Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM400

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

in the vicinity of Basra, between Afgoye and Bal’ad towns, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Five al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners in the vicinity of Basra, between Afgoye and Bal’ad towns on August 25, 2023.

@HarunMaruf quoted state media who reported that government forces in collaboration with international partners carried out a second operation that resulted in the killing of five militants. @HarunMaruf pointed out that the casualty numbers reported by state media have not been independently confirmed.

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
    Single source claim
  • 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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM399

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

Sheekhow farm outside Awdhegle town, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

27 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners at Sheekhow farm outside Awdhegle town village on August 25, 2023.

@HarunMaruf quoted state media who reported that government forces in collaboration with international partners carried out an operation that resulted in the killing of 27 militants. @HarunMaruf pointed out that the casualty numbers reported by state media have not been independently confirmed.

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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    27

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    27

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS626

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

قرية البركة, Al Baraka village, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 25 August 2023, a man and wife and their child were reportedly injured by a ‘terrorist’ mortar missile in the village of Al-Baraka, located in the north-western Hama countryside.

A Facebook post by a correspondent for Al Ghab valley in Hama reported that the injured child is 6 months old and that the family were transferred to a hospital in Hama in serious condition.

The source added that the mortar shells were launched by ‘terrorist groups’. This incident was among multiple which occurred on the same day, with other sources attributing similar incidents on this day to “Luwaa Uthman Ibn Affan” which is one of the formations of HTS (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) and has been associated with Turkish forces.

No other sources were found reporting on this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS625

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

قرية جورين, Jurin and Na'orat Jurin villages, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.616504, 36.268706 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

35.638503, 36.265557 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On August 25th, 2023 at least two women were injured and a young woman and child later died due to injuries sustained in a Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) perpetrated assault on Jurin and Na’orat Jurin Villages in Northwest Hama. The woman, Taryaq Rustom and child, Maher Abbas, died four days after the attack after receiving care at Hama Hospital. Maher Abbas was described as a “wonderful child.”

Sources diverge on those wounded. Both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and AlyaumTV stated that two women had been injured, while Sahl Al-Grab (@Sahl Al-Grab) correspondent alleged a man had also been wounded. Sources also differ slightly on what weaponry was used. Sahl Al-Ghab alleged Grad missiles had been used, which SOHR corroborates, stating that missiles and artillery shells were responsible. AlyaumTV, however, points to bombs.

Multiple sources allege that HTS was responsible for the attack. An amalgam of Sunni insurgent groups, HTS evolved out of the Nusrah Front, Al Qaeda’s former Syrian Branch. HTS operates primarily in Northwest Syria. SOHR, Sahl Al-Grab, and AlayumTV point to HTS as the perpetrator, with AlayumTV alleging the group has ties to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A child named Maher Abbas, killed by strikes on the villages of Qalaat Mirza and the town of Jurin on August 25th, 2023. (Image posted by سهل الغاب Al Ghab plain via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Jurin (جورين) and Na’orat Jurin (ناعور جورين). The generic coordinates for Jurin are: 35.616504, 36.268706. The generic coordinates for Na’orat Jurin are: 35.638503, 36.265557. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI095

Incident date

August 24, 2023

Location

قرية ميرغمير, village of Mergmir, Erbil, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On the 24th of August 2023, a drone strike is believed to have killed either four civilians or four PKK fighters, two of them in medical roles, in the village of Merg Mir in the Bradost region in Erbil Governorate. According to several news sources, including Roj News, Hawar News Agency and Kurdistan 24, the drone strike was conducted by Turkey. However, the Turkish government has not taken responsibility for the drone strike.

The identity of the victims is uncertain. Several news sources, including Firat News Agency (which is by some considered to be affiliated to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party) and Roj News, have stated that the four victims were all civilians. Other news sources, such as Hawar News, classified the victims as “citizens” without specifying what that implied.

However, other news sources, such as Rudaw and Kurdistan 24, stated instead that they were militants associated with the Kurdistan Worker’s Party. According to Kurdistan 24, a statement from the Anti-Terrorism Directorate in the Kurdistan region asserted that two of the individuals were leaders in the Party and the two others “were from the party’s medical teams”. Middle East Online, also referencing the Anti-Terrorism Directorate, gives a similar account of the drone strike stating that two were leaders of the PKK and the two others were “from the party’s rescue team.” Rudaw News specified that four members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), two men and two women, were killed.

In terms of the timing of the drone strike, several news sources (Kurdistan 24 and Rudaw) believe it took place at 16:45. However, according to Kurdistan TV, the drone strike is believed to have happened at 16:00. Other news sources do not seem to have commented on the timing.

Finally, in terms of the site of the drone strike, several news sources (Roj News and Hawar News) report that it struck a house in a residential area. Rudaw also stated that the drone strike hit a house without commenting on whether it was a residential area. Furthermore, Rudaw commented that the house partially burned down and that it belonged to Mukhlis Rashid, a farmer, who they stated was not injured in the drone strike. According to the District Commissioner of Sedkan this was because he was busy “irrigating his land when the bombing occurred”. However, to add further confusion, Kurdistan 24 reports that it did not hit a house but instead a tent which the militants were occupying. It is therefore unclear exactly what was hit.

The incident occured between 4:00 pm and 4:45 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS624

Incident date

August 23, 2023

Location

طريق علي فرو, Ali Faro Road, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.040713, 41.116864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the afternoon of August 23, 2023, a man was killed and at least one person, a female journalist, was injured in an alleged Turkish drone strike on the Qamishli-Amuda road in Northeast Syria.

