Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS1782

Incident date

December 10, 2016

Location

بِنِّش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.953725, 36.711248 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this major event, local sources reported that alleged Russian airstrikes killed between zero and 15 civilians, including three children, and wounded up to 24, as they struck the city of Binnish, Idlib.

While Qasioun News said that there were no reports of casualties, the remaining sources reported up to 15 fatalities, including children. Eight victims were identified by name.

There is doubt as to whether one of the victims, Mustafa Haj Kadour, was a civilian or an opposition fighter. The Violations Documentation Center classifies him as a civilian while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Firas Al Ahmad refer to him as a “fighter” or “rebel militant”.

According to Qasioun News’ correspondent, alleged Russian warplanes dropped cluster bombs. LCCSY added that Russian forces had used vacuum missiles in the strikes.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Russia struck the “Mustafa Amouri School in the city of Binsh in the countryside Idlib, which led to the partial destruction of the building and exit from service on 10 December.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Haj Kadour
Adult male killed
Ahmed Amouri Al Assaad
Child male killed
Ahmad Omar Fayyad
Child male killed
Ahmad Muhammad Haj Talib
Child killed
Abd al-Lateef Mostafa al-Omer
Adult male killed
Amer Hasan al-Saeid
Adult male killed
Ahmad Abd al-Lateef Qara Ali
Adult male killed
Abd al-Moeti Jomea Istaifi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (3 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the immediate chaotic aftermath in Binnish, Idlib, after being struck by the alleged Russian airstrikes on 10 December, 2016 (via Ahmed Fallaha)
  • Footage of the immediate chaotic aftermath in Binnish, Idlib, after being struck by the alleged Russian airstrikes on 10 December, 2016 (via Mouaz Al Shami News)
  • The alleged Russian strikes on Binnish, Idlib, reportedly destroyed the Mustafa Amouri School (via SN4HR)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Mustafa Haj Kadour was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Firas Al Ahmad Facebook)
  • Mustafa Haj Kadour was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Firas Al Ahmad Facebook)
  • Ahmed Amouri Al Assaad was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Coordinators of the-revolution in the city of Binnish)
  • Ahmad Omar Fayyad was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Almasjedalkabeer Facebook)
  • Ahmad Muhammad Haj Talib was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Coordinators of the-revolution in the city of Binnish)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via Idlib Media Centre Facebook)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via Idlib Media Centre Facebook)
  • Abd al-Lateef Mostafa al-Omer was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via VDC)
  • Amer Hasan al-Saeid was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via VDC)
  • Ahmad Abd al-Lateef Qara Ali was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Binnish (بِنِّش), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.953725,36.711248. 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

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.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (3 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1781

Incident date

December 10, 2016

Location

جسر الحج, Jisr al-Haj, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1839796, 37.1475876 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians were killed and several more were wounded by air or artillery strikes, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, on Jisr Al Haj, Aleppo, local sources reported.

Most sources reported the death of one man, while others merely referred to “several” victims. Halab News gave the highest death toll of four civilians.

Multiple sources said that a man’s car was struck.

Almost all sources pointed to Russia as the culprit, adding that phosphorus bombs were used.

However Halab News reported that the strikes were carried out by both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Footage of civilians fleeing while the neighborhood of Jisr al-Haj, Aleppo hit by airstrikes, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime on 10 December, 2016 (via AMC)
  • The contested airstrikes reportedly killed one man and burned his car as the city of Jisr al-Haj, Aleppo was struck on 10 December 2016 (via @Mojahedaboaljod)
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes on the city of Jisr al-Haj, Aleppo, on 10 December 2016 (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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
    1 – 4
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI366

Incident date

December 9, 2016

Location

Mosul, Furqan mosque, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.338068, 43.16711 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 admitted in its February 2017 civilian casualty report that it had likely killed two civilians during a strike on an ISIL road repair team.

As the report noted: “Dec. 9, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIL construction equipment in the process of repairing cratered roads it is assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed by the munition’s strike blast when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.”

In February 2017, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for the event, accurate to within a one metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3550523005
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2017

  • Dec. 9, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIL construction equipment in the process of repairing cratered roads it is assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed by the munition’s strike blast when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

At the time, the Coalition publicly noted for December 9th-10th that “Near Mosul, nine strikes [3 British] engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed seven ISIL-held buildings, five vehicles, 10 fighting positions, eight front-end loaders, three mortar systems, two weapon caches, an excavator, an armored vehicle, and a heavy weapons system; damaged 11 supply routes and two ISIL compounds; and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS410 TS019

Incident date

December 9, 2016

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

At least thirteen civilians were reported killed and eight injured in either a Turkish or Coalition airstrike on al Bab. The Coalition later denied responsibility.

Al Jazeera – citing ISIS – said two families were among 13 dead civilians after multiple “Turkish airstrikes” on the city. The Syrian Observatory said that “no less than 12 civilians from three families were killed while others were wounded by Turkish airstrikes and bombardment by Turkish forces and al-Furat Shield forces targeted al-Bab city which is taken over by IS, including a man with his wife and 3 of their children in addition to another man from the same family, with his wife and 2 of their children, in addition to 2 children with their mother, the number of the dead is likely to rise.”

Shaam News placed the death toll at 20.

Almost all sources blamed Turkey. However LCCSY (which had claimed Turkey was not killing civilians in its actions in northern Syria) said the US-led Coalition was instead responsible. The Syrian Network also blamed the Coalition.

