Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

May 1, 2008

Incident Code

USSOM007-C

LOCATION

Dusa Marreb, Galguduud, Somalia

At least five and as many as 30 civilians, including children and one woman, were reportedly killed as US-launched missiles targeted and killed several top al Shabab commanders in Dusa Marreb, a Somali village near the Ethiopian border, local and international sources reported. Around 3am local time on May 1st, 2008, US naval-launched cruise missiles

Summary

First published
May 1, 2008
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 30
(2 children1 woman)
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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
Belligerents reported killed
2–10
View Incident

Incident date

March 3, 2008

Incident Code

USSOM006-C

LOCATION

Dhoobley, Lower Juba, Somalia

Up to six civilians were killed and as many as eight wounded as the US fired at least one and as many as three cruise missiles at Dhobley, a town in southern Somalia four miles from the Kenyan border, local and international sources reported. Pentagon spokesperson Bryan Whitman told AFP: “On March 2, the US

Summary

First published
March 3, 2008
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 6
Civilians reported injured
3–8
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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
2–3
View Incident

Incident date

June 1, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM005-C

LOCATION

Bargaal, Bari, Somalia

The destroyer USS Chafee, sailing off the coast of Somalia, fired ‘more than a dozen rounds from its 5-inch gun’ on militants in Bargal, north Somalia. The New York Times also reported that cruise missiles were fired. Somali government spokesmen claimed the strikes were launched after around 35 heavily armed militants landed on the coast near

Summary

First published
June 1, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
8–12
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM004-C

LOCATION

Waldena, Lower Juba, Somalia

Up to eight people – some civilians – and one al Qaeda member, were killed as a US drone reportedly targeted, and later captured, a militant leader in Waldena. A fresh JSOC AC-130 strike in Somalia, reportedly operating from an airbase in eastern Ethiopia, targeted Ahmed Madobe, a deputy of ICU leader Hassan Turki. Madobe

Summary

First published
January 23, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 8
(2–3 women)
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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
5–9
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

January 9, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM003-C

LOCATION

Xayo, Garer, Bankajirow and Badmadow, Ras Kambooni, Lower Juba, Somalia

Several people, possibly civilians, were left wounded as US airstrikes hit four towns near Ras Kamboni, including a terrorist training camp on Badmadow island, local and international media reported. Sources added that up to ten al Qaeda members were also killed. The strikes came just two days after the US-launched AC-130 attack in Ras Kamboni,

Summary

First published
January 9, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
4–5
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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Suspected belligerent
Ethiopian Military Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
5–10
Belligerents reported injured
4–5
View Incident

Incident date

January 8, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM002-C

LOCATION

Hayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

According to international and local reports, up to 31 civilians, including at least one child, were killed as the town of Hayi or Xayo was subjected to either US or Ethiopian-waged airstrikes. Heavy civilian casualties were reported in airstrikes on Hayi near Afmadow, 250km northwest of Ras Kamboni, and other parts of southern Somalia, in

Summary

First published
January 9, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 31
(1 child1 woman1 man)
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 belligerents
US Forces, Ethiopian Military Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 7, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM001-C

LOCATION

Ras Kamboni (possibly vicinity of Lag Badana Bushbush National Park), Lower Juba, Somalia

Up to eight civilians were reportedly killed as the US carried out an airstrike against al Qaeda leaders in Ras Kamboni, Lower Juba, international and local sources reported. Shortly after Ethiopian forces had invaded Somalia in late December 2006, the US carried out its first known combat operation within Somalia since the September 11 2001

Summary

First published
January 7, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 8
(2–5 children)
Civilians reported injured
2–3
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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
8–45
Belligerents reported injured
3
View Incident

Incident date

November 3, 2002

Incident Code

USYEM001-B

LOCATION

على الطريق السريع 160كم شرق صنعاء ، عناقة, On highway 160km east of Sana'a, Annaqaah, Ma'rib, Yemen

In the first known US targeted assassination outside of a conventional battlefield and using a drone, a CIA Predator launched from Djibouti struck a car in Annaqaah, Marib governorate, on the evening of November 3rd 2002, killing six Al Qaeda suspects. A seventh individual escaped alive, and was later cleared of involvement in an October

Summary

First published
November 3, 2002
Last updated
August 25, 2023
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
6
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

Incident Code

TS644

LOCATION

الخالدية, Khalidiya village, Ain Essa countryside, Raqqa, Syria

On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery shelling in Khalidiya village, located in the Ain Essa countryside, Syria, reportedly killed an elderly woman and injured at least one other person, her husband. Numerous sources, such as Facebook page Ehlê Qamişlo, have named the deceased woman as Amsha Muhammad Hilal Al-Baqer, aged 65, and her

Summary

First published
October 7, 2023
Last updated
April 4, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
1–3
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 belligerent
Turkish Military
Suspected target
YPG/SDF
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

Incident Code

R4362

LOCATION

تديل, Tadel, Aleppo, Syria

At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Tadel on August 1, 2021. According to @Ahmad_1alshble, “a civilian was injured by shelling by Assad’s gangs that targeted residential houses and agricultural lands in the town of Tadel”. A tweet from @rdwanalshhwan identified the civilian injured as a “young man”. Syria TV

Summary

First published
August 1, 2021
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

Incident Code

RUK190

LOCATION

Куп'янський район, Kupianskyi District, Kharkiv, Ukraine

One civilian was killed when reported Russian shells hit the Kupianskyi district of Kharkiv on May 10th 2022.  There is no further information at this time. This assessment has reference to ACLED Code UKR57559.

Summary

First published
May 10, 2022
Last updated
May 17, 2023
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Geolocation
District
View Incident

Incident date

Incident Code

R4456

LOCATION

الباره, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

A woman was injured in an alleged missile strike by Russian or Syrian regime forces in the Al Bara district in Jabal Al Zawiya in southern Idlib on August 6th, 2022. The woman’s injuries were not specified though @RadioAlKul tweeted that she was “slightly injured” whereas all other sources reported that she was injured without

Summary

First published
August 6, 2022
Last updated
August 30, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
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 belligerents
Syrian Regime, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

Incident Code

YS133

LOCATION

الحولنجي جنوب جرابلس, Al Huwlanji south of Jarablus, Aleppo, Syria

One child, Abdul Razzaq Muhammad, aged 9, was injured on May 29th 2022 when the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were reported to target a civilian car with a guided missile, in the Al-Halwanji area, south of the city of Jarabulus, Syria, according to local sources. Abdul Rassaq Muhammad was taken to hospital in Jarabulus.

Summary

First published
May 29, 2022
Last updated
July 29, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
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 belligerent
YPG
Named victims
1 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

Incident Code

RS4509

LOCATION

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria

Between one and three civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of Kansafra on July 7, 2020. A tweet from @BelalBayoush90 reported that three civilians were injured by heavy artillery and rocket launcher attacks on the town of Kansafra, attributing the attack to the regime while @thawrat111 identified two

Summary

First published
July 7, 2020
Last updated
March 1, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1–3
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 belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident