Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Incident Code

RS951

Incident date

June 28, 2016

Location

ياقد العدس, Yaqid al Adas, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2645222, 37.0187463 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported an incident in the town of Yaked al-Abas near Aleppo, that led to the death of up to 13 civilians, including four members of the The White Helmets. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Aleppo White Helmets reported, “the news of the martyrdom of four of the Civil Defense Volunteers from the Maarat arteeq centre after they were targeted by warplanes in the town Yaked al Adas while carrying out their humanitarian duty to put out the fires that broke out in the town”.

A range of local media, such as Syrian News Network, Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), Halab News, Syrian Press Center, Baladi News and Aleppo White Helmets also reported the death of four members of the White Helmets.

The White Helmets and the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the incident to the Syrian regime, while LCCSY, Smart News Agency, Baladi News, @HNMNEWS tweet, @Mamoun_sy tweet, All4Syria, StepAgency News and al-Araby blamed Russia.

The Twitter account @HNMNEWS also reported the use of cluster bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Mukhtar
26 years old male Member of Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed
Yasser Abdel Rahman Tamim
30 years old male Driver of Civil Defense center’s ambulance in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed
Mohamed Abdulaziz  El Hadj Omar
22 years old male Member of Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed
Mustafa Zahi Abdul Kader
24 years old male Member of Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo governorate killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of strikes on Yaqid al Adas, June 28th (via Syrianpc)
  • The four White Helmets, alleged killed in Russian airstrikes on Yaked-al-Abas (Tweet by @Mamoun_sy)
  • The White Helmets conducted a funeral and buried the dead following alleged Russian attacks on Yaked-al-Abas (Youtube by The White Helmets)
  • Yasser Abdul Raheem Tamim, born in 1985, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, driver of Civil Defense center’s ambulance in Ma’aret Al Arteeq in Aleppo (via SN4HR) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Mohammad Abdul Aziz Haj Omar, born in 1994, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, member Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq. Died following alleged airstrikes, the source attributed blame to the Syrian Regime. (via SN4HR)
  • Ahmad Sha’aban Haj Omar, born in 1990, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, member of the Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq. Died following alleged airstrikes, the source blamed the Syrian Regime (via SN4HR)
  • Mustafa Zahi Abdul Qader, born in 1992, from Ma’aret Al Arteeq town, member of the Civil Defense center in Ma’aret Al Arteeq. Died following alleged airstrikes, SN4HR blamed the Regime (via SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets search through the rubble following alleged airstrikes on Yaked al Abas (via Eldorar)
  • The White Helmets work to extinguish fire allegedly caused by "warplanes" (via arabsToday)
  • According to Alaraby, vacuum missiles, allegedly launched by Russian warplanes, resulted in the death of four White Helmet members, when they tried to extinguish the blaze (via Alaraby)

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 strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS983

Incident date

July 10, 2016

Location

حر بنفسه, Harbnafsa, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.937222, 36.621667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were no reports of civilian casualties in Harbnafsa. However, there were reports of a casualty in Burj Qaei which is nearby the local area.

Souriat News reported “Regime warplanes shelling and artillery in Harbnasfa and Zara. No reports of casualties.”

To further this, Syrian Newsdesk reported, “Russian and regime planes launched more than 10 raids yesterday evening on the villages of Harabnafsa and al Zara which are under opposition control in the southern Hama countryside which led to the total destruction of at least five houses.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (3) [ 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 strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1015

Incident date

July 17, 2016

Location

حطلة, Hatla, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the villages of Hatla and al Salhiya in Deir Ezzor, according to sources on the ground.

Euphrates Post reported three were killed and five wounded – they blamed Russia, as did the Smart News Agency.

Ara News, however, said that the regime carried out shelling in Hatla, “resulting in a number of casualties” and destroying residential buildings.

Several other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Ibrahim Khalil al Nibr
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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]

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 strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

RS1047

Incident date

July 25, 2016

Location

Arbeen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians died and as many as 15 were wounded in airstrikes on Arbeen, local sources said – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime carried out the attacks.

Alsharq and Qary blamed Russia and put the death toll at four.

Alitihad Press and Shahba also attributed the event to Russia, with Shaba putting the number of wounded at 15.

According to Nabd, Russian and regime warplanes carried out 25 raids, killing five people.

