Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

TS445

Incident date

August 6, 2020

Location

قامشلي, Electrical cables manufacturing facility, Qamishli, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.056958, 41.261204 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly injured by a Turkish drone strike on Qamishli.

ANHA reported: “On Thursday evening, an explosion was heard at about 18:30 in the Swiss Canal neighborhood, east of Qamishlo, which was found to have been caused by a shell fired by a drone belonging to the Turkish occupation at a civilian electrical cables manufacturing facility. In addition, one of the workers was wounded in the bombing.

The citizen Sheikh Zein, one of the workers of the facility, explained to our agency ANHA: There was a drone hovering over the facility for several hours, then the facility was bombarded by a shell and one of our comrades was seriously injured and he was transferred to the hospital.’

Sheikh Zein emphasized that the facility is civilian and dozens of residents work there, denouncing the acts of the Turkish occupation against the civilians.”

Ahval said: “The drone strike hit a fuel company in the Allaya neighbourhood, injuring a man who was transferred to a hospital for treatment and causing property damage, Kurdistan 24 cited an unnamed local security forces commander as saying.”

7al wrote: “Today, Thursday, a civilian was lightly injured as a result of a shell landing in the Alaya neighborhood, near a building belonging to the fuel organization in the Autonomous Administration, east of the city of Qamishli.

According to residents of the neighborhood, ‘the 35-year-old civilian was injured by shrapnel and was taken to the’ Martyr Khabat ”hospital in Qamishli for treatment.”

North Press Agency said the injured was 40 years old.

SANA said the injury was caused by mortar shelling instead of a drone.

Steele Maiko posted on Facebook that it was rocket artillery.

The incident occured at approximately 6:30 pm local time.

Summary

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

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the aftermath of the strike
  • Shrapnel from alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via ANHA)
  • Shrapnel from alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via ANHA)
  • Shrapnel from alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via ANHA)
  • Shrapnel from alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via ANHA)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via ANHA)
  • Impact of alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via ANF)
  • Impact of alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via NPA)
  • Surrounding area of alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via Zana Al-Ali)
  • Surrounding area of alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via Zana Al-Ali)
  • Surrounding area of alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via Zana Al-Ali)
  • Fragments of alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via Kurdistan 24)
  • Smoke rising after alleged Turkish strike on Qamishli on August 6th, 2020 (via Zana Al-Ali)

Geolocation notes (5) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an electrical cables manufacturing facility being struck in the Allaya (علايا) neighbourhood of Al Qamishli (القامشلي). Using audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed this location down to a possible site, for which the coordinates are: 37.056958, 41.261204. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention an electrical cables manufacturing facility being struck in the Allaya (علايا) neighbourhood of Al Qamishli (القامشلي). Using audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed this location down to a possible site.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Matching objects to audio-visual material, however with limited satellite imagery from 2019 we are unable to confirm the exact placement, especially if new buildings have been constructed between images taken.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Matching objects to satellite imagery, however with limited satellite imagery from 2019 we are unable to confirm the exact placement, especially if new buildings have been constructed between images taken.

    Imagery:
    ANHA

  • Tagged visual material.

    Imagery:
    Zana Al-Ali

  • Tagged satellite imagery.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

S1537a

Incident date

March 2, 2018

Location

الشعفة, al-Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Deaths and injuries were reported when the US-led Coalition allegedly struck a field hospital in Al-Shaf’a in Deir Ezzor on March 2nd, 2018. The hospital attacked was named by local sources as Nabd Al-Hayat.

Syriamap reported “Airstrikes by the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS put the hospital completely out of service leading to several deaths and injuries of civilians and staff.”

Zamanalwasl also reported civilian casualties as a result of the Coalition’s airstrike, and said that the hospital was completely destroyed. It seems the source depended on a video of an ISIS member.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS457

Incident date

November 18, 2020

Location

المالكية‎, Al Malikiyah, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.176214, 42.140146 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported injured in Al-Malikya, Hasakah in Syria allegedly when Turkish forces opened fire on civilians working in their field on November 18th.

