Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

M21ISPT129

Incident date

May 20, 2021

Location

بيت المغير, رفح, Al Mughayir House, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.287340, 34.251972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and six people were reportedly injured as a result of alleged Israeli airstrikes on a house said to belong to Al-Mughayer family in Shaboura refugee camp, Rafah, Gaza on May 20 2021.

A tweet from @AqsaTVChannel put the number of injuries at three while Palestinian Refugees Portal reported that six casualties were rescued from the rubble of the house after the strikes. @SafaPs added that ambulance crews transported two injuries for medical treatment following the incident.

Images were posted online after the incident showing the almost complete destruction of a house. One source reported that the house was hit in a two stage attack (@Nada03978943) and @Alaqsavoice_Brk reported that three missiles hit the house.

No further details about the casualties are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • Photo taken after alleged Israeli shelling on a house in Shaboura camp, Rafah, Gaza May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @qudsn.
  • A house destroyed in Shaboura camp, Rafah, Gaza, allegedly as a result of Israeli airstrikes May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @qudsn.
  • Image showing the destruction caused by an alleged Israeli airstrike on a house in Shaboura camp, Rafah, Gaza. Image posted on Twitter by @qudsn.
  • Image taken from above of a house in Shaboura, Gaza, reported to have been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @Alaqsavoice_Brk
  • People stand in the rubble of a house reportedly destroyed by an Israeli airstrike May 20 2021 in Shaboura, Gaza. Image posted on Twitter by @Alaqsavoice_Brk.
  • People look through the rubble of a house reportedly destroyed in an Israeli airstrike May 20 2021 in Shaboura, Gaza. Image posted on Twitter by @Alaqsavoice_Brik.
  • Household items shown within the rubble of a house reportedly destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Shaboura, Gaza May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @Alaqsavoice_Brik.
  • Video captured by Safa Press Agency reporting to show an Israeli airstrike on Shaboura, Gaza May 20 2021.
  • Smoke rises over a residential neighbourhood reported to be Shaboura, Gaza, allegedly hit by an Israeli airstrike May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @Fad6k.
  • A house destroyed by an alleged Israeli airstrike May 20 2021 in Shaboura, Gaza. Image posted on Twitter by Ehabhelou.
  • Items reportedly from the home of the Al-Mughayer family, destroyed by an alleged Israeli airstrike May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @bnt_alkatayib.
  • Destruction caused by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Shaboura, Gaza May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @Motazpress.
  • Video posted by the Palestinian Information Centre, alleging to show an Israeli airstrike in Shaboura refugee camp, May 20 2021.
  • Image showing the house reported to have been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @LebUpdate.
  • Video reporting to show smoke rising from Shaboura, Rafa, Gaza on May 20 2021 after alleged Israeli airstrikes hit the neighbourhood. Video posted on Twitter by Friends of Palestine.
  • Image showing the area destroyed by an alleged Israeli airstrike in Shaboura, Gaza, May 20 2021. Image posted on Twitter by @Nada03978943.
  • Israeli warplanes destroyed a house for the Al-Mughayer family in the Shaboura refugee camp, in the center of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck within the vicinity of Shaboura (الشابورة) camp in Rafah (رفح). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 31.287340, 34.251972.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck within the vicinity of Shaboura (الشابورة) camp in Rafah (رفح).

    Imagery:
    soar.earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @Alaqsavoice_Brk

  • Panoramic stitch of visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @paltimes2015

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R3090

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

مورك, Mourek, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were reportedly injured in an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrike on Mourek in the northern countryside of Hama, on March 17th, 2018, according to local media sources.

Many sources including Step News and 7al.net blamed Russian forces for the airstrike, while @HalabTodayTV and @HamahNow reported that Syrian regime forces launched the attack in which they used cluster bombs.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS115

Incident date

August 30, 2021

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and eight civilians, including four to five children, were injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021.

Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians, including four children, were injured in missile shelling carried out by the alleged Syrian Democratic Forces. The “Zaman Al-Wasl” correspondent also put the toll at seven injuries, including four children, and added that eight rockets fell on Afrin.

However, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights provided information that five civilians, including children, were injured in the strikes and a tweet from @jamlyyyyy_ identified six injuries “of varying degrees”.

Anadolu Agency reported that the Turkish province of Hatay announced that 8 civilians, including five children, were wounded, as a result of a six shell bombardments carried out by the YPG/PKK on Afrin at 17:50 local time.

