Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

ISPT0302

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

محيط المستشفى الكويتي, Vicinity of Kuwaiti Hospital, Rafah Governorate, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.289743, 34.251428 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At dawn on Tuesday, October 17th 2023, between 17 and 26 civilians were reported killed, including at least seven women and five children, one of whom was an infant. Dozens of others, including children, were also reported wounded in the alleged Israeli airstrike on the home of the Abu Lebda family near the Kuwaiti Hospital in the town of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. According to Firas Abu Shakhr, the attack happened without prior warning.

Safa News reported on there being “dozens of martyrs and wounded” in the bombing, with TRT News sharing videos of the wounded and killed being carried by grieving family members away from the rubble of their destroyed home, and of a surviving woman’s heartbreaking screams for her children, “Where are my six children? Where are the Arabs?” TRT reported that wounded and killed civilians were transported on foot because it was not possible to transport them in ambulances, which were already over capacity with wounded civilians. It also quoted medical sources as saying the bombing resulted in “26 dead, including children and women, and dozens of wounded.”

A Facebook account Diwan of the honorable Abu Lebda shared very disturbing videos of the aftermath of the attack showing the wounded children crying from pain. Firas Abu Shakhr shared the pictures of the injured civilians, including children, whom doctors tried to resuscitate.

Many sources described the bombing as a “massacre”, with a Facebook user Sari Baraka noting, “My aunt, her children, her husband, her husband’s family, their wives and their children were martyred in a massacre…. Not all bodies have been recovered and the number of martyrs has not been counted yet”.

Social media testimonies by family relatives and friends helped to identify the names of 17 killed members of the Abu Labdeh family.

A 61-year-old man Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh (Abu Khaled) was killed alongside his 61-year-old wife Kawthar Abu Labdeh (Umm Khaled), their two sons –  32-year-old Khaled Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh and 33-year-old Ahmed Saleh Mahmoud  Abu Labdeh and their 21-year-old daughter Shahad Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh. Khaled Abu Labdeh was killed along with his wife and his infant daughter, while  Ahmed was killed along with his wife and his 5-year old son Saleh Ahmed Saleh Abu Labdeh.

Hisham Abu Lebda wrote a touching Facebook testimony to his late uncle Saleh abu Labdeh, saying, “You are gone, uncle. Who wants to call us now?” He shared an image of his uncle, an elderly man in a checkered shirt. The late Ahmed Saleh was remembered in the post by Ramy Saleh who shared an image of a young man in a striped shirt.

Among the victims of the deadly attack was also Abu Khaled’s 50-year old sister-in-law Kholoud Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Najjar Abu Labdeh, the mother of Fadi Abu Labdeh, alongside her two sons, 20-year-old Tariq Salah Abu Labdeh and 16-year old Muhannad Salah Abu Labdeh, and her two daughters, 22-year-old Alaa Salah Abu Labdeh and 30-year-old Hanin Salah Abu Labdeh. Hanin was killed with her two sons, 7-year-old Mohammad Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Labdeh, 4-year-old Marwan Ahmad Mahmoud Abu Labdeh and 5-year-old daughter Joan Ahmad Mahmoud Abu Labdeh. According to the Abu Ahmad Aburazan Alnajjarm condolence message on Facebook, Khouloud’s husband Salah Abu Fadi and her son Fadi abu Lebda survived.

Fadyi Abu Labdeh, who survived the bombing, mourned the death of his mother, brothers, sisters, uncle and their families. The husband of the late Hanin Abu Labdeh, Ahmad Ibn Mahmoud, wrote a Facebook tribute to his deceased wife and children, sharing images with three young children with school bags.

A Facebook account Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda posted pictures of some of the killed members of Abu Labdeh family, including pictures of the young children.

