Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
11041 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS3659

Incident date

May 4, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians died and up to five more were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Ma’aret Hrema in Idlib, local media reported, adding that cluster bombs have been used in the attack.

According to Smart News, both Russia and the Syrian regime forces were to blame for killing one person and wounding three others.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) identified a victim and reported that he was killed when a “Syrian regime fixed- wing warplanes carried out a strike using machine guns”. In a later report SN4HR said that regime forces “shelled a medical facility”.

But @Teghaiarna reported three deaths and “a large number of wounded civilians”, blaming barrel bombing from helicopters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Khaled al Ali
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged regime strike with barrel bombs on Ma’aret Harma, May 4th (via Ebaa)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime strike with barrel bombs on Ma’aret Harma, May 4th (via Ebaa)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime strike with barrel bombs on Ma’aret Harma, May 4th (via Ebaa)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3660

Incident date

May 4, 2019

Location

ركايا سجنة, Rakaya Sijna, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russian or regime double airstrike near Al Rakaya village in the southern countryside of Idlib reportedly killed two civilians.

The Syrian Civil Defense forces reported that one of their volunteers was driving their ambulance to the site where a Russian airstrike had killed a woman, when he himself was struck by a second Russian airstrike. He died from a severe head injury. “The Syrian civil defense mourns the death of its volunteer Mohammed Shawwa, who died of a severe head injury he had endured hours earlier.”

According to Npasyria, “one of the raids targeted a whole family, causing the death of the wife and wounding the husband and three children with a variety of burns. The injured were were transferred to  medical points and hospitals. Issa Jalul, a civil defense team commander in Khan Youhoun, told North Press civil defense volunteers performing their work were subjected to a double raid, causing the death of one of the volunteers.”

Shaam named the dead volunteer as Mohammad al Shawwa, adding that he had “three children, one of whom is a newborn child”.

An ambulance was also reportedly destroyed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad al Shawwa محمد شوا
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "A female martyr was pulled from the rubble after air raids targeted the village of Rakaya Sijna - White Helmets".
  • Translation: "Helicopter Aviation Targets the village of Rakaya Sijna, Idlib with an explosive barrel"
  • Translation: "A Syrian Civil Defense volunteer was seriously injured after a double bombing by the air force. The team was directly targeted while inspecting sites near the village of Rakaya Sijna in the southern Idlib countryside." (via White Helmets)
  • The funeral of Mohammad al Shawwa.
  • The moment, SCD volunteer Mohammad Al Shawa was injured while on duty. He later died.
  • SCD's statement on the death of their volunteer Mohammad Al Shawa on May 4th, 2019. (via SCD)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3654

Incident date

May 4, 2019

Location

الهبيط, Al Habit, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, killed up to four civilians on May 4th, 2019, local media reported.

Multiple sources reported the shelling of civilian infrastructure. According to @AishaSapri, the health centre was struck, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported damage to three schools in the town: Khalid Al Mousa Secondary School, Khawla Primary School, and Al Qadisiya School. Additionally, several farms in the town were struck by what was described as “rocket attacks”.

Khan Sheikhoun reported on Facebook that Sobhia Mohammed Bashir Aburas and Abdel Qadir Fadl Aburas were killed in Syrian regime rocket attacks on farms in the area, in addition to a third unidentified man. The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that a woman and a child were killed.

Edlib Media Center reported that two people were killed and several were wounded, pointing to Russia as the belligerent. However, Khan Sheikhoun, along with many other sources, stated that the regime was responsible.

Baladi News wrote that “a man and his wife were killed and their three children were hit by a missile bombardment by the regime forces, who targeted the farms of the town of Habit, south of Idlib, at dawn today.”

@SyrianHNC reported that three people from a displaced family from Srihin, Hama, died. According to the White Helmets, “two women and four children from a single family were rescued from the rubble of their demolished house as a result of the targeting of civilian houses in the town of Habit in rural Idlib, with six explosive drums and two warplanes.”

