Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

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Incident Code

RS272

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 42 and 70 civilians, including five women nine to 20 children were killed and between 24 and 250 others wounded in aerial and missile bombardments of Douma and nearby locations in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, according to multiple sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that shelling by the regime killed 38, including five women and nine children.

The White Helmets produced a summary of airstrikes in Hamouriya, Sakba, Kafrbatna and Jissrain but did not specify who the warplanes belonged to. It referred to a “deranged aerial and missile bombardment on residential neighbourhoods…in conjunction with the flight of military aircraft“. According to the summary, Hamouriya suffered both an air raid and a missile attack causing fires and destruction to civilian buildings. In total the White Helmets put the death toll at 41, including nine children killed “as a result of the bombing and military aviation, heavy artillery, rockets and cluster bombs and mortar shells at residential neighborhoods in the city.”

All4Syria said that Russia carried out the raids, killing and and wounding civilians. Local activists told the organisation that Russian warplanes dropped four missiles targeting  neighbourhoods in the town of Hamouriya, killing three civilians and wounding others. They also said that Douma was bombarded with rockets and cluster bombs, killing a girl named as Dala’a Kassem Al Bisoani and wounding others. Ten children in total were injured – some critically – in a raid targeting a school in Kafr Batna. They also reported the fire at the warehouse in Sakba, which they said was targeted by regime forces with heavy artillery, reporting the injury of some civilians.

The Shaam News Network said Russian and regime warplanes were responsible, and that there had been more than 70 raids targeting civilians’ homes and schools. It put the death toll at 70 including more than 20 children, with 250 wounded – 30 of whom had lost limbs. A video posted by SNN was entitled “The Russian enemy turns schools into slaughterhouses of children“.

Douma, Samba, Jissrain, Ain Tarma, Zamalka, Jobar and Hamouriya were “all areas under risk of full annihilation,” SNN concluded, but the harshest massacres were in the city of Douma it said, which was targeted by the Russian aviation in a barrage of missiles and cluster bombs which hit a primary school and adjacent residential buildings.

Other sources also said that both Russia and the regime were responsible: the Douma Coordinating Committee put the death toll at more than 40, with dozens wounded. The Syrian Press Center said 46 died and more than 200 were wounded; Eldorar reported that 45 died, including children, dozens were injured and medical facilities were put out of service, blaming “warplanes” and the Assad regime; Madardaily quoted information supplied by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: at least 28 civilians killed, including two children and dozens wounded – in bombing by regime rockets cities in Douma and Sakba, adding that in the west of Damascus regime helicopters dropped 34 explosive barrels on the city of Darya, killing at five people, while at least eight, including a child died and 35 were injured when about 50 shells fell on areas of Damascus and its suburbs.

But Ennabbaldi stated that only the regime was responsible for the attacks, putting the total killed at 40.

White Helmets reported seven unidentified victims.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Tasnim Alsa’our
Child named by White Helmets killed
Rahaf Abdul Aziz
Child named by White Helmets killed
Marwa Saeed Ghazi
Child named by White Helmets killed
Ghaida al Salahi
Child named by White Helmets killed
Hadeel Hayrab
Child named by White Helmets killed
Noor Al Msalmanah
Child named by White Helmets killed
Maysa Al Madder
Child named by White Helmets killed
Rayyan Al Shawa
Child named by White Helmets killed
Fariss Al Hammouri
Child named by White Helmets killed
Ahmed Al Tabbakh
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Albawabiji
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Al Haffar
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mazen al Saleh
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Rateb Awad
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Yassin Awad
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Khadija Haroun
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Maher Kashoot
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Fariss Alaarot
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Ahmed Hanafi
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohamed Ali Satoott
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Khitam Hamid
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Ihsan al Mardini
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Iman Abdul Nafi’
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Zakaria Humaid
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Faress Blalah
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Subhi Abboud
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Adnan Al Duj
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Alaa Hamad
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Fayez Ghazzawi
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Fayez Ghazzawi
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Al Sheikh Bakri
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Noor Al Huda Kaloot
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Mostafa Shishakli
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Mohammed Khatib
Age unknown male named by White Helmets killed
Subhi Alsa’our
Age unknown named by White Helmets killed
Radwan Mohammad
Age unknown the media activist, named by SNN killed
Dala’a  Kassem Al Bison
Child named by All4Syria killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (9–20 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–250
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (44) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video of a man screaming in distress, amidst the rubble in the aftermath of the airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Disturbing footage of the airstrike as it fell and the aftermath. Wounded being carried from the scene. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Extremely disturbing footage of civilian casualties including men, women and children before their bodies have been removed from the scene. (via, SNN)
  • Child named, Tanssim Al Sa’our, killed on December 13th 2015. According to the source, the other child (below) in the photograph was her sister who was also seriously injured. (via, Douma Coordinating Committee)
  • A view of the neighbourhood as the airstrike fell. (via, SNN)
  • Locals trying to rescue injured civilians from the rubble. not long after the airstrike. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    White Helmets carry an injured civilian to a medical facility. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of a seriously injured man receiving treatment in a medical facility. (via, SNN)
  • Damage to the local infrastructure. (via, SNN)
  • Chaotic scenes not long after Douma was hit with airstrikes. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in a medical facility. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured woman in a medical facility. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians stand in disbelief. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child receives medical treatment on the floor as there are not enough beds for all the injured civilians. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man grieves for the loss of family or friends. (via, SNN)
  • Clouds of ash fill the sky in Douma. (via, SNN)
  • Another image of the sky not long after the airstrike fell. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a man receiving medical treatment. (via, SNN)
  • Streets deserted in the aftermath. (via, SNN)
  • Media activist Radwan Mohammad, killed in the airstrikes. (via, SNN)
  • Another photograph of Radwan Mohammad. (via, SNN)
  • Moments after the contested airstrike fell on Douma. (via, SNN)
  • A view of the neighbourhood moments after the airstrike fell. (via, SNN)
  • Clouds of dust engulf the area. (via, SNN)
  • The skies filled with dust in Douma. (via, SNN)
  • A different view of the area. (via, SNN)
  • A photograph of the one the youngest victims (not even a year old) from the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrikes. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A distressing image of a deceased baby. Same baby pictured above. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the floor following an airstrike in Douma. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the bodies of deceased children in Douma. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a deceased person still on the ground following an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)
  • Smoke pollution in Douma following an airstrike on a residential neighbourhood. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood and books scattered on the floor outside a school which was targeted in an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image of blood on the steps of a school. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child's schoolbag left on the steps of a school targeted by an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A drawing done by a child, left outside a school following an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The doors of a school which was targeted by airstrikes. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the floor inside a school room. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image of blood on the floor inside a school room. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood smeared on the floor. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the floor beneath a chalk board inside a school room. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image of blood on the floor. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    School books and bags left on the floor in a desperate attempt to escape. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the steps of a school in the aftermath of an airstrike. (via, Coordinating Committee for Douma)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (9–20 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–250
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS090

