Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CI230

Incident date

April 20, 2016

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

An alleged Coalition airstrike on a neighbourhood in eastern Mosul also reportedly killed an entire family.

According to NRN News, “Our correspondent said that the bombing was aimed at the home district council of Mosul by Zuhair al-Jubouri in a neighbourhood used by Daesh. But the rocket landed on the house next door, killing five people consisting of family.”

Local blogger Souad al Azzawi published a photo he said was of the destroyed house in which a mother and four children died. MNN said the children were all girls. And Mosul Eye said a home belonging to the owner of a nearby pharmacy was destroyed.

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 no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A photo reveals the destroyed house in which a woman and four children were reportedly killed following an alleged Coalition airstrike in Mosul on Wednesday, April 20th 2016 (via Souad Al-Azzawi)

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
    38SLF293239
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • April 20, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, 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. 2946/CI230 38SLF293239

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports for April 19th-20th 2016 that “Near Mosul, nine strikes struck an ISIL staging area, an ISIL-used power plant, and four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL supply caches, an ISIL mortar system, and two ISIL vehicles and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4506

Incident date

June 9, 2020

Location

بليون, Balyon, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On June 9, 2020, alleged Russian air strikes on Baylon resulted in the deaths of two civilians, including a woman, with multiple sources stating that between four and eight civilians were injured, including several children between the ages of 4-14.

Abdullah Ahmad al-Dani was reportedly killed by a strike on his home on June 9, and a woman, which one source states was Amenah al-Dani, his wife, died several days later from injuries sustained during the strikes. Abdullah was from the nearby village of Kansafra, according to multiple sources, including one that stated that he and Amenah were previously displaced. The UN stated that at least three civilian homes were destroyed in the raid, including that of Abdullah and Amenah. The same source notes that five others were injured in the same home, including two girls and one boy, ages ranging 4-14.

Syrian Civil Defense reported that a civilian was killed and eight others, including five children and a woman were injured in Russian airstrikes that targeted Baylon with three raids when civilians were getting ready to flee. On June 12th, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Amenah Dani from Kansafra village died of her injuries on June 12th, 2020.

Multiple sources note that the strike on Baylon struck residential areas, and took place in conjunction with other strikes by Russian and regime forces in the area, which sources state is in violation of a March 2020 ceasefire agreement. Though all the sources blamed Russian forces, @SyriaCivilDefense said the civilian casualties are a result of Russian airstrikes and artillery and missile shelling of the regime forces on different areas in Idlib and Hama. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria in their report of September 15th, 2020 blamed the pro-regime forces for undertaking the attack without specifying which category of pro-regime forces.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male husband of Amenah Al Dani killed
Adult female wife of Abdullah Al Dani, from Kansafra village, died of injuries on June 12th, 2020 killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (SCD).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes or Syrian regime artillery attacks on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (@SyriaCivilDefense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes or Syrian regime artillery attacks on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (@SyriaCivilDefense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians injured in alleged Russian air strikes or Syrian regime artillery attacks on civilian homes in the town of Baylon, Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, with three air strikes on June 9th, 2020 (@SyriaCivilDefense).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • Destruction to civilians homes as a result of alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Baylon in Idlib, on June 9th, 2020 (via @ShaamNetwork.Arabic).
  • SCD volunteers in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Baylon on June 9th, 2020 (via SNHR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the civilians injured in strikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Daya`atna via Facebook)
  • One of the civilians injured in strikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Daya`atna via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the civilians injured in strikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Daya`atna via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by @abo_aljod84)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of the man killed in airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)
  • Airstrikes on Baylon on June 9, 2020. (Image posted by Maarata via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0102l

Incident date

October 10, 2023

Location

الهضبة, Al Hadba, Deir al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.414750, 34.348440 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one child was killed and two others were injured after an alleged Israeli airstrike on a home in the al-Hadba neighborhood of the central Gaza Strip on October 10th, 2023.

The girl who was killed, 13 year old Aseel Hassan, is the daughter of a Dr. Diaa Hassan and Umm Hamza. The post also specified that the couple’s two sons, Omar Hassan and Abdullah Hassan, were injured and were in intensive care. Both sons have been quantified as children based on their sibling’s age.

Safa Agency reported that the casualties were all evacuated to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after the strike.

