Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS1220

Incident date

September 4, 2016

Location

الزربة, Al Zorba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.06763, 36.97987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died and other civilians were wounded in an airstrike on Al Zorba, according to local media. Most sources blamed Russia, though the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to both Russia and Syrian regime.

Syrian Press Centre, Syrian News, Alwatan and the Smart News Agency all said that several civilians were wounded in a Russian strike. Smart put the number at four.

According to the Step News Agency, one child was wounded. The source also said that Russia was responsible.

However, the Shaam News Network reported that “Russian and Assad’s aircraft launched intensive air raids bomb using phosphorous and cluster bombs on the neighborhoods of the city of Aleppo”, including Al Zorba, where one civilian died and others were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salal Jweid
15 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Photographs of material destruction in Al Zorba following alleged Russian strikes (Tweet via @thiqanewsagency)

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3816

Incident date

June 18, 2019

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zeita, Hama governorate, on June 18th, 2019, according to local sources. In addition, an unknown number of civilians was reported injured.

According to Shaam News Network, “Russian warplanes launched air raids accompanied by heavy artillery and missile bombardment on the towns and villages of Kafar Zeita, Altamna, Zakat, Hasaraya, Tal Lahh, Al Babi and Al Zaqqum, resulting in one martyr in Kafar Zeita.” Shahba Press reported that additionally, civilians were wounded.

@MasarPressNet tweeted that “a civilian was martyred by Russian raids on the city of Kafar Zeita in the northern countryside with missiles.”

Bawaba.Hamah reported that the victim was Bassam Ahmed Andani from the village of Khattab, north of Hama. The source blamed Russia for the civilian’s death.

@NagiNajjar reported “a raid of the 24 Sikh warplanes with five vacuum missiles.”

While most sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, blamed Russia for the airstrikes, others, such as Masrawy, pointed to both Russia and the Syrian regime. @MahmodHamway was the only source solely attributing the strike to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bassam Ahmed Aandani بسام أحمد عينداني
Adult male from the village of Khattab killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “A martyr in an air strike in the north of Hama. A civilian from the village of Khattab, north of Hama, was killed in an air strike on the city of Kafar Zeita, on Tuesday. Activists said, that the Russian warplanes targeted the city of Kafar Zeita, which resulted in the death of Bassam Ahmed Andani, who was identified on Wednesday” (via Bawaba.Hamah).
  • Translation: “A fourth Russian air strike on the city of Kafar Zeita” (via @shabablatamni).
  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zeita on June 18th, 2019 (via @shabablatamni).
  • Translation: “A martyr in an air strike in the north of Hama. A civilian from the village of Khattab, north of Hama, was killed in an air strike on the city of Kafr Zita, on Tuesday. Activists said, that the Russian warplanes targeted the city of Kafar Zeita, which resulted in the death of Bassam Ahmed Andani, who was identified on Wednesday” (via Bawaba.Hamah).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC154

Incident date

June 18, 2019

Location

غريان, Gharyan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.169687, 13.019377 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that one civilian was killed in a “criminal attack” on an aid convoy in Gheryan, Jabal al Gharbi, on June 18th.

According to the source, 218 TV, “a relief convoy carrying food and medicines from the interim government to the western region has been under criminal attack south of the city of Gheryan, killing one truck driver and damaging many items of aid, a spokesman for the interim government said.

Oreibi said that the convoy was attacked near the uninhabited Jendouba area. He said that the convoy carried fuel, oil, cooking gas and generators, as well as foodstuffs and medical supplies, including medical oxygen cylinders.”

The attack was attributed to the GNA.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Gharyan (غريان‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.169687, 13.019377. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS066

Incident date

May 6, 2015

Location

الغرة, Al-Gharah, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.4506988, 40.2984953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 65-year old man was killed in an alleged Coalition strike according to two separate investigations by international news organisations.

According to his son Ahmed, Mr Hassan was walking to work in his village when shrapnel from a Coalition strike punctured his heart and leg and killed him: “He didn’t support any group,” Hassan told the Buzzfeed news site by phone from southern Turkey. “He just wanted to work and take care of his family.”