Incident date

October 29, 2015

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 70 people died and as many as 550 were injured in what was initially reported as a Russian airstrike on the marketplace in Douma. However subsequent reports indicated the specific attack was most likely the work of Assad regime aircraft. Part of the confusion lay in the fact that Russian Air Force aircraft had also reportedly carried out strikes on the city that day.

As AP noted: “There were conflicting reports about the attack in Douma. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Co-ordination Committees said government forces fired more than 11 missiles at a market. The Observatory said the attack killed 57 people, while the LCC said at least 40 died… The Syrian National Council, the main Western-backed opposition group in exile, blamed Russian air strikes for the “massacre” in Douma, saying 55 civilians were killed. It said it was the second deadly attack in the past 24 hours after Russian air strikes hit the main Douma hospital.“

According to Medecins Sans Frontiers, “At least 70 people have been killed and 550 injured in an air strike on a marketplace in the Douma neighbourhood near Damascus, Syria. As the nearest makeshift hospital had been bombed the previous day, medical workers struggled to cope with the influx of injured people. MSF fears the intensification of bombing that has been seen in northern and central Syria over the course of October could become even more horrific if it spreads to besieged areas around Damascus, where almost a million people are trapped with no way to escape, few medical facilities, and no options for medical evacuations of seriously wounded. The devastation caused by the initial air strike on the market was exacerbated by further shelling on the rescue teams who were attending to the wounded. Two hundred and fifty patients required surgery, and a further 300 patients have been treated for non-surgical wounds. The multi-trauma wounds are described by medics as being worse than anything they have seen before.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    70
  • Civilians reported injured
    550
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Russia also carried out airstrikes at Douma on October 28th, leading to initial confusion on who was respobnisble for the reported deaths of 70 civilians {Shaam News Network)
  • Photos showing Russian warplanes that are still roaming the skies of the besieged Eastern Ghouta and carrying out raids on its cities and towns. (via SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    70
  • Civilians reported injured
    550
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS217

Incident date

May 27, 2016

Location

كلجبرين, Kaljibrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5359847, 37.1173525 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A fierce battle for the town of Kaljibrin left up to 39 civilians dead – with both Daesh and the Coalition blamed for the fatalities.

So-called Islamic State launched a major assault on Kaljibrin, later releasing a video in which it boasted of capturing weapons there. However Coaltion aircraft then reportedly struck at Daesh forces in the town, also hitting residential areas.

Local source Abu Firas al Halabi reported that “16 martyrs occurred including women and children in the village of Kaljabreen, northern Aleppo, after it was targeted by rockets by Daesh yesterday evening and this morning before it gained control of it.”

However, others reported that Coalition airstrikes then killed up to 39 civilians, “most of them women and children.”

A report from the Syrian Observatory later noted: “Casualties have risen since yesterday in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Mare’ and Kaljibrin to at least 68 dead, including 41 or more fighters from rebel and Islamic Factions killed in shellings, bombings and clashes against so-called Islamic State; as well as 27 civilian citizens – including 7 children at least and 5 women – were killed during the military operations which took place in the town of Kaljibrin north of Mare’ city. The fate of another 10 people is still unknown. It is unclear whether they were killed, or were able to flee to areas nearby.”

In a video, Halab Today TV reported testimony from an eye witness (at 0’21”): “on Thursday 26/5/2016 we woke up to noises of clashes in the village which was taking place between IS and the FSA which led to IS gaining control of the village completely.. The next morning coalition planes launched a raid on the village which led to the death of more than 50 martyrs, all of them civilians and most of them women and children and men.”

