Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

RS994

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

قبر الأنكليزي, Kabr al Inglizi, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2613693, 37.0926118 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man named was killed in an an alleged Russian airstrike on Qabr Inglisi, according to local media.

LCCSY and Smart News blamed Russia. Smart News reported the death of two people in this raid, but the other has victim has not been identified.

There is no other information on this raid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Abdulrazak Haj Ibrahim
40 years old male killed

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ 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 strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1166

Incident date

August 18, 2016

Location

Hosseineh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.35905, 40.15113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in an airstrike on Hosseinieh village, according to one source – though it was unclear whether the strike had been carried out by Russia or the regime.

According to @DeryNews, “Russian warplanes targeted ‎Hosseinieh cluster bombs, sparking several fires civilian homes and agricultural land”.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “regime forces targeted areas on roads to the village of Ein Fijeh Wadi Barada, and other areas in the Barada Valley and parts of a ‎Hosseinieh village”.

DBSS reported that a Russian strike on the village led to the deaths of two unidentified civilians.

No other sources mentioned civilian deaths in the village, though several reported that fires broke out following the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On August 18th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 tactical bombers took off from airbases on the territories of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran and carried out a group air strike on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping in the Deir ez-Zor province. As a result, the strikes have eliminated 5 large depots with armament, munitions and fuel, 6 control centres, a large number of militants, artillery positions and armoured hardware of terrorists."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS007

Incident date

September 28, 2014

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US (possibly with Jordan and/or the UAE) bombed grain silos near Manjib. While CENTCOM insisted that the grain facilities were occupied by Islamic State forces, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that only civilians – workers at the silos – had been killed, although militants were also wounded.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights [which did not record any civilian deaths] the silos and associated facilities were still producing vital food for nearby residents: “If these mills were damaged, it would mean that 650,000 people will be unable to get bread.”

In an apparent reference to the Manbij incident, a declassified CENTCOM file published in September 2015 noted that “An initial review of a strike during the initial deliberate strikes in Syria prior to 29 September on the area IVO grain silos in Idlib had been conducted, determined not to have been ClVCAS.” The review then concluded that “No further inquiry [was] required.”

In July 2017 the Coalition said it had classed the event as non-credible based on a lack of available information: “Sep. 28, 2014, near Manbij, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Video purporting to Show rubble of school in day time. Posted by Inghimassi Biftikhar (a pseudonym) a Syrian who appears to live in the Eastern countryside of Aleppo and who is from the opposition.
  • More images of school rubble. Posted by Inghimassi Biftikhar.
  • Image of the alleged strike (via SN4HR)
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
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike. From May 2015 CENTCOM document: A review of BDA imagery did not credibly determine that civilians were present at the site. Open source images presented as casualties from the strikes actually came from previous GoS strikes.; caused the collapse of a resideNe nearby, killing 13

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed responsibility for the event: “Two airstrikes struck an ISIL training camp and ISIL vehicles within a vehicle staging area adjacent to an ISIL-held grain storage facility near Manbij. The storage facility was being used by ISIL as a logistics hub and vehicle staging facility,” an official report noted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3827

Incident date

June 20, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafar Sijna, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children from the same family were reported killed and others injured in airstrikes on Kafar Sijna, Idlib, on June 20th.

Idlib Plus named those victim to the attack as Mustafa Al Ali and Abdo Al Ali.

Smart news reported that “two children were killed and four civilians were wounded by an aerial bombardment of warplanes on the village of Kafr Sajna south of Idlib city”, while Syria.liveuamap reported the death of the children, as well as “several wounded.”

One source attributed the attacks to the Syrian regime, while four did not positively attribute blame. Meanwhile, two other sources named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reporting of the incident.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A list of the names of those killed on June 20th (via Idlib Plus)
  • One of two children reportedly killed in Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafr Sajna on June 20th, 2019. (via Local Kfar Sijna).
  • One of two children reportedly killed in Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafr Sajna on June 20th, 2019. (via Local Kfar Sijna).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two children were killed in Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafr Sajna on June 20th, 2019. (via Local Kfar Sijna).

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS094

Incident date

July 8, 2015

Location

كفردريان, Kafr Daryan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.19246, 36.7223 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US night time airstrike on a vehicle carrying alleged al-Nusra Front personnel also killed two passing civilian motorcyclists. They were later identified by the Syrian Network for Human Rights as two cousins aged 25 and 30. Both worked in the local shoe industry.

