Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS298

Incident date

December 22, 2015

Location

كفر داعل, Kafr Da'el, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.216015, 37.021403 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including two children were killed and several other children injured in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike which hit an elementary school in Kafr Da’el in the countryside west of Aleppo.

According to the Shaam News Network which blamed Russia, local activists said those killed were a teacher (or possibly school superintendent) and two students, while the injured were taken to medical points for treatment. The VDC, Baladi News, Halab News, Al Buraq and TurkArab also blamed Russia.

Smart News instead said the deaths occurred “after Regime warplanes threw explosive barrels on the town of Kafr Dael.” Jisr TV agreed that the regime was responsible.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Haso
Age unknown named by Al Buraq killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Al Jisir news bulletin reporting on the contested airstrikes. (via, Al Jisir)

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    An image of a deceased child, possibly one of the students, (via, Baladi News)
  • The aftermath of the event. (via, Baladi News)
  • Part of the inside of the school which was targeted during the attack on 22nd December 2015. (via, Al Burqa Media)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd 2016, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces… In Aleppo province, a Su-34 bomber made a strike on a command centre of one of the Ahrar ash-Sham illegal armed groups uncovered by UAVs. Direct hit on the building occupied by terrorists completely destroyed the facility.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS299

Incident date

December 22, 2015

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and eight civilians including one to five women and four children were killed – and several other injured – in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bdama, Jisr al Shughour, according to multiple sources.

Reports by the Shaam News Network said that Russian warplanes targeted the town with two vacuum missiles, leading to the death of one woman, her three children and her fourth unborn child.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that five women were killed in the attack, three from the same family

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Omer al-Jamal
Adult male killed
Mohammad Kamal
Adult male killed
Mohammad Ali Haj Ahmad
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (4 children1–5 women3 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Fires blaze as White Helmets rescue a man from site of alleged Russian strike on Bdama, Dec 22nd (via White Helmets)

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    A baby killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on December 22nd 2015. (via, SNN)

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    Another girl killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on 22nd December 2015. (via, SNN)

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    White Helmets carry the bodies of deceased children from the scene. (via, SNN)

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    An injured man carried from the scene by the White Helmets in Jisr al Shughour. (via, SNN)

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    A girl's body being carried from the scene. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (4 children1–5 women3 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI163

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

Keseir, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were reportedly killed and three injured – all children and women – after Coalition jets allegedly bombed their house in Keseir village east of Mosul.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Alrafidain TV report on the incident

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that on December 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building, 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL bunkers, and destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI164

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.43747, 43.28632 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Coalition strike, possibly by drone, killed five civilians after a missile was said to have hit a restaurant in 17 Street in Ramadi.

On June 7th, 2017 the Coalition admitted responsibility for the incident, reporting: “Dec. 21, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed in an adjacent structure.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 33.437441, 43.286666

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
    Killed in adjacent structure
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLC407011
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • Dec. 21, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed in an adjacent structure.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported that for December 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Ramadi, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL command and control nodes, four ISIL weapons caches, two ISIL buildings, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), wounded two ISIL fighters, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI162

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

حي الوحدة, Mosul, Wahida, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3290942, 43.1870842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the second of three claimed incidents in Mosul on this date, it was reported that 17 civilians – including four women and five children – were killed in an alleged Coalition strike in the Wehda and Methak neighbourhoods east of Mosul.

However, there was some doubt regarding the incident, with NRN News reportedly denying that civilians had died.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, 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
    17
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF373220
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 21, 2015, in Wahida, Iraq, 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. 2873/CI162 38SLF373220

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that on December 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building, 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL bunkers, and destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI161

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, Talmuz / July 17th (Medical centre), Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3667014, 43.0854607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Reuters reported that “About 20 people, including at least 12 civilians, were killed on Monday in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, in two air strikes that destroyed houses believed to be used by Islamic State militants, six eyewitnesses and a medical source said.” According to the international news agency, “The two strikes happened within a 10-minute gap at about 3 p.m. local time, targeting the houses of a local Islamic State commander and his son in the July 17 district of western Mosul.”

There were reports that 15 ISIL fighters were killed and as many as 50 civilians injured in the attack, which also damaged a local medical centre. Women and children were said to be among the dead and injured.

Iraq News, citing local sources, said “three women and a man from the same family were killed in the bombing, after the collapse of their house, along with the deaths of three other members of the same family, including a child aged ten.”

Among those named killed were Ryan Kavakçi; Abdul Khaliq Ghanem Sabawi, his wife, his aunt and daughter Zainab; and Hossam Hammad and his brothers. NRN also reported that “the sons of Engineer Hazem Al-Sayer, manager of the Irrigation Directorate in Mosul, were killed with their wives and children.”

Local community leader Ethel Nujaifi later criticised the Coalition for bombing Daesh in commercial and residential areas: “Targeting elements of Daash can not justify the bombing of innocent civilians in residential areas.”

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, 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 incident occured at approximately 3:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdul Khaliq Ghanem Sabawi
Adult male killed
Zainab
Age unknown female Daughter of Abdul Khaliq Ghanem Sabawi killed

The victims were named as:

Ryan Kavakçi
Age unknown male killed
Hossam Hammad
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (4 children2 women1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–50
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Severe damage in Mosul following a reported Coalition strike December 21st which killed 10 or more civilians (via NRN News)
  • Abdul Khaliq Ghanem Sabawi, killed with his wife, daughter and aunt December 21st 2015 (NRN News)

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    A supposed victim of the attack (via NRN News)

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    Another supposed victim of the attack (via NRN News)

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    Another supposed victim of the attack (via NRN News)
  • The aftermath of the alleged attack (via NRN News)

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    Another supposed victim of the attack (via NRN News)
  • A child supposedly injured in the strike (via NRN News)

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
    38SLF282263
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, 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. 2872/CI161 38SLF282263

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that on December 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building, 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL bunkers, and destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (4 children2 women1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–50
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS296

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

رامي, Al Rami, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.763259, 36.558089 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four or more civilians were reported killed and more than 10 injured in Russian airstrikes on the villages of Al Zawiya mountain.

Footage appears to show a Su 24 in apparent Russian Air Force colours dropping two bombs in the vicinity of the town.

According to the Shaam News Network five or more Russian airstrikes with rockets targeted civilian homes in Al Rami. It added that the White Helmets were working to remove rubble and rescue the wounded.

Eldorar placed the civilian death toll at six, saying that the Russian attack had caused “extensive destruction to houses and property.” Maara Now said four civilians from one family died, they were all named by the VDC.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Khaled Yahya al-Khatib
Adult male killed
The wife of Khaled Yahya al-Khatib
Adult female killed
Mostafa Mohammad Khatib
Adult male killed
Zainab Ahmad al-Khatib
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Warplanes in the skies above Al Rami. Throughout the video you hear clear audio people (military) on the ground on walkie talkies describing the direction the warplane is taking and the bombs released also, and clearly stating Jabal el Zawiya. Our researchers believe we can confidently associate this video with this incident. (via, SNN)
  • A news clip reporting on the alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS297

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

الشيخ مقصود, Sheikh Maqsod (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.236126, 37.150049 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians were reported killed and nine injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sheikh Maqsod, according to the Shaam News Network. SNN reported that Russian warplanes launched several raids which came after the signing of a ceasefire between  rebels and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units.

However all other sources blamed the Assad regime. Ana Press noted: “Regime aircraft this afternoon targeted the Sheikh Maksoud neighborhood of Aleppo, killing two people and wounding others. The event is the first of its kind in two years, as the Sheikh Maksoud neighborhood has not been subjected to shelling, or airstrikes – not even from the Russian planes, which intervened in the region recently, since the neighbourhood has for several years been under the control of Kurdish factions in the city of Aleppo.”

Hawar News also blamed the regime, saying that barrel bombs had killed three civilians including an unborn child. It named the dead as Adnan Sabri Jawish aged 56 years and 20-year old Silvana Mustafa who was pregnant.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Sabri Jawish
56 years old named by Hawar News killed
Silvana Mustafa
20 years old female pregnant named by Hawar News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Sheikh Maqsod following airstrikes on December 21st 2015. (via, Ana Press)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For December 18th-23rd 2016, Russia reported that “In the course of five days, on December 18-23, aircraft of the Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 302 combat sorties engaging 1093 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces… In Aleppo province, a Su-34 bomber made a strike on a command centre of one of the Ahrar ash-Sham illegal armed groups uncovered by UAVs. Direct hit on the building occupied by terrorists completely destroyed the facility.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]