Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS811

Incident date

May 13, 2017

Location

حويقة, Hweika, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three named civilians died in an airstrike on a home in Hweika, according to local media. No sources pointed directly at the Coalition, with the majority referring to unidentified “warplanes.” Other reports, however, attributed the event to the Assad regime or Russia.

The Euphrates Post reported the death of two civilians following a raid by an unidentified warplane on their home in Hweika.

However, Raqqa Post blamed a raid by the regime for the death of two children. Sharqiya also said that the regime was responsible, naming the child Thaer al-Tahtouh as killed in a strike on a civilian home.

But other sources – Amer Hweidi, Enab Baladi, JisirTV, RFS – pointed towards Russia, again saying that two children died in the strike.

Two further victims were named.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Askar Khalifa
Adult male Also known as Abu Musab killed
Mahmoud Jamil Khalifa al-Askar Abu Musab
Adult male Also known as Abu Lahoud killed

The victims were named as:

Thaer al-Tahtouh
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Yusuf Thaer al-Tahtouh, killed in an airstrike on Hweika, May 13th (via Euphrates Post)
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 Hweika, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV040116
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

  • 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
Official source

For May 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 16 ISIS oil tankers, two ISIS oil processing equipment, two fighting positions, and a vehicle.”

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
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS034

Incident date

December 28, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and five civilians were reported killed in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Bab, Syria.

LCCSY reported: “By the end of the day, 16 people were killed in Aleppo, majority are by landmines by ISIS and Turkish artillery shelling in Al-Bab city.”

Smart News only mentioned Turkish airstrikes in the area in a report but no civilian casualties.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    4 – 5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS834

Incident date

May 17, 2017

Location

حي المشلب, Al Mashlab, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9449373, 39.0474701 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians and a member of IS died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa’s Al Mashlab neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to the Smart News Network, “Three civilians and a member of ‘Islamic State’ were killed on Wednesday by a bombing likely to be by the international coalition in the al-Mashlaab district of the city of Raqqa, northeast of Syria”.

Almanartv also pointed towards the Coalition, reporting the death of an IS gunman in addition to three non-combatants.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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]

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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV044776
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

  • 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
Official source

For May 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed five vehicles, two VBIEDs, two mortar systems, and an ISIS storage facility; and damaged an ISIS bridge.” The Coalition also additionally reported that on May 16th “Near Raqqah, one strike damaged an ISIS supply route,” and that “Near Raqqah, Syria, on May 16th, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed six ISIS-held buildings, four ISIS tunnels, two fighting positons, and one tactical vehicle.”
For May 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 11 strikes [1 British?] engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, three mortar systems, three vehicles, two ISIS fuel trucks, and an ISIS headquarters; and damaged an ISIS supply route."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"Wednesday 17 May – Typhoons attacked terrorist mortar teams in Syria, whilst Tornados destroyed a tank in north-west Iraq and a Daesh position in Mosul...Two Typhoons assisted the Syrian Democratic Forces on Wednesday 17 May. Their first attack was on a mortar which a coalition surveillance aircraft had spotted north-west of Raqqa. Having eliminated that threat, the Typhoons then headed to the east of the country, where they bombed two buildings near Al Ulwah which were being used by another Daesh mortar team and their spotters. A Tornado flight meanwhile patrolled over Mosul, where they used a Brimstone missile to strike a terrorist position. Another Tornado flight later struck a Daesh tank loaded on the back of a heavy transport vehicle in north west Iraq, hitting it with a Brimstone."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

TS056

Incident date

January 20, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians died and up to 13 more were wounded in alleged Turkish artillery and air strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

According to Al Bab News, there were “three dead and 11 injured in a continuous Turkish aerial and artillery bombardment of Al Bab”.

Syria News Desk gave more detail on the event. It said: “Four civilians were killed and 13 others injured this afternoon [Jan 20th] by Turkish artillery and air raids targeting residential areas in the city of Bab under the control of the Islamic State Organization in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.

The source who, refused to reveal his identity, told the Syria News Desk that the Turkish warplanes launched more than 15 raids on the sites of the organization around the city, including three raids, residential sites near the roundabout Manshiyet central Bab, killing four Civilians and wounding four others.

Nine civilians, five of them from a single family, were injured when three artillery shells fired by the Turkish army targeted residential buildings near the industrial zone to the southeast of Bab.

The source added that the artillery and aerial bombardment resulted in the destruction of two residential buildings in full, and a large destruction of four other houses, in addition to the burning of two cars and damage to a number of shops and other property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city ( الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS856

Incident date

May 24, 2017

Location

الرومانية, Romaniya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.963056, 38.975556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians including one child and one woman died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the al Romania neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local sources.