And then at 1’14”: “after IS withdrew from the village, Russian planes also launched a raid on the village which killed one child and injured two others“.

Syrian Network also blamed the Coalition, citing its own eyewitness: “We were at the cemetery burying the young man who is the son of Ali Marndi where he was killed by ISIS’s bullets when international coalition forces warplanes fired three missiles. One of the missiles fell a few meters away from me. I felt the big explosion of the missile and then headed home which is located 50 meters away from the cemetery to find that it was reduced to ruins over the dead bodies of my family. I pulled out three of my nephews and was able to rescue them. I also was able to save two of my sisters, but I lost my dad and 11 others of my family including children. Also, the head of the village council was killed, and his name was Faraj Shikhou.” The Network has named the following 28 fatalities

In its August 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible based on insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “May 27, 2016, near Khan Jibran, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Yousef AbdulLatif Sqar
Child male killed
Raghda Yousef AbdulLatif Sqar
Child female killed
Wa’d Yousef AbdulLatif Sqar
Child female killed
Ayman Yousef AbdulLatif Sqar
Child male killed
Hazem Yousef AbdulLatif Sqar
Child male killed
Hasnaa’ AbdulLatif Sqar
Adult female killed
Abdullah Ayman Sqar,
Child male killed
Yousef Ayman Sqar
Child male killed
Amina Ayman Sqar
Child female killed
Mohammad Ayman Sqar
Child male killed
Rawan Mahmoud AbdulLatif
Child female killed
Adham Abdullah Sqar
Child male killed
Abdullah Ammar Sqar
Child male killed
Alyaa Omar Sqar
Child female killed
Hussein Mohammad Al Qaddour
Adult male killed
Ali Mohammad Ali
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Mohammad Sqar
Child male killed
Ahmad Mohammad AbdulLatif Sqar
Child male killed
Fatima Mohammad AbdulLatif Sqar
Child female killed
Manal Abdou Hmidi
Adult female killed
Fatoum Mohammad Hmidi
Adult female killed
Feryal Dorj
Adult female killed
Samar Abdullah Sqar
Child female killed
Samer Abdullah Sqar
Child male killed
Faraj AbduRrazzaq Shikhou
Adult male killed
AbduRazzaq Shikhou
Adult male killed
Khaled AbdulHai Al Hellou
Age unknown male killed
Ali Ibrahim Al Qarmouz
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28 – 65
  • (18–21 children4 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Destruction at Kaljibrin following a reported Coalition strike (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Translation: Coalition planes bomb now Kafr Kalbain and Kaljabreen.
  • Translation: Coalition planes now bomb the village of Kafr Kalbain and Kaljabreen even though civilians are until now stuck inside the two villages.
  • Translation: 16 martyrs including women and children in the village of Kaljabreen northern Aleppo after it was targeted by rockets by Daesh yesterday evening and this morning before it gained control of it.
  • Translation: Coalition planes commit a terrible massacre in the village of Kaljabreen in northern Aleppo countryside killing 39 martyrs most of them women and children.
  • Translation: 39 civilian martyrs in Kaljabreen in the Aleppo countryside a result of an indiscriminate attack by Daesh and international coalition raids.
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
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 Khan Jibran, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA3176045088
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports for May 27th-28th 2016 that “Near Mar’a, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28 – 65
  • (18–21 children4 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1246

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.933456, 36.633803 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty incident, up to 65 civilians (of which 52 were named) including at least 10 children and 11 women from multiple families died and as many as 100 more were injured in airstrikes on Idlib city, which reportedly centred on a popular vegetable market in the city. The majority of reports blamed Russia, though there were allegations against the Syrian regime – with other sources stating that it was unclear whether the Syrian regime or Moscow were responsible.

Sources published disturbing images of the aftermath of the attack, which led to widespread destruction. There were numerous reports of body parts having been dispersed in the location of the strike, along with references to multiple “body bags”.

The lowest death count was given at 48 civilians by Insaan Rights Watch. According to Sky News Arabic “Russian warplanes shelled in a market in Idlib killing dozens and wounding dozens more. Medical sources say they have counted 25 bodies including women and children ”

Enab Baladi at some more details, reporting that “nine teams of the civil defense were called to Idlib, in addition to the Red Cross. They were able to count 65 bodies along with12 bags of body parts. The teams continued to attempt to rescue people trapped under the rubble.”

Syrian Press Center was among sources that said people had limbs amputated and were “severely burned” in the fire caused by the warplanes.

Other sources blaming Russia included Orient, Jisrtv, Islam Memo and LCCSY.

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian warplanes targeted the vegetable market during peak hours when hundreds of civilians had gathered to make their purchases ahead of Eid. Missiles targeted civilian homes and shops, resulting in massive destruction to buildings and shops and cars in the market.”

According to the source, the death toll from the massacre reached 63 martyrs, including 16 children and 14 women, plus 12 missing people, including eight children who are considered dead. Additionally, some 70 civilians were wounded, filling hospitals in the city and its countryside”.