All names civilians have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Where sources identified the belligerents all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (17)

Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh صالح محمود ابولبدة
61 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 919883272
Kawthar Abu Labdeh كوثر ابولبدة
61 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 967466269
Khaled Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh خالد صالح ابولبدة
32 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803207091
Ahmed Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh احمد صالح ابولبدة
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802731182
Shahad Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh شهد صالح ابولبدة
21 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407877349
Wife of Khaled Abu Labdeh (Unnamed)
Adult female killed
Daughter of Khaled Abu Labdeh (Unnamed)
Child female killed
Wife of Ahmed Saleh Mahmoud Abu Labdeh (Unnamed)
Adult female killed
Saleh Ahmed Saleh Abu Labdeh صالح أحمد صالح ابو لبده
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 439118639
Kholoud Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Najjar Abu Labdeh خلود ابراهيم النجار ابولبدة
50 years old female Matched to MoH ID 934334657
Tariq Salah Abu Labdeh طارق صلاح ابولبدة
20 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408835155
Muhannad Salah Abu Labdeh مهند صلاح ابولبدة
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424733327
Alaa Salah Abu Labdeh الاء صلاح ابولبدة
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407183623
Hanin Salah Abu Labdeh حنين صلاح ابولبدة
30 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 804717510
Mohammad Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Labdeh محمد
7 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 436942999
Marwan Ahmad Mahmoud Abu Labdeh مروان
4 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 441276540
Joan Ahmad Mahmoud Abu Labdeh جوان
5 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 440689966

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 26
  • (6 children7 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Israeli Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (32) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Lmine MH

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    Source: Lmine MH

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    Source: Lmine MH

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    Source: Lmine MH

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    Source: Lmine MH

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    Source: Firas Abu Shakhr

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    Source: Firas Abu Shakhr

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    Source: Firas Abu Shakhr

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    Source: Firas Abu Shakhr

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    Source: Firas Abu Shakhr

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    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official

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    Source: Hassan A Zourob

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    Source: DS African

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    Source: Medline Essam Al-Aqraa

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    Source: Medline Essam Al-Aqraa

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    Source: Medline Essam Al-Aqraa

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    Source: Abu Gaza

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    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official

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    Source: Naje Abulebdeh

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    Source: Hisham Abu Lebda

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    Source: Ramy Saleh

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    Source: Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

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    Source: Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

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    Source: Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

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    Source: Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

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    Source: Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

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    Source: Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Ibn Mahmoud

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    Source: Ahmad Ibn Mahmoud

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Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Kuwaiti Hospital (المستشفى الكويتي) in the city of Rafah (رفح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.289743, 34.251428.  

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  • Imagery:
    Firas Abu Shakhr

  • Imagery:
    Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

  • Imagery:
    Diwan of The Honorable Abu Lebda

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 26
  • (6 children7 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Israeli Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI101a

Incident date

September 3, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi city: eastern area, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq noted in January 2016 that two possible civilian casualty incidents had taken place in the vicinity of Ramadi on September 3rd of the previous year. The Coalition has confirmed carrying out strikes in the area on that day.

According to UNAMI, “[an] airstrike reportedly hit a residential area in eastern Ramadi, killing 28 civilians. A single source reported this second incident and UNAMI/ OHCHR was unable to verify it.”

A second civilian harm incident (recorded as separate event CI101 by Airwars) killed a significant number of civilians at Jazeera al-Khaldiya, according to the UN.

In the first 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ramadi (الرمادي), for which the coordinates are: 33.437441, 43.286666. Due to 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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLC407010
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • Sept. 3, 2015, in Eastern Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2817/CI101 38SLC407010

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 2nd-3rd 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL tank.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS111

Incident date

August 11, 2015

Location

اطمه, Atimah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.3093144, 36.6781997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US airstrike on a Jaish al-Sunna ammunition depot in the night also killed at least eight non-combatants in the village of Atmeh, it was widely reported. According to accounts, a number of civilian homes were damaged or destroyed in secondary explosions. Graphic images showed significant damage at the scene.

Five young girls were among the dead.

