Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

R4554

Incident date

September 4, 2023

Location

أرض زراعية على أطراف مدينة سرمين شرقي إدلب, agricultural land on the outskirts of the city of Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On September 4th 2023, one civilian was killed and another was severely injured in the city of Sarmin by intensive missile and artillery shelling allegedly by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, a civilian named Fadda Ibrahim Al-Muhaimeed, a 12-year old, was killed and her sister Nada Al-Muhaimeed, a 8-year old, sustained various injuries after the intense missile and artillery bombardment, striking the tent they were inhabiting with their family in the agricultural land on the outskirts of Sarmin. Additionally, the Civil Defense team transferred the body of the child and of the injured sister from Sarmin Hospital to Idlib City Hospital and inspected the place of the bombing and secured it.

As mentioned by correspondent Al-Arabiya/ Al-Hadath in Syria, the Syrian regime struck a tent on the outskirts of the city of Sarmin, in the countryside. This is also supported by the statement of the Syrian Network for Human Rights in which it reports that one of the missiles landed next to the tent in which Fadda Ibrahim Al-Muhaimeed lived, causing her death and the injury of her sister Nada Al-Muhaimeed. Multiple local sources mentioned that both of the children were displaced from the town of Afes the day before the bombing due to heavy bombardment in Afes.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the shelling, with some sources attributing the bombardment to the Syrian regime while others blamed the Russian military, with multiple sources mentioning the use of heavy weapons in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fadda Ibrahim Al-Muhaimeed فضة ابراهيم المحيميد
12 years old female killed
Nada Ibrahim al-Muhaimeed ندى إبراهيم المحيميد
8 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @alking14399969
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    Source: SCD
  • Source: SCD
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    Source: SCD
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    Source: SCD
  • Image of Fadda al-Muhaimeed, 12 years old, killed on September 4, 2023. Source: @Omar_Madaniah
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    Source: @Eliass_Ahmed97
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    Source: @khaled_mosle
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    Source: @TvIdlib
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    Source: @TvIdlib
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    Source: @TvIdlib
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    Source: @TvIdlib
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    Source: @SN4HR
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    Source: Alarabiya news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1144

Incident date

July 1, 2017

Location

بناء الحريري, Al-Hariri Building, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.954908, 39.023073 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians from three families were killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes which hit the Al Hariri building, near the Al Ateeq Mosque in Raqqa.

All ten sources reporting the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible. Despite this the Coalition has responded that there was no civilian harm as a result of Coalition action. “Thorough review of available evidence indicated Coalition activity did not cause the alleged civilian casualties.”

Initial Airwars research indicated the airstrike occurred on the 2nd of July, however Amnesty field research has uncovered the airstrike occurred on the 1st of July at 5pm.

Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, reported that “Nine people – seven children, one woman and one man – from three families were killed when a three storey house was destroyed in an air strike.”

In a survivors testimony, the mother of the al Abdullah family, Rimal, stated in an emotional interview that “My entire family was taken from me, why? My four children and my husband; everything that was dear to me. Why did they kill them? I have nothing left to live for.”

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

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

42 years old male father killed
11 years old male killed
4 years old male killed
3 years old male killed
1 year 4 months years old female killed

Family members (3)

Adult female her husband previously killed in Tayyar killed
2 years old male her son killed
4 years old female her daughter killed

Family members (1)

16-17 years old female Ghofran Horan Mohammed killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (4–7 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Yasser Al-Abdullah and four of his children - A’ssaf, Zain, Jude abd Rimas - died in a reported Coalition strike on Ar Raqqah, July 2nd 2017. (via RBSS)

Geolocation notes

The Al-Hariri building near the Old Mosque was hit by airstrikes at 35.954908, 39.023073. The building was a three story house.

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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV020789
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 30, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 2nd – 3rd: “Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 10 fighting positions and a mortar system.” It additionally reported that “On July 2, near Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two VBIEDs, an ISIS communications tower, and a fighting position; and damaged 32 fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Sunday 2 July – Tornados and Typhoons struck four Daesh positions in Mosul, and two in Raqqa…On Sunday 2 July, mixed pairs of Tornados and Typhoons operated over both Mosul and Raqqa. In Mosul, the Iraqi ground forces encountered three groups of snipers – all three positions, plus another Daesh-held building, were successfully struck with Paveways. In similar fashion, Paveway IVs were used against two terrorist firing points in Raqqa.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (4–7 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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

RS760

Incident date

April 23, 2016

Location

حي طريق الباب, Tareeq al-Bab (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207438, 37.1990204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes on the Tareeq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo killed between 10 and 17 civilians and injured at least 20 more, according to local sources. Reports did not definitively identify the warplanes responsible, with some referring to Russia and the regime, while others attributed the incident solely to the regime.

