Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

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

Incident Code

CI417

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

قرب مسجد الخشاب ، العربي, Vicinity of Al Khashab Mosque, Al Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.40393, 43.11644 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said heavy artillery shelling which targeted Al Arabi neighbourhood at the left side of Mosul had left dozens of civilians dead or wounded.

In October 2020, the US-led Coalition conceded killing 12 civilians and injuring a further ten in this event.

Iraqyoon said at the time that witnesses had reported to the Iraqi news agency that “the near-Khashab mosque area in the north of the Al Arabi neighborhood of Mosul came under artillery shelling by Iraqi forces.”

Nineveh Media Center reported that a clinic in the neighbourhood had also been targeted. It spoke of heavy, unidentified shelling.

In earlier monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition had indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation was in the process of being assessed. On October 29th 2020, officials confirmed the incident, noting: “Jan. 12, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, twelve civilians were unintentionally killed and ten were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of shelling on Al-Arabi neighbourhood in Mosul, on January 12th (via Iraqyoon)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike within the vicinity of Al Khashab Mosque (جامع الخشاب), at the coordinates: 36.402348, 43.118259. Coalition has confirmed the location of this strike (within 100m), north of Al Khashab Mosque at the following coordinates: 36.40393, 43.11644.

  • Reports of the incident mention a strike within the vicinity of Al Khashab Mosque (جامع الخشاب). Coalition has confirmed the location of this strike (within 100m), north of Al Khashab Mosque.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    12
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    10
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF311304
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 29, 2020
  • Jan. 12, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, twelve civilians were unintentionally killed and ten were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS442 RS1829

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

شارع تل أبيض, Tal abyad Street, Ar Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed – including a girl and a man – and others were wounded, following an airstrike on a bakery and a falafel restaurant in Raqqa, according to local sources. Sources were conflicted regarding who was to blame, some blaming the US led Coalition, and others blaming Russian warplanes. The Coalition later denied responsibility.

According to Raqqa 24,Coalition planes targeted al Andalus bakery as well as the area behind al Rawda restaurant in al Majma’ street”. Baladi also attributed the incident to the Coalition. Additionally, Al Haal reported that “planes thought to belong to the coalition bombs a bakery and a restaurant in Raqqa.”

According to a source the bakery was rendered inoperable.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that “warplanes” – it didn’t identify them – carried out raids at midnight striking the following locations in Raqqa: Al Amir restaurant opposite the Health Care building, and Al Andalus bakery on Tal Abiyad street. It said two civilians died in the raid on the bakery including a child and a bakery worker.

Many sources also claimed that residential buildings were destroyed in the raid.

The man who died was allegedly a baker who worked at Al Andalus bakery. It is worth noting that the man died on the 15th due to wounds sustained in an airstrike. Although the reporting does not mention where he sustained wounds, Airwars researchers and assessors have determined as he was from Palmyra (the same town as the other victim) and there were few other strikes in the vicinity at this time, he was wounded in the attack on the bakery.

One source reported that members of Daesh were allegedly injured in the raid.

In a video interviewing civilians from Raqqa, one man says “this is the crusader planes.. Look what he’s done.. They’ve destroyed buildings, they’re destroying people, they’re destroying Muslims. We here are Muslims. They have struck a whole building.” Another says “they’re hitting a bakery. This is people’s livelihood”. According to Airwars researchers this is an ISIS propaganda video.

On March 4th – in a reference to this event – the Coalition reported: “Jan. 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female killed
Mahmoud Al Othman al Wajeeh 
Age unknown male From Palmyra, Homs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Rimas Mohammad Mirwah, aged three, killed in an airstrike on a bakery in Raqqa, Jan12/13th. Sources blamed both the Coalition and Russia (via RBSS)
  • Rimas Mohamad Abdullah Merwah (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 4, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 12th-13th the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 30 oil refinement stills, six fighting positions, three oil tanker trailers, an ISIL headquarters, a weapons cache and an oil well headand”.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI416

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said airstrikes targeted civilians houses in al Qaim west of Anbar which killed four civilians and injured seven others.

