Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS357

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

حي العامرية, Al Ameria (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17204, 37.13025 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 10 civilians including one to three children were killed and up to 15 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Ameria and Al Sukkari neighbourhoods, according to multiple sources.

The White Helmets said that eight civilians died and three were injured in a raid on Al Sukkari, but they did not state was was responsible for the attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that eight were killed in a strike near the al-Abbas mosque between the neighbourhoods of Al Sukkari and Al Ameria. Four were from the same family, including one child and five elderly people. They did not say who the “warplanes” belonged to, but added that the death toll was expected to rise.

The Shaam News Network put the number of deaths higher – at 10 – and blamed Russian aircraft for targeting non-combatants directly in Al Sukkari, adding that the shelling caused material damage, resulting in the complete destruction of two houses and partial destruction of a third.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that 10 had died, including three children and 15 others were injured when “suspected Russian warplanes” fired missiles on Al Ameria.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Shaker Hweidi
70 years old male killed
Omar Hweidi
84 years old male killed
Abdulaziz Hweidi
82 years old male killed

Family members (4)

Kamel Sultan
81 years old male killed
Mohammad Sultan
82 years old male killed
Nader Sultan
30 years old male killed
From Sultan Family
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Hassan Mukahal
Adult male  additionally named by The Damascus Centre for Human Rights, from Amiriyah who died “in indiscriminate shelling by the Russian air force.” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (1–3 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets at the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Sukkari which they said killed eight civilians. (via, White Helmets)
  • An interview in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raid, shows huge amounts of destruction. (via, SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies being tended to following an alleged Russian raid. Footage also reveals civilians attempting to clear the rubble. (via, AFP)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (1–3 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS356

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 52 and 96 civilians including three women and one child were killed and more than 200 injured in Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, according to multiple sources.

The Shaam News Network initially reported that more than 20 civilians were killed and dozens wounded (mostly women and children) when Russian warplanes struck different districts of the city with “highly explosive missiles“, targeting civilian homes, a popular market place and the Justice Palace. The death toll climbed in subsequent reports, finally reaching over 90 with more than 200 wounded “thronging field hospitals in the region“. They stated that body parts were scattered all over the area.

Activists told SNN that Russian aircraft also targeted a courthouse and prison belonging to the Al-Nusra Front, resulting in massive destruction and the deaths of all who were at the site or around it.

They said that the majority of those killed were prisoners who were being held on multiple charges including belonging to the FSA. A medical source added that masked members of the Al-Nusra Front raided a field hospital in the region to arrest some of the injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed a Russian bombardment. An initial report put the death toll at 39 people “including rebels, prisoners and civilians, while dozens of others were wounded and seriously wounded.”

But two other reports said more people had died, with the figure finally rising to 81, including 52 civilian citizens and prisoners (including three women and a child), 23 fighters from Jabhat Al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in the Levant) and six fighters from other rebel and Islamic factions.

According to the Syrian Observatory, Russia used four missiles on the Administrative Court of Jabhat Al-Nusra which included a prison, in addition to targeting areas in the vicinity of Maarat al Numan. As a consequence it said the death toll was even higher, but that this could not be documented because “of extreme secrecy by concerned parties in the area“.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published four early reports which blamed the Assad regime. But a detailed fifth report eventually said Russian warplanes were responsible, and that 67 people had died, including three women.

The White Helmets – which needed two days to clear the site – said the final death toll was 96.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Zakaria Abd al-Jabbar al-Satouf
Adult male killed
Abd al-Jabbar al-Satouf
Adult male killed

Family members (3)

Adeeb al-Hamoud
Adult male killed
Suhail Salah al-Hamoud
Adult male killed
Mostafa al-Ali al-Hamoud
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Hosain Khaled al-Hosain
Adult male killed
Mohammd Fayez al-Hosain
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Kamel Hasan al-Okdeh
Adult male killed
Wife of Kamel Hasan al-Okdeh
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Omer Khaled al-Saraqbi
37 years old male killed
Mustafa Mohammad Fares
Adult male killed
Abdulkareem Mohammad Hassan
Adult male killed
Hamzah Mustafa Qattash
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Hassan al-Yaseen
Adult male killed
Tamer Yousef al-Masri
Adult male killed
Abo Ahmad al-Ansari
Adult male killed
Abo al-Barae al-Hamwi
Adult male killed
Hosain al-Naseef
Adult male killed
Mohair Azoun
Adult male killed
Rabea Qaramo
Adult female killed
Khalaad Salem al-Awad
Adult male killed
Mohammad Fateh al-Najjar
Adult male killed
Riad Jihad al-Saloum
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mohammad al-Hamoud al-Saloum
Adult male killed
Adeeb Abo Hosain
Adult male killed
Khlaif al-Jadoe
Adult male killed
Ali Mohammad al-Ismaeil
Adult male killed
Maher al-Shehneh
Adult male
Ahmad Ali al-Kashto
Adult male killed
Nader al-Shehneh
Adult male killed
Hasan Dody “Inak”
Adult male killed
Ahmad Fares al-Dyab
Adult male killed
Samawel Mohammad al-Mahmoud
Adult male killed
Mohammad Foad al-Qadour
Adult male killed
Mohammad Khair al-Fajer al-Hamadi
Adult male killed
Abd al-Lateef al-Yehya
Adult male killed
Razouq al-Hasan
Adult male killed
Abd al-Hadi Mostafa Jolak
Adult male killed
Ahed Ali Turky al-Shaikh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    52 – 96
  • (1 child3 women37 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    200
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Al Jazeera reporting on the incident in Maarat al Numan. Graphic footage showing deceased and injured civilians. (via, Al Jazeera)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of the deceased line the streets in the aftermath of the alleged Russian raids on the 9th of January 2016. (via, Al Maara Today)
  • Zakaria Abd al-Jabbar al-Satouf, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 9th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Abd al-Jabbar al-Satouf, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 9th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Omer Khaled al-Saraqbi, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 9th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Hasan Dody "Inak", killed in an alleged Russian raid on 9th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Samawel Mohammad al-Mahmoud, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 9th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Mohammad Foad al-Qadour, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 9th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Adeeb Abo Hosain, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 9th January 2016. (via, VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Deceased civilians in the back of an ambulance in Maarat al Numan. (via, LCCSY)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Upsetting footage of deceased civilians. (via, Shaam News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage of civilian casualties being pulled out of the rubble by the White Helmets. (via, The White Helmets)
  • Four casualties from the alleged Russian raids in Maarat al Numan. (via, Al Latamna youth gathering)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    52 – 96
  • (1 child3 women37 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    200
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS354 CS164

