Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS3238

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

جفتلك حج حمود, Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.837778, 36.310833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were killed and as many as ten others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to Moscow on this occasion.

The alleged Russian missile caused destruction to civilian property.

Members of the Civil Defence teams worked to retrieve the bodies of the dead and rescue the wounded from the rubble.

Idlib Plus: Two air raids targeting “Jafatlek Haj Hamoud ” in the village of Jisr al-Shughour, it is noteworthy that the same area was targeted in the morning, killing two civilians and wounding ten others.”

Masar Press said that “two Russian rockets landed on the town of Jafatlek in the village of Jisr al-Shughour, killing two civilians and wounding several civilians.”

According to the White Helmets, there were “two martyrs and eight injured as a result of an air raid by the Russian warplanes targeted the village of Jafatlek Haj Hamoud north of the city of Jisr al-Shughur with several high-impact space rockets. The Civil Defense teams worked to retrieve the bodies of the martyrs and rescue the wounded.”

Baraa Al Jisry 3k

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Jamil Haj Hamoud
male killed
Riad Haj Homoud
injured
Sadiq Hajj Hamoud
male injured
Tarek Hajj Homoud
male injured
Julie Haj Hammoud
injured
Nour Haj Hamoud
injured

The victims were named as:

Elham Salmawy
Child injured
Samira Hussein
50 years old injured
Ahmed Halak
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Victims of the raid on airstrikes on Jisreen, 12th March 2018. (viaTareq Alraj
  • Victims of the raid on airstrikes on Jisreen, 12th March 2018. (via Jisr Al Shoughour deaths)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, 12th March 2018. (via @aboahmad1ahmad)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, 12th March 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, 12th March 2018. (via IDLIB PLUS)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, 12th March 2018. (via Jisir Al Shoughour media centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, 12th March 2018. (via Baraa Al Jisry)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Jafatlek Haj Hamoud, 12th March 2018. (via Smart News Agency)

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
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS265

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

باسوطة, village of Basuta, Shirwa district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.434167, 36.873889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, a 25-year-old civilian was wounded followed an alleged Turkish air and or artillery strike on the village of Basuta.

Afrin Now and ANHA said the victim sustained shrapnel wound to the face.

Sources reported that Turkish warplanes bombed the centre of Shirawa and the villages of Basutah, Karzayleh and Zerba.

Additionally it was reported that as many as four civilians were wounded, including critical cases.

It was reported that there was extensive material damage to the properties in the vicinity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Azad Mohammed Khallou
25 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a civilian being treated at the medical centre followed an alleged airstrike on the village of Basuta, Shirwa district, Afrin, 10th March 2018. (via: ANHA)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a civilian at the medical centre, being treated followed an alleged airstrike on the village of Basuta, Shirwa district, Afrin 10th March 2018. (via: ANHA)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a civilian being treated at the medical centre followed an alleged airstrike on the village of Basuta, Shirwa district, Afrin 10th March 2018. (via: ANHA)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of village of Basuta, Shirwa district, Afrin (باسوطة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.434167, 36.873889. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3239

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and ten civilians including four children were killed, while as many as 50 were wounded in airstrikes on Zamalka, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The White Helmets were among some sources putting the death toll at four, with dozens more wounded. However, the Violations Documention Centre named eight fatalities (four adults males and four children).

SCDrifdimashq went further and named ten victims, reporting that, “10 civilians were killed and 50 civilians, including women and children, were injured in the shelling of residential areas in the town of Zemlka by 10 raids by Russian and Syrian warplanes, including four rocket attacks, four high-impact drone rounds and more than 12 heavy-caliber mortar rounds.”

The White Helmets noted seven strikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad Jaaidani
Adult male killed
Ola Khadudeh
Child female killed
Mohammad Salmeh al-Awad
6 months years old male killed
Ammar Nouh
Adult male killed
Omran Kaadan
Child male killed
Firas Mnawer
Child male killed
Abu Abdo al-Wazeer
Adult male killed
Mohammad al-Baghdadi
Adult male killed
Mardya Al Mubkher
Age unknown female killed
Mohammed Al Hourani
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–5 children1 woman4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A wounded child in the aftermath of airstrikes, 12th March 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (4–5 children1 woman4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS266

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

جرزيلة, village of Girzele, Shirwa district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.479979, 36.884711 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a similar reporting of TS265, a number of sources reported that a 45-year-old male wounded followed an alleged Turkish air or artillery strike on the village of Girzele.

