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

RS1204

Incident date

September 1, 2016

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two possible civilians died in airstrikes on Hraytan, according to local media, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responsible for the deaths.

Halabtoday, Syr_Rev_News and Alamawi, the Violations Documentation Center and HNN blamed Russia. Smart added that eight non-combatants were also wounded.

However, according to Alaraby the regime was to blame.

Other sources – Shehab and Step News Agency – pointed to both the regime and Russia, with Step reporting that helicopters were used along with warplanes.

There is also some doubt over the victims’ combat status: Aboodeh9068 said that the two victims were members of the “Al-Tawhid brigade”, suggesting that they may not be civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Saqer
Age unknown male killed
Mahmood Kamal Masri
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The destruction on the streets of Hraytan following suspected Regime and Russian missiles (Tweet via @ShehabAgency)
  • Hussein Saqer and Mahmood Kamala Masri - the two men alleged killed in warplane shelling on Hraytan (Tweet via @abodee9068)

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 September 1st – 30th 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 – 2
  • (0–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1236

Incident date

September 7, 2016

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 19 civilians including six children died and up to 50 more were wounded in air and/or artillery strikes on Tadef in Aleppo, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible: the majority blamed Russia (citing the use of cluster bombs), though there were also allegations against the Syrian regime and Turkey.

Radio Alkul was among several sources that referred to “unidentified warplanes”. It put the death toll at ten with “dozens” more wounded.

Qasioun reported that it had been unable to identify whether the warplanes were Russian or Syrian. It also put the death toll at 10 with 30 more civilians injured.

However, according to gate Ahram, Turkish warplanes carried out the attack.

Souriat also reported on the allegations against Turkey – as well as providing more details on the event and the victims. It said: “Activists on social networking sites said that Turkish warplanes targeted Tadef, killing and wounding civilians. But sources in the city Tadef denied that the Turkish aviation targeted the town. It confirmed that the warplanes which carried out raids that killed ten civilians, but that the culprit was either Russian or the Syrian regime.

“The Ronaha channel on Facebook has published a story saying that the Turkish aviation targeted the town, then the channel published a story accusing the Syrian regime, without deleting the previous news. At the same time, activists quoted by the agency Hawar said that Turkey targeted Tedef, but the Hawar agency said that in fact the Syrian regime carried out the raids”.

Sources blaming the regime included Abdalghfourbyab, and LCCSY. the latter put the death count at 19 with 50 more wounded.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 14 civilians died including 10 members from one family. Al Jazeera put the death toll at 15.

Syrian News Desk, meanwhile said that a Russian aerial bombardment had coincided with regime artillery strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Asmaee
Adult male killed
Son of Mohammed Asmaee
Child killed
Son of Mohammed Asmaee
Child killed

Family members (2)

A civilian from Sado Hamid’s family
killed
A civilian from Sado Hamid’s family
killed

Family members (2)

A civilian from the Wahab family
killed
A civilian from the Wahab family
killed

The victims were named as:

A civilian from the Ubaid family
Age unknown killed
A civilian from the Kharenq family
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 19
  • (1–6 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike with cluster bombs on Tadef, Aleppo, Sept 7th (via AlKhaleejNews)
  • Remnants of cluster bombs found in Tadef, Aleppo - the source alleged Russian warplanes responsible (via AlKhaleejNews)
  • A man carries a civilian child in his arms who appears either wounded or killed in suspected warplane shelling (Tweet via @Alkhabar)
  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016

    SN4HR report entitled: ‘no less than 49 massacres in September 2016 including 46 at the hands of the russian and Syrian regimes’ details impact of strikes in Tadef, Aleppo (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

  • At_least_49_massacre_in_September_2016_en

    SN4HR report entitled: ‘no less than 49 massacres in September 2016 including 46 at the hands of the russian and Syrian regimes’ details impact of strikes in Tadef, Aleppo (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 19
  • (1–6 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1269 CS314

Incident date

September 16, 2016

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963172, 38.035655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians reportedly died in an air raid on Maskanah which most sources said involved cluster munitions. Egypt Today put the death toll at five, “including a woman and her two daughters and her child”. Reportedly, the strikes injured up to 12 civilians, including six children.