Their mother, older brother and 2-year old sister Nariman [who later died] were hospitalised, while their grandfather complained to local reporter Hadi al-Abdallah “Are these girls terrorists? Are they carrying machine guns? May God take revenge!” Three other victims were named as Latifa Yasin (aged 55), her 21-year old son Yousef Yasin and her 17-year old daughter Fatima Yasin.

The Coalition initially denied that it had carried out the strike, telling Daily Sabah that “CJTF-OIR forces were not conducting air operations in the area“. However in a written statement on August 12th, “further research” led to an announcement that the Coalition had carried out a “deliberate airstrike” in the area. Locals insisted that the town was under the control of Jaish al-Sunna, a Sunni Islamist faction the US has not previously targeted.

CENTCOM issued an extensive denial of civilian casualties from the incident in early September 2015, telling Buzzfeed that: “A credibility assessment based on the evidence available determined that there was no evidence of civilian casualties that occurred as a result of Coalition airstrikes. As a part of the credibility assessment, imagery taken the day after the strike (12 Aug) was used to look for damage to any houses within a one kilometre circle around the target. A collapsed roof would be easily visible on this imagery, but there was no damage noted to any buildings surrounding the target, and there was no evidence of a collapsed roof. Additionally, open source imagery from social media showed a large amount of weapons in the destroyed target building, the only building damaged in the strike. Such weapons storage would not be in a dwelling with children, so it was determined that there were no civilians or children in the target building.”

CENTCOM’s assessment appeared to be based solely on aerial imagery. Buzzfeed contacted rebels on the ground in Atmeh who insisted that homes had been destroyed in the attack, providing photographic evidence to reporters Mike Giglio and Munzer al-Awad.

A United Nations spokesman urged the Coalition to limit the risks to civilians from its actions: “From the beginning of the use of airstrikes by certain countries in Syria, we have called on all those involved to ensure their greatest efforts to avoid any type of civilian casualties.”

In an Amnesty assessment of the event published in October 2016, the human rights group cited eyewitness Talha al-Amouri, a resident of Atmeh and brother-in-law of the six slain children’s mother: “I was about 50m away when the air strike happened… Five missiles fell in total. The first fell 10m away from the house, the second and third fell on and next to the house and the last two fell on the building used by Jaysh al-Sunna. We own the building and Jaysh al-Sunna is using it to produce mortar shells but they don’t pay us rent… We found the women quicker under the rubble; the children took a while to find. The [dead] children [of my brother and sister-in-law] had shrapnel injuries. The neighbours had no such injuries but their heads had exploded.”

Concluding that the US was indeed responsible for the civilian deaths, Amnesty stated: “The attack appears to have been directed at a military target, and to have struck and destroyed it, but to have also destroyed neighbouring homes and killed nine civilians within them. As such, the attack may have been disproportionate. The existence of two civilian homes a mere 15m from the military target should have necessitated precautions necessary to minimize risk of loss of civilian life and destruction of civilian objects.”

A CENTCOM spokeswoman noted at the time that ”We are aware of the reports surrounding Atmeh and are looking into them.“

However CENTCOM later told Buzzfeed that it had concluded “there was no evidence of civilian casualties as a result of coalition airstrikes.” [see above]. And responding to a query from Airwars, Centcom stated on October 27th 2015 that “After careful review and based on the best available evidence” it had found that “allegations of civilian casualties by the Coalition were unfounded and deemed not credible.”

The Coalition formally announced its findings on Atimeh four years later. In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of the same year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: “Previously Assessed Non-Credible Report: As part of our CIVCAS process in order to maintain transparency and accuracy, we constantly review our tracker to ensure proper release of information. We saw this case had not been previously listed so it is being listed now.  1. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via self-report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 68 37SBA923201″.

It also classed Airwars’ own assessment of the event as a duplicate of the above, noting: “2. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition actions identified in this allegation are duplicates of those in allegation 68 (Not Credible, published in this report). 2809/CS111 37SBA915208”.