However, the source KWdeirwaza – who put the death toll at 60 including 22 children – attributed the event to regime jets. A number of other sources didn’t apportion blame.

Omar_madaniah, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “Rami Abdur-Rahman, the director of the Syrian observatory, says the warplanes could not be identified in order to keep Russia away from being accused.”

Jabal ALzaweya listed the following civilian fatalities and names of some of the missing. In addition the source reported six other unidentified bodies found, including three children, twelve body bags of body-parts and 100 wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Amer Naf’e Ghafir
Age unknown killed
Noor Aldeen Abdul-Kader Ghafir
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Hisham Ali Wahob
Age unknown killed
Adnan Mohammed Wahob
Age unknown killed

Family members (4)

Sidra A’afara
Child female killed
Abdulkarim A’afara
Child killed
Mohammed A’afara
Child male killed
Sahar Wahid A’afara
Adult female killed

Family members (4)

Hasan Mish’hel Hawwa
Age unknown male killed
Su’ad Hawwa (wife of Hasan Mish’hel Hawwa)
Age unknown female killed
Mish’hel Hawwa
Age unknown female killed
Musa Hawwa
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Samer Hamdoon
Age unknown From Binnish killed
Mother of Samer Hamdoon
Adult female From Binnish killed

Family members (2)

Ahmad Mahmood Aswad (Shikh Yousef)
Age unknown male killed
Hamdi Reyad Aswad
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Samer Subhi Hamdoun
Child killed
Sabhi Hamdoun
killed

Family members (2)

Khaled Bitar
Age unknown missing
Mahmood Bitar
Age unknown male missing

Family members (3)

Shaza Abid
Child female missing
Mohammed Kadro Abid
Child missing
Zizik Abid
Child missing

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Malnadi
Age unknown male killed
Raed Ahmad Ghassan Abed
Age unknown killed
Thuraya Ibrahim Aswad
Child female killed
Hussam Khaled Shikhouni
Age unknown killed
Kamal Mohammed Shameya
Age unknown male killed
Mustafa Abdul-Kader Hijazi
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Khaled Haser
Child male killed
Ali Mo’adal
Age unknown male killed
Mufid Sawwan
Age unknown killed
Abdul-Karim Zidani
Age unknown male killed
Sana’a Malani
Child female killed
Ahmad Ali Men
Age unknown male killed
Huda Salim
Child female killed
Mustafa Mukahal
Age unknown male killed
U’la Jbara
Age unknown female killed
Khulud Haj Sattuf
Age unknown female killed
Samar Al-Basha
Age unknown female killed
Ghalya Zidani
Age unknown killed
Alya’a Saleem
Age unknown female killed
Abdullah Shamiya
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Saleem
Age unknown male killed
Qamar Abdullah Hamrosh
Age unknown female killed
Bassam Ghumeid
Child killed
Hayfa’a Malandi
Age unknown female killed
Fatin Hallak
Age unknown female killed
Mayada Hallak
Age unknown killed
Hala Akdah, daughter of Fatin
Age unknown female killed
Ibrahim Khasara
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Raji Zidani
Age unknown male killed
Rajaa Najjar
Age unknown killed
Abdo Mukahal
Child missing
Noor Hajjar
Child missing
Wasim Ghafir
Child missing
Zahra Zahra
Child female missing
Mohammed Ayman Aswad
Age unknown male missing
Mohammed Fawzi Bzara
Age unknown male missing
Raghda Mohammed Salim
Child missing

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    52 – 65
  • (10–22 children11–14 women14–16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • 'The children Seydra, Mohammad, & Abdul Karim Afara died in alleged Russian warplanes missiles fired on Vegetables market in Idlib city, September 10, 2016.' (via SN4HR)
  • A man runs down a street in Idlib with a civilian child in his arms - the aftermath of suspected Russian shelling on the city (via Enab Baladi)
  • Local people survey the scene whilst a digger works through the rubble in Idlib city - the impact of suspected warplane shelling (via KWdeirwaza)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little girl wounded in Idlib city following suspected Russian strikes (Tweet via @1963Mhmd) [Page no longer available accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A dismembered human hand is held up to signify the human cost of alleged Russian strikes on Idlib city (Tweet via @Gulfshield1)
  • Local people prepare for Eid al-Adha amongst the rubble in Idlib city (Tweet via @ AnmedAlrihawi)
  • Footage of Idlib city following the mass civilian casualty incident allegedly caused by Russian warplane shelling (Youtube via Jisirtv)
  • An elderly woman is carried down the street by a member of The White Helmets whilst a blaze rages behind - the aftermath of suspected Russian strikes on Idlib city (via Jisirtv news)
  • The White Helmets rescue civilians from the rubble in Idlib city following suspected Russian warplane shelling (via Islam Memo)
  • A close up of debris and destruction on the streets of Idlib city following suspected Russian warplane shelling (Tweet via @QabiQalel)
  • Local people stand around a burnt out vehicle in Idlib city - the results of alleged Russian warplane shelling (Tweet via @Almogaz)
  • The baby Samer Subhi Hamdoun allegedly died in Russian warplane shelling at the vegetable market in Idlib city (via SN4HR)
  • Body parts of the victims of suspected Russian warplane shelling on Idlib city (via SN4HR)
  • The vicitms of alleged Russian massacre line the streets of Idlib city (via SN4HR)
  • The impact of a mass civilian casualty event - body bags line the streets of Idlib, the source alleged Russia culprit (via SN4HR)
  • 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 the events in Idlib on Saturday September 10th (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 the events in Idlib on Saturday September 10th (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Idlib market (ادلب، سوق الخضار), within the city of Idlib (إدلب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.933456, 36.633803. 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
    52 – 65
  • (10–22 children11–14 women14–16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS038

Incident date

December 28, 2014

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3709658, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In one of the the worst known incidents of mass civilian casualties reportedly caused by coalition bombings, at least 51 non-combatants were killed when aircraft struck an Islamic State local headquarters, which was also being used as a temporary prison.