The man, Najm al-Din Faisal, worked for woman-run channel JIN TV, and was driving fellow channel employees. Dalila Akid, a journalist, was wounded. After undergoing treatment, Hawar News confirmed that Akid has been released from being operated on and is now under intensive care.

ANF News claimed multiple people were in the car and Kurdistan TV has specified that several journalists were injured, but no further information has been released.

Hawar News wrote about Najm al-Din Faisal, the driver killed in the drone strikes: Najm was 46 years old, born on March 30, 1977 and came from the village of Al-Jawhariya in Amuda district. He had five brothers and three sisters, and he is the 3rd brother among them. Najm left school after his “primary” education to help his family by working in agriculture, and he was married at the age of 29 and had three daughters and one son named Vian, Beretan, Amara, Maashouq. During the Rojava revolution, Najm joined the theater within the Culture and Art Authority in Amuda district as a volunteer without pay and began working for Jin TV as a driver at the beginning of 2021, according to his sister Perwin Faisal.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the location of the strikes as near Mazar Shaikh Jabr Village on Ali Faro Road. An eyewitness told Radio Arta that he saw residents of Tal Shair Sheikhan removing the victims from the car after it was struck.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Free Medium Union alleged that the car was struck in an attempt to silence independent journalists. The Media Department for AANES consequently released a statement condemning “the Turkish occupation and its Syrian mercenaries” for the attack. Kurdistan TV reported that JIN TV—“Woman” TV in Kurdish—has ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party, and suggests this may be why the vehicle was attacked.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

  • Najm al-Din Faisal Age unknown male killed
  • Dalila Akid Age unknown female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Vehicle struck by alleged Turkish drone strikes on August 23, 2023. (Image posted by ANF)
  • Vehicle struck by alleged Turkish drone strikes on August 23, 2023. (Image posted by ANF)
  • Vehicle struck by alleged Turkish drone strikes on August 23, 2023. (Image posted by Kurdistan TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle struck on the Ali Faro Road (طريق علي فرو), which runs between the towns of Qamishli (ٱلْقَامِشْلِي) and Amouda (عَامُودَا), in the vicinity of the village of Tal Shair (تل شعير). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 37.040713, 41.116864.

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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4542

Incident date

August 22, 2023

Location

أحسم, Ihsim, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday morning, August 22nd 2023, three civilians were injured, including one child, as a result of artillery shelling allegedly by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russia on the town of Ihsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya, in the countryside of Idlib. Many local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and SY-24 news also reported that a fire broke out in a civilian’s car.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that one of the shells hit a house, injuring a civilian resident and his son and a second shell landed near Ihsem School for Boys, injuring an elderly man. @SyriaCivilDefe reported that their teams took two of the injured civilians to the hospital for treatment.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible. Most local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe, SY-24 news and Zaman Al Wasl news blamed both the regime forces and Russia, while @Sy24ria and @HalabTodayTV attributed the shelling to Syrian regime forces only.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    School
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @creativenewssy)
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @creativenewssy)
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @creativenewssy)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • One of the civilians injured by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @thiqanewsagency)
  • Civil Defense volunteers inspect damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers inspect damage caused by alleged Syrian regime and Russian shelling of Ihsim on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first moments of our teams' response to the artillery shelling by the regime forces that targeted the town of Ahsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, on Tuesday morning, August 22, and resulted in the injury of 3 civilians, including a child, and a fire broke out in a civilian's car.
  • Wounded, including children, in bombardment by the Syrian regime on the town of Ihsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya in Idlib countryside
  • "He was wounded while he was sleeping.. Al-Assad forces bombed the town of Ihsim in Jabal Al-Zawiya"

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    School
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS169

Incident date

August 22, 2023

Location

الغزاوية, Al Ghazawiya, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a civilian male, was injured on August 22nd after artillery shells – allegedly launched from regions jointly controlled by the regime and Syrian Democratic Forces – struck the village of Al Ghazawiya, in the Afrin countryside north of Aleppo.

According to a report from Zamal al Wasl, five shells were launched towards the village in the evening, causing material damage, and wounding the civilian who works as a cleaner and was in the center of the village at the time. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of shells launched at three, while highlighting the presence of a Turkish military base near the Al Ghazawiya village.

Various reports across local news outlets and regional agencies corroborated the information on the strikes and the casualty, including Syria TV, Al Mohrar Media, and Al Araby News. The Syrian Civil Defence later released an official statement confirming the reports, stating that the civilian was seriously wounded and that “(its team) inspected the places that were bombed and made sure that there were no other injuries.” The Civil Defense added that residential neighborhoods and agricultural lands were affected by the shelling. A tweet from @zanakhalil2 reported that “civilians” were injured and @almohrarmedia2 reported about “civilian casualties” but did not specify how many civilians.

While the shelling has been reported by all sources as originating from regions jointly controlled by the regime and the SDF, it is unclear which of the belligerents was responsible.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood from the victims of shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civilians were injured as a result of the bombing of the terrorist YPG / PKK militia on the town of Al-Ghazawiya in the city of Afrin

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @zanakhalil2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood from the victims of shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)
  • Damage caused by shelling from Syrian regime/SDF controlled areas in Afrin area on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @almohrarmedia2)

YPG Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]