A number of other sources blamed both parties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • 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 (17) [ 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 strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS172 RS622

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

الشدادي, Al-Shadadi, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.408116, 40.3085589

Airwars assessment

Reported airstrikes by the Coalition or possibly Russia on al Shadadi between midnight and dawn struck a bakery in the city killing at least 15 civilians, according to multiple reports.

Shaam News and the Syrian Network said the civilians died in a Coalition strike as they queued to buy bread at Auto Bakery, although other sources said those killed were bakery staff.

Al A’maq Media (close to Daesh) initially blamed the attack on Russia but later noted: “Correction: a Source to al A’maq: the raids that destroyed the bakery of Shadadi killing 15 of its staff was carried out by international coalition planes, not Russian planes.” The VDC attributes the attack to Russia.

In a lengthy report [in Arabic] on the attack, the Damascus Center later cited eyewitness Nabila um Khaled: “We were standing in front of the oven waiting to get the bread, everyone present was a civilian. The day before we didn’t leave the house for fear of bombing from the air… We looked to the sky and saw three or more planes flying in the air, their color almost cyan [light blue]. After less than a minute we started to tell each other that we had to leave the place and run away, because the aircraft were flying at low altitudes. But we did not have time to move. After less than a minute, as I said what we saw was a rocket hit the oven building where people were lined up. Those at the front of the line are the victims who died in the massacre. My sister and I were standing at the back, I was hit by shrapnel, and my sister was left in a serious condition, though she is now improving.”

The Coalition later appeared to confirm it had carried out strikes in the vicinity, saying it had destroyed ‘an ISIL building’ near Al Hassakah. Heavy airstrikes had been recorded in the town in preceding days, given an imminent ground assault to recapture Al Shadadi from Daesh. In contrast, Russia did not publicly report carrying out airstrikes in Al Hassakah governorate.

The Daily Beast later reported that “U.S. Central Command, which leads the U.S. military in the Middle East, is investigating the latest allegations of civilian deaths to determine if they are credible and conduct a proper military investigation, Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, told Pentagon reporters during a briefing Thursday….Brown said he could not say whether the coalition was conducting strikes at the same time residents were alleged to have come under attack, but he noted that coalition forces “have been striking that area for the past several days.”’

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yousef Anwar
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Anwar
Age unknown male killed
Taha Khleif
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad al-Haboud
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad al-Mekhlef
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Mustafa al-Khallouf
Age unknown male killed
Alaa Hussain Dkheil al-Kreiei
Age unknown male killed
Qahtan al-Elwi al-Suleiman
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 28
  • (4 children1 woman8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Kahtan Al A’lawi Al Sleiman (via Hassakah Youth Movement)
  • Taha Ajaj and Louai Jazzar (via Hassakah Youth Movement)
  • A photo published by activists of the martyr Ala’a Hussein Al Dakheel (via Hassaka’s Youth Union)

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 February 15th-16th 2016, the Coalition reports that “Near Al Hasakah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 28
  • (4 children1 woman8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1229 RS2349

Incident date

July 18, 2017

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.751769, 39.61639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three people were reportedly wounded following airstrikes in Ma’dan on the eastern border of Raqqa governorate. However it was contested as to who was responsible.

One source, Shaam News Network, claimed that the airstrikes caused a “massacre” and that 12 civilians were killed. However it was at odds with nine other sources which reported the incident without claiming there were civilian casualties, stating that three people were instead injured.

Only one other source, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, also claimed there were civilian casualties, but did not identify the number of people purportedly killed.

It is believed that Shaam News Network claimed the high civilian casualty rate because there were a number of other airstrikes in the surrounding towns – documented by Airwars in other incidents – and it may have confused strikes in other areas with those in Ma’dan. Shaam News Network was also the only source to allege that Russia was responsible, whereas seven sources alleged that the Coalition was responsible. Three sources did not make any claims with regards to responsibility.