Somewhere between 150 and 400 people were being held by ISIL on petty charges at the time of the 7.45pm attack at the Al Saraya site, it was reported. Multiple sources have confirmed significant civilian casualties in the event. For example news agency McClatchy “located two sources who confirmed a high civilian death toll from the strike. One witness, an activist in Al Bab, gave the death toll as 61 civilian prisoners and 13 Islamic State guards. The Syrian Network for Human Rights estimated the death toll at 80, and said 25 of those were Islamic State Guards and another 55 were either civilians or imprisoned fighters from non-Islamic State rebel groups.”

Recovering the dead and injured from the site took many days according to VDC, which also reported 60 civilians killed: “On the first day more than 20 injured civilians were taken out in addition to 7 injured members of the organisation who were the policemen in the centre. On the second day after the attack more than 13 bodies of civilians were pulled out of the rubble and 37 more bodies of civilians on the following day as well as a number of unidentified bodies. At the time of counting 10 people were still missing.”

Among those killed were men imprisoned by ISIL simply for buying cigarettes. At least four women and a number of teenagers were reportedly among the dead. News agencies and monitoring groups, which gathered biographical details of many of those killed, initially chose not to make public the names of those killed for fear of retaliation by ISIL against surviving relatives.

Between December 28th 2014 and January 10th 2015, the United States concealed the fact that it had carried out any airstrikes at Al Bab on the night in question. Only after “repeated inquiries” by McClatchy did CENTCOM spokesman Colonel Patrick Ryder finally concede that “Coalition aircraft did strike and destroy an ISIL headquarters building in Al Bab on Dec. 28.”

On April 1st 2015, CENTCOM reassessed claims that multiple civilians had been killed in the Al Bab attack, but still concluded that there was “insufficient information to determine CIVCAS.” This was partly justified by citing an Assad regime airstrike on the city 48 hours before the US attack, “which resulted in media reports of CIVCAS as well.”

This new assessment appeared to take little account of detailed investigations carried out by McClatchy, SN4HR and others.

The use of the al-Saraya building as a holding facility for locals had been widely reported long before the US airstrike. Syrian NGOs were damning of the coalition’s actions: “There is no evidence that the International Coalition exerted any effort to ensure that there were no civilians near the building nor to be certain that the building itself was not a secret detention center for ISIL, as was widely known in town,” noted VDC.

33 unidentified non-combatant males and one unidentified civilian woman (40 years old) were listed in addition to the names below.

 

The incident occured at 19:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Hasan Saradar
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Jomea Ayoub
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Bashar Ahmad Saeidi
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Khaled Mohammad Saeid
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Hamdan al-Taha
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Hasan Mohammad
25 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Salem Sharaf
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Salem Selo
25 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Khaled Naesani
40 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Omer Jazzar
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abdullah Naser
50 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Saeid Jandoli
17 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Basheer Hamdan
18 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Majd al-Shami
22 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Farah Hamdan
45 years old female Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Kassar
20 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Alweh
45 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Abdullah Nofous
50 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Mahmoud Hajjar
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mahmoud Baker
25 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad Mahmoud Hamdan
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Yousef Sokar
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Yamen al-Sayeh
20 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Mahmoud Sharaf
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad al-Aboud
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Hamdo al-Asali
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Omer
18 years old male Listed by VDC killed
Abd el-Elah Mohammad Nadeem al-Najjar
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mohammad al-Naous
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mostafa Yousef al-Nashef
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Mokhlef Mahmoud
Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    51 – 65
  • (2–4 women30 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • A satellite image showing the targeted location in Al-Bab city (via al-Bab Lens page)
  • A satellite image showing the targeted location in Al-Bab city (via al-Bab Lens page)
  • An image showing Al-Saraya building in al-Bab city after being targeted (via al-Bab Lens page)
  • Al-Saraya building before bombing (via SNHR)
  • Aftermath of the alleged attack (via SNHR)
  • Aftermath of the alleged attack (via SNHR)

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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    al Bab City, Syria.
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Twitter report from ANF accused ISIL of keeping prisoners at a location in Al Bab city that was struck in an airstrike. Violations Documentation Center (VDC): 60 alleged civilians killed in a strike on the Saraya Center. // Webops reported atmospherics from a report that ISIL had kept prisoners at a prison location in AI Bab City that it knew would be targeted by the coalition. // Assessed to be insufficient information to determine CIVCAS. Assessment details the strike in question, but also details a Syrian regime strike conducted in close proximity to al Bab City 48 hours prior to coalition, which resulted in media reports of CIVCAS as well. CAOC assessment provided relevant intel and BDA, which did not confirm CIVCAS.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    51 – 65
  • (2–4 women30 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1686

Incident date

November 26, 2017

Location

الشعفة, al Sha'afa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 65 civilians including 20 or 21 children and nine women died in a major casualty event in al Sha’afa, local media reported. There was one allegation against the US-led Coalition, and also Egypt.

