Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

RS2168

Incident date

April 25, 2017

Location

أبو حواديد, Abu Hawadid, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.320833, 37.488333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians were killed or injured in an airstrike in Abu Hawaid, Hama, according to Smart News Agency.

Their source stated that two civilians were killed and five others injured, when the unidentified aircraft struck the village that was under the control of ISIS.

Smart added that two members of ISIS were also killed and four others wounded.

No other known sources reported on this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2172

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

الجانودية, Al Janoudia, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8839, 36.291466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya, Jisr al-Shughour, according to local media sources.

Media activist, Musab Ahmed Orabi, was among those dead. However, none of the sources were clear as to whether he was one of the five civilians killed or an additional death.

He was working with the Qatar Red Crescent team when the strike occurred, Enab Baladi reported. They further noted that Musab was “a famous actor who was known for his dramatic and cynical scenes of the Syrian regime and his president, Bashar al-Assad.”

According to RFS Media Office, Musab was injured by shrapnel in the abdomen. “He was taken to the hospital and died during an operation that did not last more than 15 minutes,” their report read.

A source from the Syrian Civil Defence told Alaraby that two members of the civil defence and five civilians were killed following three raids from Russian aviation.

Aleppo AMC tweeted that seven people were injured during the attack, including two members of the civil defence – but given the death toll in other sources, it is likely that this was in fact referring to fatalities.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Journalist killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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]

  • Media activist Musab Ahmed Orabi was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya. 26th April 2017. (Via: Enab Baladi)
  • Media activist Musab Ahmed Orabi was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in al-Janoudiya. 26th April 2017. (Via: SOHR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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

CS735

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

حمرة بلاسم, Hamra Blassem, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.878056, 39.197222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, the Smart News Network, four civilians including one girl died and seven others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the villages of Hamra Blassem and and Hamra Nasser.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hamra Blassem and Hamra Nasser, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties. (1383)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 25th-26th, the Coalition reported no strikes at Raqqah though noted that : “Near Tabqah, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a fuel truck.”

For April 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a front-end loader, a fighting position, and a mortar team.”

The Coalition later reported for April 26th: "Near Tabqah, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions"

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2173

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

جدار معراتا, Jidar Miraata, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647951, 36.811066 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least ten civilians were killed in an airstrike in Jidar Miraata, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who could not positively identify a belligerent, reported that the al-Jidar camp was targeted which killed ten people, including women and children.

The only other source to provide an estimated casualty toll, was the Syrian Civil Defence in Idlib, who stated that “tens” of civilians were wounded. They further reported that it was a result of regime forces using parachute missiles.

Alaraby news, among others, reported that Russian aviation was responsible for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Martyrs and wounded in a Russian bombing that targeted the camp, "the wall of Maarata", east of the town of Tlemnes for the displaced.
  • Translation: Warplanes bomb the camp of Ma'aratah in the southern suburb of Idlib and kill its inhabitants and destroy the entire camp.
  • Translation: The Syrian Air Force bombed the outskirts of the town of Talmans in the eastern suburb of Idlib
  • Translation: The moment of the rocket attacks on the Ma'aratah camp in Telmans in the village of Idlib
  • Translation: Parachute missiles were used in an airstrikes by regime airplanes targeting a Displaced camp near #Talmins in idlib countryside , resulting in the wounding of tens of civilians. Civil Defence teams have rushed to pull out the casualties from the rubble and ambulance wounded . #syriacivildefence #idlib 26-4-2017
  • Images by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights show the damage in al-Jidar camp area near Maratah town in the eastern countryside of Idlib, after a massacre carried out by warplanes, it's not known whether they belong to Russia or to the regime forces, which targeted areas in the camp and caused the death of 10 persons including women and children.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS736

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

Northern Raqqa countryside, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Al Raqqa Truth and the Raqqa News Network reported the death of one man in an alleged Coalition airstrike in the northern Raqqa countryside.

No further details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al-Faris
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Al-Faris, from Raqqa, died in alleged Coalition strikes in the north eastern countryside, April 26th (via Al Ragga Truth)
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
    in northern Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility. (1380)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 25th-26th, the Coalition reported no strikes at Raqqah though noted that “Near Tabqah, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a fuel truck.“
For April 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a front-end loader, a fighting position, and a mortar team.”
The Coalition later reported: "Near Tabqah, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions"

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2174

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

اللطامنة, Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in an airstrike in Lataminah, Hama, according to local media sources – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Hama News Centre reported that “Russian air raids targeted al Latamna hospital”; they added that it caused huge destruction to the hospital and injuring one member of medical staff.

A group of terrorists in a vehicle in the northern Hama countryside were apparently the “target” of the strike and a large number of them were killed, according to the source @RaedSyrian02. They noted that the strike was conducted by the “air force” which could mean the Assad regime. 

7al news reported that “more than five paratroop-type missile attacks targeted the town of Al-Latamneh (controlled by the opposition in the northern countryside of Hama), resulting in the destruction of more than 10 homes and other material damage.”

Media activist, Lyad al-Hussein told 7al that the regime’s forces “rely on the opposition areas in the countryside to protect the missiles with parachutes, because of their destructive ability.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Russian warplanes bombarded the surgical hospital in the city with concussion rockets, destroying large parts of it. The hospital was out of service and the civil defense rescue teams, in cooperation with the residents, remained in the hospital for four hours to be able to withdraw one of the medical staff.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2175

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

رسم العويد, Rasim Al Ouweid, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.073279, 37.042465 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed and two injured in an alleged Russian airstrike in Rasim Al Ouweid, Hama – though only one known source has reported on this event.

According to Smart News Agency there were five civilian casualties from a bombardment of likely Russian warplanes.

Their local source told them “the aircraft bombed the houses of civilians in the village under the control of the “Islamic State”, killing three civilians, including a child and wounding two others, were taken to hospitals in the city of Deir Ezzor.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI665

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

حاوي الكنيسة, Mosul, Hawi al Kanassa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36, 43 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven family members – including five children – died in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Hawi Al Kanissa neighbourhood early on Wednesday, locals said.

Sources furthermore reported to Yaqein Agency that “the military bombardment of the neighborhood has caused considerable material damage to the houses of citizens near the targeted house.”

All sources said the Coalition had carried out the raids on Hawi Al Kanissa – though Al Rafidain said the Iraqi government had also bombed in West Mosul neighbourhoods that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (5 children)
  • 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 (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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hawi al Kanassa, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties. (1377)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and a sniper; and destroyed eight weapons caches, three mortar systems, two fighting positions, an ISIS vehicle, a rocket system, a front-end loader, and a VBIED.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (5 children)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]