Aseel’s name was found by Airwars researchers among the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Aseel Hassan أسيل حسن
13 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 429861081
Omar Hassan عمر حسن
Child male injured
Abdullah Hassan وعبد حسن
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Wesamashour82
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Wesamashour82

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Hadba (الهضبة) in Deir al Balah (دير البلح). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to find boundaries for the neighbourhood and to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Hadba are: 31.414750, 34.348440.

Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
  • 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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI245

Incident date

June 1, 2016

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

10 to 40 civilians were reported killed, and 13 to 36 injured following alleged Coalition airstrikes in west Mosul.

Mosul Eye offered a detailed description of affected neighbourhoods, claiming that airstrikes had hit: “– A home in the Muhammadiyah area near the kindergarten which also damaged neighbours’ houses around it and led to the fall of martyrs and wounded

– A house in the Municipalities district

– A house in the Engineers neighbourhood which was sheltering foreigners

– Inside a [further] house in the Engineers neighbourhood

– A residence in the Agricultural district

NRN News reported that Coalition planes bombed a house used by Daesh, killing four members of the organisation, 12 civilians and wounding five others.

They said the aircraft “also bombed the headquarters of the organisation behind the spring Daash hospital“, killing 20 members of Daesh, 15 civilians and wounding eight others.

NRN’s correspondent went on to say that Colation aircraft also targeted another house used by Daesh “behind a restaurant in the neighbourhood of engineers“, killing “seven members of the organisation, including foreigners, in addition to injuring six others“.

The report concluded by saying that there was “serious damage to neighbouring houses, leading to the fall of more than 13 civilians, including women and children.

In the second of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that 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
    10 – 40
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–36
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows massive destruction in several buildings following alleged coalition airstrikes in neighbourhoods at the left side of Mosul - the strike led to the death of at least ten civilians and 13 to 36 injured on June 1st, 2016 (via NRN)
  • An image shows aid team rushing to the incident location to help the casualties following alleged coalition airstrikes in neighbourhoods at the left side of Mosul (via NRN)

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
    38SLF332263
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020
  • June 1, 2016, 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. 662/CI245 38SLF332263

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports for June 1st-2nd 2016 that “Near Mosul, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL assembly area and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun position.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 40
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–36
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS495

Incident date

February 28, 2022

Location

قرية التوخار, Al Tafkhar village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.639318, 37.980547 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Al Tafkhar on February 28, 2022.

Hawar News reported that a civilian was injured by Turkish shelling on the village of Al Tafkhar. The media center of the Manbij Military Council said that the Turkish forces struck at exactly 8:00 this morning the inhabited village of Al Tafkhar, located north of the city of Manbij, with 7 mortar shells, “which led to the injury of a civilian.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that the shelling resulted in material damage to civilians’ property. A local source told North Press that “the bombing also targeted the house of Kafi Al-Jassem (35 years), a resident of the village, without mentioning additional information.”

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces and North Press Agency identified the shelling as coming from the Turkish base overlooking the village of Al-Tokhar Al-Kabeer and Al-Waqa’a, at the northwestern edge of the village.

The incident occured at 08:00:00 local time.

Summary

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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the village of Al Tafkhar (التوخار), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.639318, 37.980547. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military 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
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0238

Incident date

October 16, 2023

Location

بالقرب المستشفى الأهلي العربي, Vicinity of Arab National Hospital, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.505085, 34.461535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Monday, October 16, 2023, seven civilians were killed, including a journalist of al-Aqsa TV Issam Mohammad Sabhi Bahar, two women and four children, and several others, including an infant, were injured, in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Bahar family house near the Arab National Hospital in Gaza city.

A Facebook post by Asnaa Adel mourned the death of her relatives and reported the names of the victims: 38-year old Issam Mohammad Sabhi Bahar was killed together with his 33-year old wife Yasmin al-Seqali (Yasmeen Jamal Mahmoud Bahar), their 14-year old son Nizar Rayan Issam Bahar, Issam’s 21-year old sister Hanan Mohammad Bahar, and her three children.

It remains unknown how many people were injured and in what condition they were in. A family relative Iman Ali in his Facebook post shared the images of the wounded children, including an infant Yusra Bahar. He said that the rest of the family members are “injured or missing”.

The Journalists Support Committee condemned the killing of Issam Mohammad Bahar, who worked for the Al Aqsa TV channel, which is run by the Islamist group Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip. The International Federation of Journalists, Watan news and Al Mayadeen also reported about his death. Mohsen Alafranji wrote on the social platform Twitter/X that his fellow journalist was killed along with a number of his family members, as a result of an attack on a house where he was sheltering with his family.

