Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS205

Incident date

November 28, 2015

Location

بانص, Banis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.97697, 36.9748 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven to eight civilians were reported killed, including two women and four children, and at least people 20 injured in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Bansh, according to the Shaam News Network and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Shaam posted a video depicting the aftermath of the alleged attack, stating that an entire family was killed and that the death toll was eight. It also claimed this was the fifth time a local truce between Jaish Al Fatah and the Assad regime had been broken.

According to the Syrian Network, seven non-combatants died, three houses were destroyed and three further homes were majorly damaged. The monitors also stressed that an agreed truce between the Syrian regime and the rebel Al Fateh Army had been broken.

Omar Hajj Kaddour, a local media activist, told the Syrian Network: “I was in my house when the first airstrike happened at around 12 pm. I went there to film the location. Then the second airstrike was launched while I was trying to reach the house. The warplanes shelled a house, which killed eight individuals and their bodies were turned to body parts. Bansh is among other cities that have an agreement with government forces. But the Russian warplanes breached the truce and shelled the city.”

SN4HR and VDC named seven victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abdul Salam Walid Hajar
Child male Named by SN4HR killed
Mohammad Walid Hajar
Child male Named by SN4HR killed
Ibrahim Ayman Hajar
Child male Named by SN4HR killed
Maryam Ayman Hajar
Child female Named by SN4HR killed

The victims were named as:

Omaya Abdul Karim Houran
Adult female Named by SN4HR killed
Dayana Jameel Al Sadeq
Adult female Named by SN4HR killed
Abdul Salam Al Hamedi
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (4 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of bodies as they are removed from the site of an alleged Russian raid on Bansh, November 28th 2016. (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the incident where an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid targeted Pensch killing an entire family. (via ShaamNetwork S.N.N)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (4 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS203

Incident date

November 28, 2015

Location

دير العصافير, Dayr Al Asafir, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.466667, 36.419722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four non-combatants were reported killed – and several injured – following alleged Russian or Assad regime “violent raids” that struck civilian homes in Dayr al Asafeer, according to reports.

The White Helmets said the attack caused a huge fire which they extinguished but did not mention who the planes belonged to – referring only to “warplanes” which fired “four very heavy missiles”. Al Jazeera and Syria 2011 blamed Assad for the strikes. And Radio Al Kul said aircraft from both belligerents had battered the town.

The incident was first reported on November 28, 2015 at 11:42 am by Qasioun News Agency وكالة قاسيون للأنباء .

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets attempt to extinguish fire following an alleged Russian airstrike on Deir Al A'ssafeer, November 28th (via White Helmets)
  • Fires blaze in Dayr al Asafeer, following alleged Russian or regime strikes, Nov 28th (via Syrian Civil Defense in Rural Damascus)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Dayr Al Asafir (دير العصافير), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.466667, 36.419722. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia made no mention of strikes in Damascus governorate for the week of November 26th–December 4th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS202

Incident date

November 28, 2015

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two sisters and their mother were among four civilians killed in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, according to reports.

Local journalist Bassel al Darwish said “Assad’s criminal planes and Russia” were responsible for the deaths. The FSA and the Damascus Centre blamed the regime. And Syria 2011 and the local coordination committee held Russia solely responsible.

The VDC – which blamed “air forces shelling of the city” – has named the four victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Fadia Abdul Kareem Susi
Adult female Name by VDC killed
Leen Rifaat Susi
Child female Name by VDC injured
Haneen Rifaat Susi
Child female Name by VDC killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Waleed al-Dudo
Adult male Name by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    GRAPHIC: The bodies of two sisters killed in AN alleged Russian strike on Khan Sheikhoun, November 28th (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of Leen (via SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of Haneen (via SNN)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Khan Shaykhun (خان شيخون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.44208, 36.65095. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS196 CS151

Incident date

November 26, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to eight civilians including four children were reported killed, and 10 injured, when Russian warplanes allegedly launched several rockets on Hetten School in Raqqa, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Ara News also blamed Russia.

Syria Press Report (citing the Syrian Observatory) placed the death toll at 12 and said the attack was by ‘warplanes unknown.’ Eldorar blamed the regime. And BBC Arabic said only that ‘international air strikes’ hit Raqqa, noting that “It is not yet known who carried out the air strikes on the capital of the “Islamic state”, which is exposed to a campaign of international airstrikes, particularly after Paris and the bombing of a Russian aircraft in the Egyptian Sinai attack.”

