Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM403

Incident date

September 6, 2023

Location

Oodweyn, Galmudug, Somalia

Geolocation

4.888, 46.5106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians, including up to five children and a woman, were killed and up to five others, including children, were injured during an operation that has been declared by the Somali government. The US has denied directly participating in the operation despite accusations of US drone/air strikes, while the Somali government has denied responsibility for the civilian casualties. The operation occurred in Oodweyn village on September 6, 2023.

Reuters reported that a suspected drone strike resulted in the death of five civilians and three al-Shabaab militants after the militants hid in a civilian home containing a family. Reuters quoted Somalia’s state news agency SONNA which reported that a woman and two children were killed by a landmine that was hidden in a civilian home by al-Shabaab militants. Local leader Farah Aden told Reuters that one of the militants knew the owner of the home and “They were seated outside the house and were busy enjoying meat and rice. As they ate the meat, the drone struck them. The house was not struck and civilians were not targeted. The civilians were hit by the shrapnel of the bomb.”

However, Amal Ali, a relative of the victims, told AP that the airstrike targeted an al-Shabaab vehicle as it was passing near a family home, killing a grandmother and five of her grandchildren, and the children’s father Dahir Ahmed confirmed the incident but not the details. The grandfather of the children, Ahmed Mohamud Shuuke, told VOA Somali that the children – four boys by his son and a girl from his daughter – were staying with his wife (their grandmother) the night of the strikes, and that he and the children’s parents were away that night. Shuuke said that “This disaster came upon them, and we don’t know where it came from” but that he thought that there had been an airstrike. He added that there were tracks of vehicles at the site of the incident the morning after, and that “Their bodies have been taken away. Up to now we don’t know their whereabouts,” including any surviving relatives.

Abdifatah Ali Halane, secretary-general of the El-Garas administration, told AP that the incident was a US airstrike and that the airstrike killed three people, including two al-Shabaab members, and injured five people, including four children. @AUC31 reported that seven civilians had been killed.

Al-Shabaab’s Politics & Provinces Office released a statement accusing the US of carrying out airstrikes and a ground raid at 10pm, which killed six civilians, including four children from the same family, a female relative, and their grandmother: Mus’ab Daahir Ahmed (3 years old), Abdirahman Daahir Ahmed (4 years old), Abdi Mahad Daahir Ahmed (5 years old), Abdiqani Daahir Ahmed (7 years old), Ikhlaas Ahmad (7 years old), Kaaha Takar Warsame (60 years old). The attack also resulted in wounded livestock.

The Somali Ministry of Information confirmed that an operation carried out in West El-lahelay resulted in the death of al-Shabaab militants Olol Ali Guled, the head of the al-Shabaab’s insurgent militia in Galmudug, Shuuke Ali Dheeg and Isse Barre. Shabelle Media Network reported that a total of five al-Shabaab militants, including Olol, were killed in the “joint” military operation between the Somali government and foreign partners.

AFRICOM released a statement two days after the operation, on September 8th, denying their responsibility for the civilian casualties: “On September 6, 2023, a Somali national force conducted a counter-terrorism operation in the vicinity of El-Lahelay, Somalia. The command’s initial assessment is that three al Shabaab leaders were killed as a result of the operation and, unfortunately, civilians were injured and killed in the vicinity of the operation. U.S. forces were not onsite for the operation and did not conduct air strikes during or in support of the operation. In response to a request from the Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command medically evacuated injured civilians. The claim being spread by al Shabaab that U.S. forces caused the unfortunate harm to civilians is false.”

Major Jessica Tait from AFRICOM told VOA in an email that “The command’s initial assessment is that one woman and three children were killed at the site,” she said. “At the request of the government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command medically evacuated two injured children, with one surviving.” Tait added that US forces “did not fire at any time while conducting the medical evacuation.” Minister of Information Daud Aweis told VOA Somali that “The government has received reports that civilians were hurt. An investigation is ongoing to verify that. We can’t confirm yet until the investigation is done.”

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike, Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Location of operation/airstrikes on September 6, 2023. (Image posted by @HarunMaruf)
  • Statement from Somali government with reads: THE GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA EXPOSED THREE SENIOR LEADERS WHO WERE EXCLUSIONS Mogadishu, September 07, 2023: In a special operation carried out by the National Army and the People's Defense Forces, three leaders who were responsible for the extra-religious activities of the Khawarij in Galmudug were killed. The raid that took place last night in West El-La Helay killed Ali Guled, who was the leader of the organization of the Kharijite rebels, Shuuke Ali Dheeg and Isse Barre who were also two wanted criminals. The mission was expertly negotiated and executed who broke the back of the Khawarij in general especially those hiding in Galmudug. The Somali government is grateful to the local people who helped facilitate the operation. The Government is committed to supporting the Somali people to punish the Khawarij conspirators who dare to harm the people and the country, and listen to the hard work to stay away from the Khawarij thoughts and actions. End
  • Images which reportedly show damage from airstrikes on the village of Oodweyn on September 6, 2023. (Image posted by @IbnSiqilli)
  • Images which reportedly show damage from airstrikes on the village of Oodweyn on September 6, 2023. (Image posted by @IbnSiqilli)
  • Images which reportedly show damage from airstrikes on the village of Oodweyn on September 6, 2023. (Image posted by @IbnSiqilli)
  • Images which reportedly show damage from airstrikes on the village of Oodweyn on September 6, 2023. (Image posted by @IbnSiqilli)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Oodweyn, for which the generic coordinates are: 4.888, 46.5106. 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

Original strike reports

US Forces

On September 6, 2023, a Somali national force conducted a counter-terrorism operation in the vicinity of El-Lahelay, Somalia.