The Smart News Network reported: “Two others were also killed in the al Romania neighborhood, including a child and a woman following warplane raids believed to be by the international coalition which targeted residential homes west of Raqqa according to another source.”

According to the Smart News Network, three civilians died – including a child and a woman. It also blamed the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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]

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 Romania, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV977798
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

  • 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
Official source

For May 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions and a mortar system.” It also later noted that “Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed eight command and control nodes and destroyed a VBIED facility” and that “Near Raqqah, Syria, May 23, two strikes destroyed three command and control nodes.”
For May 24th-25th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 15 strikes [1 British] engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; and destroyed five fighting positions, four ISIS dump trucks, four vehicles, two artillery systems, a front-end loader, and a weapons cache." It added that "Near Raqqah, Syria, May 23, two strikes destroyed three command and control nodes." And "Near Raqqah, Syria, May 24, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, and a vehicle."

US-led Coalition
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"Wednesday 24 May – a Reaper attacked near Raqqa, whilst Tornados prosecuted four Daesh targets in Mosul…A Reaper, conducting surveillance south-west of Raqqa on Wednesday 24 May, kept watch on a small group of terrorists and was able to conduct a successful attack with a Hellfire missile. In Mosul, when advancing Iraqi security forces found themselves facing two buildings defended by a Daesh heavy machine-gun, a sniper team and at least one individual in a suicide-bomb vest, they called for assistance from a flight of Tornados. Our aircraft delivered a very precise simultaneous attack with two Paveway IVs which destroyed both terrorist strongpoints. The Tornados then hit a third terrorist position, again with a Paveway, whilst a second flight bombed a fourth position."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS712

Incident date

March 6, 2016

Location

فيخة, Fikha village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3635807, 37.6419963 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three non-combatants including a child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fikha, according to local sources.

Syriashuhada said three unidentified civilians died in a Russian strike. HNN also put the death toll at three, attributing the incident to Russia. According to Alamwai a child was among the three fatalities, though didn’t say who carried out the raid.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ 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 published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS882

Incident date

May 29, 2017

Location

SSE of Ratla, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.86441, 39.10828 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event near Raqqa.

Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS vehicle, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured when he entered the target area after the munition was released.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event on the road SSE of Ratla.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Location of a Coalition strike which injured an unidentified civilian on May 29th 2017

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
    1
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0977668915
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017

  • May 29, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS vehicle, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured when he entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 28th-29th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, two VBIED factories, two VBIED facilities, and an ISIS mechanical facility.” It additionally reported for May 28th that “Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed a weapons cache, an ISIS staging area, and three fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS847

Incident date

June 4, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1995518, 37.1815538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 30 civilians died in multiple airstrikes on Al Qaterji, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were responisble.

Multiple reports by LCCSY attributed the incident to Russia, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed Moscow for firing missiles on “residential homes near a hardware warehouse”, killing 12 civilians.

However, other reports pointed to helicopters and “explosive barrels” though the culprits were not identified.

But a number of sources, including Orient news, directly blamed the Assad regime. According to Qasioun, “regime helicopters committed a massacre in Al-Qaterji killing ten people and wounding 15 more when they threw explosive barrels on residential buildings in the neighborhood.”

Al Jazeera blamed both Russia and regime for carrying out more than two dozen raids. Similarly, other sources  didn’t make it clear whether Russia or the regime was responsible.

Shaam News referred to “warplanes” and “barrel bombs” – but a later report mentioned “Assad regime raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–30
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • 'The correspondent of Aleppo Media Centre Bahaa al halabi with head wounds sustained while covering the raids on al Qaterji neighbourhood in Aleppo' (via SNN)
  • A child is rescued from under the rubble in Al-Qaterji (Youtube via Qasioun News Agency)
  • "Helicopters committed a massacre caused death of more than 15 martyrs and a large number of injuries as a result of targeting Al Qaterji neighborhood of Aleppo, four explosive barrels" (via Syria-reporter)
  • A video of destruction at Al Qaterji (Youtube by The White Helmets)
  • "martyrs and wounded in al Qaterji and al Mayssar neighbourhoods in Aleppo following air raids and barrel bombs" (Video via SNN Facebook)
  • "the correspondent of Aleppo Media Centre Bahaa al halabi with head wounds sustained while covering the raids on al Qaterji neighbourhood in Aleppo" (via SNN Facebook)
  • The destruction of buildings in al Qaterji (via SNN Facebook)
  • The destruction of buildings in al Qaterji (via SNN Facebook)
  • The destruction of buildings in al Qaterji (via SNN Facebook)

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 strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–30
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]