Amnesty Intentional later shared an unpublished report with Airwars stating that “Fifteen days ago [c July 11th] “the Russians” started dropping barrel bombs [in the areas near Maadan]. The first barrel bomb attack on Maadan was one week ago [around 19 July]”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
  • Stated location
    near Ma’adan, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 18th-19th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, two vehicles and a tactical vehicle.” It additionally reported that “On July 18, near Raqqah, Syria, 18 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 18 fighting positions, an anti-aircraft artillery system, a weapons cache, and a sniper position; and damaged a fighting position and a supply route.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For July 12th-18th, France report 11 strikes: 7 in Syria (6 in Raqqa) and 4 in Iraq. There were 26 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014 France has carried out 1322 strikes, with 2090 targets destroyed and 6812 air sorties. Additionally, they’ve carried out 1310 artillery missions.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah désormais encerclée, Daech défend fermement les quartiers sous son contrôle en s’appuyant sur un usage intensif de pièges dont le terrain est littéralement saturé pour ralentir la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS). Cette stratégie impose aux FDS de déminer, pas à pas, chaque rue et chaque maison, sous la menace permanente de tireurs isolés entre autres tactiques adverses. Leur progression reste donc très lente. En Irak, Alors que les opérations de sécurisation de Mossoul se poursuivent, la principale zone de combat se situe désormais à l’Ouest de la ville dans le secteur de Tall Afar. Depuis cette localité, Daech mène des actions de harcèlement par des tirs directs et indirects contre les positions des Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes (FSI) à proximité. L’effort aérien de la coalition s’y porte donc tout en s’accompagnant d’un engagement plus large sur l’ensemble des autres territoires encore sous le contrôle de l’organisation terroriste. Daech poursuit notamment ses actions de harcèlement depuis la poche de Hawijah et dans l’Anbar, région dans laquelle elle dispose de nombreux camps et caches d’armes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 37 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 02 de ravitaillement en vol après le déploiement récent d’un C135. La moitié des frappes françaises (6 sur les 11 frappes) a été réalisée dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, les missions de reconnaissance française ou alliée permettant d’en réaliser autant sur le reste du théâtre afin de préparer les manœuvres futures ou de peser sur les réseaux terroristes. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 26 missions de tir dont 17 de harcèlement et 09 d’éclairement. Le bilan global de CHAMMAL depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1322 frappes, 2090 objectifs détruits et 6812 sorties aériennes réalisées. 1310 missions d’artillerie complètent cet engagement cinétique de la France au Levant.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1480

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.254309, 40.355344 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A major civilian casualty incident allegedly took place at an IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside. Al Yaqeen reported about 100 displaced people were killed, mostly women and children, following an alleged aerial bombardment by the US-led Coalition at the camp (pictured). However this was contested – with Euphrates Post asserting that this news was in fact propaganda put out by the so-called Islamic State organization.

Activists quoted in the Syrian Mirror described a “massacre of about 120 civilians, including 100 children”, the death tolls were reiterated by Jisrtv – both blamed the US-led Coalition.

Activists shared concern “about the increase in the number due to the injuries of varying degrees of danger, in light of the weakness of medical services and the shortage of medicines and medical staff” with Shaam News, they also posted pictures which showed the wounded and “significant physical destruction in the targeted area’”. According to Shaam “Al-Assad and his Russian ally planes fly with the International Coalition aircraft to bomb areas under the control of the Islamic State in Deir al-Ghazal countryside, which are full of civilians. None of the planes have taken any notice of the lives of children, women and the elderly”.

Sadaalsham News did not identify a culprit, and referred only to “unknown military aircraft”, however it cited Step News Agency which quoted a source “close to Daesh”, which attributed blame to the US-led Coalition. @abazeid89 blamed both the US-led Coalition and Russia for the massacre, and posted a graphic photograph of a girl bloodied following the raid.

RFS Media Office said Moscow was responsible, asserting that “Russian warplanes” carried out the “horrific massacre” on the IDP camps in Deir Ezzor city’s countryside.