A tweet from @rdwanalshhwan published the names of the civilians injured in the strikes: 1- Doaa Al-Ali, father Ahmed, mother, Joza, born in the southern countryside of Aleppo, Khanasser, age 11 years (F); 2 Abdel Moneim Mohamed Abdel Rahman, 8 years old, from Homs, living on Villa Street, a minor head injury (M); 3- Abd al-Rahman Ali, father Sobhi, mother Khadija, age 64, from Afrin, light in the head (M); 4- Asma al-Musa, father Musa, mother Nadia, 10 years old, from the southern countryside of Aleppo, lived in Afrin, lightly injured (F); 5- Othman Al-Mousa Al-Mousa, the mother, Nadia, 8 years old, from the southern countryside of Aleppo, the current residence is Afrin, a light injury (M); 6- Mahmoud Al-Mohammed, born in 1988, Homs, with a light injury (M).

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights specified that the location of the strikes was “al-Mazut road and Jendires junction in the city”. The correspondent for Zaman Al-Wasl added that “the bombing hit a school, and also caused significant material damage to some residential houses, amid a state of anxiety and fear among the city’s residents.” @YusufAd76532779 added that the shells struck “next to the headquarters of the National Army’s al-Sharqiya Army”.

The correspondent for Qasioun reported that “the civil defense teams rushed to the places where the missiles fell and worked to transport the wounded to medical points to receive the necessary treatment.”

Sources were in agreement that the Syrian Democratic Forces were responsible for the strikes, with Zaman Al-Wasl pinpointing the source of the strikes to the “Tal Rifaat pocket”, adjacent to the “Afrin” area in the southeastern side. Baladi News identified the bombing as being carried out with “rocket-propelled grenades”.

The incident occured at 17:50:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Asma al-Musa
10 years old female mother Nadia, 10 years old, from the southern countryside of Aleppo, lived in Afrin, lightly injured injured
Othman Al-Mousa Al-Mousa
8 years old male the mother, Nadia, 8 years old, from the southern countryside of Aleppo, the current residence is Afrin, a light injury injured

The victims were named as:

Doaa Al-Ali
11 years old female father Ahmed, mother, Joza, born in the southern countryside of Aleppo, Khanasser injured
Abdel Moneim Mohamed Abdel Rahman
8 years old male 8 years old, from Homs, living on Villa Street, a minor head injury injured
Abd al-Rahman Ali
64 years old male father Sobhi, mother Khadija, age 64, from Afrin, light in the head injured
Mahmoud Al-Mohammed
33 years old male born in 1988, Homs, with a light injury injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • #Euphrates post #Aleppo northern countryside#urgent: Several wounded, including children, as a result of missile strikes on the city of Afrin.
  • Children injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by Shaam News)
  • One of the injured civilians following strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets search through debris for injured civilians following strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets search through debris for injured civilians following strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets search through debris for injured civilians following strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the children injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Rocket shelling of Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @mohmad_rasheed)
  • Rocket shelling of Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @mohmad_rasheed)
  • Smoke from rocket shelling of Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)
  • Smoke from rocket shelling of Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)
  • Shells from strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @ala_hacioglu)
  • Shells from strikes on Afrin on August 30, 2021. (Image posted by @ala_hacioglu)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4390

Incident date

September 15, 2021

Location

بلدة الحمامة, Al Hamama town, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.924672, 36.355597 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three children were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Hamamah on September 15, 2021.

A tweet from @alfuratyalatiqe that three children were wounded in Russian strikes near the village of Al Hamamah and that this was the preliminary result of the attack. @anasanas84 also reported that there were wounded civilians, including children, but did not identify how many.

@Almohrar1 identified the location as being near Istanbul Alan camp and put the number of raids at seven with four warplanes in the area. All of the sources attributed the strikes to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Strikes in the vicinity of Al-Hamamah town on September 15, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Hamama (الحمامة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.924672, 36.355597. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3332

Incident date

March 23, 2018

Location

معرة مصرين, Ma'aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.012172, 36.6730499 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians were killed and three civilians were reported injured in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ma’aret Misrin, Idlib governorate, on March 23rd, 2018, according to local sources.

Activist Jaber Abu Muhammed told Al Araby that “Russian air forces launched raids on the town of Ma’aret Misrin and Burma farms in the northern Idlib countryside, killing one civilian and wounding three others.”

@IdlibPlus reported “one martyr and several wounded civilians, as a result of warplanes targeting Ma’aret Misrin city, Idlib countryside, with two airstrikes.”

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported five killed civilians as the result of Russian airstrikes.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Walid Awad Al Skifi, a displaced person from the city of Palmyra in the eastern Homs governorate, was killed by the Syrian regime’s warplane shelling in the town of Ma’aret Misrin in the northern Idlib governorate, on March 23.”