ANHA named the two civilians as Haytham Ali from Mazra Khawari, and Shafan Bouti from Mazra Bani village. The latter was wounded in the leg, which led to cutting nerves and breaking his leg bone as a result of a sniper shot, and consequently he had an operation.

ANF and ANHA said that such incidents are regular where Turkish forces attack peasants and farmers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haytham Ali
Age unknown male Hîmen Heysem Ali injured
Shafan Bouti
Age unknown male Şivan Botî injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Malikiyah (المالكية‎) and its surroundings, for which the generic coordinates are; 37.176214, 42.140146. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1456

Incident date

September 8, 2017

Location

Al Nahdah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95719, 38.99446 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On August 30th 2018, the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of possible civilian harm. In the report, the Coalition wrote: “September 8, 2017, near al-Nahdah, Syria, via media report. 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.” The Coalition shared the location of this assessed strike with Airwars: 37SDV995792. Airwars researchers assessed that the reported event has strong similarities with S1277a – yet cannot discount S1277a due to insufficient information on the location.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 7th – 8th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes destroyed 11 ISIS fighting positions and a command and control node and suppressed three fighting positions.” It was additionally reported that “On Sept. 7, near Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 15 fighting positions, 15 vehicles, four VBIEDs and suppressed four fighting positions.”
For September 8th – 9th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 40 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 24 fighting positions, four logistics node, two vehicles, an ISIS communication line, a mortar system, a command and control node and suppressed four fighting positions.” It was additionally reported that “On Sept. 8, near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 15 vehicles, six logistics nodes, four fighting positions, and an IED; and suppressed three fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Thursday 7 September – Tornados destroyed a truck, a fuel depot and a terrorist accommodation block in northern Iraq, whilst Typhoons attacked a machine-gun team in Raqqa…On Thursday 7 September, Tornados patrolled over northern Iraq. A couple of miles north-east of Hawijah, a truck carrying a group of extremists was successfully targeted using a Brimstone missile. Our aircraft were then tasked with the destruction of a fuel depot near Sharqat where Daesh had been spotted refuelling truck-bombs, as well as a nearby accommodation block used by the terrorists. Both were struck with Paveway IVs. Over Raqqa, Typhoons flew further close support missions for the Syrian Democratic Forces, bombing successfully a light machine-gun position.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS096

Incident date

January 4, 2021

Location

قربة أم البراميل, Umm Al Baramil, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.460556, 39.064722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two 13-year-old boys were reported killed in alleged SDF artillery strikes on Umm Al Baramil village, also known as Shikuru, east of Ain Issa, on January 4th, 2020, according to local sources. Other sources, however, stated the incident was a landmine or an unexploded ordnance explosion, which means that the strike itself could have taken place before January 4th. A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in the incident.

@Ainissa_plus reported: “The two children Wathiq Al Ali Al Husaynu, 13, and Ibrahim Al Mahmoud Al Khalaf, 13, were killed and Saddam Al Ali Al Husaynu, 15, was seriously injured, as a result of the SDF firing a guided missile at Umm Al Baramil village, east of Ain Issa.”

Birjaf, among other sources, reported that “a landmine of remnants of war exploded in the vicinity of the village of Sakiru in the countryside of Raqqa, killing two children.” @SYRlANOW wrote that the SDF had been responsible for the remnants. Several sources reported that the boys were in a civilian car.

