Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS630

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

تل الضمان‬, Tal al Daman, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.810278, 37.252222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on southern Aleppo, according to local sources. They were named by the VDC.

However according to Syria Martrys, Al-Haj Barakat (named  by the VDC) was a militant, not a civilian and died from a gun shot. It also listed Hameed Ramadan (65 years old) and his grandchild (female 10 years) as killed in Tal Al-daman in the Aleppo countryside. These victims were also named by Hassan.

Alsory_Alhor said two died and others including women were injured “following air raids by Russian Aviation which targeted rural tal Al Daman“.

Both Syriapc and FreeSyriaTV also blamed Russia, putting the death toll at two civilians with more injured – including many women, and an unidentified female child.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mazen al-Haj Barakat
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abo Suleiman
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Abo al-Alaa
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Omar al-Ahmad al-Hussain
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Hameed al-Ramadan
Adult male Listed by VDC killed
son of Hameed al-Ramadan
Child male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS1528

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

Sikat al Qitar street, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.961828, 39.010559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Step News Agency, the Coalition carried out “several raids on the al Shuhadaa mosque neighbourhood, Sikat al Qitar street north of the city of Raqqah. There is news of casualties.”

A subsequent tweet by @818klhaifa reported the same allegation against the Coalition.

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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Qitar or Train Street (سكة القطار) and the Al Shuhadaa mosque (الشهداء) in Raqqa city. The coordinates for Qitar street are: 35.961828, 39.010559; and the coordinates for the mosque are: 35.964053, 39.005089.

  • Qitar street (سكة القطار) in the vicinity of the area around the Al Shuhadaa mosque (الشهداء) in the city of Raqqa

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

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
  • Jun 28, 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 September 24th-25th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 27 strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed 29 fighting positions, three vehicles; and suppressed a fighting position.” It additionally reported that “On Sept. 24, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed an IED, an ISIS fighting position and 11 vehicles.” And that “On Sept. 24, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed an ISIS fighting position.”

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS454

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.751055, 39.615398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were killed in an airstrike on Ma’adan, according to local sources – though it is currently unclear whether Russian forces or the Assad regime were responsible for the incident.

Only the Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the raid, reporting in a news roundup that “Russian enemy planes launched air raids on civilian homes in the city of Ma’dan which led to the fall of the four martyrs and a number of wounded.“

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also reported that four were killed, but they did not say who the “warplane” responsible belonged to.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at “at least three“, regime warplanes carried out the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Destruction resulting from the air raid that targeted Ma’adan today [Jan 23rd) and killed 4 people'. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS1554

Incident date

September 30, 2017

Location

العشارة, Al A'shara, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.92, 40.56 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Euphrates Post reported that “Abu Islam Al Kazakhi and his wife were killed as a result of a drone strike on Street 25 near the Jabr Mosque in Al Ashara city this morning.”

According to Almanar and RN, Abu Islam Al Kazakhi was a member of ISIS.

Nobody attributed responsibility for the attack. The US, UK and Iran all operate armed drones in Syria.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Al A’ashara (العشارة) town, for which the coordinates are: 34.92, 40.56. Airwars was unable to geolocate Street 25, near Al Jabr Mosque (جبر).

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 A’sharah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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 September 29th-30th , the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, 3 strikes engaged four ISIS units and destroyed three vehicles.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

RS792

Incident date

May 6, 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

Local sources reported that five civilians were killed in alleged Russian raids on a park in Al Bab.

According Al Jisr TV, Russian warplanes killed five civilians in Al Bab. Qasioun and Nasaem News also blamed Russia. Other sources did not identify who was responsible.

Baladi News also reported the incident and said that “warplanes and helicopters targeted the general park in Al Bab. Five were killed and dozens wounded and this is the initial death toll.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

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 not reported any strikes between May 1st – 31st.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1588

Incident date

October 5, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians from one family died in the conflict in Raqqah city, local media reported, though at present it is unclear how they died. The majority of sources alleged a land mine explosion was responsible, however, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently suspected ‘bombing” was the cause.

Raqqa24, among other sources, named four of the victims.

No additional information is currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abdullah Al-Abdullah
Adult male Brother killed
Rehab
Adult female Sister killed
Hiba
Age unknown female Sister killed
Zerifah Al-Abdullah
Adult female Aunt killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdullah Al-Abdullah

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident only mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to the limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 4th – 5th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 23 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units; destroyed two communications systems, 17 fighting positions, one command and control node, two logistics nodes, four ISIS oil stills and three ISIS oil trucks; and suppressed two fighting positions.” It additionally reported that “On Oct. 4, near Raqqah, Syria, 28 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 11 fighting positons, three command and control nodes, communication infrastructure, four communication systems and a VBIED; and suppressed two fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS977

Incident date

July 8, 2016

Location

كفر ناها, Kafr Naha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1658391, 36.9767189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Naha, according to local media.

Halab Today and Orient News blamed Russia.

Syria_Feed reported on shelling and heavy machine guns, while all other sources claimed only shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage of suspected airstrikes on Kafra Naha (Youtube by Ali Hassan)
  • A video lists alleged killed in Aleppo on July 8th - @1’20 "Kafr Naha: an unknown child [in Russian bombing]" (Youtube by Halab Today TV)

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 July 1st – 14th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1620 RS2629

Incident date

October 11, 2017

Location

المجاودة, Al Mjawda, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.150000, 40.270000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, up to 12 civilians were killed in an airstrike on the town of Mjawda. Local sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some attributing blame to Russia, while others attributed blame to the US-led Coalition.

Both the Violations Documentation Center and Euphrates Post identified eight victims of the attack – while VDC-SY identified the Coalition as the culprit, Euphrates stated that Russian aircraft were behind the attack.

According to a tweet by @ahraralmyadein, aircraft had deployed 15 missiles on the town.

SyrianPC reported warplanes launched more than 20 air raids on villages and towns in eastern Deir Ezzor. According to the outlet, Russian warplanes committed the most terrible massacres against civilians in the east of countryside of Deir al-Azzur, as part of his fierce campaign against the region.

Euphrates Post, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Baladi News confirmed that Russia was the culprit, with the latter outlet noting that: Seven civilians were killed on Wednesday by aerial bombardment of aircraft believed to be Russian. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the highest tally of 12 civilians killed, including three women and a child – while Albokmal News specifically stated in a tweet that “there are no casualties.

In the first 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:

Family members (8)

Khalif Makhlaf Mohammed Al-Issa
Adult male Via Euphrates Post killed
Aisha Mohammed Al-Sheha
Adult female Via Euphrates Post killed
Rasha Khalaf Makhlaf al-Issa
Age unknown female Via Euphrates Post killed
Omar Khalif Makhlaf Al-Issa
Age unknown male Via Euphrates Post killed
Hanaa Ali al-Awad (wife of Ammar
Adult female Via Euphrates Post killed
Tasnim Ammar Khalif Makhlaf Al-Issa
Age unknown female Via Euphrates Post killed
Raheeq Ammar Khalif Makhlaf Al-Issa
Age unknown female Via Euphrates Post killed
Aa’ishah Ammar Khalif Makhlaf Al-Issa
Age unknown female Via Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 12
  • (1–4 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image shows the aftermath of the airstrike on the town of Mjawda, October 11, 2017 (Via Baladi news)
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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • Oct. 11, 2017, in Al Mjawda, Syria, via Airwars report. The report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3156/CS1620 No MGRS Given

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 10th – 11th the Coalition reported that “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed two ISIS vehicles and two trailers.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 12
  • (1–4 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]