Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

R4507

Incident date

March 24, 2023

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man identified by sources as Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, was reportedly killed in the town of Al Abzimo, in the western countryside of Aleppo on March 24th 2023 after a contested attack as a result of Russian forces and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling hit the marketplace after midnight, according to the Syrian Civil Defense and other local sources.

Baladi reported that this attack took place during the time when residents were breaking their fast, after the first day of Ramadan.

Baladi also reported that there was material damage to shops, as well as other sources reporting that residential houses were also damaged too.

 

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Mamoun Hijazi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, reportedly killed by artillery fire in Al Abzimo, in the western countryside of Aleppo (Image via @Ahmad__1alshble / Twitter)
  • "A person was killed and a fire broke out in the town of Al-Abzimo in the western countryside of #Aleppo, with artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the town's market after midnight. Our teams responded and made sure that there were no other casualties in the place." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, "Ayman Hijazi" and another injury, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the countryside of Aleppo." (Image ia @Sy_Press_Agency / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, "Ayman Hijazi" and another injury, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the countryside of Aleppo." (Image ia @Sy_Press_Agency / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, as a result of artillery shelling by pro-Assad forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the western countryside of Aleppo" (Image via @OrientNews / Twitter)
  • Jamil al Hasan / YouTube

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS610

Incident date

March 22, 2017

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died and five were injured in an Coalition alleged airstrike on the Al Awwal neighbourhood of Tabaqa, according to local sources.

Raqqa_SL reported destruction of civilians’ homes as a result of Coalition strikes on the First neighbourhood. According to Step news agency, the Coalition struck a residential building, though the source said there were no reports of casualties.

However, Smart news agency said that “four civilians were killed and five others wounded in an air strike on Wednesday-Thursday night in al Tabaqa city [53 km west of Raqqa], north of Syria, according to a local source. The source said that the raids targeted al Awwal neighbourhood”. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published images showing destruction of civilian homes reportedly in the Al Awwal neighbourhood.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 2017. (via RBSS)
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 Al Thawrah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV598674
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 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 March 22nd-23rd the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two tactical vehicles, a fighting position, and a heavy transport equipment piece; and damaged four supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK169

Incident date

May 2, 2022

Location

Барвінкове, Barvinkove, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

48.903505, 37.022460 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 2nd 2022, two male civilians were injured after a reported Russian forces artillery shelling hit Barvinkove in Kharkiv.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that “residential buildings and two administrative buildings were damaged” in addition to wounding two men.

There is no further information available at this stage.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR56997.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "Russian troops once again shelled the town of Barvinkovo" (Image via Suspilne.media)
  • "Russian troops once again shelled the town of Barvinkovo" (Image via Suspilne.media)
  • "As a result of the shelling, two men were wounded. Residential buildings and two administrative buildings were damaged" (Image via Pgo_gov_ua / Telegram)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Barvinkove (Барвінкове), for which the generic coordinates are: 48.903505, 37.022460. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI583

Incident date

March 27, 2017

Location

البعاج, Mosul, Baaj, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

It was claimed that airstrikes targeted two sites in Baaj District, in the west of Mosul and led to several dead and wounded among individuals.

A number of sources – all using the same words – reported that the first strike took place near the gas station and the second behind the General Hospital of Ajman. They did not specify the number of casualties nor who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ 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 Baaj, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 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 March 26th-27th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes, engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed six tunnels, three fighting positions, three vehicles, two mortar systems, a weapons storage facility, a front-end loader, a supply cache, and a heavy machine gun; damaged 17 supply routes; and suppressed six ISIS mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM062-C

Incident date

April 18, 2012

Location

لودر, Lawdar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.88149, 45.868922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed, and two injured, in an alleged US or Yemeni strike on Loder, April 18th, that also purportedly killed six militants, sources said. A tweet from @fhgfdgdd and @BRQNews1 reported that the son of Tariq al-Fadli was among the dead militants, which was also reported by Yafanews.

Reuters reported that “Loder residents told Reuters one person was also killed and another two injured after mortar rounds hit their houses.”