The incident occured at 20:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

Fatima Al Amouri
9 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
Hayat Al Amouri
8 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
Amina al Amouri
6 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
Asia al Amouri
5 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
Marwa al Amouri
4 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
Nariman al Amouri
2 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri, died two weeks after the date of the strike from her injuries killed
Ali al Amouri
5 years old male son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri injured
Wife of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri
Adult female injured
Mrs. Latifa Houssein [or Yassin]
55 years old female displaced from Areeha killed
Fatima Yassin
17 years old female Latifa's daughter killed
Youssef Yassin
21 years old male Latifa's son and an armed opposition member from al Fateh Army. He was visiting his family for treatement after he was injured in Sahl al Ghab killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (6–7 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • A family photo showing 6 of 7 children killed in a likely US airstrike August 11 2015 (SN4HR)
    A family photo showing 6 of 7 children killed in a likely US airstrike August 11 2015 (SN4HR)
  • The Al A'mouri home, where five kids were killed in an alleged coalition strike, and to the right the al Sunna Army HQ [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • A report by journalist Hadi al Abdallah interviewing the grandfather of the 5 children killed in the alleged coalition bombing. Subtitled in English
  • Footage showing the aftermath of the alleged coalition raid on Atimah, Idlib. [Via: Baladi News Network 11th August 2015]
  • The exact location of the shelled house. [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • The two locations that were shelled, one civilian home and Al Sunna Army military HQ [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • More images of both Al Amouri house and Al Sunna Army Headquarters following the shelling. [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]

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    Graphic: The bodies of the Al Amouri children killed in the shelling. [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]

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    Graphic: Survivors -but injured- from al Amouri family [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • An interview by the journalist Hadi al Abdallah with a leader in Jaish al Sunna explaining what happened.

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
    in Atimah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBA923201
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • Previously Assessed Non-Credible Report: As part of our CIVCAS process in order to maintain transparency and accuracy, we constantly review our tracker to ensure proper release of information. We saw this case had not been previously listed so it is being listed now. 1. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via self-report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 68 37SBA923201

  • Duplicate Reports: The following reports were found to be duplicates of previously assessed Coalition actions. 2. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition actions identified in this allegation are duplicates of those in allegation 68 (Not Credible, published in this report). 2809/CS111 37SBA915208

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

A confirmed US airstrike, with a CENTCOM spokeswoman noting at the time that ”We are aware of the reports surrounding Atmeh and are looking into them.“

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (6–7 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0289

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

حي الشعوط، غرب رفح، جنوب قطاع غزة, a residential house on Jame’ Ali Street north of Ali Mosque in the al-Shaout (Al-Shawut) neighborhood, western Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

At the dawn of Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit a residential building located on Jame’ Ali Street north of Ali Mosque in the al-Shaout  (Al-Shawut) neighborhood in the western part of Rafah city, south of the Gaza Strip, reportedly killing a brother-in-law of the Palestinian journalist Hatem Omar, his wife and infant daughter alongside 25 other civilians, and wounding up to 54 civilians, including Hatem Omar’s wife, children and grandchildren.

Among those killed in the deadly strike were Hatem Omar’s brother-in-law Muhammad Nabil Mukhaimer “al-Shish”, Muhammad’s wife, a 26-year-old pharmacist Safaa Nizar Hassouna Mukhaimer, and their 5-month-old daughter (though also reported by the BBC as 3 months old), Elyana (Elena) Muhammad Mukhaimer.

On Twitter/X social media platform, @AJA_Palestine and other users shared pictures from the hospital where Hatem Omar can be seen collapsing from the shock and breaking down in tears upon seeing the bodies of his relatives and learning that his wife, children and grandchildren had also suffered injuries as a result of the bombardment. Later, Hatem stated that he had become “part of the event.”

The BBC reported in its article that a young mother Safaa Mukhaimer was killed when she was sleeping beside her three-month-old baby girl Elyana, and her husband. A Facebook user Adel Zourob shared a graphic image of the dead girl wrapped in white cloth and of a man holding her dead body in his hands in a hospital.