The majority of sources blamed Russia, with @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH saying that a family of 10 were among those killed.

Euphrates Post, also blaming Russia, said that the strike targeted the house of Antar ِAl Salama and Mujama’a Al Fendi. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that of the 44 who died 20 were children and 9 were women.

Sharqiya Voice reported several raids by unidentified warplanes, which struck the following locations: Antar Alsamal’s house, the house of Zubair, the Al-Fandi Commercial Complex.

Euphrates Post later reported that the death toll had risen to 51, while the Syrian Observatory put it at 53 including 21 children. It named the following victims. Names have identified 42 and 8 were unidentified.

However, Raqqa Post, also attributing the event to Russia, said that as many as 65 had died.

According to a BBC report, Russia denied responsibility for the event, with the defence ministry noting: “The Russian Aerospace Forces’ strikes in Syria target areas outside population centres, and only facilities of the international terrorist groups… The reports by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in Great Britain, about the alleged strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ planes on the village of al-Shafah, are yet another fake.

Only one source pointed towards the Coalition. According to Zamanalwasl, Salama al Hussein from Euphrates Post told Zaman al-Wasl that an air strike carried out by aircraft believed to belong to the international coalition forces or Egyptian aircraft took place at dawn today on the compound of Alfandi in the town of Deir al-Zour. It claimed the lives of about 30 civilians and wounded dozens. The source said that the death toll was expected to rise due to the numbers of people trapped under the rubble.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Daugter of Joseph Nader Al Shaaban
female via Euphrates Post killed
Abdullah Nader Al Shaab
male via Euphrates Post killed
The wife of Abdullah Nader Shaaban
Adult female via Euphrates Post killed
The son of Abdullah Nader Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Ibrahim Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Hussein Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (4)

Alaa Ahmed Al-Zubair
female via Euphrates Post killed
The daughter of Alaa Khalid Al – Zubair
female via Euphrates Post killed
The mother of Alaa Khalid Al Zubair
female via Euphrates Post killed
Ahmed Khaled Al-Zubair
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (10)

Maouloud Abdul Razzaq al-Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bashir Maouloud Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bara’aa Nader al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Jarir Maouloud al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Nour Adel Al Sahab
via Euphrates Post killed
Ismail Jareer Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Maouloud Jarir Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Ammar Maouloud Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Abdul Razzaq Maouloud Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Muntaha Maouloud al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Nadir Nasser al-Jubeir
female via Euphrates Post killed
The second daughter of Nader Nasser Al-Jubeir
female via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (7)

Nader Abdul Razzaq Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Nusra A’nan al Shaaban
via Euphrates Post killed
Mohamed Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Kafaa Maouloud al Shaaban
via Euphrates Post killed
Anas Mohammed Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Nader Mohammed Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Yousef Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post injured

Family members (4)

Khaled Matloub Al-Zaher
male via Euphrates Post killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s wife
female via Euphrates Post killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s daughter
female via Euphrates Post killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s son
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (6)

Ammar Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Omar Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bakr Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Osman Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Ahmed Nawar Marwah Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bashir Fakhri Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed

The victims were named as:

Daughter of Khader Al-A’ntar
Age unknown female via Euphrates Post killed
Nader Nasser Al-Jubeir
Age unknown male via Euphrates Post
Hana Rachid Aldibs
Age unknown female via Euphrates Post

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A tweet contains an image shows the aftermath of the air strike on al Sha'afa, on November 26, 2017 (via @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH)
  • A picture of one of the victim, who killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017
  • A picture of one of the victims, who were killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sha’afa (الشعفة), for which the coordinates are: 34.57888, 40.93441. The alleged Coalition strike targeted the Al Fandi (الفندي) residential complex, the location of which is unknown.

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
    al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, five strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed four ISIS vehicles and a headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2764

Incident date

November 26, 2017

Location

الشعغة, Al-Sha'fa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15 and 65 civilians were killed, in what has been described by local media as a massacre on the residential neighbourhood in Al-Sha’fa. Sources attributed blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Sources were conflicted as to how many casualties there were. The highest toll being 65, however many sources also reported 15 – 18, 37 and 51, as some examples.Ten people from one family were included in the death toll, as well as 21 children and nine women.

Dozens of civilians were reportedly wounded, according to local media.

The extensive destruction of civilian homes and shops were reported, including the house of Antar Alsamal, the house of Zubair and the Al-Fandi Commercial Complex.

Thirteen refugees from the family of Aldbs and Bnt Khadir Al’antar  were amongst those killed.

