Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS059

Incident date

October 19, 2015

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An airstrike in the vicinity of al Karnish Street in Al Bab – either Russian or Assad regime – killed up to ten people and caused a significant number of injuries, according to reports.

Al Bab Free Syria reported that “Ten martys died as a result of [regime airstrikes], among whom were members of the Al A’taba family and an elderly man named as Fahd Salim Al Hamad, whose family was recovered from under the rubble.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Mustafa Ataba
Adult male killed
wife of Ahmad Mustafa Ataba
Adult female killed
son of Ahmad Mustafa Ataba
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud al-Nashef
Adult male killed
Fahd al-Saleem al-Hamad
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • Cleanup operation in Al Bab following a Russian or Assad regime strike October 19th 2015 (via Al Bab Free Syria)
  • Breaking - the pig Russian warplanes carry out air raids targeting Al Bab in eastern Aleppo leading to deaths and injuries.
  • #Aleppo martyrs and wounded following the targeting of Assad’s warplanes of al bab in eastern aleppo with vacuum missiles.
  • Breaking- warplanes bomb Al Kornish street in Al bab eastern Aleppo.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has confirmed carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate on October 19th-20th 2015: “The Russian pilots carried out 55 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 60 targets in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces.” No further details were given.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • 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

RS060

Incident date

October 19, 2015

Location

بشرفة, Bisharfeh, Latakia, Syria

Geolocation

35.701856, 36.199383 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a reported mass casualty incident, at least 15 and as many as 57 civilians were killed in a Russian airstrike on the town of Bisharfeh in the Jabal al-Akrad area. Many of the victims were reported to be women and children.

Al Khaleej cited a local civil defence official: “The shelling came from a Russian aircraft on villages under the control of the opposition in the eastern countryside of the province of Latakia, killing 42 people and wounding dozens. The wounded were taken to the field hospital in the region.” The BBC placed the death toll slightly higher, at 45. However, rebel group the First Coastal Division later told Reuters that 15 non-combatants had died. Others insisted that as many as 57 civilians died.

A senior commander named as Captain Basil Zimmu was also killed along with four other fighters in the attack. The Syrian Observatory also later noted that the dead included “fighters from the rebel and Islamist factions with their families, one of them a chief of staff in a rebel division. The death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 57
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bazeena (بزينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.701856, 36.199383. 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 confirms carrying out strikes in Lattakia governorate on October 19th-20th 2015: “The Russian pilots carried out 55 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 60 targets in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces.” No further details were given.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 57
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI126

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

الكسك, Kisik Junction, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.4618824, 42.6849747 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian taxi was reportedly destroyed in a Coalition airstrike at Kisik Junction north west of Mosul, killing up to eight civilians including two children and a woman. A girl reportedly survived the attack. The event, described as an evening airstrike, led to the deaths of a number of named victims. The Coalition has confirmed striking an ‘ISIL vehicle’ on this date at Kisik.

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.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Anwar Mohammed Jamil
Adult male held a Masters in computing and mathematics from Mosul University, died operating a taxi which was bringing the al Fadhi family back from the Turkish border. killed
Abdullah Fathi Al Fadhi
Adult male was reported killed with his wife and at least two of their children, including a girl and a boy (pictured below) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Ammar Anwar Mohammed Jamil, reportedly killed in a Coalition strike at Kisik Junction, Oct 18th 2015 (via Mosul Ateka)
  • Abdullah Fathi Al Fandi (via Mosul Ateka)
  • The Al Fandi children (via Mosul Ateka)

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
    38SKF926377
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 18, 2015, in Kisik Junction, Iraq, 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. 2843/CI126 38SKF926377

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition has confirmed an airstrike at Kisik for October 18th-19th 2015: “Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and wounded an ISIL fighter.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI127

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

القوسيات, Alqosjat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.4368746, 43.1029299 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what may be a separate incident or confused reporting (see also the Kisik Junction report for this date) there were reports of a family of eight or nine killed at Alqosjat – an event said to have killed a woman and two children.

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
    8 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ 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
    38SLF300341
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 18, 2015, in Alqosjat, Iraq, 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. 2844/CI127 38SLF300341

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has publicly reported no strikes for the Mosul area for October 18th-19th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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

CI128

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3240179, 43.77335 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that members of a family were killed or injured, after Coalition aircraft reportedly struck three civilian cars near the city of Hawijah. The victims were said to be travelling to Hawijah to pick up their state pensions.

According to NRN, “the international coalition may have believed that those cars were linked to Daesh based on intelligence. It turns out they were incorrect.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • NRN News
    • Facebook
    • English
    • Facebook
    • English

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 Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Hawijah for October 17th-19th 2015.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • NRN News
    • Facebook
    • English
    • Facebook
    • English

Incident Code

RS054

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

دير العصافير, Dayr Al Asafeer, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.465278, 36.419722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One possible non-combatant was reported killed at Dayr al Asafeer, according to a single source. Shaam News Network reported that a joint air-ground assault by Russian and Assad forces “led to the fall of one martyr” in the town, though no further details were given of their status.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dayr Al Asafeer (دير العصافير), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.465278, 36.419722. 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 confirmed strikes in Damacus governorate for October 18th-19th 2015, noting: “Russian aviation performed 33 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia and Hama provinces… Precision strikes of the Russian combat aviation in the Damascus province have crucially changed the operational situation in this region.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS139

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An adult male was killed in a reported Coalition strike at Sukhna. While he was described as a civilian by one source, all others reported that he was in fact a combatant.

The VDC has named Sabri Abd al Wahab al Ozbaki as a civilian victim of what it says was “coalition air force’s shelling.”

However Syrian Reporter noted that “The person known in Raqqa as Sabri Abd Al Wahhab al Ozbaki has been killed. He was the man in charge of the Uzbek and Chechen immigrants in the area. He was killed by an international coalition raid on Al Sukhna in Homs.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sabri Abd al Wahab al Ozbaki
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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

The Coalition publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity between October 17th-19th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]