Safaa’s death was mourned by her uncle, a retired medical doctor based in the UK, Omar Hassouna, who shared that his niece was “polite, helpful, and loved by everyone,” having seen her for the last time in January, during his holiday in Gaza. According to Omar, Safaa’s parents managed to survive the strike, but were “in shock and devastated by her death.” He also shared an image of Safaa – a young woman in a white hijab holding a poster with the inscription “Student_today….Pharmacist_tomorrow”.

Condolence messages honoring the late Muhammad were posted on Facebook by various acquaintances, including Muhammad’s “friend and brother” Sameh Al Sharif and Waleed Yousuf, who referred to Muhammad as his “beloved brother and lifelong friend”. Hesham Abu Asaker stated that Muhammad was “noble” and “the one who forced you to laugh the most and the one who stood by your side in your misfortune, asking about you even in the darkest circumstances. He was well-groomed, gentle, an encyclopedic reader, and an accomplished movie watcher from the first grade. He loved everyone and had no enemies.” Sameh Al Sharif also shared an image of Muhammad – a young bearded man in glasses.

@AlHadath reported that 28 people had been killed and 54 others had been wounded by the Israeli bombing of a residential building in Rafah, while other sources reported 28 dead and “dozens” wounded.

Airwars has matched all three names with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. The incident took place without prior warning, according to local sources.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Muhammad Nabil Mukhaimer محمد نبيل مخيمر
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802608265
Safaa Nizar Hassouna Mukhaimer صفاء نزار حسونة مخيمر
26 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 402518013
Elena Muhammad Mukhaimer إيلينا محمد مخيمر
0.5 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444461867
Wife of Hatem Omar
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    54
  • 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
    Israeli Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

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    Source: @Nashab_32

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Nashab_32

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Nashab_32

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Nashab_32

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @T_Na1f

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    Source: @Jales_tinian2

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    Source: @Jales_tinian2

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AlQastalps

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Basema

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Adelzourob73

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abusaman86

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hesham

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hesham

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Adelzourob73

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Adelzourob73

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    Source: Adelzourob73

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    Source: Asmar

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Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    54
  • 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
    Israeli Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC112

Incident date

April 12, 2019

Location

قصر بن غشير, Qasr Bin Gashir, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.688716, 13.173889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Othman Mesbah Akak was reportedly killed by indiscriminate artillery shelling on Qasr Bin Gashir.

Riyadh Burshan said that the died from a shell falling on his house.

Local reporting points at the GNA or the LNA as the perpetrator of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Othman Mesbah Akak
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Qasr Bin Gashir (قصر بن غشير), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.688716, 13.173889. 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

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI110

Incident date

September 20, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported coalition airstrike on an ISIL IED factory [see CI109] injured ‘dozens’ of civilians, it was claimed, after a chemical cloud spread across local areas. Waradana cited Ghias Surja of the Nineveh Union of Kurdistan National Center as saying: “The lab was used by the criminal organization for terrorist activities against the innocent and defenseless, making improvised explosive devices and rockets that contain toxic materials. After the attack a cloud spread in the sky of Mosul, wounding dozens of civilians who were transferred later to hospitals in Mosul to receive first aid.“

Al Araby Al Jadeed said the chemical cloud was chlorine, which had injured 70 civilians: “A senior official in the Kurdistan Alliance, Ribawar Hassan, told al-Araby al-Jadeed: “The coalition airstrike on a chlorine gas factory in the industrial area of Mosul, has led to the gas spreading in the air, which caused 70 civilians to suffer from impaired breathing and shortness of breath in adjacent areas.”The injured were taken to hospitals,” Hassan added, stressing that “the airstrike also killed and wounded many IS members who were stationed inside these factories and workshops.”