In January 2016 CENTCOM confirmed that its airstrike had targeted “a vehicle carrying Khorasan Group Leader Muhsin al-Fadhli.” A US post-strike assessment had then concluded that “two civilians on a motorcycle were likely injured.” CENTCOM’s omission of the deceased mens’ details indicated that credible external sources were not playing a major role in US casualty assessments.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for the event, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

In December 2019, the Coalition declared that it was treating a second alleged civilian harm event in Raqqa on this date (CS093) as a duplicate claim.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

25 years old male resident of Basikba town and worked in the shoe industry. Killed on his way to work. killed
30 years old male Ahmad's cousin. Also a resident of Basikba town and worked in the shoe industry. Killed on his way to work. killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the aftermath of the alleged coalition raid targeting an al Nusra car. 8th July 2015 [via: Mohammad Mohammad youtube account]
  • An image of the car belonging to Al Nusra front which was allegedly targeted by a coalition raid on 8th July 2015. [Via: SN4HR]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 36.1757897, 36.6662586

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Sarmada, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBA952077
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • Jan 22, 2016
  • On July 8, 2015, near Sarmada, Syria, during a strike against a vehicle carrying Khorasan Group Leader Muhsin al-Fadhli, it was assessed two civilians on a motorcycle were likely injured.

  • Duplicate Reports: The following reports were found to be duplicates of previously assessed Coalition actions. 1. July 8, 2015, in Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition actions identified in this allegation are duplicates of those in allegation 57 (Credible with one civilian unintentionally wounded, published 22 January 2016). 2801/CS093 37SEV008785

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The US has confirmed it carried out an attack on al Nusra on July 8th 2015: “Near Idlib, Syria, coalition military forces conducted one airstrike against a network of veteran al Qa’eda operatives, sometimes called the “Khorasan Group,” who are known to plot external attacks against the United States and our allies. The airstrike struck a tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI112

Incident date

September 25, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.43747, 43.28632 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source claimed that two civilians died after “the alliance air force shelled civilian homes in Ramadi.” No other details were given.

On July 7th, 2017 the Coalition admitted responsibility for the incident, reporting: “Sep. 25, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: During strikes on an ISIS fighting positions, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed in an adjacent structure.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The initial source pointing at the incident

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 33.437441, 43.286666

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLC407011
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • Sep. 25, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: During strikes on an ISIS fighting positions, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed in an adjacent structure.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 24th-25th 2015, the Coalition reported heavy action in the near vicinity “Near Ramadi, five airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings, an ISIL light machine gun, an ISIL resupply truck, an ISIL dump truck, an ISIL cache, and cratered a road to deny ISIL use.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS198

Incident date

April 7, 2016

Location

تل الجاير, Tall al-Jayer, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.033926, 41.0987592 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young civilian non-combatant named as Khuder Mohammad Al Assawad was reported by VDC as having died “Due to coalition air force’s shelling of a civilian car in Tel al-Jayer village.”

Zaman al Wasl put the death toll higher, noting that “two civilians died as a result of a strike carried out by international Coalition planes on their car near the group of villages of Tel Jayer east of the Shaddadi area near the border with Iraq, according to local sources.”

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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]

  • Khuder Mohammad al-Assawad (via VDC).

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV890897
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • April 7, 2016, in Tall al-Jayer, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2942/CS198 37SFV890897

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 7th-8th 2016 the Coalition reported one strike in Hassakah governorate: “Near Al Hawl, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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

CI285

Incident date

September 16, 2016

Location

تلول الباج, Telul al-Baj, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.4153809, 43.1128084 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources claimed the Coalition targeted civilian homes at Telul Al Baj, to the south of Mosul, which resulted in several deaths and injuries including among women and children.

Yaqein said several raids hit the town which killed and injured two or more civilians. And the Iraqi Spring Media Centre reported that The coalition air force has targeted Telol Al-Baj area south of Mosul and Zawiya area west of Hadeetha in the west of Anbar resulted in deaths and injuries.

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE286207
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020
  • Sept. 16, 2016, in Telul Al-Baj, Iraq via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3038/CI285 38SLE286207

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 16th-17th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions and damaged a tunnel entrance. Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, a weapons cache, and 29 watercraft.”

Summary

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