According to Syrian Mosaic, two women and four children from the same family were injured.

Syrian Mosaic said that the town had been bombarded “with 19 explosive barrels, 27 airstrikes, 160 rockets, and 30 artillery shells.”

@NagiNajjar reported that rockets were fired from a Russian military camp in Bridij.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Sobhia Mohammed Bashir Aburas صبحية محمد بشيرابوراس
Age unknown female killed
Abdel Qadir Fadl Aburas عبد القادر فضل ابوراس
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (47) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "The picture is of smoke rising from the town of Habit in the countryside #Idlib South following air raids" (via @AbazidMohamad).
  • Translation: "Two women and four children from a single family were rescued from the rubble of their demolished house as a result of the targeting of civilian houses in the town of Habit in rural Idlib, with six explosive drums and two warplanes” (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • An airstrike hits Al Habit, May 4th (via NPA).
  • "The bombing of a fixed wing aircraft belonging to the Syrian regime forces several missiles near the Martyr Khaled al-Bakr School for Basic Education in the village of Habit in the southern governorate of Idlib, resulting in partial damage to the entrance and the wall, and the damage to its construction and furniture with moderate material damage, on 4 May 2019" (via SN4HR).
  • "The bombing of a fixed-wing aircraft belonging to the Syrian regime with rockets, a gathering of 3 schools, "Khalid Al-Mousa Secondary School, Khawla Primary School, Al-Qadisiya School" in the village of Habit in the southern governorate of Idlib. In partial damage to school buildings and damage to furniture, on May 3, 2019." (via SN4HR).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A severely injured man laying underneath the rubble, after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on Al Habit, May 4th, 2019 (via @Alma8900).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers evacuating a wounded man after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Al Habit, May 4th, 2019 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers in front of an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Al Habit, May 4th, 2019 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Al Habit, May 4th, 2019 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers evacuating a wounded man after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Al Habit, May 4th, 2019 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Translation: "With high-explosive missiles, a military aircraft unloaded its cargo on the town of Al Habit south Idlib" (via Step News Agency).
  • Translation: "The town of Habit in the village of Idlib at the mercy of bombing and explosive barrels" (via Shaam News Network).
  • Translation: "The moment when the helicopter bombed the explosive barrel on the town of Habit in rural Idlib" (via Baladi News).
  • Translation: "The effects of the destruction of the Habit in the countryside of Idlib as a result of the bombing of the regime and the Russian occupation" (via Aljesr Tv).
  • Translation: " A violent line of rocket launchers targets the town of Habit, north of Hama" (via Qasioun News).
  • Translation: A woman was rescued from the rubble in the town of Habit and the rest of her family - white helmets" (via Syrian Civil Defence).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (47) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3665

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

ربع الجور, Rab’a Al Jwar, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including two sisters and their mother and possibly their father died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Rab’a al Jwar village located in the northeast of Khan Sheikhoun city in Idlib, local media reported.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that a family of four was killed, including two children and their parents. Edlib Media Center claimed that three women and one child were killed instead.

In a tweet, @abuhuzaifa_ claimed that a total of five civilians were killed, including only one child.

France24 reported: “In the village of Raba al-Jwar in Idlib, an AFP correspondent saw a man preparing to flee with his son after a night raid on their home killed his wife and daughter-in-law with two of her children. Sunday’s raids targeted three hospitals, two in southern Idlib and one in the northern Hama countryside, leaving two of them out of service. The Syrian Observatory accused the Russian planes of launching the raids.”

Horrya put the death toll at four women and a girl, also blaming Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Jana Anas Khaled Sallal جنى أنس خالد
Child female killed
Hamida Anas Khaled Sallal حميدة أنس خالد
Child female killed
Anas Khaled أنس خالد
Adult male Father of the two children killed
Mother
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Rab’a Al-Jour on May 5th (via @abuhuzaifa_).
  • Translation: "Civilian casualties after an aerial bombardment which targeted the village of Rab`a al jwar near Khan Sheikhan - White Helmets"

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An infant killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Rab’a Al Jowr on May 5th, 2019 (via EMC1).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC134

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

سيدي السايح, Sidi as Sa'is, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.562667, 13.254399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two children were allegedly killed in a GNA airstrike on Sidi as Sa’is.