The White Helmets said two raids targeted civilian areas, leading to the death “of more than 12 people including women and children and dozens were injured” – though did not say who carried them out. Shaam News Network posted a video showing destruction caused by “Syrian and Russian aviation raids on neighborhoods of the city of Aleppo“. It said that activists had confirmed the occurrence of “a massacre in Ahalouanah roundabout in the neighborhood of Tareeq al bab“. They put the death toll at 13.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime, initially putting the death toll at nine, but later at 10 including two children – with 12 others wounded. In a tweet, Aba-z72 also blames the regime for the “new massacre”. Likewise,  Aranews held regime military airplanes responsible for the raids. It puts the death toll at 12 and reported that “more than two dozens others” were wounded.  A witness told SN4HR: “The bombing happened around 11:00 am. There were two warplanes. One of them targeted the main road of Tareeq Al Bab Neirborhood and the other targeted the residential Bourj Al Bakhera area. There were less than ten minutes between the two missiles. I arrived at the site when the Rescue and civil defense teams were picking the corpses out of the rubble. They were able to withdraw 15 people from the rubble of the ruins of the upper floors, while about 12 dead persons were.still under the rubble The destruction was very huge as it extended to five houses, a food warehouse, a pharmacy, a secondhand tools center, and a store seling diesel fuel. In addition a Suzuki pickup truck and a motorcycle were destroyed. The targeted place is a civilian neighborhood, where there are no headquarters for army or any Islamic organizations and the victims were all civilians.

Fifteen images showing destruction of the area were published by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who referred only to “warplanes” causing 17 deaths in Tareeq al-Bab. According to the White Helmets, “warplanes” targeted a popular market, killing 12 people and injuring 20 more. Shahed Ayan News reported the same number of people killed, and spoke of “dozens wounded”. In a video by Baha’a Al-Halabi it was said that the warplanes targeted the local market Al-Bab, leading to 9 people so far. It reported that “some of the deads were burned to death. The civil defense forces have rescued children of various ages, the youngest are months old.”

The Violations Documentation Center named six victims as killed in “warplane shelling” – blaming the regime and allied forces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male killed
27 years old male killed
26 years old male killed
30 years old male killed
23 years old male killed
21 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 17
  • (2 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

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    Destruction in Tarreq al-Bab following airstrikes on April 23rd (via SO4HR)
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    Zakaria abd al-Salam, child victim of the raids in Tareeq al bab neighbourhood, Aleppo (via Aba-z72 tweet)
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    Rescuing team searching for survivors from under the rubbles in Tareeq al bab neighbourhood (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes in Tareeq al bab neighbourhood (via Aleppo White Helmets)
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    Victim getting rescued out of a targeted building in Tareeq al bab neighbourhood (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the strikes in Tareeq al bab neighbourhood (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • SNN video titled "the planes of death and hatred continues its duty in Aleppo… dozens of dead and wounded."
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    Aftermath of the strikes targeting Tareeq al bab neighbourhood (via SOHR)
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    Rescuing team in the aftermath of the strikes targeting Tareeq al bab neighbourhood (via SOHR)
  • Aleppo White Helmets video titled "Tareeq al bab massacre 23/4/2016"
  • Aleppo Media Centre video titled "More than 12 martyrs in Treeq al bab in a new massacre by the regime’s planes in Aleppo 23/4/2016"

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 17
  • (2 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0134e

Incident date

October 11, 2023

Location

خزاعة, Khuza’a, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.307314, 34.360372 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, October 11th 2023, an elderly civilian male, Haji Muslim Mahmoud Ahmad Qadeeh (Abu Ayesh) (78) was injured in his home in Khuza’a, Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, and later died from his injuries on October 13th. Sources did not specify how Muslim Qudayh Abu Ayesh received his injuries.

Many family members and friends mourned his death on social media and posted pictures of him.  Adham Shanino posted on Facebook “May God have mercy on your soul, my grandfather, Muslim Qadeeh Abu Ayesh. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. A martyr who refused to leave my village, Khuza’a, until he ascended to heaven”, sharing an image of the victim, an elderly smiling man in traditional clothing.

