Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS054

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

دير العصافير, Dayr Al Asafeer, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.465278, 36.419722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One possible non-combatant was reported killed at Dayr al Asafeer, according to a single source. Shaam News Network reported that a joint air-ground assault by Russian and Assad forces “led to the fall of one martyr” in the town, though no further details were given of their status.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dayr Al Asafeer (دير العصافير), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.465278, 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

The Kremlin confirmed strikes in Damacus governorate for October 18th-19th 2015, noting: “Russian aviation performed 33 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia and Hama provinces… Precision strikes of the Russian combat aviation in the Damascus province have crucially changed the operational situation in this region.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS055

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

بزينة, Bazeena, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.48288, 36.44022 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A seven year old girl and two civilian adults were killed and a dozen injured in an airstrike on the town of Bazeena – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The dead child was named as Ghazal Al Tokhi [pictured below], with one tweet reporting that “She was getting water for her parents who were caught in the middle of the siege, when the Russian planes killed her.” Another tweet (below) noted that “Only in the time of oppressors do fathers bury their children.” An entire family was reported to be among those injured.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghazal Al Tokhi
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "In the time of oppressors only - fathers bury their children. The chidl martyr Ghazal Al Tokhi who was martyred yesterday in Douma." (via @revolutionSyria)
  • "She was getting water for her parents who are in the middle of the siege when the Russian planes killed her. The martyr child Ghazal Al Tokhi, Douma - yesterday." (via @revolutionSyria)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bazeena (بزينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.48288, 36.44022. 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

The Kremlin has confirmed strikes in Damacus governorate for October 18th-19th 2015, noting: “Russian aviation performed 33 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia and Hama provinces… Precision strikes of the Russian combat aviation in the Damascus province have crucially changed the operational situation in this region.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS052

Incident date

October 17, 2015

Location

عرفة, Arafeih, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.38178, 37.02376 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young boy named as Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem later died of his injuries, six days after an October 17th airstrike on the town of Arafeih. According to reports the child was injured by shrapnel in the original attack. And on October 31st, a civilian male named as Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha also died as a result of injuries sustained

The source of the airstrike was contested. While most attributed the attack to Russia, some news reports said it was the work of the Assad regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem
Child male Due to the Russian air forces shelling To a displaced camps on a camp of displaced people killed
Hasan Ahmad Al Nazouha
Adult male As a result of a cluster bomb remnants of Russian shelling explosion killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • VDC names a male child Mohammad Hussain Al Jassem as a victim of a Russian strike on a displaced persons camp. (via VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arafeih (عرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.38178, 37.02376. 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 has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Hama governorate for both October 16th-17th 2015, and October 17th-18th 2015.

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 child1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS051

Incident date

October 16, 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 White Helmets reported that three children were killed in the countryside near Damascus following a ‘Russian airstrike.’ Al Etihad said the aircraft was a Russian Air Force Su-24. VDC named the children without specifying which nation’s aircraft were responsible. .

However Shaam News described the attack as having been the work of the Syrian regime aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anas Mohammad Khdair
Child male killed
Mahrous Mohammad Khdair
Child male killed
Abdul Rahman Emad al-Akhras
Child male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the dead children in hospital, following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 16th October 2015. (via Syrian Civil Defence in Damascus Suburbs)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

According to the Kremlin “Russian aviation performed 36 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus and Aleppo provinces” on October 16th-17th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS050

Incident date

October 16, 2015

Location

كفر كرمين, Kafr Karmin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.16432, 36.79017 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between ten and 13 civilians including five children died in a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Kafr Karmin.

The Syrian Network later named some eight of the including one man, two women and five children.

One eyewitness said the attack came “Exactly after Friday prayer [when] Russian planes targeted the village of Kafr Karmeen and killed between five and ten martyrs.”