BBC News published a report saying that Russia denied the raids.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Alaa Ahmed Al-Zubair
Age unknown killed
The daughter of Alaa Khalid Al - Zubair
Age unknown killed
The mother of Alaa Khalid Al Zubair
Age unknown killed
Ahmed Khaled Al-Zubair
Age unknown killed
daughter of Khader Al-A’ntar
Age unknown killed
Maouloud Abdul Razzaq al-Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Bashir Maouloud Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Bara’aa Nader al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Jarir Maouloud al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Nour Adel Al Sahab
Age unknown killed
Ismail Jareer Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Maouloud Jarir Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Ammar Maouloud Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Abdul Razzaq Maouloud Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Muntaha Maouloud al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
daughter of Nadir Nasser al-Jubeir
Age unknown killed
The second daughter of Nader Nasser Al-Jubeir
Age unknown killed
Nader Abdul Razzaq Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Nusra A’nan al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Mohamed Nader Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Kafaa Maouloud al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Anas Mohammed Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Nader Mohammed Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Yousef Nader Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Hana Rachid Aldibs
Age unknown killed
daughter of Joseph Nader Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Abdullah Nader Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
The wife of Abdullah Nader Shaaban
Age unknown killed
the son of Abdullah Nader Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Nader Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Hussein Nader Al Shaaban
Age unknown killed
Bashir Fakhri Al-Issa
Age unknown killed
Ammar Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
Age unknown killed
Omar Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
Age unknown killed
Bakr Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
Age unknown killed
Osman Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
Age unknown killed
Nader Nasser Al-Jubeir
Age unknown killed
Ahmed Nawar Marwah Al-Issa
Age unknown killed
Khaled Matloub Al-Zaher
Age unknown killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s wife
Age unknown killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s daughter
Age unknown killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s son
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 65
  • (21 children9 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Al-Sha'fa, 26th November 2017. (via @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Al-Sha'fa, 26th November 2017. (via Euphrates)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Al-Sha'fa, 26th November 2017. (via Ahemd Orabi)
  • Victims of the airstrikes on Al-Sha'fa, 26th November 2017. (via asharqasouri)
  • Victims of the airstrikes on Al-Sha'fa, 26th November 2017. (via asharqasouri)
  • Victims of the airstrikes on Al-Sha'fa, 26th November 2017. (via Euphrates)
  • Victims of the airstrikes on Al-Sha'fa, 26th November 2017. (via Euphrates)

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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 65
  • (21 children9 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS065

Incident date

April 30, 2015

Location

بئر محلي, Jubb Mahli (Ber Mahli), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.561113, 38.41203 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In one of the worst reported incidents in nine months of bombings by the US-led Ccoalition, 64 civilians were said to have died in an attack on the village of Ber Mahli near Sareen – the majority of them women (19) and children (32). It remains disputed as to whether the village was partly or wholly under the control of Islamic State forces at the time.

Later admitting that it had carried out a strike on the village, the Coalition said it had instead bombed “several ISIL fighting positions [and] striking more than 50 ISIL fighters.” A CJTF-OIR spokesman appeared to blame any error on Kurdish forces in the area, telling Airwars by email that: “Prior to the airstrikes, Kurdish forces, who held the town before leaving after being attacked by ISIL, reported there were no civilians present in that location and that there had not been any civilians present for two weeks prior to the Coalition airstrikes.”

An internal CENTCOM investigation almost immediately decided “allegation initially not determined credible”, it was revealed in September 2015. The declassified document also appeared to pin responsibility for any error on the YPG, noting that the Kurdish fighters “had held the village up until the ISIL attack and [reported] that there were no civilians in the village.”

According to Al Jazeera, eyewitnesses said that when the village was first bombed, residents ran out of their houses. However Ber Mahli was then repeatedly struck, including a group of cars leaving the village. SN4HR also claimed that “some of the houses were targeted again after people and medical teams gathered to help the victims and wounded.”

Speaking from his hospital bed, one injured survivor spoke of the attack: “We were four families gathered in one room. It was around 11 or 12 at night. They kept on striking the houses. The first time they struck, my cousin was killed with his small children. Why did this happen? Is it because Obama wants to please the King of Saudi Arabia? Why is the coalition bombing us? Why don’t they fight [President] Bashar?“

Another unnamed and injured survivor, a young girl, also spoke for the cameras:”The planes came above us and bombed us and destroyed houses. My father was killed and two of my sisters.”

Buzzfeed also interviewed a 67-year-old witness to the attack, who went by the name of Abu Khaled, who corroborated the names of many of those killed. “They killed whole families. The Americans will never apologize, and they will keep killing civilians,” hecomplained to the news site from southern Turkey.

All 64 known fatalities have now been named by SN4HR and by Manbij News, indicating that entire families were wiped out.

Fadel Abdulghani, head of monitoring group the Syrian Network for Human Rights, demanded that those in the coalition responsible for the deaths be held accountable: “Despite all the efforts made to avoid this, this incident indicates a blatant disrespect for the lives of innocent civilians. The people responsible for this crime should be held accountable which would be a clear message to their associates and commanders.”

