Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS503

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

حي الدرعية, Dir'iya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.947222, 38.991389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Smart, reported the deaths of three civilians including one woman and the injury of six others in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Dir’iyta neighbourhood of Raqqa.

According to Smart, “a local source in the town of Raqqa said that two men and a woman were killed and six others seriously injured after night-long raids on the Dir’iya neighborhood”. No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
Official source

For February 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 70 oil barrels, three oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two oil refinement stills and a weapons storage area; and damaged a bridge.” For February 18th-19th, they reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed four oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two ISIS-held buildings, two vehicles, a weapons cache, an oil refinement still and a communications station.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1931

Incident date

February 27, 2017

Location

الهزاني, Al-Hazani, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.206607, 37.164001 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed, and others were wounded, in an alleged air and artillery strike on Al-Hazani, Aleppo. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Two sources reported that Russia was responsible for the raid, whilst others attributed blame to the Syrian regime. SyriaMubasher reported that military aircraft were to blame – therefore not attributing any blame. 

Sources were also conflicted as to who was killed in the raid. Smart News reported that a man and a child were killed in the strike, whereas most other sources reported a man and a woman were killed, though there was other coverage claiming a child and a woman were killed. Additionally, the names of two children were published by Halab News.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Faisal Ahmad al Ahmad
Child killed
Watfa Ramadan al A’kla
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–2 children0–1 women0–1 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • News bulletin reporting on the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al-Hazani, Aleppo. 27th Feb 2017. (via Halab Today)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between February 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
    0 – 3
  • (0–2 children0–1 women0–1 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2108

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

السخنة, Al-Sukhna, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8848748, 38.8711739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Smart News reported that an airstrike struck the village of Al-Sukhna, causing the deaths of three people and wounding others. The strikes were thought to be conducted by Russian warplanes. 

One of those killed was a woman and another was reportedly a member of ISIS, although it is not clear whether or not this person was a combatant. 

Two civilians were reported wounded and sought medical treatment in Taybeh.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (0–1 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (0–1 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI620

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.376995, 42.462178 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians near Tal Afar, Iraq.

Their June 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event in the east of Tal Afar, which is to the west of Mosul.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    3
  • Stated location
    near Tal Afar, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF7234328755
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017

  • April 8, 2017, near Tal Afar, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 7th-8th: no strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2289

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

فجر, Fajir, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.074543, 37.547321 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and two children were killed, and five others were wounded, in an airstrike on Fajir, local media reported. Sources all blamed Russian military aircraft for the raids. 

According to Radio.Fresh, the wounded were transferred to hospital in the aftermath. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between June 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS689

Incident date

April 13, 2017

Location

الخاتونية, Khatouniya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9219103, 38.737935 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the death of three civilians following an alleged Coalition drone or air strike on a fire engine which was passing along the road between Al Jazara and Khatouniya.

The local news agency reported: “A local source told the Smart correspondent on Thursday that three civilian workers were killed in an air strike likely to be an international coalition on a road west of the city of Raqqa, northeast of Syria. The sources pointed out that an unmanned aircraft targeted a fire engine belonging to the Islamic Civil Defense Organization, as it passed the road between the villages of Al Khatouniya and Al Jazara killing three workers.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the road between the villages of Al Jazara (الجزرة) and Al Khatouniya (الخاتونية, alternative name: Al Saljiya, السلحبية), Raqqa governorate. The coordinates for Al Khantouniya are: 35.9219103, 38.737935.

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 Khatouniya, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 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. (1322)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqa seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position.”

For April 13th-14th: “Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Update from UK MoD for Thursday 13 April: ‘Thursday 13 April – Typhoons supported the Syrian Democratic Forces, hitting seven terrorist positions north of Raqqa in Syria…The following day [April 13th], Typhoons patrolled over Raqqa. North of the city, Syrian Democratic Forces reported being in very close combat with a group of seven, strongly defended, Daesh positions. Despite heavy cloud, the Typhoons were able to destroy one position on their first pass, then having confirmed the exact location of the other six targets, struck all of those simultaneously with Paveway IVs on a second pass.

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2334

Incident date

July 13, 2017

Location

حماد عمر , Hammad Omar, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.025374, 37.423313 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and a young man injured in alleged Russian air strikes on the town of Hammad Omar, east of Hama, according to local reports.

Alaraby reported that the raids occurred during battles between regime forces and ISIS.

An opposition media activist told the Syria Newsdesk that the area was targeted “with more than 70 raids a day, using rocket-propelled grenades and targeted rockets.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS097

Incident date

January 20, 2018

Location

الجزيرة, Al Jazeera district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.870929, 41.410544 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an undated event prior to January 26th, the Manbij Military Council reported that, “in the province al Jazira, Turkey used tanks, guns and mortars to shell residential neighborhoods, where nine different shells were documented, resulting in the death of three civilians and one injury.”

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the district of Al Jazeera district, Afrin (الجزيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.870929, 41.410544. 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
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]