While most reports blamed Russia, Baladi News claimed either the Coalition or the Syrian regime was responsible.

In their May 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:

Family members (3)

Issa Mohammad al Obeid or Edeib
Adult male killed
Sara al Hamoud
45 years old years old female Wife of Issa Mohammed killed
Asma or Ismat al Obeid
13 or 14 years old female Daughter of Issa Mohammed and Sara killed

Family members (2)

Alaa Al Mohammad al Obeid
Age unknown male injured
Dua’a al Mohamamd al Obeid
Age unknown female injured

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hamadi al Jassem
Age unknown male injured
Nijma al Abdallah
55 years old female injured
Anoud al Hamed,
27 years old female injured
Juma’a al Hamashi
32 years old male injured
Ala’a al Mohammad
11 years old male injured
Asma al Abboud,
7 years old female injured
Wadha al Mohamamd
7 years old female injured
Ibrahim al Atheeb
6 years old male injured
Ismat al Obeid
14 years old male injured
Sara al Hamoud
45 years old female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–15
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Baladi news reports 3 dead, including a child, and 15 injured following alleged coalition strikes on Maskanah in Aleppo. 16th September 2016
  • Report of the death of Issa al Obeid, his wife and an unidentified woman following an alleged cluster bomb attack on the Cultural Centre in Maskanah. 16th September 2016 [Via: Aleppo 24]
  • Arabe 24 reports the death of 3 civilians and injury of 15 others in an air raid on Maskanah. 17th September 2016
  • News of Aleppo and Surrounding Areas tweets the death of 4 civilians and injury of 13 including women and children in air raids on Maskanah at noon. 16th September 2016
  • Khabar reports death of 3 civilian and the injury of 15 following air raids on Maskanah. 16th September 2016
  • Masar Press reports the death of 3 civilians, including two women, in air raids on Maskanah. 16th September 2016
  • Syria Post reports the death of 4 civilians including two women in air raids on Maskanah. 16th September 2016
  • Al Jazeera Breaking reports the death of 3 civilians and injury of 15 others in air raids on Maskanah. 16th September 2016
  • Halab Today reports the death of 4 civilians including 2 women in air raids on Maskanah. 16th September 2016
  • Amawi news reports the death of 4 civilians and the injury of 15 others including women and children following cluster bomb attacks on Maskanah. 16th Septem,ber 2016

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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
    37SDV130802
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Sept. 16, 2016, in Maskanah, Syria 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. 3051/CS314 37SDV130802

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 15th-17th 2016, the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in the vicnity of Manbij.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–15
  • 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, US-led Coalition

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1301

Incident date

September 22, 2016

Location

مسكنة, Maskanah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.963172, 38.035655 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Assad regime warplanes killed one civilian, a young man, and wounded two others on the road outside the Maskana souk, Aleppo, local reports alleged.

“Airstrikes also targeted the main highway near Bado neighbourhood and the entrance to the souq of Maskana city in the eastern suburbs where a young man was martyred and others were injured,” said an LCCSY Facebook post. Other sources corroborated this report: @HalabTodayTV, @RadioAlKul, @ALAMAWI, and Step News all ran reports using similar language.

Most reports did not state the identity of the warplanes, but LCCSY and the Smart News Agency said the planes were Russian.

However, Radio Alkul said that the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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
    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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1333

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Location

كرم حومد, Karam Homad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196287, 37.181253 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and eight civilians were killed and as many as 22 more injured in airstrikes in Karam Homad in Aleppo, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

The lowest death count was given by Almustaqbal and Zamanmasdar at one civilian – though these source, as with some others, didn’t apportion blame.

Micro Syria was among the majority of reports attributing the event to Russia. It put the death count at six, and referring to the event as “a massacre”.

According to the Step News Agency, “eight civilians were killed and more than 20 injured by airstrikes targeting the Karam Homad neighborhood in the city of Aleppo.”

However, other sources pointed towards the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed shelling by “government forces” and LCCSY said that both Russian and Assad jets had carried out strikes in Aleppo on this day, including in Karam Homad.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–22
  • 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 (23) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–22
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1365

Incident date

September 29, 2016

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians including up to three children were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib.

