On Oct. 15, 2015, near Tal Afar, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL Sharia Judge Mullah Maysar, it was assessed two civilians were injured when the targeted vehicle veered into oncoming traffic.”

Local media described the attack at the time, with one report saying Maysar had died alongside two bodyguards, with five unspecified people injured. Another report said that five militants died in the attack.

The ISIL operative – real name Akram Kurbash aka Abu Akram – was a senior figure in Daesh and had been the target of previous Coalition targeted strikes. He was first reported killed on May 13th 2015 by the Iraqi Defence Ministry, a claim later played down by the US.

In  July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for this event, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • ISIS judge Kahtan Adnan Abdulkader reportedly killed in the strike (via Falcons of war)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 36.375659, 42.451536

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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Tal Afar, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF719285
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 29, 2016

  • On Oct. 15, 2015, near Tal Afar, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL Sharia Judge Mullah Maysar, it was assessed two civilians were injured when the targeted vehicle veered into oncoming traffic.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 15th-16th 2015, the Coalition had orignally reported only that “Near Tal Afar, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, 49 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL cache, and wounded an ISIL fighter.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]