Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM385

Incident date

May 20, 2023

Location

Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.493790, 42.776410 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One senior al-Shabaab militant was injured by declared US AFRICOM airstrikes on Jilib, Somalia on May 20, 2023.

Somali National News Agency’s Twitter account @SONNALIVE first announced that “In a joint operation with international allies, the armed forces launched an airstrike on #Jilib city, the headquarters of #AlShabab terrorists. The enemy suffered losses in terms of casualties and destroyed equipment.”

The next day, AFRICOM announced that “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM conducted an airstrike against the al-Shabaab militant network in Somalia on May 20, 2023. The strike occurred in Jilib, Somalia. Following a comprehensive battle damage assessment USAFRICOM assesses that one al-Shabaab fighter was injured as a result of the operation. The command’s assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed.”

Former al-Shabaab official Omar Mohamed Abu Ayan told Voice of America that Al-Shabaab’s head of external operations Osman Mohamed Abdi, known as Moallim Osmanat, was the target of the operation and appears to have survived the strike with an injury.

Somalia’s Ministry of Information said in a statement that the target Moallim oversaw bringing foreign fighters to Somalia to join al-Shabaab. Another Somali official said that he was involved in planning the al-Shabaab attack in January 2016 against an African Union military base manned by Kenyan forces in El Adde, which is the hometown of Moallim, as well as supervising al-Shabaab attacks on Kenya and their incursion into Ethiopia in 2022.

@HarunMaruf gave context that the strike occurred while the Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency was visiting Washington and New York, meeting with the Pentagon, FBI and CIA Officials.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Jilib, for which the generic coordinates are: 0.493790, 42.776410. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM conducted an airstrike against the al-Shabaab militant network in Somalia on May 20, 2023.

The strike occurred in Jilib, Somalia.

*Following a comprehensive battle damage assessment USAFRICOM assesses that one al-Shabaab fighter was injured as a result of the operation. The command’s assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed.

U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian casualties. Protecting innocent civilians remains a vital part of the command’s operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS596

Incident date

May 18, 2023

Location

قرية الخاروفية, Al-Kharofiya village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

An elderly man was killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Al-Kharofiya village on May 18, 2023.

A local source told a North Press Agency correspondent that a civilian was killed when a vehicle close to him on the road was struck by a drone. The source also provided the name of the civilian killed: Abd al-Wahhab al-Muhammad al-Haj Hamidi (70 years old) from Al-Kharofiya village.

The Syrian Democratic Forces Press Center published a statement with similar details, adding that the drone strike on a civilian car occurred at exactly 6:30pm and despite medical intervention, Abd died from his injuries. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Turkish drone executed two strikes on a military car of the woman’s protection units, and the civilian was injured (and later died of his injuries) by shrapnel when he was trying to help those injured in the vehicle.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the drone strikes to Turkey,

The incident occured at 18:30:00 local time.

  • Abd al-Wahhab al-Muhammad al-Haj Hamidi 70 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Car struck by alleged Turkish drones on May 18, 2023. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS594

Incident date

May 17, 2023

Location

قرية جديدة, Jadeda village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including at least one child, were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Jadeda village on May 17, 2023.

Rohani TV reported that Turkish forces bombarded Jadeda village, resulting in the injury of three civilians: Muhammad Fawaz Al-Waqqa, his brother Mahmoud Fawaz Al-Waqqa, and Muhammad Salem Kamal. The director of the National Hospital in the city of Raqqa, Ibrahim al-Omar, told Rohani TV that their condition is stable.

North Press Agency also reported 3 civilians injured, and provided the age of two of the  victims : 17 year old Mahmoud Fawaz Al-Waqqa and 32 year old Kamal Mahmoud al-Wagaa (unclear if this is Muhammad Fawaz Al-Waqqa or Muhammad Salem Kamal listed above). According to a medical source at the Emergency Department at the Raqqa National Hospital, both Mahmoud and Kamal were immediately admitted into the operating room and were in critical condition. A cousin of the third victim told North Press that he and his cousin were grazing their sheep when they were struck by Turkish artillery.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights referred to those injured in Jadeda village as two “tunnel workers” and a 13 year old boy.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Muhammad Salem Kamal Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS595

Incident date

May 17, 2023

Location

Ain Issa camp, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023.

Hawar News reported that during the second incident in Ain Issa district on May 17th, two civilians were injured when Turkish forces bombarded Ain Issa camp. Correspondents for Hawar added that the shelling caused an outbreak of fire in the camp, and firefighting teams could not reach the scene to put out the fire due to continuous shelling. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that both civilians injured were taken to the hospital to receive treatment, and an image posted by Hawar News shows two men being treated for injuries.