In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that after a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    70
  • 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 (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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF379237
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • Sept. 20, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, the alleged civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 2833/CI110 38SLF379237

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Heavy Coalition strikes in the vicinity were reported for September 20th-21st 2015: “Near Mosul, nine airstrikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit, three ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL VBIED facility, an ISIL bunker, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL building, an ISIL C2 node and wounded an ISIL fighter.” See video above.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    70
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI097

Incident date

October 7, 2023

Location

مخيم مخمور, Makhmur Camp, Erbil Governorate , Kurdistan, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On October 7th, 2023, a civilian was killed and at least three civilians—a woman and two boys— were injured after an alleged Turkish drone strike on the Makhmour Camp in the Erbil Governorate of the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The woman, who remains unnamed, was reported to be 72-years-old (born in 1951), and appears to have received an injury to her arm or shoulder; images from sources corroborate this. One of the boys was reported to be 15 (born in 2008); images included show him with an oxygen mask and IV. The other boy, who appears to be younger, was pictured receiving medical care to his leg. Rudaw Media Network reported that one other civilian was killed, but this was not corroborated elsewhere, and no identifying details of this victim were made public. Those injured were housed in the second section of the camp.

The strike occurred at 7:05 pm, according to Rudaw, and hit the camp mosque during the evening prayer. Rashad Kalali, the deputy official of Kurdish political party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, was reported by Rudaw as saying that there were rumors that PKK militants were inside the camp, which resulted in its targeting. These rumors, Kalali stressed, were not accurate.

The camp, which locals call the Martyr Rustam Cudi Camp, houses between 10,000 to 12,000 people, primarily Kurds displaced from neighboring Turkey.

The incident occured at 19:05:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ronahi.tv

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: ANF

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ronahi.tv

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ronahi.tv

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 infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS930a ISSY001a

Incident date

June 7, 2017

Location

الشجرة, Al Shajra, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.773896, 35.882991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that alleged airstrikes struck a building in Al Shajra town which several sources referred to as an “Islamic Court” while others described it as the headquarters of the “Islamic Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” – a faction that has been accused of being associated with the “Islamic State”. Sources were conflicted as to whether the Coalition or Israel was responsible for the airstrikes.

Four airstrikes were reported to have launched eight “rockets” after midnight. The same airplanes allegedly continued and struck the town of Joomla, near the Jordanian-Israeli border.

Three leaders of the “Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” were reported killed in the attack, including the General Commander Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, military commander Abu Uday al-Homsi and Abu Dujana al-Adlabi. Between ten and 20 other people were reported killed but it is unclear how many of these were combatants.

According to the Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office, among the fatalities were three women. Additionally, the Shaam News Network reported that the event resulted in the deaths of a number of “martyrs” and wounded civilians.

According to Almadon news, civilians were informed to evacuate areas controlled by the “Khaled bin al-Walid Army” within 72 hours, and warned that imminent shelling could target the area.

Shaam News reported a statement by the “Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” that it “did not hear the sounds of aircraft hovering in the air and did not monitor any move to fly in the western countryside before or after the target, indicating that the targeting may have been a long-range missile, or perhaps the targeting has been inside a bombing operation.”

In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

While the majority of sources attributed the strikes to the Coalition, a tweet from @omar_alharir, an independent journalist in Syria, and Enab Baladi News blamed Israel for carrying out the airstrikes.The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center also wrote that according to Enab Baladi, “the day before the attack, the army of Khaled bin Al-Olid executed a group of senior activists on charges of collaborating with Israel and assassinating the commanders of the organization”.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • 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-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13–20

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, leader of the "Khalid bin al-Walid Army", was reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on al Shajra town on June 7th 2017 (via Enab Baladi).
  • Smoke circling up after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the town of al Shajra on June 7th 2017 (via @AbozaidMohammed).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Shajra (الشجرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.773896, 35.882991. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    36SYB699299
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • June 7, 2017, in Ash Shajra, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3105/CS930a 36SYB699299

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes reported.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • 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-led Coalition, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13–20

Sources (19) [ collapse]