In an assessment of the event published in October 2016, it was noted that “a review by Amnesty International of a series of aerial images of the Bir Mahli area, including a satellite image taken approximately one week after the attack, indicates four strike locations and nine to 10 houses being completely flattened…. Amnesty International is concerned that Coalition forces appear to have either mistakenly carried out a large-scale attack on an entirely civilian area having failed to take adequate steps to positively identify a military objective prior to attacking or to have carried out a grossly disproportionate attack against suspected IS targets. In addition, CENTCOM appears to have dismissed evidence indicating scores of civilian casualties.“

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (64)

Ali Al Shawakh Al Salibi
Adult male killed
Aida Al Hussein al Salibi
Adult female Ali al Salibi's wife killed
Khaled Ali al-Shawakh
25 years old male Aida's son killed
Mohammad Ali al-Shawakh
24 years old male Aida's son killed
Eid Ali al-Shawakh
23 years old male Aida's son killed
Jumah Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
1 years old male son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
Feisal Ali al-Shawakh
17 years old male Aida's son killed
Mustafa Ali al-Shawakh
17 years old male Aida's son killed
Wassel Ali al-Shawakh
6 years old male Aida's son killed
Noura Ali al-Shawakh
14 years old female Aida's daughter killed
Houriah Ali al-Shawakh
10 years old female Aida's daughter killed
Nadeih Jassem al-Sheikh
Adult female Khaled al Shawak's wife killed
Ameirah Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakh
Adult female Eid Ali Al Shawak's wife killed
Nadeih Eid Ali al-Shawakh
1 years old female Ameriah's daughter killed
Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
56 years old male killed
Fatima Al Kahhal
Adult female Jumah's wife killed
Shawakh Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
24 years old male Fatima's son killed
Ahmad Jumah al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
17 years old male Fatima's son killed
Lamya Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
23 years old female Fatima's daughter killed
Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh
30 years old female wife of Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
Moneirah Mustafa al-Shawakh
24 years old female Wife of Shawakh Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
Khaznah Ahmad al-Obeid
28 years old female Wife of Wasel Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
Mustafa Wasel Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
1 years old male Khaznah's Ahmad al Obeid's son killed
Malak Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
3 years old female the daughter of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh
Turki Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
2 years old male the son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
Jumah Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
1 years old male the son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
Hadla al-Msallam
Adult female wife of Ali Mohammad al-Ali killed
Hadlah
Adult female the second wife of Ali Mohammad al-Ali, from Alja'adah village killed
Mustafa Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
31 years old male son of Hadla al-Msallam killed
Fatema Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
18 years old female the daughter of Hadla al-Msallam killed
Najeeb Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
1 years old male the son of Hadla, the second wife killed
Maram Mustafa Ali Mohammad al-Ali
6 years old female the daughter of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
Mohammad Mustafa Ali Mohammad al-Ali
5 years old male the son of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
Ali Mustafa Ali Mohammad al-Ali
3 years old male the son of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
Fatema Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
1 month old years old female Ali Mohammed Ali killed
Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
47 years old male killed
Ghazalah
Adult female Eid's wife killed
Shahah Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
10 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Sabah Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
6 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Mona Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
2 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Aysheh Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
7 months years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Turki Eid Al Mustafa Al Shawakh
12 years old male Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Zleikhah
45 years old female Wife of Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
Turkeih
42 years old female the second wife of Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
Muhannad Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi
14 years old male Turkeih's son killed
Azizah Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi
11 years old female Turkeih's daughter killed
Abd Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi
10 years old male Zleikhah's son killed
Warde
32 years old female Hussein Al Ali Al Salibi's wife killed
Raghad al-Husain al-Ali al-Sleibi
11 years old female killed
Aboud al-Ali al-Sleibi
10 years old male killed
Younes al-Ali al-Sleibi
4 years old male killed
Mustafa al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
65 years old male killed
Shaha Al Salibi
Adult female Mustafa's wife killed
Khatoun Mustafa al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
25 years old female Shahah's daughter killed
Wardah Mustafa al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
18 years old female Shahah's daughter killed
Shawakh al-Bakko al-Sleibi
40 years old male killed
Ahmad Shawakh al-Bakko al-Sleibi
22 years old male killed
brother of Mustafa al-Bakko al-Sleibi
40 years old male killed
Khatoun al-Hussein al-Sleibi
38 years old female Wife of Aref al-Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
Waheideh Aref al-Mustafa al-Sleibi
8 years old female Khatoun's daughter killed
Amal Aref al-Mustafa al-Sleibi
5 years old female Khatoun's daughter killed
Mahmoud al-Hussain al-Sleibi
40 years old male killed
Ida Al Mahmoud Al Hussein Al Salibi
15 years old female killed
Maryam Mahmoud al-Hussain al-Sleibi
3 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64
  • (32 children19 women13 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Eyewitness account from a survivor who recounts that the planes struck between 10:00 am and 10:30 am. A family of 9 was killed in the first house, a family of 14 in the second house and 35 members of one family in the third house. [Via: SN4HR]
  • A second survivor recalls how entire families were wiped out in the alleged coalition strikes on the village of Beir Mahli. [Via: SN4HR]
  • Footage of the burial of victims at Beir Mahli, published 14th May 2015. [via: SN4HR]
  • Image showing the coordinates of the village. [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • Images showing the homes that were targeted in the alleged coalition strikes [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • The victims' houses that were targeted in the alleged coalition strikes on Beir Mahli [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Ber Mahli, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Prior to the airstrikes, Kurdish forces, who held the town before leaving after being attacked by ISIL, reported there were no civilians present in that location and that there had not been any civilians present for two weeks prior to the Coalition airstrikes

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64
  • (32 children19 women13 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]