Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

RS1877

Incident date

February 2, 2017

Location

حي القابون, Al Qaboun neighbourhood, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.547599, 36.338975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were reportedly killed and 16 more injured in an airstrike on al Qaboun, Damascus, according to local media – though it is unclear whether Assad’s regime or Russia were responsible.

Geroun News who put the death toll at one and 15 injured, reported that:

“Russian fighter jets launched four air raids on the Qaboun neighborhood east of Damascus on Thursday [2nd], killing a number of civilian casualties. The raids coincided with the regime’s shelling of the neighborhood with artillery and rocket launchers in a military escalation, the most violent in nearly two years.”

LCCSY reported that three civilians were killed in the attack, whilst most other sources reported two deaths and named the victims.

Syrian Network for Human Rights, RASD and Syria News Desk attributed responsibility to Assad’s regime.

Media activists speaking to 7al news noted “It is worth mentioning that the neighborhood of Qabun has been in a truce with the regime forces, for more than a year. But the regime forces from time to time violate – through artillery shelling and airstrikes, in addition to the bombing of buildings on the outskirts of the neighborhood, on the pretext of the existence of the organization of Fatah al-Sham”.

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–16
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Regime warplanes kill civilians in Qaboun neighbourhood.
  • Translation: One of the airstrikes in Qaboun
  • Translation: Wounded due to russian warplane shelling in Qaboun
  • Translation: Russian raid in Qaboun leaves martyrs and wounded.
  • Translation: For the first time in 3 years, Al-Qaboun neighborhood witnessed air raids on Thursday, on civilian houses in the neighborhood, killing and injuring them. As a result, two civilians were killed Shadi Hamdi al-Kareidi, Abu Shadi and the martyr Abu Yazen al-Arabini, pointing out that there are other wounded in a serious condition, and some of the unidentified victims are still under the rubble.
  • Translation: 4 airstrikes with rockets on residential neighborhoods in #Qaboun, east of the capital #Damascus. Resulting in the death of two martyrs and 16 civilians wounded and missing under the rubble.
  • Translation: Victims of the bombing of warplanes on the neighborhood of Qaboun in #Damascus.

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 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–16
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC059

Incident date

February 1, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi: Ganfouda 12 building complex, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.023611, 20.039722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two sources reported an LNA airstrike in Benghazi’s Ganfouda neighbourhood. A Twitter source said it hit the 12 Building complex.

The Libya Herald reported that soldiers discovered a mass grave in the heavily sieged area: “Soldiers have also today uncovered a mass grave in Ganfouda which contains an unknown number of bodies. Forensic experts are now examining the corpses, some of which appear to be quite recent. It is unclear if the dead are terrorists, civilians or captured members of the LNA.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image: Libya Herald

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the 12 buildings in Benghazi, for which the coordinates are: 32.023611 20.039722. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS470 RS1876

Incident date

February 1, 2017

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Coalition, or possibly Russian, airstrike which hit a Syrian Red Crescent hospital in Idlib injured up to a dozen civilians. The Coalition later denied involvement, though a unilateral US action remained possible.

The intended target of the dawn strike appeared to be the militant gropup Fatah al Sham at a base at the former Carlton Hotel. But numerous sources reported extensive damage to a Red Crescent hospital in the city. According to Shaam News “The bombing also caused the injury of nine members of the Red Crescent who were at the center during the raids, where the bombardment caused the interruption of the Centre’s work fully with the service.”

In a video it issued of the event, Step News interviewed a rescue worker at the scene: “At 3am we woke up to the noise of an air raid. We at the civil defence and the fire brigade headed to the target location and saw the Red Crescent centre/carlton hit with a missile that went through from the roof to the first floor. God was merciful as it didn’t reach at the way to the bottom where there were 30 members of the Red Crescent. They would’ve been hit. There are a few injured… we put the fires out and we took the injured to the hospitals.”

Four members of the local civil defence were also reportedly injured while attending the scene.

Multiple sources named Mamoun Kharbout, the head of the Syrian Red Crescent branch in Idlib, as one of the injured.

