Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

RS3446

Incident date

June 10, 2018

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81374, 36.60964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children from the same family were killed and a woman injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ariha in Idlib, Syria on June 10th, 2018, according to local media sources.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that “Russian airstrikes targeted the city of Ariha in central Idlib countryside, resulting in the fall of martyrs and wounded civilians.”

@SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that “Two girls martyred and another woman was injured, after an airstrike by the regime forces on the city of Ariha, south of the city of Idlib, and the civil defense teams managed, after a work that lasted for more than 3 hours, to pull out bodies of the martyrs from the rubble of their destroyed house and complete search and rescue operations.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights named the two girls reporting that “The girls, sisters, Zahraa Sarmini and Amina Sarmini were killed as Syrian regime warplanes fired several missiles on al Sharqi neighborhood in Ariha city in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on June 10th, 2018.”

Ariha Today said the raids were undertaken with Sukhoi-22 and that the strikes caused destruction to civilians’ houses.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

14 years old female killed
5 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • "Two girls martyred and a woman was injured, after an air strike by the regime warplanes on the city of Ariha, south of Idlib, and civil defense teams managed, after three hours to extract the martyrs from the rubble of their destroyed house and complete search and rescue operations."
  • "Al-Assad warplanes bombard the cities and towns of Binnish, Ram Hamdan, Taftanaz, Ma`rat Misrin and Ariha in the countryside of Idlib with several air strikes that led to martyrs and injured civilians."
  • "New martyrs in raids on the city of Ariha, Idlib, Syria."
  • "Watch the regime's air strikes on the city of Ariha, in Idlib countryside."
  • "The regime's warplanes target with missiles the city of Ariha, in the southern countryside of Idlib."
  • White Helmets volunteers rescuing civilians after an alleged Russian or regime raid on Ariha in Idlib, on June 10th, 2018 (via SCD)
  • White Helmets volunteers rescuing civilians after an alleged Russian or regime raid on Ariha in Idlib, on June 10th, 2018 (via SCD)
  • White Helmets volunteers rescuing civilians after an alleged Russian or regime raid on Ariha in Idlib, on June 10th, 2018 (via SCD)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha, Idlib on June 10th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha, Idlib on June 10th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha, Idlib on June 10th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha, Idlib on June 10th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha, Idlib on June 10th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha, Idlib on June 10th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha, Idlib on June 10th, 2018 (via EMC)
  • Syria Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians after a raid on Ariha on June 10th, 2018 (via Ariha Today)
  • Syria Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians after a raid on Ariha on June 10th, 2018 (via Ariha Today)
  • Syria Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians after a raid on Ariha on June 10th, 2018 (via Ariha Today)
  • Syria Civil Defense volunteers rescuing civilians after a raid on Ariha on June 10th, 2018 (via Ariha Today)

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
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4415

Incident date

November 22, 2021

Location

قرية تلتيتا في جبل السماق في ريف ادلب الغربي , Tetita Village, Al Somaq Mountain, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.109888, 36.549981 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian airplanes targeted Jabal Al-Summaq or “Jabal Al-Druze” (as referenced to by residents from the Druze sect), in the western countryside of Idlib, allegedly killing two people and wounding up to seven others, with vacuum missiles, on Monday November 22nd 2021.

The correspondent for Step News Agency reported that “Russian warplanes bombed with high-explosive vacuum missiles the vicinity of Talita village in Jabal Al-Summaq, east of Kafr Takhari”. Step Agency added that the residents still live in their villages as the area has not been targeted for several years.

According to a Facebook user, Suwayda24, the two civilians were called Ayman al-Qudah and Ibrahim Najdo and they were described as “young”.

Apparently, the strikes targeted workers picking olives on agricultural land and seven of those workers were injured. Although Sham News reported that “the sources pointed out that the Russian warplanes targeted the outskirts of the aforementioned village with several air raids, terrifying the residents, and causing great panic to the residents of the area, as the raids affected an agriculturl road while two civilians were passing on a motorcycle, causing their deaths.”

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Ayman al-Qudah
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Najdo
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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.

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Two civilians were allegedly killed when a Russian airstrike hit the village of Talita in western Idlib on November 22nd 2021 (Image via MMS)
  • Two civilians were allegedly killed when a Russian airstrike hit the village of Talita in western Idlib on November 22nd 2021 (Image via MMS)
  • Two civilians were allegedly killed when a Russian airstrike hit the village of Talita in western Idlib on November 22nd 2021 (Image via MMS)
  • Syria Civil Defense posted a photo of the rescue operation including retrieving the bodies, after two civilians were reportedly killed by Russian airstrike on November 22nd 2021 (Image via SyriaCivilDefense / Facebook)
  • Two civilians were allegedly killed on the outskirts of Talita village by an alleged Russian airstrike on November 22nd 2021 (Image via @mahmoodtalha22 / Twitter)
  • Two civilians were killed by an alleged Russian airstrike on December 2nd 2021 (Image via @abo_aljod84 / Twitter)
  • Midani Soydaa posted a photo on Facebook of the alleged Russian airstrike which hit Talita village on November 22nd 2021.
  • Midani Soydaa posted a photo on Facebook of the alleged Russian airstrike which hit Talita village on November 22nd 2021.

