Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

YS095

Incident date

June 28, 2020

Location

مارع, Mare’a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4828, 37.1964

Airwars assessment

A child was killed after an unexploded shell from earlier shelling by alleged Kurdish forces on the town of Mare’a exploded on June 28th, 2020. It is unclear when exactly the munition was fired.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had “documented the death of a child under the age of 18, as a result of the explosion of a shell from the remnants of the previous bombing of the Kurdish forces on the town of Mare’a, which is under the control of the pro-Ankara factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo.”

Local activists told Bawabat Aleppo that the victim was the 14-year-old boy Hamza Ibrahim, who was displaced from the village of Khansasir, south of Aleppo. Bawabat Aleppo pointed to the Syrian Democratic Forces as responsible for the previously unexploded mortar shell.

Bawabat Aleppo added that Syrian Civil Defence teams “went to the location of the explosion to secure it and prevent civilians from approaching, fearing the presence of other bombing remnants.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamza Ibrahim حمزة ابراهيم
14 years old male displaced from village of Khanasir killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Mare’a (مارع), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4828, 37.1964. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4468

Incident date

September 8, 2022

Location

ديرسنبل, Deirsnbul, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One woman was wounded by reported artillery shelling as a result of either Russian or Syrian regime forces on Deir Sunbal village, south of Idlib, on September 8th 2022.

Apparently the villages of Benin and Shanan were also bombed but there were no injuries reported.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI423

Incident date

January 14, 2017

Location

Mosul, Jaza'ir / Algeria, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3547437, 43.1640816 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Medical sources in Erbil confirmed that the child Marwa Duraid Younis Khalil was severely injured and her mother (Eman Jamal Kamber Ali) was killed when a Coalition airstrike targeted their home in Jaza’ir neighborhood, east of Mosul.

News of Iraq posted two videos of the girl (who was found alone in the hospital after her mother died) in order to help find her father or other relatives.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Eman Jamal Kamber Ali
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Unknown

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 13th-14th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed four fighting positions, two heavy machine guns, two watercraft, an ISIL headquarters building, a VBIED; and damaged eight supply routes.”

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS154

Incident date

October 18, 2022

Location

معبر الحمران, Al Hamran crossing, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.677812, 37.736892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians, workers traveling in a car, were injured by alleged SDF guided missiles that struck them while they were traveling near the Al-Hamran crossing in the Jarabulus countryside on October 18, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that six workers were injured in a missile strike on a car carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces near the Al-Hamran crossing in the Jarabulus countryside. The Civil Defense added that volunteers treated three of them and took them to Jarabulus Hospital.

A Facebook post from Al Kabour reported that three civilian were wounded by mortar shells, and that the Kurdish militias were responsible.

The Syria TV correspondent said that the “SDF” struck a car carrying workers with a guided missile at the Al-Hamran crossing, located near the town of Ghandoura. All other sources that reported on the incident attributed the missile to SDF forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers treat one of the civilians wounded near the Al-Hamran crossing on October 18, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage to a vehicle caused by alleged SDF shelling near Jarabulus on October 18, 2022. (Image posted by @syr_television)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Five of the workers injured by shelling of their vehicle near Jarabulus on October 18, 2022. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Hamran crossing (معبر الحمران) in the vicinity of the town of Ghandoura (غندورة). The generic coordinates for the Al Hamran crossing are: 36.677812, 37.736892. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS463

Incident date

January 27, 2017

Location

شنينة, Shanina, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.0089089, 39.0964794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported killed – three of them possibly children – in alleged Coalition strikes on the village of Shanina.

According to the Syrian Press Centre “Activists said aircraft believed to be from the international coalition targeted civilian houses in the village of Shanina with several air raids, which resulted in the deaths of four civilians, more than seven others were injured in an initial toll, and among the martyrs are three children.”

Halab Today also reported deaths though said the three children were injured not killed: “Four martyrs including an old man and his wife in addition to 7 wounded including three children.” It published an apparent image of the strike location.

Smart News said one Islamic State fighter also died in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (0–3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Reported scene of four civilian deaths following an alleged Coalition strike on Shanina, January 27th 2017 (via Halab Today TV)
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 Shanina (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0869484940
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 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 January 26th-27th the Coalition publicly noted that “Near Ar Raqqah, nine strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 10 oil refinement stills, five oil storage tanks, three oil pump jacks, an ISIL-held building, and two oil tanker trucks.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (0–3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

TS569

Incident date

November 21, 2022

Location

الحمره, Al-Hamra neighborhood in the center of Tal Tamr district, Tal Tamr, Syria

Airwars assessment

One young man, Abd al-Rahman Rashid Hassan, aged 17, was injured in a reported Turkish bombardment from a drone which hit the neighbourhood of Al-Hamra, in the centre of Tal Tamr district, Syria, on November 21st 2022.

ANHA and other local sources reported that the Turkish drone targeted a car or a military vehicle which was near a Russian forces base.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Rashid Hassan
17 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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
    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

CS484

Incident date

February 11, 2017

Location

حمرة ناصر, Hamra Nasser, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.91555, 39.1675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported the deaths of three civilians following an alleged Coalition airstrike.

According to Smart News “sources said that three civilians were killed and four others wounded, including women, in International Coalition raids on the village of Hamra Nasser east of Raqqa city.”

Microsyria also reported Coalition air raids on Hamra Nasser, though made no mention of civilian fatalities.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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 Hamra Nasser (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 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 February 10th-11th the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged four ISIL tactical unit; destroyed three tactical vehicles, three fighting positions, two vehicles, an ISIL headquarters, a tunnel system, and a weapons storage facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK013

Incident date

February 28, 2022

Location

Провулок 23-го Серпня, 23-ho Serpnya Lane, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.033043, 36.236832 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one and up to four civilians – including / or a whole family and one child – were reportedly killed when 23 August Lane, in Pavlv Pole in Kharkiv was hit on February 28th 2022 by an alleged Russian “Smerch” anti-aircraft missile system. At least 16 people were reported injured.

According to Amnesty, “at approximately 12:30 local time, an apparent indiscriminate attack in North Kharkiv killed at least 4 civilians, including a child and 3 people collecting drinking water. At least 16 more people were injured.”

UAinfo.org reported that “four people left the bomb shelter to collect water – and died.” Helsinki.org also reported that “after the “end of the air raid” signal, people came out of their shelters to collect water and were fired upon.”

Helsinki.org reported that this incident happened between 12.00 and 13.00.

For reference this assessment has made use of reports from ACLED Code: UKR54214 and Bellingcat Code: CIV0119.

The incident occured at approximately 12:30 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Truhanewsua reported on Telegram about the shelling on 23 August Lane, Kharkiv (Image via Telegram)
  • Avdeyev.igor posted a message onto Facebook with a photo showing the incident on Pavlov Pol street on February 28th 2022 (Image via Facebook)
  • "Oleg Synegubov, head of the State Administration of Ukraine: three residential areas in Kharkiv were shelled - Oleksiivka, Saltivka, and Pavlovo Pole. 11 killed, more than 40 injured." (Image via Valera Kondratenko / Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Kharkiv, lane 23 August. 28th of February. My family is alive, but there are peaceful victims.

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention 23-ho Serpnya Lane (Провулок 23-го Серпня) in the city of Kharkiv (Харків). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 50.033043, 36.236832.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Truexanews

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Truexanews

  • Tagged Street View imagery from Google Maps

    Imagery:
    Google

  • Tagged Street View imagery from Google Maps

    Imagery:
    Google

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]