Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
166 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

SDF00040

Incident date

September 12, 2023

Location

أبو حمام, Abo Hamam, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

In the evening of Tuesday September 12th 2023, it is reported that elderly civilian Aliwi Al-Waran was killed and civilians Hamidi al-Aboud al-Karkaz, Hussein al-Muhya, Mahdi al-Dhiab and three other children were injured by an alleged Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) drone near the Al-Hawasha area, on the banks of the Euphrates river, by the town of Abo Hamam, eastern Syria. This was reported by various local news outlets such as Naher Media, Sharqya Reporte and Dery News.

This version of events was corroborated by locally based twitter users @alkhabour21, @HamamIssa7 or @avocat_ali. Euphrates News further reported that elderly Aliwi Al-Waran was working in agriculture during the drone strike and died as a result of his injuries caused during the SDF’s drone attack.

Twitter users @btbab_b72180 and @893_0802 and @syrdrr1 further reported that the drone used by the SDF was an American weapon. However this has not been verified by local news agencies. Local news source Shaam News corroborates these facts and further reports that SDF violence towards civilians has increasedas a result of repeated targeting by snipers and even marches and direct targeting with heavy machine guns.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aliwi Al-Waran عليوي الوران
Adult male killed
Hamidi Al-Aboud Al-Karakaz حميدي العبود الكركز
Age unknown injured
Hussein Al-Muhya حسين المحيى
Age unknown injured
Mahdi Al-Dhiyab مهدي الذياب
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Source: Euphrates Post

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS055

Incident date

October 17, 2019

Location

الحسكة وعامودا, Al Hasaka & Amouda, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.507914, 40.745169 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

37.102510, 40.930715 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 20 civilians were wounded in a shooting incident in Al Hasaka & Amouda. Sources did not identify who fired the bullets.

According to Nors.studies, “six young people, one woman and two children were injured, as a result of reckless bullets, due to the celebrations of the Turkish-American agreement.”

However, the Syrian Observatory put the toll higher, reporting: “About 20 citizens were injured by stray gunshots against the backdrop of celebrations of the deal between U.S. and Turkey within the area of east Euphrates. Turkish forces renew their bombardment on Ras Al-Ayn despite the agreement”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention casualties in the towns of Al Hasaka (الحسكة) and Amouda (عامودا). The generic coordinates for Al Hasaka are: 36.507914, 40.745169. The generic coordinates for Amouda are: 37.102510, 40.930715. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS088

Incident date

February 5, 2020

Location

اعزاز, A'zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586111, 37.044722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, three children and a woman, were allegedly injured by YPG or Syrian regime shelling on A’zaz in Aleppo, Syria on February 6th, 2020.

The correspondent of Halab Today TV said that ” a woman and three children were lightly injured and were taken by rescue teams to the A’zaz National Hospital for treatment.”

Shahba Press said: “Three children were injured and widespread destruction due to shelling of the PYD militia on the city of A’zaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo.”

Syria Civil Defense posted: “A woman and 3 children were injured as a result of an artillery attack in the midnight city of A’zaz.”

Bawaba Aleppo also said that children were injured and that A’zaz was targeted with rocket launchers.

Though most of sources blamed YPG for the attack, Our Syria page blamed the Syrian regime saying “Al-Assad militia targeted at night the city of A’zaz, north of Aleppo, with several rocket-propelled grenades and caused material damage. “

The incident occured around midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ali Maher Al-Raz علي ماهر الرز
8 years old male From Saraqeb injured
Ibrahim Maher Al-Raz إبراهيم ماهر الرز
11 years old male From Saraqeb injured

The victims were named as:

Bayan Barish بيان باريش
22 years old female From Saraqeb injured
Sidra Ayman Haj Hamdan سيدرا أيمن حج حمدان
7 years old female From A'zaz injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damage after alleged YPG on Azaz on Feburary 5th, 2020 (via Bawaba Aleppo)
  • Damaged house after alleged YPG on Azaz on Feburary 5th, 2020 (via Bawaba Aleppo)
  • Damaged house after alleged YPG shelling on Azaz on February 5th, 2020 (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG or Syrian regime shelling of A'zaz in Aleppo on February 6th, 2020 (Our Syria)
  • Damage to a civilian's house after alleged YPG or Syrian regime shelling of A'zaz in Aleppo on February 6th, 2020 (Our Syria)
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG or Syrian regime shelling of A'zaz in Aleppo on February 6th, 2020 (Our Syria)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the city of A’zaz (اعزاز), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.586111, 37.044722. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1968

Incident date

October 27, 2021

Location

الصبحة, Al Sabha, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.896421, 39.904919 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A male civilian, co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, was shot and killed by alleged Coalition forces and/or Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in on October 27, 2021.

According to a tweet from @Sada_AlSharqieh, a media organization covering Eastern Syria, Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, in charge of running the affairs of the Health Committee in the Council, was killed in an airdrop operation carried out by the Coalition forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

@DeirEzzor24 reported that Samer Al-Abdullah was killed by mistake when SDF forces were searching for a wanted person, adding that Samer was a member of the Future Syria Party affiliated with the administration.

The correspondent of the “Ein al-Furat” network said that the SDF Asayish carried out a landing operation to arrest a person named Shayesh al-Hassan. “When al-Hassan fled, the deputy co-presidency of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, in charge of the affairs of the Health Committee, left his house, thinking that the shooting was on his house and that he should flee from it, which prompted the Asayish forces to shoot him, killing him instantly.” @baznewz named the target of the operation to be the sons of “Salem al-Baghdeh,” Abu Younis, a leader in the Islamic State.