Two sources spoke of “government aircraft”, but in a second report by Iraqi Spring Media Center it was later claimed that the US-led Coalition was responsible for the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (3) [ 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 Al Qa’im, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 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

For January 11th-12th the Coalition did not publicly note strikes in Anbar province.

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS440 RS1825

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

جبل الاربعين, Al Arbaeen Mountains, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.805363, 36.618816 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 20 civilians were killed, and others were wounded, according to reports, following an alleged Russian and or Coalition airstrike on a militant-occupied building in the Al-Arba’een Mountains.

Shaam News reported that seven civilians died including “four children and three women in addition in addition to others wounded.”

Step News blamed the US-led Coalition, reporting that “International Coalition aircraft launched several air strikes this afternoon targeting a residential building belonging to Turkestan fighters in Al-Arba’een Mountain area in the outskirts of Ariha in western Idlib.”

This led to the complete collapse of the building, allegedly killing more than ten people in an initial toll which included women and children from Turkestan families who were in the building.

Members of the civil defense team were allegedly digging civilians out of the rubble hours after the incident.

Similarly, AlAmawi news said that “Coalition planes launched several raids at noon today targeting al Turkistan HQ in al Araba’een mountain”.

In addition, Syrian media activist Omar madaniah said that the Coalition “bombed a building in al Arba’een mountain housing Turkistani families,” leaving “more than 20 martyrs under the rubble”.

Almasdar reported that Russian jets struck “a six-story building inhabited by Turkestan militants who used it as HQ – which also housed their families leading to the total collapse of the building.”

According to sources the extent of the damage to residential homes was great, and many civilians remained trapped under the rubble for hours.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 20
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A victim in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrikes on Al-Arba'een Mountain, 12th January 2017. (via @MousaAlomar)
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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 11th-13th the Coalition did not publicly note any strikes in Idlib governorate.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 20
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI415

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al Jadida / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.316076, 43.099112 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that the international Coalition and/or US aircraft had carried out airstrikes in New Mosul neighborhood, West Mosul, leaving up to 30 civilians dead and 14 others wounded. The Coalition later confirmed killing eight civilians in Mosul that day.

Iraq News Center said that bombing by “international Coalition aircraft” had led to the death and wounding of civilians, including women and children. Raedlay spoke of a “US raid” and reported the same number of dead and injured.

Amsi News said that “so-called international coalition raids into residential neighborhoods in the area of New Mosul… caused the death of 21 civilians on the spot, and injuring 14 others, as well as great destruction of property and homes.”

Prevision posted a video of the aftermath in which a witness reported a total number of 30 bodies: “It’s a residential compound including four houses. Each one includes two floors which were completely destroyed by Coalition crusade airstrikes…we got out 14 bodies as yet, and there are 9 bodies still under rubble, and there are 4 women bodies and three children bodies in the house behind this compound…mostly kids and women.”

Alquds and Alwaght quoted Reuters saying that that the raids targeted the house of a senior ISIL leader, Abdul Qadir, who was not at home at the time of the bombing. However, several of his family members were reportedly killed. Alwaght spoke of “tens of civilians” massacred and blamed the Coalition.

An Amnesty International field investigation reported the following: “On 13 January at around 8.15am, explosions destroyed nine dwellings in al-Shuhada neighbourhood. “Kamel” and “Hashem”, two 26-year-old men from the area, described what they believe was a helicopter strike, which destroyed Kamel’s uncle’s house. They said the helicopter fired three times, with each rocket it launched destroying three single-room dwellings. Nine dwellings were destroyed in total.

“Hashem” described the attack as follows: “I was close by at my mother’s house. We were eating breakfast. At 8.15am and without warning the first rocket struck the homes, followed by two others. Each came from a different direction. It was all over in five or 10 minutes. After the last rocket landed we ran down to the scene. We were scared but we’re Arabs and if there are dead people we must go down to them. We dug the bodies out. We pulled them out of the rubble. They were torn apart. Heads and arms had been severed. The target was a well-known IS commander called Harbi Abdel Gadir. He was killed, along with almost everyone else in the homes: more than 40 people. All the women and children were killed. There were only three survivors, Mohamed, Asher and Salman. They were taken to an IS-run hospital.

According to the witnesses, this strike killed one IS target at a cost of 40 civilian lives. Based upon the information available, this attack should be investigated as a possible disproportionate attack.”