Majeb Diyab Qudaih wrote on Facebook that his funeral took place on the same day he died, and shared images with people praying over the elderly victim’s body wrapped in a shroud, with the caption “The funeral of the body of our martyr, Hajj Muslim Qadeeh Abu Ayesh, took place a short while ago/ He rose while he was at his home in our town, Khuza’a.” The grandson of Abu Ayesh wrote on Facebook that he was unwilling to leave his home village after Israeli forces allegedly “threatened to evacuate the town.”

Sourced did not identify the belligerent, but Airwars has matched the name of the civilian killed with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023, which explicitly mentions that names on the list are “victims of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip”. Therefore, the Strike Status for this incident has been graded as a Single Source Claim and the Civilian Harm Status was graded as Fair.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muslim Mahmoud Qudayh Abu Ayesh مسلم محمود قديح أبو عايش
78 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 950040410

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Louai Qadeeh
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    Source: Louay Qudaih
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    Source: Abdelrahman Shnaino
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    Source: Rizq Qudayh
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    Source: Musa Walid Ashnino
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    Source: Mohammed W Shnino
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    Source: Majed Diyab Qudaih
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Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Khuza’a (خزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.307314, 34.360372. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1171

Incident date

July 7, 2017

Location

شارع تل ابيض, Tal Abyad Street, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.948534, 39.012615 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was killed in Tal Abyad Street, according to local media.

Baladi said that one person died in artillery shelling on Tal Abyad Street in the center of the city. It is understood by Airwars that only the Coalition has artillery in Raqqa.

However, other sources referred to a rocket attack, with Sharqia Voice saying that it was carried out by “SDF militia”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Issa Mohammed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 7th-8th: “Near Raqqah, 18 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, two vehicles, and a tunnel.” It was additionally reported that “On July 7, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, an IED factory, and a VBIED; and damaged 15 fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 7 July – Typhoons struck two Daesh positions in Raqqa, whilst Tornados destroyed a terrorist-held building and an armed truck north-west of Bayji, and two targets in Mosul…Tornados flew further missions over Mosul on Friday 7 July, delivering two Paveway IV attacks which eliminated a sniper team and another group of terrorists firing on Iraqi troops. Further south in Iraq, a Daesh-held building had been identified in the countryside some 25 miles north-west of Bayji, with an armed truck hidden inside. Tornados demolished the building with a direct hit from a Paveway IV. Two more such weapons were used in attacks by Typhoons on a pair of defensive positions which the SDF had come up against in Raqqa.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the past week, France reports 21 sorties and 4 strikes, 2 in Raqqa and 2 in Iraq. Task Force Wagram conducted 15 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014, it reports 1311 strikes, 2076 targets destroyed and 6775 sorties.

‘Point de situation des opérations Armée française – Opérations militaires·Thursday, 13 July 2017 CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la manœuvre d’encerclement menée au Sud de la ville pour couper les combattants de Daech de leurs soutiens est terminée. Dans la ville, la progression des Forces Démocratiques Syriennes se poursuit maison par maison, face à une défense de Daech faite d’actions permanentes de harcèlement, d’infiltrations et d’attaques suicides menées avec l’aide de boucliers humains. Les Forces armées syriennes se heurtent aux défense de Daech plus à l’Est et les positions se stabilisent. En Irak, Dimanche 9 juillet, le Premier ministre irakien a annoncé la libération de Mossoul. Cette victoire sur l’organisation terroriste marque le succès de forces irakiennes appuyées par les forces aériennes de la Coalition et un soutien artillerie, au cœur d’une stratégie qui aura permis d’affaiblir Daech avant de contre-attaquer en remontant le Tigre et de progresser ensemble jusqu’au cœur de la ville après l’avoir encerclée. Désormais, les forces de sécurité débutent une longue phase de sécurisation de Mossoul. La nécessité de nettoyer la ville des très nombreux pièges posés par Daech, la présence de combattants-suicides disséminés au sein de la population, la probable présence de cellules terroristes dormantes, va imposer aux Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes de poursuivre leurs efforts pendant de longues semaines. Les combats se concentrent désormais dans le secteur de Tall Afar où bon nombre de combattants terroristes ont trouvé refuge après avoir fui la zone de Mossoul. Daech poursuit de son côté ses actions terroristes dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah où l’organisation dispose encore de forces importantes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 21 sorties aériennes dont 19 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 2 missions de recueil de renseignement. 04 frappes ont été réalisées dont 02 dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 15 missions de tir dont 14 de harcèlement et 01 d’éclairement. Le bilan global depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1311 frappes, 2076 objectifs et 6775 sorties. ‘

