Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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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

CS137

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a Coalition targeted strike, three men were killed when a car was destroyed at Al Atarib on the road between Sarmada and Bab Al-Hawa.

The Coalition originally reported destroying a car at Aleppo on October 15th-16th 2015. This was later amended to a US unilateral action, a targeted killing which the Pentagon said had killed Abdul Mohsen Adballah Ibrahim al Charekh, aka Sanafi al-Nasr (pictured right), described as “a Saudi national and the highest ranking leader of the network of veteran al-Qaeda operatives sometimes called the ‘Khorasan Group’… Al-Nasr is the fifth senior Khorasan Group leader killed in the last four months.”

VDC originally reported three unidentifed males inside the vehicles as civilians. However all three were later admitted by al-Nusra to be combatants, with the others named as Abu Yasser Al Maghrabi and Yassin Al Muhajir, local Aleppo leaders of the group.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

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-16th 2015, the Coalition originally reported that “Near Aleppo, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS045

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

الفرحانية, Al Farhaniah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8684331, 36.7319298 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported by al Jazeera as having been killed in a Russian strike on Al Farhaniah – part of a major wave of attacks that day.

However footage of civilians transported to a local hospital described injuries from ‘artillery,’ with Homs News also reporting that regime shelling had targeted the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of some of the victims from Al Farhaniah village at a local hospital. The title here says the village was targeted with artillery, 15th October 2015. (via The journalist Suhaib al Ali in Homs)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Farhaniah (الفرحانية), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.8684331, 36.7319298. 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 made no reference to strikes in Homs for October 15th-16th 2015, despite its aircraft clearly having been filmed in action in the governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS046

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

الدار الكبيره, Dar Al Kabira, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.7857347, 36.6818047 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and eight civilians were reported killed in an an alleged Russian airstrike on the small town of Dar Al Kabira in Homs.

According to Smart News the event was instead a ‘friendly fire’ incident, with Russian missiles hitting a military academy.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Dar Al Kabira, for which the generic coordinates are: 34.7857347, 36.6818047. 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 made no reference to strikes in Homs for October 15th-16th 2015, despite its aircraft clearly having been filmed in action in the governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS047

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

سابقية, Sabkiye, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.0641216, 37.1032333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A husband, wife and their three children, all boys, were reported killed in a Russian airstrike at Sabkiye, in Aleppo governorate.

This event is presently single-sourced, with few details known. More broadly, the Syrian Observatory reported a major ground battle taking place at Sabkiye on the same day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Adla Mohammad al-Jasem
Adult female killed with her husband and three children killed
husband of Adla Mohammad al-Jasem
Adult male killed with his wife and three children killed
One child of Adla Mohammad al-Jasem
Child male
One child of Adla Mohammad al-Jasem
Child male
One child of Adla Mohammad al-Jasem
Child

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sabkiye (سابقية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.0641216, 37.1032333. 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 Kremlin has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Aleppo governorate for October 15th-16th 2015: “Su-24M bombers hit a two-storey building, which the ISIS militants had used as command centre (Aleppo province). As a result, the target was destroyed by a direct hit of an air bomb.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS048

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

الحاضر, Al Hader Hospital, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.990111, 37.051266 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes hit the Al Hader hospital in southern Aleppo governorate on two consecutive days, “which led to the fall of victims, including members of the medical staff,” according to Eldorar.

The Violations Documentation Center later named 20-day old baby as a victim of the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Lahham
Child male 20 days old killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Damage at al-Hader hospital following reported Russian airstrike Oct 15th 2015. (via Qasioun)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Twenty day old Ahmad Lahham found dead several days after al Hader hospital was targeted by Russian planes, 15th October 2015. (via: Shehab Agency)
  • Tweet saying opposition sources reporting dead in alleged Russian raids on al Hader hospital. 16/10/2015
  • Opposition sources tweeting news that dozens killed and wounded in alleged Russian raids on al Hader hospital. 15/10/2017
  • tweet confirming more than '30 raids by Russian aggression on the southern countryside of Aleppo' and the destruction of the hospital at al Hader. [Via: Husain2 ]
  • Free Syrian Army tweet confirming that alleged Russian planes launched raids on al Hader hospital and al Issa Hospital. 16/10/2015
  • HalabToday tweet showing signs of destruction in al Hader hospital following alleged Russian raids. [image no longer available]. 17/10/2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Shehab Agency tweets a photo of the body of a baby who was found days after alleged Russian planes targeted a hospital in al Hader, 15th October 2015. (via Shehab News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirms carrying out airstrikes in Aleppo governorate for October 15th-16th 2015 although made no direct reference to al-Hader: “Su-24M bombers hit a two-storey building, which the ISIS militants had used as command centre (Aleppo province). As a result, the target was destroyed by a direct hit of an air bomb.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS042

Incident date

October 15, 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

As many as 57 civilians were killed in a sequence of Russian airstrikes across Homs governorate. According to reports the attacks were in support of a Syrian regime ground offensive, backed by Iranian troops.

In Teir Ma’ala, up to 23 non-combatants were said to have died alongside militants in a 6am attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later described the victims as including “the Teir Ma’ala operations room commander, 8 citizens and one child” while the Shaam News Network raised the toll to 15, noting that “one of the air strikes targeted a gathering of civilians in front of a bakery in the town near al Nour Mosque, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the final death toll at 24: “23 civilians, including 2 children and one armed opposition gunman.”

Human Rights Watch concluded that the attack “apparently violated the laws of war.“

The VDC later named 10 of the dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haytham Shablout
Adult male killed
Mansour al-Ezz el-Dein
Adult male killed
Ahmad Hussain Qanatri
Adult male killed
Abdulsalam Hammoud
Adult male killed
Abdulkareem al-Kinj
Child male killed
Rabei Ezzeldeen al-Hammoud
Adult male killed
Abdulellah Ibraheem al-Raheemo
Adult male killed
Ibraheem Abdulellah Ibraheem al-Raheemo
Child male killed
Abdulrahman Suleiman
Adult male killed
Sara Ismaeil Sweis
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 23
  • (2 children1 woman7 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the injured civilians following warplane raids on Talbissa, 15th October 2015.(via: Shaam News Network)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photos showing civilians killed as a result of alleged Russian raids on the villages of the northern Homs countryside, 15th October 2015. (via: @rafiksalkini)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)
  • Abdulsalam Hammoud killed in an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via, VDC)
  • Rabei Ezzeldeen al-Hammoud killed in an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via, VDC)
  • Abdulellah Ibraheem al-Raheemo killed in an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia made no reference to strikes in Homs governorate for October 15th-16th 2015, despite its aircraft clearly having been filmed in action (see below event.)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 23
  • (2 children1 woman7 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 (9) [ collapse]