According to Smart News Agency, “a child whose condition was moderate” was one of the injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walid Awwad al-Skaifi وليد عواد السكيفي
Adult male originally from Palmyra killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Walid Awwad Al Skaifi was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Ma’arat Misrin in Idlib, Syria on March 23rd, 2018 (via VDC).

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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4407

Incident date

October 23, 2021

Location

دارة عزة, Daret Izza, Syria

Geolocation

36.28247, 36.85216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a woman and two of her children were injured, as a result of Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on residential neighbourhoods in the city of Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, Syria, on October 23rd 2021.

 

 

 

The incident was first reported on October 23, 2021 at 12:37 pm by Horrya.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Name unknown
female
Name unknown
Child
Name unknown
Child

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Two injured children, allegedy in a Russian or Syrian regime forces attack on 23rd October 2021 (Image via @abu_almuthanna_ / Twitter)
  • Shelling on Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, by Russian or Syrian regime forces on October 23rd 2021 (Image via @syr_television / Twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Darat Izza (دارة عزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.28247, 36.85216. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1973

Incident date

December 3, 2021

Location

المسطومة, Al-Mastouma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.838709, 36.622450 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one young man was killed and between six and seven civilians, including up to four children, were injured in a declared US drone strike on the Al-Mastouma Ariha road on December 3rd, 2021. Sources are conflicted as to whether the young man killed was an active or former member of the Guardians of Religion Organization, an Al Qaeda affiliate group.

In a press briefing on December 6, 2021, the Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters “a senior leader with Hurras al-Din, which is an Al-Qaeda affiliated group, by the name of Musab Kinan was the person targeted and killed in a kinetic strike by U.S. forces near Idlib on the 3rd of December. It was a strike conducted from an MQ-9 unmanned aircraft. The initial review of the strike did indicate the potential for possible civilian casualties. They’ve [CENTCOM] launched a civilian casualty assessment report, which they have to do when they think there’s a potential and as far as I know that’s still ongoing. I don’t know what the results might be.”

Associated Press reported that at least four members of the Qasoum family were children – 16-year old Hiba Qasoum, 15-year old Batoul Qasoum, 12-year old Walid Qasoum and 10-year old Mohammad Qasoum. Fatima, 48, was also reported seriously injured in the strike alongside her husband Ahmed Qasoum who sustained light injuries. One source (@jabha_sy) reported different ages (included in brackets in victim details below).

The Middle East Eye (MEE) also reported on the Qasoum family, including an interview with father Ahmed Qasoum who told MEE that one of those injured was his 10-year old son: ““The motorcycle was going in front of me and I decided to pass it, when I got parallel to it, I felt a lot of pressure pushing the car to the left of the road….It was horrible,” Qasoum said. “We didn’t hear any sound of the explosion. The shrapnel hit the left side of the car, tearing through that side, which acted as a sort of filter for a lot of it.”

“My 10-year-old son has had a fractured skull and is now in a very serious condition in the intensive care at a hospital in Idlib. Doctors have told me that he would have nerves problems on his right side in the future,” Qasoum said, speaking to MEE via WhatsApp.”

Mr. Qasoum added that his 15-year old daughter was also seriously injured after shrapnel struck her head, and that it might take her a week to be able to walk again.

In an interview with Associated Press published December 6th, Mr. Qassoum said that he was driving 10km every day to visit the hospital where his son, Mahmoud, was being treated for his head injuries.

Step News Agency reported that the Qasoum family had been displaced from the village of Kafr Batikh after regime forces took control of the area.

@humam_isa identified the young man, “Musab Khaled Kanaan” (a first-year Turkish language student) as being one of the people killed by Coalition missile strikes on the Idlib-Al-Mastouma road, while Syrian Network for Human Rights and Shaam News referred to Musab as being a former Hurras al Din (Guardians of Religion) fighter.

A tweet from @SunaUnique reported that a drone struck a car traveling on the Al-Mastouma Ariha road, killing those inside, but didn’t specify how many were traveling in the car.

According to @Click_Syria, a drone alleged to belong to the Coalition struck a motorcycle belonging to a military official from the Guardians of Religion Organization and also hit a Santa Fe car passing by on the same road, the Ariha-Mastouma highway, injuring six people in the car. @syr_television added that the family of six people in the car were “lightly” injured. Euphrates Eye put the number killed at two and identified them both as Guardians of Religion.

Syrian Civil Defense put the number of injured civilians at five, including three women and a child.

A tweet from @FreshFM90MHZ referred to those killed and injured as being “civilians”.

A video posted by @syr_television shows the moment that the drone strike hit the motorcycle from the perspective of the car where the six family members were injured. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified that three missiles were involved in the attack.

@NotWoofers pointed out that this is the first time in a while in Idlib that there have been civilian casualties from a Coalition drone strike.