Most sources blamed the Coalition, although the Syrian Network said Russia may also have been responsible. In April the Coalition stated: “Feb. 1, 2017, near Idlib, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

 

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Adult male injured

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Step)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Members of the SARC Idlib branch pose with four ambulances in front of the Carlton Hotel. The picture was uploaded by their Facebook page on Jan. 17, 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Tweet by ICRC Syria (via Bellingcat)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Idlib's Red Crescent hospital, damaged in a reported Coalition strike on February 1st 2017 (via Bellingcat)
  • Translation: Warplanes target the Red Crescent building with airstrikes.
  • Translation: Injured members of the Red Crescent in aerial bombardment on the Carlton Hotel, Idlib.
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 Idlib, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 1, 2017
  • 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 31st-February 1st and February 1st-2nd the Coalition noted no strikes in the vicinity. However unilateral US strikes against Fatah al Sham are no longer reported by CJTFOIR.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS471

Incident date

February 1, 2017

Location

القادسية, Al Qadissiya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.982268, 39.213246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Al Ragga Truth, reported the death of three civilians in an alleged Coalition raid on Al Qadissiya farm, Raqqah.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al Ali Mustafa Al Thiab
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Hamid Al Jijan
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Hamid Al-Hadid
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Qadissiya (القادسية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.982268, 39.213246. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV982783
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020
  • Feb. 1, 2017, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3086/CS471 37SDV982783

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For Feb 1st-2nd, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes destroyed an oil storage tank, an oil barrel, an oil inlet manifold, an oil separation tank, a VBIED, a tunnel, and a weapons storage facility; and damaged a supply route."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr008

Incident date

February 1, 2017

Location

موجان, Mojan, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.425116, 46.171369 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Some local language Twitter users alleged that US battleships bombarded the area of Mojan, al-Maraqisha, Abyan province early on February 1st 2017, where AQAP militants were allegedly based.  One source claimed that fisherman in the Shaqra area spotted American battleships approaching from the coast.  There were no known reports of civilian or combatant casualties.

Other sources later claimed that US shelling took place in the same area on February 2nd.  One anonymous Yemeni government official, speaking to Reuters, said regarding the February 2nd strikes that “Ships fired several missiles towards the al-Maraqisha mountains, where al Qaeda elements are based. The ships are widely believed to be Americans.  We have received no information on the outcome of the shelling.”

On February 2nd, the Washington Times reported that “government officials” had told the Associated Press that the area had been shelled by US warships for five consecutive days, though no further sources corroborated this claim.  According to Reuters, the “al-Maraqisha mountains are a key al-Qaeda stronghold in Southern Yemen”, after militants were driven there when Zinjibar and Jaar fell to Yemeni government forces in 2016.

US Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davies denied US involvement in naval shelling, Reuters reported.  One Twitter source indicated that tribal sheikh Faisal Mohammed Baleedi denied any bombing in the region, while Al Mushahid reported that a “security source” also denied that shelling was taking place.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the coastal village of Mojan (موجان), south of Al Maraqisha mountains (جبال المراقشة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Mojan are: 13.425116, 46.171369.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS070

Incident date

January 31, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and six people were reportedly killed in Turkish bombardment of Al Bab, Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “While three people were killed, including a woman, by bombing and shelling by the Turkish forces and warplanes on areas in Tedef town and Al Bab city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo which is controlled by the ‘Islamic State’ organization.”

Asharq Alarabi reported a higher number: “In the governorate of Aleppo, 15 people were killed, eight of them in the shelling of the towns of Tedef, Al Bureij and Al Bab in the governorate’s countryside.”

LCCSY only said that ten civilians died due to Turkish shelling in the Aleppo area with the majority of them around Al Bab.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS071

Incident date

January 31, 2017

Location

تادف, Tedef, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around three civilians were reportedly killed in Tedef near Al Bab due to Turkish or Syrian regime shelling.

Asharq Alarabi reported: “In the governorate of Aleppo, 15 people were killed, eight of them in the shelling of the towns of Tedef, Al Bureij and Al Bab in the governorate’s countryside.”

Cyberaman only reported Syrian regime strikes in the area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “three people were killed, including a woman by bombing and shelling by the Turkish forces and warplanes on areas in Tedef town and Al Bab city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo which is controlled by the ‘Islamic State’ organization.”

The alleged civilian casualties from Al Bab were already mentioned in T69.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tedef (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS467

Incident date

January 31, 2017

Location

القطعة, Al Qata, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.66164, 40.79138 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike on al Qata – though it was not clear whether they were a civilian or a combatant.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “warplanes believed to be affiliated to the International coalition targeted places in the desert of the town of Qata eastern Deir Ezzor, which resulted in the death of at least one person.”

On March 4th the Coalition said it was assessing an event “near Dayr Az Zayr, Syria, via self-report.” Two months later officials confirmed that “that one civilian was unintentionally killed when he entered the target area after the munition was released.” The provided location – 37SFU 42967 39806 – lies equidistant between al Qata and Sbeikhan and it is our present assessment that these are most likely the same event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
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 Qata (Abu Kamal), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU6414636981
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 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 30th-31st the Coalition stated: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed 10 oil drums, two oil storage tanks and an oil wellhead.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition