Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS950 CS243

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

الخفسة, Al Khafsa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2308082, 38.021965 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 13 civilians died in airstrikes on Al Khafssa, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia, the US-led Coalition or the Syrian regime were to blame.

The majority of sources, including HNN, @AJABreaking and @HalabNewsN blamed Russia.

The Step News Agency, also attributed the event to Russia, put the death toll at seven, including two children and one woman. It added that the victims were from the same family.

Abarahpress said that as many as 13 had died, but similar to a number of other sources, did not identify the culprit.

However, Breakingnews reported the Coalition carried out strikes targeting ISIS in Al Khafssa. @RadioAlKul blamed the Coalition for seven deaths.

According to Manbij Mother of the World, “Coalition planes bomb the area of al Khafsa east of the cemetery with two missiles at exactly 02:00 am. There is news of a massacre in which an entire displaced family has been killed. We await further details from our correspondent.

One source, Syrianewsdesk, said the regime was responsible, putting the death count at five non-combatants.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A video listing those killed following alleged airstrikes, at 0’41” : "7 unidentified victims in an air raid on al Khafsa" (Youtube via Halab TV Today)
  • SN4HR report entitled ‘No less than 240 Massacres in the First half of 2016 - including 33 massacres in June (PDF via SN4HR) [English]

  • SN4HR report entitled ‘No less than 240 Massacres in the First half of 2016 - including 33 massacres in June (PDF via SN4HR) [Arabic]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA121099
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • June 27, 2016, in Al Khafsa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2995/CS243 37SDA121099

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 26th - 27th:

* Near Manbij, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL tunnels and damaged an ISIL fighting position and denied ISIL access to terrain.

For June 27th - 28th:

* Near Manbij, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, and an ISIL anti-tank guided weapon and damaged three ISIL fighting positions.

Update from UK MoD for Monday 27 June:

‘Monday 27 June – Typhoons provided close air support to Syrian democratic forces fighting in Manbij…On Monday 27 June, while Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s conducted reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence on Daesh activity, Typhoon FGR4s and Reaper remotely piloted aircraft provided support to both Syrian democratic forces and Iraqi units. The same day, in Syria, a pair of Typhoons conducted a successful attack with Paveway IV guided bombs against a Daesh strongpoint on the south-western outskirts of Manbij.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (27) [ collapse]