Hussein Ali Al Doua posted photos of the vehicle that was damaged in the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Wathiq Al Ali Al Husaynu واثق العلي الحسينو
13 years old male killed
Saddam Al Ali Al Husaynu صدام العلي الحسينو
15 years old male injured

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Al Mahmoud Al Khalaf إبراهيم المحمود الخلف
13 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The damaged vehicle after alleged SDF artillery strikes or a landmine explosion on the road near the village of Umm Al Baramil, Ain Issa, on January 4th, 2020 (via Hussein Ali Al Doua).
  • Translation: ”An exclusive photo of the car targeted by the SDF in the village of Umm Al Baramil, east of Ain Issa, which led to the killing of two children and the injury of the third” (via @Ainissa_plus).
  • The damaged vehicle after alleged SDF artillery strikes or a landmine explosion on the road near the village of Umm Al Baramil, Ain Issa, on January 4th, 2020 (via @Ainissa_plus).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Skiro (صكيرو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.460556, 39.064722. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-178

Incident date

September 23, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.20892, 16.58866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte.

Nour al din Al Nasser Al Zanki remembered his death in 2015 saying: “Mohammed Khaled Al-Rayani, 6 years, killed 23/9/2011. A shrapnel hit the head in his father’s car.”

Azden.sert also commemorated his death posting a picture of him.

NATO on that day reported hitting “1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Anti Aircraft Gun, 1 Command and Control Node, 2 Armed Vehicles” near Sirte.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Khaled Al-Rayani
6 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.20892, 16.58866. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Anti Aircraft Gun, 1 Command and Control Node, 2 Armed Vehicles

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-037

Incident date

March 18, 2011

Location

أولاد أبوالهول, Awlad Abu Al Houl , Jabal Al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.930396, 12.250838 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On March 18th, 2011, it was reported by a single source that pro-Gaddafi forces had bombed a residential area in Awlad Abu Al Houl, wounding at least six people.

This claim was only reported by al Jazeera, and was unable to be confirmed from any currently available sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Awlad Abu Al Houl (أولاد أبوالهول) area, allegedly located within the vicinity of Zintan (الزنتان) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Zintan are: 31.930396, 12.250838.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM065

Incident date

September 26, 2016

Location

Caba, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

-0.232554, 41.950809 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US reported in a press release published on September 27th that it had conducted a “self-defence strike” in Caba near Kismayo the previous day, killing four al Shabaab fighters .

The press release said that a group of armed al Shabaab fighters attacked the Somali force and their US advisors. The Somali forces returned fire, but could not stop the attack. The US said that they conducted the strike in response:

“On September 26, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-associated terrorist group, in Caba, near Kismayo, Somalia.

During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a group of armed al-Shabaab fighters attacked, threatening the safety and security of the Somali force and their U.S. advisors. Somali forces returned fire in self-defense, killing several militants.  However, enemy fighters continued to attack the Somali force. In response, the U.S. conducted a self-defense strike to neutralize the threat, killing four (4) enemy fighters.”

Garowe Online placed the attack “about 45km west of Kismayo” in Kanjaron district, and said five al Shabaab fighers were killed and several commanders captured.

The Long War Journal questioned whether the strike was in fact defensive, noting that “AFRICOM’s latest so-called self-defense strike against Shabaab highlights the difference between the rhetoric and the reality of the Obama administration and the US military’s deployment of forces against jihadist groups overseas. The administration and the military often insist that US forces are deployed in countries such as Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen in a purely “advise and assist” role and are not engaging in combat operations. And yet, in the case of the Somali raid that targeted Shabaab training camps, US forces clearly are operating in a combat environment — if you raid an al Qaeda camp, you should expect to be engaged in direct fighting. In this instance, clearly AFRICOM was prepared for forces to engage in battle, as US air assets were on station.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–5

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Caba, near Kismayo, for which the coordinates are: -0.232554, 41.950809. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

"On September 26, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-associated terrorist group, in Caba, near Kismayo, Somalia.

During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a group of armed al-Shabaab fighters attacked, threatening the safety and security of the Somali force and their U.S. advisors. Somali forces returned fire in self-defense, killing several militants. However, enemy fighters continued to attack the Somali force. In response, the U.S. conducted a self-defense strike to neutralize the threat, killing four (4) enemy fighters."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–5

Sources (3) [ collapse]