The air strike near the southern village of Loder killed at least six militants, according to a Defence Ministry statement.

Reuters could not independently confirm who launched the strike and AFP said the Yemeni government did not say if the air force or US drones were responsible. The warplanes were identified as being Yemeni in the Yafanews’ article.

Xinhua reported the attack destroyed a number of armoured vehicles captured by the militants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that a military camp southeast of the town of Lawdar (لودر) was targeted in the Abyan governorate. The generic coordinates for the town of Lawdar (لودر) are: 13.88149, 45.868922. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK157

Incident date

April 28, 2022

Location

Хроли, Khroly, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.901254, 36.364339 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration reported that one person was wounded by alleged Russian shelling in Khroly on April 28, 2022. No other details are available at this time.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR56709.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Khroly (Хроли), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.901254, 36.364339. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS650

Incident date

March 31, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, governor's building and other locations, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.945517, 39.011099 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Smart News Agency, two civilians were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa.

Smart reported: “A local source told the Smart correspondent on Friday that 10 members of the Islamic State were killed and wounded, in addition to the wounding of two civilians by the bombing of warplanes likely to be the coalition on the city of Raqqa.”

“The source pointed out that the aircraft launched raids on the old cultural center, the governor’s building and the central bank in the city of Raqqa, killing four members of the organization and wounding six others, who were transferred to the National Hospital of Raqqa, according to a medical source, in addition to wounding two civilians.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • 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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • 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 March 30th-31st the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a front-end loader. Near Tabqah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; and destroyed a vehicle and a UAV.”
For March 31st-April 1st, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a weapons storage facility and a VBIED; and damaged a bridge."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr209

Incident date

August 31, 2019

Location

عرقوب, Arqoub, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.468889, 45.763889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A few local language social-media sources suggested that US strikes, reportedly including a naval bombardment and at least one air strike, had targeted “terrorist groups”, possibly AQAP, in Arqoub in Abyan governorate, on August 31st 2019, killing “dozens”. Some suggested that the “terrorists” were amongst or affiliated with pro-government forces. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Though a number of Twitter sources, such as @AAlzabli and @kamal_ALNumani, reported a naval bombardment, similarities in wording appeared to suggest that they were re-posts of a single source. Similarly, both sources that alleged a US airstrike, @nasseralgda and @maherhasan17, shared very similar wording. Since a number of differing sources suggested a US strike of some kind in the area, however, this event is presently assessed as likely.

The alleged strike came a few days after an Emirati air campaign in southern Yemen from August 28th-29th 2019, apparently in support of secessionist militias, which reportedly focused on Aden and the Abyan governorate. Late on August 29th, sources suggested that Emirati strikes were being conducted in the Arqoub area.

In a statement at the time, the Emirati foreign ministry said that its strikes had targeted “terrorist militias”, though others indicated that the actions were targeting the pro-government Yemeni military. AQAP militants have been previously reported to have fought alongside, and sometimes integrated into, Yemeni government forces. Given this, it is possible that the event reflects a late Emirati strike.

On October 4th 2019, a US Central Command spokesperson told New America that no US military strikes had been conducted in Yemen since June 24th 2019. It is, however, possible that an undeclared strike was conducted by the CIA, or was part of a clandestine US military action.

Given the description of “dozens” killed, minimum alleged militant deaths has been set at twenty-four.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    US Forces, United Arab Emirates Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Arqoub (زنجبار‎) area, for which the generic coordinates are:13.468889, 45.763889. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

On October 4, 2019, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) replied to an email inquiry from New America confirming that “the last strike conducted by CENTCOM in Yemen was 24 June.” Per that statement, there were no CENTCOM strikes in Yemen in September 2019.

The lack of strikes in September makes it more than three months since the last U.S. military counterterrorism strike in Yemen, according to New America’s research. However, it is possible that the United States has conducted covert non-military strikes, and in recent years there have been a small number of strikes attributed by media reports to the United States that CENTCOM has denied conducting

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    US Forces, United Arab Emirates Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (25) [ collapse]