Halaab News (which blamed the Coalition) named the civilian victims.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Adult male killed
Abd al Rahman Na’ssani's wife
Adult female killed
Sidra Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female killed
Anas Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female killed
Sidal Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female
Malek Na’ssani
Adult male killed
Malek Na’ssani's wife
Adult female killed
Shahida Malik Na’ssani
Child female killed
Al Zafla Nour Malik Na’ssani
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hamad
Child male killed
Fouad Ahmad
Child male killed
Fatima al Nako
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jisr TV reports in tense 'Turkish air and artillery' shelling on the city of al Bab in preparation for a rebel attack. 9th December 2016

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.

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 Bab, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 8th-9th 2016, the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS409

Incident date

December 9, 2016

Location

معيزيلة, Ma'yezila, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1189143, 39.1815376 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 17 and 32 civilians were reported killed and a further 20 or more injured following alleged Coalition strikes on Ma’yezila.

According to Riba FM, the strike took place near the town’s Alh mosque. Raqqa News Network reported that “Al-Ma’yzila’s population is less than 300 and they all have the same grandfather. More than 28 martyrs were killed, around 10% were killed. This is a genocide.” And Shaam News reported that “Activists said the international coalition targeted several civilian houses in the village of Maizalh with missiles, leaving 17 martyrs in an initial toll and dozens wounded.”

In a detailed report, Syria Newsdesk said “32 civilians were killed and more than 20 others wounded on Thursday evening, by the the international coalition planes targeting with six raids houses in the centre of al Ma’yezila village which is under the control of the organization of the Islamic state in northern Raqqa. The media opposition activist Mohamed Osman, quoting civilian sources from the village, told Syria News Desk that two planes belonging to the international coalition bombed using vacuum missiles five houses in the village, killing 30 civilians, including two families made up of 16 people each including children. He confirmed that there are nine serious cases among the wounded, who were transferred to the National Hospital in Raqqa, the death toll is likely to rise in the coming hours, while the rest of the injured were ministered to at other medical points of the city. The source said the raids also resulted in the destruction of five houses completely and great damage occurred to four others houses.”

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event had been submitted “for further review.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Al-Afir family
Age unknown 8 members killed

Family members (4)

Mahmood Al-Ahmad Al-Shinan
Age unknown male killed
Mahmood Al-Ahmad Al-Shinan's daughter
Age unknown female killed
Ismaeil Al-Ahmad Al-Shinan
Age unknown male killed
Abdur Rahman Ahmad Al-Shanan
Child male killed

Family members (1)

Asa’ad Suleiman al Juma’a
Age unknown 4 members of this family killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Al-Shinan Al-Qalit
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Al-Hashim's daughter
Age unknown female killed
Ahmad Al-Hameed Al-Qalit's daughter
Age unknown female killed
Bushra Mohammad al Kalit
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 32
  • (7–10 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Ismaeil Al-Ahmad Al-Shinan, his bother Mahmood and his child Abdur-Rahman - killed in a reported Coaltion strike on December 8th 2016 (via Raqqa News Network)
  • Mahmoud al Ahmad Al Shanan and his brother Ismail Al Ahamd al Shanan who were martyred along with their entire family (via RBSS)
  • Mahmoud al Ahmad Al Shanan and his brother Ismail Al Ahamd al Shanan who were martyred along with their entire family (via RBSS)
  • Abd al Rahman al Ahmad al Shanan (via RBSS)
  • Asa’ad Suleiman al Juma’a (via RBSS)
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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mayaezila Village, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV163971
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 8th-9th 2016 the Coaltion reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a vehicle, a fighting position, and a supply cache. Near Ayn Isa, two strikes damaged five ISIL supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 32
  • (7–10 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI365

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375659, 42.451536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Yaqein reported that more than 40 civilians, including civilians, were killed in Iraqi government bombing. Citing a source, they said that there were 42 victims.

Al Hadath, citing the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, also cited government airstrikes in Tel Abtah, but said that they killed 42 terrorists, and destroyed three cars, one carrying members of ISIL. A Facebook account – Forth Theory – also cited more than 40 civilian deaths.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, 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
    42
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Tal Afar, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 7th-8th, the Coalition reported no strikes near Tal Afar. For December 8th-9th, the Coalition reported no strikes near Tal Afar.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS408

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.74226, 40.76953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one named civilian was reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike on al Bahra.

According to Al Nateq, “A Coalition airstrike in Al Bahra, in the countryside of Abu Kamal, killed civilians: one person was identified as Hassan Al-Jandeel.”

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

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Al-Jandeel
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Bahra, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 7th-8th 2016, the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed 17 oil tanker trucks and three oil wellheads.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1780

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

الأتارب, al-Atarib, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that a seven-months-old child, identified as Mahmoud al Said, died from a heart attack triggered by alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Atarib Aleppo. 

@khaleedalkhteb reported that the child “was killed by a heart attack from the intensity of fear and panic after the brutal Russian shelling near his home”.

Another source added that internationally-banned cluster bombs were used in the strikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud al Said
7 months years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mahmoud al Said, 7 months old, reportedly died from a heart attack caused by the alleged Russian airstrikes on al-Atareb, Aleppo, on December 8th 2016 (via @khaleedalkhteb)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mahmoud al Said, 7 months old, reportedly died from a heart attacks caused by the alleged Russian airstrikes on al-Atareb, Aleppo, on 8 December, 2016 (via @khaleedalkhteb)(via @shbabRevolution)

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
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]