However, @humam_isa reported that the shooting came after misleading information reached the Coalition forces. @Sada_AlSharqieh tweeted that Samer Al-Abdullah had been threatened by several parties who wanted him to leave work in the Civil Council and Nedaa Post stated that the SDF had arrested other members of the council. Ida2at even added that there were accusations that the SDF intended to kill Samer and it was part of an “assassination operation”. The “Al-Shaitat official” page quoted a source as saying that “Al-Abdullah is an educated person who knows that anyone who goes out during a raid or landing operation is targeted, and therefore he will not put himself at risk to look at the raid, which makes it likely that the cadres will arrange the operation to get rid of him.”

Sources were conflicted as to what time the event occurred, with @EuphratesPost pinpointing the raid to dawn while Jisr TV reported that the shooting occurred in the evening.

In a civilian casualty assessment released November 3, 2023, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “After a thorough review of all CJTF-OIR strike and operation history, no strike or operation was identified +/-24 hours, in the vicinity of the allegation.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samer Al-Abdullah سامر العبد الله
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, killed in an alleged Coalition airdrop operation on October 27, 2021. (Image posted by @Sada_AlSharqieh)
  • Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, killed in an alleged Coalition airdrop operation on October 27, 2021. (Image posted by @DeirEzzorNow)
  • The official in the Civil Council of the "Self-Administration", Samer Al-Abdullah, was killed "by mistake", during a raid carried out by the international coalition forces and "SDF" near his house in a town in Deir ez-Zor governorate, targeting ISIS cells. (Image posted by @AsharqNewsSYR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, killed in an alleged Coalition airdrop operation on October 27, 2021. (Image posted by @baznewz)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sabha (الصبحة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.896421, 39.904919. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 3, 2023

  • October 27, 2021, near Al Sabha, Syria, via Airwars report. After a thorough review of all CJTF-OIR strike and operation history, no strike or operation was identified +/-24 hours, in the vicinity of the allegation. 3313/CS1968 37SEV8166572838

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS154

Incident date

October 18, 2022

Location

معبر الحمران, Al Hamran crossing, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.677812, 37.736892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians, workers traveling in a car, were injured by alleged SDF guided missiles that struck them while they were traveling near the Al-Hamran crossing in the Jarabulus countryside on October 18, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that six workers were injured in a missile strike on a car carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces near the Al-Hamran crossing in the Jarabulus countryside. The Civil Defense added that volunteers treated three of them and took them to Jarabulus Hospital.

A Facebook post from Al Kabour reported that three civilian were wounded by mortar shells, and that the Kurdish militias were responsible.

The Syria TV correspondent said that the “SDF” struck a car carrying workers with a guided missile at the Al-Hamran crossing, located near the town of Ghandoura. All other sources that reported on the incident attributed the missile to SDF forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers treat one of the civilians wounded near the Al-Hamran crossing on October 18, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage to a vehicle caused by alleged SDF shelling near Jarabulus on October 18, 2022. (Image posted by @syr_television)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Five of the workers injured by shelling of their vehicle near Jarabulus on October 18, 2022. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Hamran crossing (معبر الحمران) in the vicinity of the town of Ghandoura (غندورة). The generic coordinates for the Al Hamran crossing are: 36.677812, 37.736892. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00019

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

أطراف قرية دويرة قرب قباسين، في ريف حلب الشرقي, the outskirts of the village of Douira, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three people, a man, a woman and a male child from the same family, were injured by artillery shelling allegedly carried out by the SDF and/or the Syrian regime in a makeshift camp for displaced people on the outskirts of the village of Douira, near the town of Qabasin, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo at dawn on Saturday, September 2nd 2023. The woman was seriously injured and in critical condition according to the Syrian Civil Defence (SCD). @sa5rmiami claimed that all three civilians were seriously injured. The SCD took the injured to Al-Bab City Hospital for treatment.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported the story of “Sonia”, the young daughter of the man injured in this shelling, whose brother and sister were also injured. Her family lived in the tent after they were displaced from the village of Al-Awisha, near Tadef, east of Aleppo and the story reported her confusion at losing her home once again as their tent was destroyed by the attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the shelling was carried out by regime forces alone. Shaam News claimed that both the Syrian regime and the SDF were responsible for the attack. Baladi News, @AlfratNda, Ouz’han and @sa5rmiami reported the incident was carried out by the SDF alone.

According to the Syrian Civil Defence and @AsharqNewsSYR, the shelling originated from areas under the joint control of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • A child named Sonia whose sister, brother, and father were injured by shelling of their IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the @AlfratNda)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the @AlfratNda)
  • Shelling of an IDP camp in the village of Douira on September 2, 2023. (Image posted by the @AlfratNda)
  • A missile targeting a displaced family in their tent in the village of Douira in the #Aleppo_countryside, fired from an area controlled by Assad and #SDF militias.
  • The effects of the bombing that targeted tents housing displaced people on the outskirts of the village of Douira near Qabasin, in the eastern countryside of #Aleppo, at dawn today, Saturday, September 2, which led to the injury of 3 civilians (a man, a woman with serious injuries, and a child, from the same family).
  • “The source of the bombing is areas under the joint control of the regime forces and the #Syrian Democratic Forces”... Effects of artillery shelling that targeted tents sheltering displaced people on the outskirts of the village of Douira near Qabasin, east of #Aleppo

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]