 

The incident occured at 08:15:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 40
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–21
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of some of the victims

Geolocation notes

The Amnesty report of the incident mentions the neighbourhood of Shuhada, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.316076, 43.099112. Other reports mention New Mosul, or the West of Mosul, which is where the Shuhada neighbourhood is located. 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
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 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

For January 11th-12th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions, three ISIL-held buildings, two heavy machine guns, two mortar systems, a command and control node, a VBIED factory, a VBIED, an ISIL UAV, a supply cache, and an artillery system; and damaged 24 supply routes and an ISIL-held building.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 40
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–21
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1826

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

اريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8141415, 36.6017972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and 12 civilians died – including four children and three women – following an airstrike which struck a five story building in Ariha, Idlib. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the raid, with some blaming Russia and others blaming the Syrian regime. 

No specific numbers of civilians were reported wounded.

Zaitonmag reported that “a five-story building collapsed in the city of Areeha in the village of Idlib, over the head of its residents, as a result of Russian air strikes targeting the city”.

According to sources, many civilians, including children, remained trapped under the rubble for a long period of time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, Idlib, 12th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, Idlib, 12th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, Idlib, 12th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1824

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

بابكة, Babka, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.14135, 36.753634 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 10 civilians were killed, including eight from one family, and as many as 24 or more were wounded, following an alleged airstrike on Babka, Aleppo.

Five children and three women were reportedly killed in the strike. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Many attributed blame to Russian warplanes, while others blamed the Syrian regime. 

According to sources, rocket propelled grenades were launched in an intensive aerial bombardment of the town.

Civilian homes were reportedly struck and dozens were trapped under the rubble. Injures from the raid were said to be so severe that many people were taken to hospital and reports said the death toll was likely to rise.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (4–5 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Janoubia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Janoubia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Janoubia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Janoubia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Janoubia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Sheahb)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Thiqa news agency)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Jisir)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Baladi)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via Syrianewsdesk)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via @3rj5oPnn2XeKaYg)
  • Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the civil defence dig through the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Babka, Aleppo, 12th January 2017. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (4–5 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS047 CS441

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

بزاعة , Beza’a city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians including two children from the same family died in an airstrike on Beza’a city, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the US-led Coalition.

Aleppo Media Center reported that “the child Hamdo al Bakir and an entire family made up of seven people” died following Turkish raids.

LCCSY instead said that civilians died as result of Turkish bombing on the city, as did Micro Syria. Sawa_sawanews  also blamed Turkey, putting the death toll at nine.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the event to the Coalition. It said that “at least seven civilians died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Beza’a city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, January 12, 2017, SNHR has yet to verify the news.” Al Amawi news also attrubited blame to the Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Sattar Saleh Al Khodra al Bazi’i
Adult male named by Al Bab al Hadath killed
Daughter of Abd al Sattar Saleh Al Khodra al Bazi’i
Child female named by Al Bab al Hadath killed
Mohammad, son of Abd al Sattar Saleh Al Khodra al Bazi’i
Adult male named by Al Bab al Hadath killed
Abd al Jawwad Saleh Al Khodra al Bazi’i
Adult male named by Al Bab al HadathBrother of Abd al Sattar Saleh Al Khodra al Bazi’i killed
Hamdo al Bakir
Child male named by Al Bab al Hadath killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "The death of Hamdou al-Bakir and a whole family of seven people in the town of Bazaa in the eastern Aleppo countryside following Turkish air strikes targeting the region on Thursday." (via AleppoAMC)
  • Abd al Jawwad Yassin, killed in an alleged Coalition or Turkish airstrike in Beza’a city, 12th January 2017. (via Al bab Al Hadath)
  • Mohammad the son of Abd al SAttar and a child, the daughter of Abd al Sattar, killed in an alleged Coalition or Turkish airstrike in Beza’a city, 12th January 2017. (via Al bab Al Hadath)
  • Abd al Sattar Yassin, killed in an alleged Coalition or Turkish airstrike in Beza’a city, 12th January 2017. (via Al bab Al Hadath)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Beza’a city ( بزاعة ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Fir Jan 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: "Near Manbij, two strikes damaged a vehicle and a mortar system."

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]