Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

CS1733

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

الصفاوي, Al Safawi, Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources stated that three or six civilians, including a seven-year-old child, were killed in an airstrike on a vehicle in the town of Al Safawi in the countryside of southern Al Hasakah on February 28th.

Most local sources reported that the victims all came from the same family and were killed when driving in their car. Other sources, like Baladi, specified that in fact 3 civilians were killed and 3 others were injured as a result of the bombardment. The report also listed the names of the victims, provided by local sources.

All media identified the Coalition as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohannad As’ad al-Khamis al-Issa
Adult male killed
Bashir Juma al-Issa
Age unknown male killed
Son of Khamis al-Issa
7 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'A raid by an international coalition aircraft targeted a civilian car yesterday in the village of Safawi east of the city of Shaddadi, killing three people: _ The seven-year-old son of Khamis al-Issa _Muhannad Asaad Al Khamis Al - Issa _ Bashir Juma Al-Issa In addition to wounding two others'

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 al-Safawi, al-Hassaka, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018
  • February 28, 2018, near al-Safawi, al-Hassaka, Syria, via Airwars. 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 28th, the Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in the vicinity of Al Safawi or Hasakah governorate.

However see the UK report below.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 28 February – Typhoons attacked two Daesh armoured vehicles in eastern Syria, and cratered a road to prevent it being used to move supplies or truck-bombs…Royal Air Force aircraft continued to fly daily armed reconnaissance patrols over eastern Syria, but the next air strikes did not occur until Wednesday 28 February. One flight of Typhoons delivered attacks with Paveway IVs against two Daesh armoured vehicles spotted by the Syrian Democratic Forces to the north-east of Abu Kamal, with one of the weapons being accurately delivered through cloud against a target which the aircrew could not themselves see. A second Typhoon flight conducted Paveway attacks on a key road in the area, cratering it to prevent the terrorists from moving equipment along it, particularly heavy truck-bombs.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3125

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

As many as eight civilians were killed and others were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Douma, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

A child was amongst those killed, as well as one unidentified body. Four others are named.

Rockets and barrel bombs were launched into the vicinity and a helicopter was sighted.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Qadish
Child male killed
Amira Sidawi
Age unknown killed
Nazir Mustafa Lime
Age unknown killed
Kifah Ibrahim al-Qusayr
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mahmoud Qadish, killed in airstrikes on Douma, 28th Feb 2018. (via Omar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Douma, 28th Feb 2018. (via Douma)

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS233

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

بطينة, Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.620000, 36.690833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Hawar news reported “A civilian was seriously wounded by the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries on Badina town related to Mobata district.” The man was named as “35-year-old Abdo Rasheed from the village of Qatma”.

Other sources reported that Turkish warplanes carried out strikes on the Syrian area but made no mention of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdo Rasheed
35 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin (بطينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.620000, 36.690833. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3126

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child and another civilian were killed and others were wounded in airstrikes on Harasta, local media reported. Sources blame Russian and Syrian regime raids for the strikes.

There were as many as 32 raids, with heavy shelling on the residential vicinity.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghassan Ahmed Al Halbouni
16 years old male killed
Ahmed al-Jaba
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ 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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS234

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

ميركان, Mirkan village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.537500, 36.713889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that between one and three civilians died and three more were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Mirkan village, Syria.

Multiple sources named Juan Mohammed Omar as killed.

Sources added that three other civilians were wounded. Rumaf named one of these as Fahima Ahmed, 39, who sustained an injury “with shrapnel in the left foot”.

Villages told Afrin, heart of the news, that “six shells fell on the village and its surroundings”.

According to Abdinx1x, one of two civilians wounded was a woman with special needs.

One source, Karam Youssef , said that three civilians died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Juan Mohammed Omar
Adult male killed
Fahima Ahmed
39 years old female who sustained an injury “with shrapnel in the left foot injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Translation: A state of fear dominates the village of Mirkan in Afrin after the village was targeted by Turkish artillery and a civilian was killed and 2 others were wounded, one of them a woman with special needs.
  • Translation: The martyrdom of the civilian "Joan Mohammed Omar" as a result of the Turkish bombing today on the village of Merkan (Condi Hasa) belonging to the area of Maabtli in Afrin. Three civilians were wounded.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • Showing the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mirkan village, Afrin (ميركان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.537500, 36.713889. 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
    1 – 3
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC077

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

سبها‎, Sabha, Libya

Geolocation

27.038804, 14.426567 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least six civilians were killed in Sabha during fighting between rival armed groups, Reuters reported.

Reuters reported that LNA and rival groups fought in the vicinity of Sabha, leading to the deaths of at least six civilians. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sabha (سبها‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 27.038804, 14.426567. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3127

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

أوتايا, Otaya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.524241, 36.455908 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The head of the Syrian Civil Defence unit in al-Marj was killed whilst carrying out operations, local media reported. Sources blamed the Syrian – Russian alliance for the strikes.

LCCSY reported there were heavy raids on the vicinity.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud al-Kilani
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Mahmoud Al-Kilani, killed in airstrikes on Otaya, 29th Feb 2018. (via Siege Watch)
  • Mahmoud Al-Kilani, killed in airstrikes on Otaya, 29th Feb 2018. (via Siege Watch)
  • Mahmoud Al-Kilani, killed in airstrikes on Otaya, 29th Feb 2018. (via Siege Watch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mahmoud Al-Kilani, killed in airstrikes on Otaya, 29th Feb 2018. (via Siege Watch)

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
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3128

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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

Mass destruction was caused by heavy shelling.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by heavy raids in Mesraba, 28th Feb 2018. (via @Ghouta_GMC )

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
    2
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]