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the outskirts of the village of Teltita (تلتيتا). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, Airwars has narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 36.109888, 36.549981.

  • Reports of the incident mention the outskirts of the village of Teltita (تلتيتا).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @Loaealhaas00963

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @pressrahhal1

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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.

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ030

Incident date

May 29, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.075302, 19.8042297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA fighter jets targeted a vessel west of Qamins 25 km west of Benghazi according to the official LNA Facebook page.
Social media sources added that the LNA also launched raids on Qawarsheh, Bosnib and Sabri.

The status of any civilian crew onboard the vessel is unknown. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS483c

Incident date

January 8, 2022

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least five civilians, including a woman and a child, were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes or drone strikes on Kobani on January 8, 2022.

According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in total one civilian was killed and 12 other civilians, including women and children, were wounded in incidents across Kobani. The injuries varied in severity and were taken to Kobani hospital for treatment.

Hawar News reported the name of the civilian injured in Kobani: Narine Shukri Bashar (25 years old); Mazloum Bakr Tayeb (36 years old), Al-Hal Market; Muhammad Bahaa Din Ali (35 years old), Souq al-Hal; Adel Kitkani (30 years old) in Souk Al-Hal, Khaled Mustafa Bashar (5 years), wounded by shrapnel in the shoulder, in front of Nowruz Market.

The villages that were affected by the Turkish bombing were the villages of Tal Hajib, Qarmog, Goran, Khani, Sarzuri and Koltepe, located east of Kobani on the border with Turkey. Hawar News identified four locations in Kobani that were subject to bombing and shelling: in front of the shrine of the martyrs on the Aleppo road south of the city, in front of the Newroz company in the city center, and in front of the green market (Al-Hal Market) north of the city and on the hill of Mashta Nour.

One of the injured in the Turkish bombing of the city of Kobani, Narin Shukri Bashar, told Hawar News, “I was going to my family’s house with my son when the bombing happened in front of the Nowruz company. I didn’t notice anything at first, and then I noticed that I had an injury in my leg, and I was taken to the hospital for treatment,” she added.

The General Council of the Democratic Union Party issued a written statement: “In a new test for the international community and the United Nations, the Turkish regime violated international principles and laws and targeted civilians in the center of Kobani city this morning, Saturday, with (drones) and heavy weapons, and its indiscriminate bombing resulted in martyrs and wounded civilians and extensive damage to their property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Narine Shukri Bashar
25 years old female injured
Mazloum Bakr Tayeb
36 years old injured
Muhammad Bahaa Din Ali
35 years old injured
Adel Kitkani
30 years old injured
Khaled Mustafa Bashar
5 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish shelling on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Kassioun)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish shelling on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Kassioun)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Turkish bombing of villages around Kobani on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    the child Abdo Mustafa Hanifi, whose leg was amputated in the bombing of the city of Kobani and its villages on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

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
    4–5
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ010

Incident date

September 25, 2015

Location

درنة الفتايح, Al Fatayah, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.733611, 22.645278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA reportedly targeted the Shura Council and ISIS with 25 airstrikes at dawn in the eastern part of the city.

According to Libya 24 News, “a plane belonging to the Libyan air force struck at dawn today sites belonging to the Libyan branch of the Islamic State organization ‘Daesh’ east of the city of Derna, amid ongoing clashes.”

Despite the significant number of reported airstrikes, there were no local published reports of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (10) [ collapse]

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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4438

Incident date

February 20, 2022

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.347545, 37.531967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were injured, with one reportedly dying of their injuries, when an unexploded cluster bomb from a previous bombing by the regime or Russian forces exploded in the town of Tadef on February 20, 2022.

According to a tweet from @Almohrar1, two children were injured, one of whom had his hand amputated, due to the explosion of a cluster bomb from a previous Russian bombing of the town of Tadef.

Baladi News also reported that two children were seriously injured from the explosion of bomb remnants. However, they attributed the previous bombing to the regime.

A day after the incident, February 21st, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that one of the children that was injured died from the explosion in Tadef.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadef (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.347545, 37.531967. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3541

Incident date

September 4, 2018

Location

كفردسن, Kfar Dassen, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafr Dassen, Idlib governorate, on September 4th, 2018, according to Step News Agency.

Step wrote that “Russian warplanes launched intensive air raids targeting villages and towns of rural Idlib West and the western and northern and western countryside of  Hama, since the morning of Tuesday, the fourth of September, causing deaths and injuries among civilians”, adding that two people died in the village of Kafr Dassen.

Other sources did not report on the incidents, and Airwars is unable to geolocate the village of Kafr Dassen.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing strikes in Idlib, 4th September 2018. (via Sputnik)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ002

Incident date

October 18, 2014

Location

بنغازي‎, Bosnib, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.035556, 20.048333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several local sources reported that the LNA targeted the Shura Council in Benghazi – though one source blamed Egypt. The strike reportedly hit the area in the west of Benghazi called Bosnib.

Nöor çoröğlü posted pictures of destroyed civilian homes due to the strikes but did not mention civilian harm.

According to @zicotarhuni, the Egyptian air force bombed the Bosnib area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: the target of Bu-Utni by the LNA (source: Alzarook_Nabbos)
  • Translation: Images of destroyed civilian homes (source: tweeted by Nöor çoröğlü)

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military 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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]