A separate investigation by the Global Post gives a detailed description of the reported lethal strike: “The first bomb fell on that road [to Hassakah] between 10 and 11 in the morning on May 6. Then a plane started circling over the village. People were afraid to stay in their homes. They ran into the open. Al Hassan’s father, Ismail, tried to run as well. But he was too late. The villagers remember seeing the plane point its nose down and dive, dropping a bomb. It then climbed away. Al Hassan’s father lay on the ground in a crumpled heap, dead, in front of the ruins of his house.”

US officials initially denied that a strike had taken place in the vicinity. Responding to a query from Airwars, Centcom informed us on October 27th 2015 for example that “The Coalition did not conduct strikes in the vicinity of al Ghara village on May 6.”

However, pressed by Global Post investigators CENTCOM reported in January 2016 that it would reinvestigate the incident.

 

The incident occured between 10:00 am and 11:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ismail Ali Hassan
65 years old 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Gharah (الغرة), Al-Hasakah Governorate, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 36.4506988, 40.2984953

  • Al-Gharah (الغرة)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 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 al-Gharah, al-Hassakah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 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

No strikes were reportedly carried out by the Coalition in Syria on May 5th-6th. However, for May 6th-7th 2015 it was reported that “Near Al Hasakah, four airstrikes struck one large and two small ISIL tactical units, destroying 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL trench system 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1415

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

البلاط, al Balat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.197343, 37.171533 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, the neighbourhood al-Balat in Aleppo was hit by air and/or artillery strikes which led to the death of one child and the injury of several more people, including the child’s father. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime, although the majority of reports pointed to the regime.

Syrian Press Center reported that “the regime targeted Al-Balat neighbourhood with surface to surface missiles and killed a child and wounded his father after midnight – Friday and early Saturday”.

Most of the sources pointed to the Assad regime as the responsible – these were Syriamubasher, jsirtv, Syrian Press Center, Sky News Arabic, Smart News and Palestine today.

However, two sources – Orient News and LCCSY – attributed the strike to Russia.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ 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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1447

Incident date

October 13, 2016

Location

‏التمانعه‬, al Tamana, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.458501, 36.747808 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died and three other civilians including two children were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strike on Al Tamana’a town, according to local media.

The Step News Agency reported that “Russian planes launched several raids using bunker-busting missiles after mid night targeting al Taman’a town in southern Idlib, killing a woman and injuring three others”.

Tr_spm, Jisrtv and RFS media office reported that regime artillery shelled Al Tamana’a.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Khaled Al-Agha
Child injured
Wafa’a Al-Agha
Child injured
Ahmad Al-Agha
injured

The victims were named as:

Ansaf Al-Mur’i
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets and other civilians help to rescue civilians trapped in their homes following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Tamana, Oct 13th (via Qasioun)
  • Damage to a car in the immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Altamana)
  • Civilian rescue at night in the immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Altamana)
  • Civilian rescue at night in the immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Altamana)
  • Civilian rescue at night in the immediate aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Altamana)
  • An image depicting the exact moment the raid hit Al Tamana, Oct 13th (via Anapress)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Tamana’a (التمانعه), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.458501, 36.747808. 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC036

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

درنة‎, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.755841, 22.637778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA reported that it had struck Al Qaeda in the western part of Derna. Other sources said the steam station got damaged.

One person on Twitter posted an image of a dead child but didn’t give any further details except for saying it was in Derna.

The event could be discounted as the footage of the dead child comes from an Al Ahed Media report from June 6th 2016.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: The shelling of the supply of goods in front of the Darnah steam station "what is known as the direct factory circuit" caused severe material damage (Source: @hishamalkuni)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Derna (درنة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.75591, 22.637772. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS248

Incident date

July 6, 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

The Islamic State-controlled media agency Al A’Amaq reported that a woman was killed and her young daughter injured in a Coalition drone strike on central Manbij.

No other sources are presently known.

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.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Al A'Amaq tweet (now removed) alleging the death of a woman in a Coalition drone strike on Manbij July 7th 2016

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 6, 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. 2993/CS248 37SDA065429

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 6th-7th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, 11 strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL-used bridges and damaged a separate ISIL-used bridge… Near Manbij, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]