Tripoli el Ezz reported “the death of a child from the Ashour family as a result of the bombing of a plane from Misurata.”

Arseefa said: “The children Mutasim Ashour Ali Sayeh, 6 years old, and Ali Ashour Ali Sayeh, 5 years, died and their father was injured because of indiscriminate shelling by an aircraft from the Misurata air base.”

Most other sources also reported the death of two children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mutasim Ashour Ali Sayeh
6 years old male Brother of Ali Ashour Ali Sayeh killed
Ali Ashour Ali Sayeh
5 years old male Brother of Mutasim Ashour Ali Sayeh killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged strike

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture supposedly showing the body of Mutasim

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictures of the supposed victims

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sidi As Sais (سيدي السايح), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.562667, 13.254399. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC135

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

جسر الزهراء, Al Zahra Bridge, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.676671, 13.055878 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man was allegedly injured by an airstrike on Al-Swani.

FMSC reported: “An elderly man was injured by shrapnel as a result of aerial bombardment near al-Zahra bridge in the Al-Swani area.”

Local reports of fighting point at the GNA or LNA as the perpetrator.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the alleged victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Al Zahra bridge (جسر الزهراء) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.676671, 13.055878. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3661

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

الكندة, Al Kenda, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Mus’ab Mahmoud al Satouf, from al Hweiz village in Hama, was  killed in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Al Kenda, according to local media.

No more information is available at the moment.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mus’ab Mahmoud al Satouf مصعب محمود الصطوف
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mus’ab Mahmoud al Satouf was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Kenda village in Idlib on May 5th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM217

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

Vicinity of Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.25045, 44.69117 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US military carried out an airstrike in the vicinity of Tortoroow, according to a press release from US Africa Command issued the following day.

AFRICOM asserted that three al Shabaab fighters were killed, and that it currently assessed that no civilians were harmed in the action.

It further noted that the precision airstrike was used in self-defence of Somali partners: “Somali forces were leading an operation to disrupt the terrorist network in the area and to bolster local support for the Federal Government of Somalia.  The airstrike was conducted in collective self-defense of our Somali partners after they were engaged by al-Shabaab militants during this operation.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of the village Tortoroow, for which the coordinates are: 2.25045, 44.69117. 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

Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. target al-Shabaab terrorists

To support the Federal Government of Somalia's continued efforts to degrade al-Shabaab, U.S. forces conducted a precision airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Tortoroow, Somalia, on May 5, 2019.

By U.S. AFRICA COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, United States Africa CommandStuttgart, GermanyMay 06, 2019

To support the Federal Government of Somalia's continued efforts to degrade al-Shabaab, U.S. forces conducted a precision airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Tortoroow, Somalia, on May 5, 2019.

Somali forces were leading an operation to disrupt the terrorist network in the area and to bolster local support for the Federal Government of Somalia. The airstrike was conducted in collective self-defense of our Somali partners after they were engaged by al-Shabaab militants during this operation.

“This airstrike is an example of the niche capabilities we provide our Somali partners as they take the fight to al-Shabaab,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Gregg Olson, U.S. Africa Command director of operations. “Our precision strike capabilities support our Somali partners as they continue to lead operations against the terrorist network.”

At this time, it is assessed this airstrike killed three al-Shabaab terrorists.
Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike. When warranted, processes and procedures exist that allow for additional information to inform post-strike analysis.

U.S. Africa Command will continue to work with its partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia from AMISOM to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States. In support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to assist in the protection of the Somali people, including partnered military counter-terror operations with the Federal Government of Somalia, AMISOM, and Somali National Army forces.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (2) [ collapse]