Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS140

Incident date

October 22, 2015

Location

البلعوم, Baloum, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0324211, 40.4281855 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to reports civilian facility guard Waleed Mekhlef Al Abbad was killed in a Coalition raid on the Al Omar oil field. According to local reports, midnight airstrikes were followed by a raid involving up to six Coalition helicopters.

Ara News cited media activist Yasser al-Dairi from Al Mayadeen as saying the raid “targeted an important personality in IS and he confirmed that the landing resulted in the arrest of more than one person.”

Mr al Abbad, the civilian nightwatchman reported killed, came from the nearby village of al Baloum.

The Coalition later confirmed carrying out the strikes, with Major Michael Filanowski telling AFP: “There were strikes last night [in the Omar oil field] that struck Daesh-controlled oil refineries, command and control centres and transportation nodes… There were 26 targets and all 26 were struck. That will impact their strategic ability to generate money.”

In subsequent monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed. In April 2021, CJTFOIR declared this event to be ‘non credible – claiming (despite on the record confirmation at the time) that “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Waleed Mekhlef al-Abbad
Adult male He was a civilian facility guard at al Omar oil field. He was a resident of the village of Baloum in Deir Ezzor killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ 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
  • Stated location
    near Baloum, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU302775
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 16, 2021

  • Oct. 22, 2015, near Baloum, 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. 2877/CS140 37SFU302775

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has confirmed attacks in the vicinity for October 21st-22nd 2015: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes struck two ISIL crude oil collection points, an ISIL maintenance and storage yard, an ISIL main petroleum station, and an ISIL cash distribution site.“

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2202

Incident date

April 30, 2017

Location

السخنة, Al-Sokhna , Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A shepherd died and several other civilians were wounded in the an alleged Russian bombardment on Al-Sokhna in eastern Homs, Step News reported.

It was among several airstrikes that hit the surrounded area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1800

Incident date

September 19, 2018

Location

الباغوز, Al Bagouz Fawqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the death of an adult civilian male, Hussein al-Humeidahin al Bagouz. There was however a discrepancy in the reports. While some local sources attributed the civilian’s death to (SDF) artillery shelling, one source claimed that he was killed by a sniper.

Euphrates Post reported for example the “martyrdom of Hussein al-Humeidah after artillery shelling by the SDF on the town of Al-Bagouz this morning.”

Al Boukamal Direct added that Mr al-Humeidah had refused to leave his home to flee intense fighting in al Bagouz. However another source said Mr al-Humeidah had instead been shephering his sheep at the time of his death.

Other media also reported heavy fighting between so-called Islamic State and the SDF. Al Shafaa stated on its Facebook page that in the “early hours of the morning” columns of smoke were rising from al Baguoz and “the sounds of artillery did not calm down during most of the daylight hours”. Sound and Picture added that dozens of ISIS fighters were killed in clashes with SDF militia.

The reports of artillery shelling seemed to contradict the report from Fajr al Boukamal, who detailed that al-Humeidah was killed by sniper fire “while he was in a field shepherding his sheep”. Fajr al Boukamal is however alone in saying this.

In the second of their September 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 the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haj Hussein Al Humaidah Al Khalaf Al Hassan Al Nasser
Adult male Local shepherd killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1–0 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Haj Hussein Al Humaidah Al Khalaf Al Hassan Al Nasser, reportedly killed in al Bagouz either by artillery shelling or by a sniper (via Euphrates Post)

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU786153
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • Sep. 19, 2018, in Al Bagouz Fawqani, Syria, via Airwars report. The report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3190/CS1800 37SFU786153

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 19th, the US-led Coalition reported the following:
“On September 19 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes consisting of 26 engagements against ISIS targets.
Near Albu Kamal, 18 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed three ISIS fighting positions, two ISIS command and control center, one ISIS vehicle, one ISIS vehicle-borne IED, one ISIS rocket launcher, one ISIS Structure, two ISIS staging areas, one ISIS machine gun, six ISIS supply routes and one ISIS tunnel and damaged two ISIS sites and suppressed one ISIS staging area.”

