Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS1777

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

باب قنسرين, Bab Qansrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19432, 37.15575 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were reportedly killed in airstrikes on Bab Qansrin neighbourhood, Aleppo, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

The incident was reportedly part of a larger aerial shelling of Aleppo that day, that in total killed and wounded “dozens” on December 8th 2016, Aletihad Press News reported. According to that source and Halab News, the shelling of Bab Qansrin led to seven civilian fatalities.

No sources reported any numbers of wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1776

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

الجلوم, Jalloum, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.196817, 37.154326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that six civilians were killed by airstrikes on the neighbourhood of Jalloum, Aleppo – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assda regime were to blame.

While two sources pointed blame on Russia, one source explicitly pointed to the Syrian regime. Additionally, @Syria_Tweets reported that “helicopters target Jaloum neighbourhood in old Aleppo with eight explosive drums”, which is known to be carried out by the Syrian regime.

No further information is currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1775

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

الانصاري, al-Ansari, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1529125, 37.075864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that air or artillery strikes killed up four civilians as they struck the neighbourhood of al-Ansari, Aleppo. The responsible belligerent was, however, unclear with one source pointing to the Syrian regime and another two attributing the incident to Russia.

The incident was reportedly part of a larger aerial shelling of Aleppo, that in total killed and wounded “dozens” on December 8th 2016, Aletihad Press News reported. According to that source, the shelling of al-Ansari led to four civilian fatalities.

@abdulrahm55an41 published a video from the aftermath of the shelling, showing the dead body of one civilian man.

Despite the general reporting from Aleppo, no known sources mentioned the number of wounded in al-Ansari that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Tweet and video showing one of the victims of what in the tweet is claimed to be Russian strikes on al-Ansari, Aleppo, on 8 December 2016 (via @abdulrahm55an41)

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1774

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

معادي, Ma'adi, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1914827, 37.1630799 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians were killed as warplanes and possibly artillery attacked the neighbourhood of Ma’adi, Aleppo, local sources reported. However, were it was unclear whether the strikes were carried out by Russia or the Syrian regime.

The incident was reportedly part of a larger aerial shelling of Aleppo, that in total killed and wounded “dozens” on December 8th 2016, Aletihad Press News reported. According to that source, the shelling of Ma’adi led to seven civilian fatalities.

No known sources mentioned how many wounded the strikes in Ma’adi caused.

About half of the sources pointed to Russia as the culprit, while the other half attributed blame to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The contested airstrikes on Ma'adi, Aleppo, on 8 December, 2016, reportedly inflicted heavy damage on the city's buildings (via @ShehabAgency)

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1773

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19569, 37.14229 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to seven civilians, including at least one woman, were killed and more than twenty were left wounded following air and/or artillery shelling of Bustan al-Qasr, Aleppo. The sources, however, were unclear as to whether the incident was caused by Russia or the Assad regime.

The sources reported the death of between two and seven victims and identified one man and one woman by name. The highest number of wounded was given by Aletihadpress, reporting  “dozens” injured.

There were  reports about the use of both airstrikes and artillery. Several sources also mentioned that helicopters dropped explosive barrels containing suffocating chlorine gasses, attributing blame to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Yousef Hassoun
44 years old male rom the town of Daret Ezzah killed
Fatima Mohammad Rashid al Sheikh Nayef
50 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1772

Incident date

December 7, 2016

Location

عندان , Anadan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two named civilians died and two more were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Anadan in the northern Aleppo countryside, according to sources on the ground.

Syria Mubasher, Abu Taym Al-Halabi, and Syria rev news said that one civilian had died.

Halab News noted the use of cluster bombs, while LCCSY said that “several bunker-busting missiles” were used.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mansour
50 years old male killed
Mohammad Abd al Razzak Koraj
44 years old male killed

Summary

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

Sources (9) [ 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 December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI363

Incident date

December 7, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Multiple neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nearly 100 civilians were killed or wounded in Mosul due to airstrikes and artillery bombardment, according to a local source.

Iraqi Spring Media Center reported the deaths of 98 civilians in Mosul during the preceding 48 hours due to aerial and artillery bombardment targeting residential areas.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, the Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as Not credible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    98
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 6th-7th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a VBIED facility and an excavator, damaged three supply routes, and suppressed two tactical units.” For December 7th-8th, the Coalition has not yet released a strike report.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    98
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI364

Incident date

December 7, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 60 civilians were killed and as many as 100 injured in a series of airstrikes in al Qaim, according to reports. However, the alleged Coalition later denied responsibility.

Iraqi Spring Media Center said that 60 civilians were killed and 100 injured in an Iraqi government bombing that targeted al Qaim. A report posted on Rawh2015 and at least one other Facebook page indicated that three strikes took place – including on in front of the Grand Mosque and another targeted civilians during the receipt of pensions.

Rafidian Information Center reported that 6 air raids took place. A report in Shafaaq said the head of Iraq’s Parliament blamed the strikes on incorrect coordinates. Other outlets, including Euphrates Post, blamed the Coalition.

However, in a statement posted to Twitter, the Coalition’s spokesperson said that CJTF-OIR is aware of reports of civilian casualties near Al Qaim. We did not conduct strikes in the area around the time of the incident. This was later reiterated in the Coalition’s February 2017 civilian casualty report.

Later reports from Iraqi Spring Media Center put the death toll at 120 civilians. News of Iraq posted extremely graphic photographs of dead children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 120
  • (21 children13 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • An image shows a dead child on the ground following an alleged airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
  • An image shows a dead child on the ground following an alleged airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
  • An image shows a dead child on the ground following an alleged airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
  • A picture of Mahmoud Ali al-Naim, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar on December 7, 2016(Via Euphrats Post)
  • A picture shows a destroyed building following the alleged Coalition airstrike on al Qaim (Via nrttv)
  • An image shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported alleged Coalition strike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via Rudaw)
  • Another image shows a destroyed site following an airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
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
    Al Qa’im, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

In a statement posted to Twitter, the Coalition’s spokesperson said that “CJTF-OIR is aware of reports of civilian casualties near Al Qaim. We did not conduct strikes in the area around the time of the incident.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 120
  • (21 children13 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]