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

عين عيسى, `Ayn `Isa, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.383715, 38.866611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A strike by aircraft reportedly killed five civilians. Syria News attributed the attack to Russia, while Ara News said it was a Coalition action.

VDC – which attributed the attack to the regime – named five victims.

In their February 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 (5)

Khalaf al-Askar
Adult male killed
Son of Khalaf al-Askar 1
Child male killed
Son of Khalaf al-Askar 2
Child male killed
Daughter of Khalaf al-Askar
Child female killed
Niece of Khalaf al-Askar
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4 children1 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, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA880265
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Jan. 9, 2016, in Ayn ‘Isa, 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. 2899/CS164 37SDA880265

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition confirmed a strike in the vicinity for January 9th-10th 2016, noting that “Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed four ISIL buildings.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4 children1 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, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS355

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.864249, 36.804977 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and several others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Saraqib, according to the Shaam News Network.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Maher Hmateesh
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS353

Incident date

January 9, 2016

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

The Daesh agency Al A’maq produced a brief report saying that six civilians including four women and two children were killed – and 23 others injured – in a Russian air raid on Ar Raqqa.

In a detailed report Alaan TV noted: “At twelve o’clock noon a Russian plane targeted the city with two raids at a hostel and on the perimeter of the governor’s palace. At five o’clock in the evening there was another raid on a residential building next to the Sultanate restaurant leaving six dead, two of them children. A final strike hit the Farmers Union without major injuries.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Raqqa governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, 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
    6
  • (2 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS352

Incident date

January 8, 2016

Location

حزرما, Hazarma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51718, 36.48874 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one child were killed in airstrikes on Hazarma, according to multiple sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attacks were the work of the Russians or the Assad regime.

The White Helmets reported on two raids by “warplanes before sunset” which targeted a civilian home, leading to the death of three non-combatants (“an entire family“), including a child. Many more were injured.

Shaam News reported that Russian warplanes carried out two airstrikes using high explosive missiles targeting a residential building. Activists told SNN that civil defence teams managed to retrieve three dead people, including a father and his daughter – displaced from the town of al Ibada – from the rubble. A third person was also killed, from the town of Qasmiyeh.

SNN concluded their report by saying “the town of Hazarma is one of the most crowded places, after many families flocked to the town to escape the fighting in Al Marj region and is home to a lot of families displaced from other areas in the eastern Ghouta.“

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Douma Revolution however, regime warplanes killed three civilians (one a female child) when they bombed areas of Hazarma.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Zahra Zaheer Mu’ti
Child female named by the White Helmets killed
Zaheer Mu’ti
Age unknown female named by the White Helmets killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Darwish
Age unknown named by the White Helmets 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, 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
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI173

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

يت, Hit, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.642631, 42.8278537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media service Hit News claimed that Coalition airstrikes had struck a residential building in Hit. No further details are presently available.

In their February 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
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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
    38SKC985246
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Jan. 7, 2016, in Hit, 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. 2890/CI173 38SKC985246

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 6th-7th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Hit, two strikes struck an ISIL VBIED factory.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS163

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1320519, 38.9661026 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight children and three women were widely reported killed, in what most sources claimed to be a Coalition airstrike.

While Raqqah is Being Slaughtered and Radio Alkul did not attribute the attack, the Syrian Observatory blamed the Coalition: “Eight children and three citizen women were killed in a bombing by the international coalition’s warplanes on Khuzaymah village at the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah city, which is witnessing clashes between Syrian Democratic Forces against the “Islamic State.” The eight bodies of the children were brought to hospitals in Al-Raqqah city, while the bodies of the women were buried.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (8 children3 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 (9) [ collapse]

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 declared a strike in the vicinity of Ayn Isa, Al Raqqah governorate for January 7th-8th 2016: “Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and suppressed a separate ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (8 children3 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 (9) [ collapse]