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

[After August saw few weapons fired, the NL MoD reported airstrikes for the fourth consecutive week. For September 19th-25th, aircraft deployed weapons in three missions, targeting ISIS fighters, a weapon cache and a logistical storage unit near Abu Kamal.]

Nieuwsbericht | 26-09-2018 | 12:00 In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 8 missies. Die zijn gevlogen boven de Syrische provincie Deir al Zour, in de omgeving van Abu Kamal. Er zijn 3 keer wapens ingezet. ISIS-strijders, een wapenopstelling en een logistieke opslagplaats waren het doelwit. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 19 tot 25 september 2018.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1–0 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI018

Incident date

November 3, 2018

Location

دهوك, Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq

Geolocation

36.865292, 42.991828 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported that an alleged Turkish airstrike killed a civilian near the province of Duhok.

A “security source” quoted in reports from Almaalhomah, Iraqhbar and Alahdnews, mentions that “the bombing killed a farmer near the place of the fall of a missile.” He reportedly added that “the body was transferred to the Department of Forensic Medicine,” stressing that “Turkish airstrikes continue from time to time on a number of villages belonging to the province of Duhok.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Duhok (دهوك), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.865292, 42.991828. 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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2269a

Incident date

June 4, 2017

Location

طهماز , Tahmaz, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.135477, 37.650565 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internally displaced man was killed due to airstrikes on Tahmaz, according to local media. Some sources reported that Russian warplanes were responsible for the airstrike, while others reported it was attributable to the Syrian regime.

Hosain Obaid al-Asaad had fled from Akeirbat. Some other civilians were allegedly wounded.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hosain Obaid al-Asaad
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI251

Incident date

June 15, 2016

Location

جامعة الموصل, Mosul, Al Jameha / University, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.37815, 43.13936 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a teacher, was killed and another wounded, after an alleged Coalition jet struck the university area of Mosul. A number of civilian cars were also said to have been destroyed.

The US later confirmed its role in the attack though reported only that two civilians were injured: “Near Mosul, Iraq, during another strike against ISIL targets, it is assessed that two individuals were injured after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.”

The victim was later named by his family.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. The location given placed the event in the university area of Mosul.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amar Safawi
Adult male Via Mosul Qala al-Islam Wa al-Taayish killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A photo of the victim Amar Safawi, reportedly killed in an airstrike on Mosul on June 15th 2016

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3838398, 43.1430531

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF331275
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • June 15, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, during another strike against ISIL targets, it is assessed that two individuals were injured after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 14th-15th, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, six strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and foreign fighter support facilities including an ISIL operations center, two ISIL headquarters, and an ISIL weapons factory and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS279

Incident date

July 23, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One adult civilian male was reported killed in a fresh Coalition strike on the besieged city.

According to Manbij Direct, “Mohammad bin Ahmad Khaled al Othman died in coalition raids a few hours ago inside the city of Manbij. He is a civilian who doesn’t belong to any faction. Today the city of manbij has seen more than 10 raids by the coalition on different areas in the city.”

In the second 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 the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Bin Ahmad Khaled al Othman
Adult 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammad Bin Ahmad Khaled al Othman (via Manbij Direct).

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA065429
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • July 23, 2016, in Manbij, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 3019/CS279 37SDA065429

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 22nd-23rd 2016 the Coalition publicly reported that “Near Manbij, nine strikes struck nine separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 12 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.”

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1600

Incident date

November 17, 2016

Location

بلدة العيس, Al Eis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.994645, 36.999917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died in a suspected Russian airstrike on Al Eis town in Aleppo, according to one source. The civilian was named in a list of victims by Halab News Network.

There is currently no further information.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad (Surname unknown)
Age unknown 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
    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
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

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
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]