Ronahi TV provided the names of the injured: Muhammad Al-Balikh and Mahmoud Al-Jassem.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Muhammad Al-Balikh Age unknown male injured
  • Mahmoud Al-Jassem Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4513

Incident date

May 15, 2023

Location

كفرعويد, Kafr Aweed, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One man, identified by sources as Suleiman Muhammad al-Saleem, was killed on May 15th 2023 after artillery shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the village of Kafr Aweed in the southern countryside of Idlib according to local media outlets and the Syrian Civil Defence.

Initial reports from the Syrian Civil Defence said that a victim was taken to hospital to be treated for an abdominal injury, and later updated their reporting to state that the injured civilian died from his wounds.Twitter user @Nadjat567 claimed the shelling resulted in multiple casualties, with no further information on these.

Multiple sources reported that the area was subjected to ‘intense’ artillery shelling. Syria TV alleged that the shelling came from forces stationed in the Zaytoun camp near Kafranbel.

Macro Media Centre, local TV channel HalabToday, IQA News Agency, Baladi Network and Al Tareek attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime.

The Syria Civil Defence, Shaam, Zaiton and Syria TV attributed the artillery shelling to both Russian and Syrian forces. Local news source Zaiton Mag reported that “The towns of Al-Bara, Deir Sunbul and Benin, south of Idlib, Maarat Al-Naasan, northeast of Idlib, the vicinity of Al-Atarib, Al-Qasr, Al-Wasata, Kafarama and Kafr Taal, west of Aleppo, and Al-Sarmaniyeh and Dweir Al-Akrad, west of Hama, were also subjected to similar shelling, without causing casualties.”  Multiple media reports claimed that the shelling was deliberate in order to prevent civilians from returning to villages near contact lines.

The incident occured in the atternoon.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

  • Suleiman Muhammad al- Saleem Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Suleiman Muhammad al- Saleem, killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @@MMCSYR)
  • alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM384

Incident date

May 13, 2023

Location

Ali Fuuto, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.545015, 44.042082 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

44 al-Shabaab militants were killed during operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners in the Ali Fuuto area in Lower Shabelle on May 13, 2023.

Voice of America quoted Somalia’s deputy information minister, Abdirahman Al-Adala, who said that the intelligence unit, with the support of international partners, killed 44 al-Shabab militants in the Ali Fuuto area while they were regrouping in the area at the time. Various Twitter accounts quoted this information without offering additional details.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    44

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ali Fuuto, for which the generic coordinates are: 1.545015, 44.042082. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    44

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS593

Incident date

May 11, 2023

Location

قرية تل اللبن, Tel Al Laban village, Al Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and four other civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tal Al Laban around 10am on May 11, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a civilian was killed and four others were wounded when Turkish forces bombarded the village of Tal Al Laban. Hawar also published the names of the civilian killed: Muhammad Abdel-Fattah Hussein (38 years), and the names of the wounded: Khalis Haji Hudhaifa (35) years, Abdullah Ez al-Din Aliwi (27 years), Ibrahim Muhammad Kraff (38 years), Hafez Muhammad Kraff (27 years old). The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that the wounded sustained injuries to varying degrees and were taken to the hospital.

Zagros News added that the heavy artillery shelling also resulted in material losses to the properties and homes of civilians. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

  • Muhammad Abdel-Fattah Hussein 38 years old killed
  • Khalis Haji Hudhaifa 35 years old injured
  • Abdullah Ez al-Din Aliwi 27 years old injured
  • Ibrahim Muhammad Kraff 38 years old injured
  • Hafez Muhammad Kraff 27 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tal al-Laban on May 11, 2023. (Image posted by ANF)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS592

Incident date

May 3, 2023

Location

قرية بحيره, Bahira, Amuda district, Al Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 49 year old man was allegedly shot and injured by Turkish border guards in the village of Bahira on May 3, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a civilian was wounded by live bullets fired by the Turkish army. A relative of the injured civilian told a Hawar reporter that live bullets fired between 14:00 and 14:30 injured Abdelaziz Darbo, 49, in the village of Bahira. The bullet struck Abdelaziz in the back while he was watering his agricultural land, which was reported as not located along the Turkish border. He was taken to the People’s Hospital (Al-Shaab Hospital) in Amuda district. Hawar reported that at the time of publishing, Abdelaziz had been released from the hospital and was in stable condition. Xeber24 and ANF reported similar details.

The three sources that reported on the incident attributed the shooting to border guards.

The incident occured between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm local time.

  • Abdelaziz Darbo 49 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]