A later report from Euphrates Post revealed a significant discrepancy with reporting and said the incident did not happen. According to the Post the Al-A’amaq agency, the media wing of so-called Islamic State, “broadcast a video showing children victims’ bodies it claimed to have died as a result of the bombing of the international coalition aircraft on a camp near the village of Jadid Akeidat rural Deir Ezzor East”. However the Post “ found that the children martyrs were killed as a result of the bombing by Russian warplanes on the town of Khisham on Thursday morning and that the children’s pictures belong to the children of Fadil Mohammed Al Khamis, who are displaced from the village of Al Bou Amro and they are in the town of Khasham”. Euphrates Post claimed “There is also no camp in the village of Jadid Akidat or near it. There were no raids on the town of Jadid Akeidat yesterday. What Al A’amaq broadcast were the victims or the massacres in al mayadeen, Bokdors and Khisham”

Two named children were killed in the town of Khasham, according to Euphrates Post, and reported by al a’amaq as having been killed in the alleged Jadid Akeidate camp.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amal Fadel Mohammed al Khamis
Child reported killed by IS at the camp, however killed in Khasham according to Euphrates Post killed
Walaa Mohammed al Khamis
Child reported killed by IS at the camp, however killed in Khasham, Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    100 – 120
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The camp near the village of "Jadid Akeidat" (via Al Yaqeen news agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic stills from a video post by A'amaq Agency, September 14th (via Shaam)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little girl covered in blood, likely killed following airstrikes. The source alleged she was killed in the camp near the village of Jadid Akidat however it is unclear whether the reports are so-called Islamic State propaganda, September 14th (via @abazeid89)
  • The children of Fadil Mohammed Al Khamis alleged killed by A'amaq Agency. According to Euphrates post they were killed in Khasham town, not the camp, the source reported the camp does not exist. September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A row of children killed in alleged airstrikes on an IDP camp near Jadid Akeidad. The incident, initially reported by A'amaq was disounted by Euphrates Post as so-called Islamic State propaganda. September 14th (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an IDP camp near the town of Jadid Akeidat (جدید عكیدات). Airwars was unable to locate an IDP camp or individual tents/structures of IDPs near this town on satellite image before or after the alleged incident. The coordinates for the town of Jadid Akeidat (جدید عكیدات) are: 35.254309, 40.355344

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Jadid Akeidat, al Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed two tactical vehicles, an ISIS fuel station and a fighting position " and, “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.“

For September 14th-15th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles", and "On Sept. 14, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria six strikes destroyed an ISIS UAS, a fighting position, an ISIS supply route and suppressed three fighting positions"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Wednesday 13 September – a Reaper twice engaged terrorists on foot, as well as a truck-bomb, whilst Tornados and Typhoons struck a Daesh building, all near Dayr az Zawr…On Wednesday 13 September, another Reaper continued patrolling near Dayr az Zawr. It used two Hellfire missiles to attack terrorists spotted on foot, then employed a third missile to destroy an armoured truck-bomb positioned next to a main road. A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair meanwhile targeted a group of Daesh in a building nearby, scoring a direct hit with a Brimstone.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    100 – 120
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1662 RS2673

Incident date

November 2, 2017

Location

المراشدة, Al Mrashda river crossing, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.492215, 40.918247 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians died in an airstrike on the al Mrashda river crossing in Deir Ezzor, local media said – though sources were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition, Syrian regime or Russia were responsible.

According to Al Hall, the Coalition “targeted the water crossing in the town of Al Mrashda in rural Bu Kamal also, killing one man and three children and wounding four others, most of them in critical condition”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it was “unknown” whether the planes belonged to the Coalition.

However, Baladi said that Russia was. It said that five people died and others were wounded. Alaraby also pointed towards Moscow.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, putting the death toll at four.

A number of other sources didn’t identify the warplanes that carried out the attack.

The incident was first reported on November 2, 2017 at 10:30 am by .

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ali al-Saleh al-Hanashul
Adult male from al-Safafneh killed
His son Hassan
Child male from al-Safafneh killed

The victims were named as:

Son of Muhammad al-Awad al-Dulaymat
Age unknown male killed
Sulayman Taraki Al-Dablan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Sulayman Taraki Al Khalaf Al-Dablan, killed in an alleged airstrike on the Al Mrashda river crossing on November 2nd 2017 (via Amin Al Mashhadani).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a river crossing in the village of al Mrashda (المراشدة) for which the coordinates are: 34.5099691,40.9314306 The coordinates for the village’s main river crossing are: 34.492215,40.918247 Destroyed ferry and vehicles can be seen on a satellite image from Nov. 13, 2017 Airwars does not have the rights to publish the image.

  • Mrashda (المراشدة) village river crossing

    Date taken:
    May 21, 2011

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 2nd-3rd: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS line of communication. Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS line of communication, a VBIED factory and an ISIS headquarters.”

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]