Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

SDF00035

Incident date

September 9, 2023

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha’fa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A man, Khalaf al-Fayyad, was wounded after being hit by an alleged-Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) sniper bullet in the town of Al-Sha’fa, east of Deir Ezzor, on the night of September 9th, 2023.

Naher Media stated that al-Fayyad, who installs and maintains solar paneling, was on his way home when he was injured. Furat Post correspondent claimed the sniper, aligned with the SDF, was on a rooftop when the round was fired. It is unclear whether there were multiple snipers, or if this was committed by a single individual. Shaam News alleges several bullets were fired.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Khalaf al-Fayyad خلف الفياض
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Khalaf Al-Fayyad, wounded by alleged SDF sniper fire in Al Sha’fa on September 9, 2023. (Image posted by Ayn Ala Aljazeera via Facebook)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00034

Incident date

September 9, 2023

Location

بالقرب من ذيبان, Euphrates River crossing in the outskirts of Dhiban, east of Deir Ezzor, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 12-year-old boy was killed and at least three other civilians were injured while trying to cross the Euphrates river near the town of Dhiban, east of Deir Ezzor, Syria, short before 5:55 PM on Saturday, September 9, 2023. They were allegedly struck by bullets from the SDF and/or PKK militia members stationed near the Al-Hafel water station in the town of Dhiban.

Naher Media was first to report about the incident, indicating that the civilians received injuries of varying severity. Bullets struck and killed 12-year-old Ahmed Ismail Al Khater Al-Khafaji and injured three others as they were attempting to return to Dhiban from Al-Mayadeen through the Euphrates River crossing, according to Shaam News, with Al Khater struck fatally.

According to Orient News and the report by Zaman al-Wasl referring to the local sources from the countryside of Deir ez-Zor Governorate, the group had reportedly been displaced from the town a few days before due to fighting between members of the Arab tribes and the SDF forces happening in Dhiban.

A video posted by @Omar_Madaniah on Twitter/X social media platform showed Al Kater’s father stroking his son’s head as he lay on a bed after the attack and was being washed before the funeral. In other images, including one posted by @IdlibCallingSy, Al Khater lay on the floor in a soaked and torn shirt, his eyes nearly closed.

Where sources identified the belligerent, most local outlets, including Shaam News, attributed the attack to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, some other local sources, including Twitter/X user @alkhabour21, said the PKK was responsible, but both belligerents are a part of Kurdish militia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Ismail Al-Khater Al-Khafaji أحمد إسماعيل الخاطر الخفاجي
12 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AlfratNda

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @IdlibCallingSy

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ayn Al Aljazeera

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: D.Z.alaassd

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00036

Incident date

September 11, 2023

Location

الحصان, Al Hassan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young man, Muhammad al-Olayan, sustained bullet wounds during an alleged-SDF raid on the town of Al Hassan, west of Deir Ezzor, on September 11th, 2023. Naher Media, who identified al-Olayan, stated he had subsequently been transferred to the Al-Furat Hospital, inside the town, for treatment.

Shaam News corroborated these findings, and alleged that the SDF had been carrying out “random raids, searches, and arrests” on the town. Local source Mohab Nasser specified that the SDF had been raiding civilian homes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad al-Olayan
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Muhammad al-Olayan, injured by alleged SDF gunfire in the town of Al Hassan on September 11, 2023. (Image posted by @nahermedia)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00037

Incident date

September 11, 2023

Location

أبو حمام, Abo Hamam, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Monday, September 11th 2023, an alleged drone strike by SDF military patrols hit civilians in the town of Abu Hamam, east of Deir Ezzor, west Syria, injuring two civilians, a man and a child.

Sources including Al Araby, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and @alkhabour21 twitter account accounted for two civilians being injured in the attack, with SOHR reporting a statement from the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights identifying them as a man and a child.

Al Araby and twitter accounts @HamamIssa7 and @alkhabour21, reported that the attack took place in the town of Abu Hamam, east of Deir Ezzor as a result of the bombing of a drone that hit a civilian car near the bank of the Euphrates River. SOHR is the only source stating that the attack hit a house likely to belong to a local militant.

The suspected attackers are alleged to be SDF military patrol, as reported by most of the sources including Alaraby and twitter accounts @Sharqya_reporte and @nahermedia, although responsibility has not been accepted explicitly.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00038

Incident date

September 11, 2023

Location

الدحلة, Al Dahla, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one person, a young man named Hussein Nahar al-Gharut, was reportedly killed by gunfire allegedly from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the town of Al Dahla, in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor on Monday, September 11th 2023. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the victim as being a member of local militant groups. However, SN4HR, Ain al-Furat Network and Orient News claimed that he was a civilian.

According to Ain al-Furat sources, Hussein Nahar al-Gharut was reportedly asked by SDF members to stop at a military checkpoint. When he refused, Ain al-Furat claims, they opened fire on him, leading to his immediate death. The Rasd Syria Network for Human Rights corroborated these events.

All of the sources attributed the shooting to the SDF.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man1 undetermined)
  • 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 attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man1 undetermined)
  • 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 attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Incident Code

SDF00039

Incident date

September 11, 2023

Location

درنج, Daranj, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Monday September the 11th 2023, it is reported that two children were injured by gunfire bullets during a raid carried out by SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) in the town of Daranj, in Deir Ezzor, eastern syria. This version of events is reported by multiple independent Twitter users (@Mohab_Nasser2, @K_Almostafa, @GydyNwaf38285) as well as national news outlets such as Naher Media and Dery News.

It is further reported by Shaam News and Al Araby News that the two children Ibn Ahmed Al-Khamis and his cousin Yassin Al-Hawas, from the town of Darnaj, were injured near the Euphrates River by the leader of the SDF Ankil as a result of clashes between Arab clans and SDF fighters. Journalist Akhbar Al Shahil took to Facebook to corroborate this version of events and added that Ibn Ahmed Al-Khamis and Yassin Al-Hawas were attacked “because they were close to the Euphrates River”.

AlAraby News further reported that the source of the shooting was in the Al-Ashara area, on the opposite bank of the Euphrates River, currently under the control of the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ibn Ali Al-Hanoush ابن علي الحنوش
Child injured
Yassin Al-Hawas ياسين الحواس
Child injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]

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

SDF00042

Incident date

September 21, 2023

Location

بلدة غريبة, Ghariba, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young boy, Muayad Ahmed al-Khudair, was injured on September 21st, 2023 in the town of Ghariba, when he was struck by bullets allegedly fired by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Al-Khudair, who has been reported as either 12 or 13 years old, was herding sheep near the bank of the Euphrates River when he was shot.

Euphrates Post alleged the SDF was stationed on the other side of the river. Naher Media corroborated this claim, stating that the SDF was firing from a military point located there.

Al-Khudair, who was taken to a hospital, was said to be in critical condition at the time of reporting.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muayad Ahmed al-Khudair
Child male 12-13 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Muayad Ahmed al-Khudair, believed to be either 12 or 13 years old, was herding sheep when hit by a bullet allegedly fired by the SDF

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]