While most sources blamed Russia, Smart News, Ara News and Al Araby said regime aircraft were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sjay Saleh al-Hameed
Adult male 38 years old from Darkoush town killed
Jamileh Mosa Ramadan
Adult female 60 years old killed
Abeer Mostafa Jowani
Adult female 35 years old killed
Jamileh Ahmad Abdullah
Child female 12 years old killed
Iman Abdullah Al Abdullah
Child female 2 or 3 years old killed
Marya Abdullah Abdullah
Child female 5 months old or 2 years old killed
Ayoush Mohamad Ali
Child female 2 years old killed
Hiba Abdullah Abdullah
Child female 1 year old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (5 children2 women1 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the victim Sjay Saleh al-Hameed killed in Kafr Karmin, Aleppo.16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • Photo Sjay Saleh al-Hameed killed in Kafr Karmin, Aleppo.16th October 2015. (via VDC)
  • AA Turkish news agency footage of the aftermath of what it says was the Russian strike on Kafr Karmin in which it reports ten civilians were killed including three children, 16th October 2015. (via AA)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

According to the Kremlin “Russian aviation performed 36 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus and Aleppo provinces” on October 16th-17th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (5 children2 women1 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS045

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

الفرحانية, Al Farhaniah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8684331, 36.7319298 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported by al Jazeera as having been killed in a Russian strike on Al Farhaniah – part of a major wave of attacks that day.

However footage of civilians transported to a local hospital described injuries from ‘artillery,’ with Homs News also reporting that regime shelling had targeted the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of some of the victims from Al Farhaniah village at a local hospital. The title here says the village was targeted with artillery, 15th October 2015. (via The journalist Suhaib al Ali in Homs)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Farhaniah (الفرحانية), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.8684331, 36.7319298. 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 reference to strikes in Homs for October 15th-16th 2015, despite its aircraft clearly having been filmed in action in the governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS044

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were killed in a heavy airstrike on Talbiseh, according to reports.

Most attributed the attack to Russia, though at least one local report said the strike was the work of Syrian regime aircraft.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wafaa al-Naji
Adult female killed
Faraj Omar al-Naji
Adult male killed in Teir Maala killed
Safaa al-Naji
Adult female killed
Waseem Jameil Yahya
Adult male killed
Feisal Saleh Dalleh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women4 men)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Faraj Al Naji, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Talbisah, 15th October 2015. (via: VDC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Talbisah (تلبيسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.840505, 36.72922. 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 reference to strikes in Homs for October 15th-16th 2015, despite its aircraft clearly having been filmed in action in the governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women4 men)
  • 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

CS136

Incident date

October 10, 2015

Location

حربل, Harbel, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, sharing the same surname, were reported killed, either by Coalition airstrikes or a car bomb either in Harbel or in Deir Hafer in Aleppo governorate.

According to a Sultan Al-Musalmeh, two “young men” were killed by a car bomb when they were trying to “emigrate from Syria”. All sources identified the individuals as Khaldun Abdullah Al Qatifan and Adel Ali Al Qatifan.

However, almost all other sources reported that the two civilians were killed by Coalition airstrikes. There is confusion regarding the location. Some sources reported that they were killed in Jazrayah, near Deir Hafer in Aleppo province and one source reported they were killed in Harbel, Aleppo.  Only a Facebook post by Mzeereb noted that the two were killed “as a result of airstrikes”, without identifying the culprit.

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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khaldun Abdullah Al Qatifan
Adult male From Dara'a al Balad in Dara'a, killed in Deir Hafir Aleppo killed
Adel Ali Al Qatifan
Adult male From Dara'a al Balad in Dara'a, killed in Deir Hafir Aleppo killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image of the victim Adel Ali Al Qatifan. [Via: VDC]
  • Image of the victim Khaldun Abdullah Al Qatifan. [Via: VDC]

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
    37SCA356002
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 10, 2015, in Harbel, 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. 2868/CS136 37SCA356002

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 9th-10th, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]