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

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

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For July 5th-11th, France reports 4 strikes – 2 in Iraq and 2 in Syria (Raqqa) and 15 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS524

Incident date

February 2, 2016

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians were killed including two to four children, one to two women and two members of the Red Crescent – and dozens more injured – in alleged Russian airstrikes on Anadan, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian forces launched “about 50 airstrikes” which including cluster munitions, targeting “homes in Anadan city center and its outskirts, leading to the martyrdom and wounding of a number of civilians.” SNN also reported that Russian planes directly targeted the city’s hospital.

SNN also cited activists, reporting that Anadan “came under intense aerial bombardment by more than twenty-five air raids using different types of missiles.

They said that seven people died and that dozens more were wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially reported that a five-month-year-old baby, Eman Al Hamad, was killed by missiles fired from regime warplanes. A second report also blamed the regime, putting the death toll at seven including three children and a woman. However, four subsequent reports said that “suspected Russian warplanes” were responsible.

According to one report, the planes fired missiles on a field hospital in Anadan, severely damaging it and rendering it inoperable. Another report said that Russian missiles were fired on a “Red Crescent Ambulance“, damaging it.

According to a third report, Eman Layla, a nurse, died more than two weeks later, on February 19, from wounds sustained when missiles were fired on the charity hospital in the city.

The fourth report stated that alleged Russian warplanes shelled a residential house “next to Al Hamze mosque in the middle of Adnan city under the control of armed opposition,” killing six people including four children and a woman.

Six victims (including two children and one woman) were named by the Violations Documentation Center. Halab News recorded the same six victims, but also reported the death of Mohammed Saleh Barbanh, who it said was one of two victims who died when a Syrian Red Crescent ambulance was targeted by Russian forces at the entrance to Anadan. The victims were listed by VDC as:

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Adult male killed
Adult male Relief Activist: Volunteer in the Syrian Red Crescent. Halab News also identified him as a victim of targeting of a Syrian Red Crescent ambulance; Radio al Kul referenced two “volunteers from the Red Crescent” who were killed by Russian warplanes “when a car they were traveling in was targeted on the highway.” killed
Omar Mustafa al-Hamad
Child male Listed by All4Syria killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2–4 children1–2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A body is removed from the rubble following an alleged Russian airstrike on Anadan, Feb 2nd (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 1st – February 3rd.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2–4 children1–2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0347

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

جباليا, Jabalia, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.538711, 34.495107 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 18th October 2023, four members of the Abu Shamala family, two women and two children, were killed and others were wounded by an alleged Israeli bombardment in the Al-Alami area of Jabalia camp.

Facebook posts from relatives have identified 20-year-old Saba Muhammad Daher as killed in the strike, with one relative describing Saba as a “flower.” A video of Saba’s father, Dr. Mohammed Doher receiving the news while working in the Indonesian hospital in the Northern Gaza Strip, has been circulated on Twitter by user @Shehabagency. On Facebook, Uday Abu Shamala referred to her as “Dr. Saba Dhaher,” meaning she may have been following in her father’s footsteps.

Alongside Saba, 50-year old Hanaa Abu Shamala, her daughter 16-year old Maha Abu Shamala and her granddaughter 3-year old Beirut Muhammad Abu Shamala were also reportedly killed in the strike.

Safa News quoted the Ministry of Interior who reported that in addition to those killed, there were wounded, but did not specify how many.

Airwars has matched the names of all of the civilians killed with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023, which explicitly mentions that names on the list are “victims of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip”. Along with one other source that attributed the strike to Israeli forces, this incident has been graded as a likely strike.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hanaa Abu Shamala هناء ابو شمالة
50 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 935342832
Maha Abu Shamala مها ابو شمالة
16 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 422110502
Beirut Muhammad Abu Shamala بيروت محمد ابو شمالة
3 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445222177

The victims were named as:

Saba Muhammad Daher صبا محمد ظاهر
20 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 409814563

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ghadeer Aljamal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jabalia (جباليا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.538711, 34.495107. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1199

Incident date

July 13, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian male was killed following alleged Coalition airstrikes struck his home in Raqqa, local sources reported.