Relatives and journalists left heartfelt tributes on Facebook. M.A. Mohammad Ibrahim described the death of “my friend and brother, the honorable Sheikh Issam Muhammad Bahar, with his wife and son – martyrs as a result of a Zionist bombing. He left for eternal paradise. May God accept you in Paradise,” attaching an image of the middle-aged man in an Islamic prayer hat and white shirt.

The journalist’s cousin, Asmaa Adel, recollected his religious activities too: “We will miss your voice, my cousin, as you give the call to prayer at the mosque and address people 😭😭 We will miss the kind and gentle face of his wife, Yasmine 😭😭 God chose the best people and took them to Him.”

Mustafa Matar wrote about his painful loss in his testimony: “My beloved friend Essam Muhammad Bahar was martyred.. You broke my back, Essam 😢”. The brother-in-law of the killed journalist, Muhammad Jamal Al-Sikali, wrote in his tribute: “The martyrdom of my sister Yasmine, her husband Sheikh Essam Muhammad Bahar, her son Nizar Bahar, and a number of martyrs from the Bahar family.”

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

Where sources identified the belligerent, 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Issam Mohammad Sabhi Bahar عصام محمد بهار
38 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800311797
Yasmin Al Seqali (Yasmeen Jamal Mahmoud Bahar) ياسمين السيقلي
33 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 802758136
Nizar Rayan Issam Bahar نزار عصام بهار
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429389133
Hanan Mohammad Sabeh Bahar حنان محمد بهار
21 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 408127124
Child of Hanan طفل حنان
Child killed
Child of Hanan طفل حنان
Child killed
Child of Hanan طفل حنان
Child killed
Yusra Bahar
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (4 children2 women1 journalist)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Iman Ali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Iman Ali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Iman Ali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: M.A. Mohammed Ibrahim
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @mostafajuha
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Wattan.net news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalistsupport.net news

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Arab National Hospital (المستشفى الاهلي العربي), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.505085, 34.461535. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    7
  • (4 children2 women1 journalist)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI260

Incident date

June 30, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East [Cultural group], Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.368483, 43.184281 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, a targeted Coalition strike on the local head of ISIL’s sharia courts killed both him and his wife. They reportedly held French passports. The strike targeted the Al-Majmoa’ Al-Thaqafiya area of western Mosul.

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 no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

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
    38SLF371263
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • June 30, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, 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. 2985/CI260 38SLF371263

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 29th-30th 2016, the Coalition reported that ” Near Mosul, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL supply cache.”

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1635

Incident date

October 17, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Euphrates Post, amongst other sources, reported that “the bodies of Ramadhan Sheikh’s family were found in the rubble after being lost for nearly two months in the city of Raqqa. They’re from Jabila neighbourhood in Deir Ezzor”.

DCHRS listed eight victims, including Mr Ramadhan Sheikh, his wife and six of his children.

It is currently unclear at what point during the Raqqah campaign that the victims died. Despite this, Mohammed Ramadhan Sheikh Mohammed (60), has since been identified by a testimony with a relative of a victim that he died on the 27th of September 2017 alongside three other men. It is unclear when his wife and six children were killed. See Airwars incident CS1536 for details.

Ismail Akkush was also named in Airwars incident CS1535, with two other victims. He has also been removed from this incident.

The Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” (https://raqqa.amnesty.org/), stated that “An air strike killed four men who were burying their neighbour, Mohammed al-Wadi (47), who had been killed by Islamic State fighters the previous day, in another neighbour’s garden. During the war the dead were buried in parks and gardens, as it was impossible to reach the cemetery, which was outside Raqqa.” The garden belonged to Abdul Rahman al-Qantar.

The father of Abdallah al-Wadi gave a testimony to Amnesty International stating that, “My son was shot dead by Daesh (IS) fighters and the following morning four neighbours were burying him in the garden of a nearby house when an air strike killed all four of them.”

Amnesty International field notes claim that a “small impact radius missile” was fired on the vicinity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

the wife of Ramadan al-Sheikh
Adult female killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 1
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 2
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 3
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 4
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 5
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 6
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 'The bodies of Ramadhan Sheikh's family were found in the rubble after being lost for nearly two months in the city of Raqqa. They’re from Jabila neighbourhood in Deir Ezzor' Via Euphrates Post
  • Mr. Ramadan Al-Sheikh's family were found underneath this rubble in Raqqa some two months after the battle finished (via Sharqiya Voice)

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 35.94804, 39.01182

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Unknown when deaths occurred.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]