Monitors later named two victims and 3-6 victims unnamed, including four children

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they may have been 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.

The victims were named as:

Okay Mahmoud
Child named by SNHR killed
Mohammad Al Ma’ayouf /Raqqa
Adult named by SNHR killed
unnamed child 1
Child killed
unnamed child 2
Child killed
unnamed child 3
Child killed
unnamed child 4
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar Raqqah, November 26th (via SN4HR)
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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

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
    37SEV007784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 26, 2015, in Raqqah, 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. 2882/CS151 37SEV007784

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
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS194

Incident date

November 26, 2015

Location

القريتين, Al Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.229890, 37.238245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male civilian was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Qaryatain according to the Violations Documentation Center. Most other sources instead said both the Assad regime and Russian aircraft participated in the event.

Indicating the chaos on the ground, QNN6 reported: “Assad’s gangs, supported by Russia… are bombing the town of al Qaryatain with artillery and air raids  in order to control it amid violent clashes around the west of the city with Islamic State.” Damascus Now also reported airstrikes by both Russia and the regime. However pro-regime sites said the airstrikes were the work of the Syrian Air Force

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Hsain al-Saleh
Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town Al Qaryatayn (القريتين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.229890, 37.238245. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS193 CS152

Incident date

November 26, 2015

Location

الخفسة, Khafsa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.23333, 38.01667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed and several injured in an alleged Russian, Assad regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Khafasa.

According to Shaam News Network, significant damage was caused to a water purification plant in the village, after seven raids. It said the plant provided water to most of the Aleppo neighbourhoods. It was additionally claimed that “Russian planes also targeted the water pumping plant near the town of Masskana.” Radio Al Kul and the Syrian News Desk also blamed Russia.

Smart News instead described the attack as the work of the Assad regime: “Seven civilians were killed this morning, in two regime raids targeting the drinking water treatment plant in the village of Al Khafsa east of Aleppo, according to our correspondent.“

Confusing matters further, the official regime site Sana and pro-regime site Almjhar blamed the Coalition: “American planes targeted Daesh militants in al Khafsa in Aleppo yesterday which caused problems at the water plant. Work has started to repair the equipment.”

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
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ 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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

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
    37SDA116103
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 26, 2015, in 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. 2883/CS152 37SDA116103

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS189

Incident date

November 25, 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

Two to three civilians were reported killed and several others injured (“most of them women and children”) in an alleged Russian air raid with vacuum missiles on the town of Jisr al Shughour, according to Radio Alkul. The local media organisation additionally reported that “The town was also struck by more than 50 rockets from Joreen camp [regime-controlled] which led to the death of one man and one woman.”

SHRC named one victim of a Russian strike. It also names four additional civilians killed by the regime.

The VDC also named another man as having been killed in the town, but blames “regime air forces’ shelling of Rabea Adawiye school.” Syria Net instead blamed the school attack on Russia, saying it killed one person and injured eight.

All4Syria blamed both the regime and Russia, noting: “Field sources reported that Russian aircraft flew over the countryside of Idlib in flocks, and carried out raids on the city targeting one of the city’s mosques and Rabea school, nearby houses and the city centre, killing three civilians including Abdel Halim Mohamed Sulaiman (44 years old.) Also wounded were more than a dozen civilians, including two women and three children in the school. This was followed a few hours later by regime forces stationed in the Goren camp in Hama targeting most of the city’s neighbourhoods. This killed two civilians and wounded others. Among those killed were Nasser Mohammed Bakri (45 years old) and his wife Susan (36 years).”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Halim
Age unknown male named by SHRC killed
 Abdulhaleem Mohammd Suliman
Adult male named by vdc killed

Summary

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

  • The moment an airstrike hit Jisr al-Shughour, Nov 25th (via JMC)
  • The Civil Defense attend the scene of an airstrike in Jisr al-Shughour, Nov 25th (via Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib Governorate)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

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
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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

RS188

Incident date

November 22, 2015

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Violations Documentation Center listed one adult male civilian, a Palestinian national, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Douma.

However, the VDC listed seven further civilians killed that day in Douma “due to regime`s army forces shelling.” And the Syrian Observatory cites the Assad regime as being responsible for the event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

 Mohammad Jaber
Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia confirmed the following for November 21st-23rd 2015: “Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have performed 141 combat sorties engaging 472 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah, and Deir ez-Zor provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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