Three sources reported the victim’s death. However, the reports were apparent carbon copies of each other.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shehada Mohammed Abu Khatoun
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 13th-14th: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed three ISIS communication towers, three fighting positions, a command and control node, a front-end loader, and an artillery system; and damaged three supply routes.” It additionally reported that “On July 13, near Raqqah, Syria, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed five ISIS communication towers.” And that On July 13, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes damaged nine fighting positions and suppressed five mortar teams.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the past week, France reports 21 sorties and 4 strikes, 2 in Raqqa and 2 in Iraq. Task Force Wagram conducted 15 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014, it reports 1311 strikes, 2076 targets destroyed and 6775 sorties.

‘Point de situation des opérations Armée française – Opérations militaires·Thursday, 13 July 2017 CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la manœuvre d’encerclement menée au Sud de la ville pour couper les combattants de Daech de leurs soutiens est terminée. Dans la ville, la progression des Forces Démocratiques Syriennes se poursuit maison par maison, face à une défense de Daech faite d’actions permanentes de harcèlement, d’infiltrations et d’attaques suicides menées avec l’aide de boucliers humains. Les Forces armées syriennes se heurtent aux défense de Daech plus à l’Est et les positions se stabilisent. En Irak, Dimanche 9 juillet, le Premier ministre irakien a annoncé la libération de Mossoul. Cette victoire sur l’organisation terroriste marque le succès de forces irakiennes appuyées par les forces aériennes de la Coalition et un soutien artillerie, au cœur d’une stratégie qui aura permis d’affaiblir Daech avant de contre-attaquer en remontant le Tigre et de progresser ensemble jusqu’au cœur de la ville après l’avoir encerclée. Désormais, les forces de sécurité débutent une longue phase de sécurisation de Mossoul. La nécessité de nettoyer la ville des très nombreux pièges posés par Daech, la présence de combattants-suicides disséminés au sein de la population, la probable présence de cellules terroristes dormantes, va imposer aux Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes de poursuivre leurs efforts pendant de longues semaines. Les combats se concentrent désormais dans le secteur de Tall Afar où bon nombre de combattants terroristes ont trouvé refuge après avoir fui la zone de Mossoul. Daech poursuit de son côté ses actions terroristes dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah où l’organisation dispose encore de forces importantes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 21 sorties aériennes dont 19 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 2 missions de recueil de renseignement. 04 frappes ont été réalisées dont 02 dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 15 missions de tir dont 14 de harcèlement et 01 d’éclairement. Le bilan global depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1311 frappes, 2076 objectifs et 6775 sorties. ‘

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For July 12th-18th, France report 11 strikes: 7 in Syria (6 in Raqqa) and 4 in Iraq. There were 26 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014 France has carried out 1322 strikes, with 2090 targets destroyed and 6812 air sorties. Additionally, they’ve carried out 1310 artillery missions.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah désormais encerclée, Daech défend fermement les quartiers sous son contrôle en s’appuyant sur un usage intensif de pièges dont le terrain est littéralement saturé pour ralentir la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS). Cette stratégie impose aux FDS de déminer, pas à pas, chaque rue et chaque maison, sous la menace permanente de tireurs isolés entre autres tactiques adverses. Leur progression reste donc très lente. En Irak, Alors que les opérations de sécurisation de Mossoul se poursuivent, la principale zone de combat se situe désormais à l’Ouest de la ville dans le secteur de Tall Afar. Depuis cette localité, Daech mène des actions de harcèlement par des tirs directs et indirects contre les positions des Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes (FSI) à proximité. L’effort aérien de la coalition s’y porte donc tout en s’accompagnant d’un engagement plus large sur l’ensemble des autres territoires encore sous le contrôle de l’organisation terroriste. Daech poursuit notamment ses actions de harcèlement depuis la poche de Hawijah et dans l’Anbar, région dans laquelle elle dispose de nombreux camps et caches d’armes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 37 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 02 de ravitaillement en vol après le déploiement récent d’un C135. La moitié des frappes françaises (6 sur les 11 frappes) a été réalisée dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, les missions de reconnaissance française ou alliée permettant d’en réaliser autant sur le reste du théâtre afin de préparer les manœuvres futures ou de peser sur les réseaux terroristes. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 26 missions de tir dont 17 de harcèlement et 09 d’éclairement. Le bilan global de CHAMMAL depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1322 frappes, 2090 objectifs détruits et 6812 sorties aériennes réalisées. 1310 missions d’artillerie complètent cet engagement cinétique de la France au Levant.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]