The Military Times reported that “the command [CENTCOM] would not say whether such operations will pause during the investigation” into civilian harm allegations.

Limited local media coverage was noted by the Middle East Eye, who reported that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the armed group in control of Idlib, seized the Qasoum family car after the attack “under the pretext of checking the car’s papers”, and “prevented the media from filming the damage at the scene”.

In the Department of Defense’s 2022 annual report on civilian casualties (1057 report), released April 25, 2024, the US military admitted that six civilians had been injured during this incident.

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Fatima Qarqour
48 years old injured
Muhammad Qasoum
10 (also reported as 15) years old injured
Heba Qasoum
16 (also reported as 30) years old injured
Batoul Qasoum
15 (also reported as 20) years old injured
Walid Qasoum
12 (also reported as 50) years old injured
Ahmed Qasoum
52 years old injured

The victims were named as:

Musab Khaled Kanaan
Age unknown male conflicted as to whether the young man killed was an active or former member of the Guardians of Religion Organization, an Al Qaeda affiliate group killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • A drone struck a car traveling on the Al-Mastouma Ariha road, killing those inside. (Image posted by @SunaUnique)
  • A drone struck a car traveling on the Al-Mastouma Ariha road, killing those inside. (Image posted by @SunaUnique)
  • Musab Khaled Kanaan, killed in an alleged Coalition drone strike on a car on the Idlib-Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by @humam_isa)
  • White Helmets observe the motorcycle struck with a drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets observe the car struck with a drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Blood of the victims on the car struck with a drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • A White Helmet with remnants from the drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Remnants of the car destroyed by the drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • A White Helmet with remnants from the drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Blood of the victims on the car struck with a drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Blood of the victims on the car struck with a drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Blood of the victims on the car struck with a drone attack on the Ariha Al-Mastouma road on December 3, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Ahmed Qasoum was reported to be one of at least six members of the Qasoum family who sustained injuries after a US military strike hit a road in Idlib, December 3rd 2021. Image via Middle East Eye/Izzeddin Kasim.
  • "The wife of Ahmed Qasoum resting her broken leg after being injured in a US attack near Idlib on 3 December", Image via Middle East Eye/Izzeddin Kasim.
  • ""The shrapnel hit the left side of the car, tearing through that side," Ahmed Qasoum said", Image via Middle East Eye/Izzeddin Kasim.
  • Mahmoud Qasoum was was reported seriously injured in a US strike in Idlib December 3rd 2021. Image published by Associated Press/Ghaith Alsayed.
  • The Qasoum family, injured by a US strike in Idlib December 3rd 2021. Image via Associated Press.

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention vehicles struck on the road between Ariha (أَرِيحَا) and Al Mastouma (المسطومة). Analyzing audiovisual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to the following coordinates: 35.838709, 36.622450.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Middle East Eye

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Macro Media Center

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Macro Media Center

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Apr 25, 2024

  • 03 DEC 21 Idlib, Idlib Province, Syria, Air, 6 civilians injured

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

"A senior leader with Hurras al-Din, which is an Al-Qaeda affiliated group, by the name of Musab Kinan was the person targeted and killed in a kinetic strike by U.S. forces near Idlib on the 3rd of December. It was a strike conducted from an MQ-9 unmanned aircraft. The initial review of the strike did indicate the potential for possible civilian casualties. They've [CENTCOM] launched a civilian casualty assessment report, which they have to do when they think there's a potential and as far as I know that's still ongoing. I don't know what the results might be."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS486

Incident date

January 23, 2022

Location

العليمات, Alimat, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387671, 38.863106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, two women and two children, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Alimat on January 23, 2022.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the intense missile shelling by Turkish forces resulted in the injury of four civilians, two of whom were in serious condition, in the village of Alimat.

Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firate (ANF) also reported that four civilians, two women and two children, were injured in the village of Alimat west of Ain Issa. ANF also provided the names of those injured: Nabil Al-Talib (two years old), Raghad Ali (15 years old), Suha Issa Al-Fayyadh (21 years old), and Baraa Omar Hussein (18 years old) and reported that they were transferred to a hospital in the city of Raqqa for treatment of their injuries, which were critical.

Both sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nabil Al-Talib نبيل الطالب
2 years old injured
Raghad Ali رغد علي
15 years old injured
Suha Issa Al-Fayyadh سها عيسى الفياض
21 years old injured
Baraa Omar Hussein
118 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Alimat on January 23, 2022. (Image posted by Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firate)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Alimat (العليمات) allegedly west of the town of Ain Issa (عين عيسى). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ain Issa are: 36.387671, 38.863106.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]