LCCSY wrote that “three died and some were wounded among civilians as Russian warplanes bombarded Khan Sheikhoun city.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, on the other hand, accused the Assad regime of the attack: “At least four civilians including two children died when government warplanes fired missiles on Khan Sheikhoun city in Idlib governorate.”

Zamanalwasl reported the highest death count with six civilians, three of them children,  and claimed the attack was conducted by the regime.

Syria News Desk said that one child was killed.

A number of sources reported the used of both phosphorus and cluster bombs.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A photo showing the remains of cluster munitions, which reportedly was used in the contested strikes on the town of Khan Shaykhoun, 29 September (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Khan Shaykhun (خان شيخون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.44208, 36.65095. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 September 1st – 30th 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 – 6
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1398

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources air and artillery strikes hit the city Anadan north of Aleppo, killing one or two civilians.

According to Nabd Syria, “two people were killed and others wounded in Anadan due to regime warplanes and artillery shelling”.

One source, Muslm, attributed the strikes to both the Assad regime and Russia, while Jsirtv pointed to Russia alone.

However, most sources – al-Meghreb Today, RFS North, @Syriamubasher and @AnadanMedia – pointed to the Assad regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hussein Jewaid
Adult male though Yousef Kharfan and Halabtoday said he was a fighter killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Hussein Jewaid, a fighter. (via, Yousef Kharfan)

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1645 RS2645

Incident date

October 17, 2017

Location

Abu Kamal, Al Masriya roundabout, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.440995, 40.927527 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and nine civilians died in an airstrike on the al Masriya roundabout in Abu Kamal, according to local media – though sources at the time were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition or Russia was responsible.

In September 2019 the Coalition accepted responsibility for this incident. Its monthly civilian casualty report noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh headquarter building. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.” Nine months later, the Pentagon declared this to have been a US action.

According to Sharqiya Voice at the time of the event, there were “dozens of martyrs and wounded in the city of Abu Kamal as a result of the bombing of warplanes at al Masriya roundabout a short while ago.”

Step News Agency pointed towards the Coalition, reporting that eight civilians died in a strike on trucks and shops near the al Masriya roundabout.

However, Euphrates Post attributed the event to Russia, reporting that nine died and dozens more were wounded when Russian planes struck a gathering of cars and food warehouses near the roundabout.

The Smart News Agency also blamed Russian jets, as did Baladi and Souriatna Press.

According to Marsad al Hassaka, airstrikes targeted the warehouse of Fayez Hamid Al-Alaw at dawn.

A former player with the Al-Fatwa Club was named as one of the victims.

According to a post on the Our Abu Kamal facebook page, eight civilians died, of which three were Iraqis, four from Deir Ezzor and one a local martyr.

In May 2020, in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon conceded this to have been a US military action.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Mr. Khalil Ibrahim
Adult male via Alhasaka Arabea killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A picture of Khalil Ibrahim, a former player of Al-Fatwa Club, killed in the massacre of the city of Albu Kamal on Tuesday, Oct 17th, 2018 (via Euphrates Post)
  • A picture reveals the destruction following an airstrike on the city of Albu Kamal on Tuesday, Oct 17th, 2018 (via Sound and Picture)
  • Table from May 2020 Pentagon report to Congress, conceding additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria during 2017.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention strikes in the area of Al Masriya roundabout (المصریة), for which the coordinates are: 34.442177, 40.923112, and the Al Alswaiya bridge (السوبعیة) located at these coordinates: 34.440986, 40.929233. Satellite imagery available to Airwars from Oct. 01, 2017 shows structural damage to a building in the area, for which the coordinates are: 34.440995, 40.927527 Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.45615, 40.91601

  • Reports of the incident mention strikes in the area of Al Masriya roundabout (المصریة), and the Al Alswaiya bridge (السوبعیة). Satellite imagery available to Airwars from Oct. 01, 2017 shows structural damage to a building in the area.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    in Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU760144
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019

  • October 17, 2017, in Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh headquarter building. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two VBEID factories and an ISIS headquarters.“

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (18) [ collapse]