Afrin Now and ANHA said the victim suffered a leg wound.

According to Sana, Turkish forces and their mercenaries shelled the area of Sharan and the villages of Basutah, Karzayleh and Zerba around it with planes, artillery and various missiles, causing the injury of four civilians and the destruction of a number of houses and property.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zuhair Yousef
45 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded victims being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Zerba, Shirwra district, Afrin,, 12th March 2018 (via ANHA)
  • Wounded victims being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Zerba, Shirwra district, Afrin,, 12th March 2018 (via ANHA)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded victims being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Zerba, Shirwra district, Afrin,, 12th March 2018 (via ANHA)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of village of Girzele, Shirwa district, Afrin (جرزيلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.479979, 36.884711. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3240

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

منطقة المتحف وسوق الهال, Al Muthaf and Souq Al Hal areas, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.945833, 39.016667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded, when alleged Russian or regime airstrikes struck Al Muthaf and the Souq Al Hal areas in Idlib city, local media reported.

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian and regime warplanes targeted the city of Idlib several raids focused on the Al Muthaf area and Souq of Hal, wounding civilians.”

The Smart News agency also reported “wounded civilians”, blaming the regime.

@HalabTodayTV tweeted that there were four raids.

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
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Al Muthaf and Souq Al Hal areas, 12th March 208. (via Smart News Agency)

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
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM120

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

Kamsuuma, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.2499, 42.770876 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

AFRICOM said that it had carried out a strike on “al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Kamsuuma” on March 12th. It made no mention of civilian harm.

The US had already carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) at the start of April, which had recorded only six strikes based on press releases from the Command.

The spokesperson provided details on the strikes BIJ had not recorded: “The second took place on March 12 and targeted al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Kamsuuma. However, due to unanticipated cloud cover, the strike was aborted in mid-air.”

The spokesperson said this was still included in their official strike count. This suggested that a missile may in fact have been released during the action – and was then ‘cold shifted’ to a safer location. There was no mention made of civilian harm from this strike.

In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM  confirmed it had targeted on this date what it says were “al-Shabaab Fighters”, in the vicinity of Kamsuuma, Somalia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of the village Kamsuuma for which the coordinates are: 0.2499, 42.770876. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

Via email from Africom to BIJ, April 4th, 2018:

“U.S. forces conducted an airstrike on March 12 targeting al-Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Kamsuuma, Somalia. However, due to unanticipated cloud cover, the strike was aborted in mid-air.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS267

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

الزربة, Zerba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.068446, 36.978618 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, a 21-year-old civilian was wounded followed an alleged Turkish air and or artillery strike on the village of Zerba.

It was reported that his wounds were critical and that as many as four other civilians were wounded, including critical cases.

Sources reported that Turkish warplanes bombed the centre of Shirawa and the villages of Basutah, Karzayleh and Zerba.

It was reported that there was extensive material damage to the properties in the vicinity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Juma’a Rajab
21 years old male critically wounded injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded victims being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Zerba, Shirwra district, Afrin,, 12th March 2018 (via ANHA)
  • Wounded victims being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Zerba, Shirwra district, Afrin,, 12th March 2018 (via ANHA)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded victims being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Zerba, Shirwra district, Afrin,, 12th March 2018 (via ANHA)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zerba (الزربة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.068446, 36.978618. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3242

Incident date

March 12, 2018

Location

بنش, Bnesh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.958429, 36.711587 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in airstrikes on Bnesh, local media reported. Sources attributed blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Sources reported mass destruction to civilian homes, according to local media.

@MOAZALSHAMY regime said that airstrikes left “martyrs and wounded”.

@IdlibPlus Photos published images “showing the magnitude of the destruction caused by air strikes carried out by warplanes on the town of Benish in rural Idlib this morning [March 12th]”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Bnesh, 12th March 2018. (via @IdlibPlus)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Bnesh, 12th March 2018. (via Syrian Reporter )

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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]