The command's initial assessment is that three al Shabaab leaders were killed as a result of the operation and, unfortunately, civilians were injured and killed in the vicinity of the operation.

U.S. forces were not onsite for the operation and did not conduct air strikes during or in support of the operation.

In response to a request from the Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command medically evacuated injured civilians.

The claim being spread by al Shabaab that U.S. forces caused the unfortunate harm to civilians is false.

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, Drone Strike, Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY033

Incident date

April 29, 2023

Location

حمص, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.640616, 36.707550 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 29th 2023 the Israeli military reportedly launched missiles which Syrian air defence systems reportedly shot down around 12:55 am in the city of Homs, Syria. There were discrepancies in the accounts of the incident, with some sources reported that three civilians were injured while other reported that four Syrian soldiers were injured.

Local sources varied on their descriptions of the strikes and their resulting damage. Most accounts corroborate the timeline of the missile being launched at midnight and shot down, igniting a petrol station, fuel tankers and trucks.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also claimed that a munitions depot, under Hezbollah control was hit. SOHR – quoted in Aaswat News, Bladipresse, and Achrafieh News – verified that the missiles hit after midnight but claimed that it struck an ammunition depot belonging to the Lebanese “Hezbollah,” in the area of the Dabaa military airport in the countryside of Homs, which led to its complete destruction, as well as weapons trucks. There were a few accounts by the Observatory, including one claim by sources that the “the gas station belongs to a person affiliated with the Lebanese “Hezbollah”. The Observatory later reported that the incident injured “four Syrian soldiers, and destroying a truck carrying weapons belonging to (Hezbollah).” SOHR also reported that “violent explosions were heard as a result of the explosion of the ammunition stored in the warehouse, and fires were seen burning at the site, without information about human losses so far.”

A tweet from @aabnour quoted Intel Times Hebrew that identified the location as “a military convoy belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah, which was parked at the “Shahr Al-Alewi” gas station near the town of Shinshar on the Damascus-Aleppo road.”

Military sources, who were quoted by Aaswat News, Syrian Arab News Agency (Syrian regime-controlled news), BBC, Almehwar News and other media, claimed that three civilians were injured. Social media posts captured the fire outbreaks.

According to an Israeli website quoted on Halab Today TV,  the missile was prompted by an “Antonov 74” medium sized Iranian cargo plane’s activity in the area.  The IDF did not comment officially on this strike. Homs is near three air defense bases, one of which is in Shinshar, and two are near the suburb of Al-Andalus.

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 12:55 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Strike target
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–4

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Posted by Achrafieh News)
  • Location of the strike, posted by @HalabTodayTV.
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Image posted by Lebanese-forces)
  • Location of the strike, provided by Intel Times Hebrew and posted by @aabnour
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Israel bombed weapons depots in Homs, Syria, tonight. The bombing was the heaviest in years
  • From #Homs, last night - side effects indicate what was in storage

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an vehicles being struck in the vicinity of Shaher Alolaiwi Station (محطة شاهر العليوي). According to research conducted by @aabnour, the potential location of this strike is: 34.640616, 36.707550. Cross referencing evidence from audio-visual material from sources, we are however unable to confirm it as an exact location due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Strike target
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–4

Incident Code

TS591

Incident date

April 24, 2023

Location

عين العبد, Ain Al Abd, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.716568, 40.445092 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two young girls and a boy were killed and two other children were injured, all of which were from the same family, by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Ain al-Abd on April 24, 2023.

Hawar News reported that two young sisters were killed and two young brothers and a sister were injured by intense Turkish shelling of the village of Ain al-Abd at 18:00. Hawar added that the injured were taken to Martyr Legrin Hospital in Tal Tamr for treatment.

Hawar News also provided the names of the children killed and injured: Maryam Khader Aweys (10 years old) and Etidal Aweys (9 years old) were both killed, Abdul Aziz, Diaa and Zahra Khader Aweys were injured.

Just hours later, Hawar News reported that one of the children, Abdul Aziz age 8, died from the severe injuries he sustained in the shelling.

Journalist Abbas Abbas reported that the bombing also resulted in extensive damage to property, and fear among civilians living in the affected areas.

All of the sources attributed the shelling to Turkey.

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of the children injured by alleged Turkish shelling of he village of Ain al-Abd on April 24, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of the children killed and injured by alleged Turkish shelling of he village of Ain al-Abd on April 24, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ain Al Abd (عين العبد), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.716568, 40.445092. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY032

Incident date

April 4, 2023

Location

الكسوة, Al Kisswa, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.358774, 36.252222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 4th, 2023 at 12:15am, an airstrike either launched by Israeli forces or an air defense missile launched by the Syrian regime hit a glass factory in Al-Kisswa, south of Damascus, in Rif Dimashq, resulting in the death of up to two civilians.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a Syrian regime-controlled news source, reported that two civilians were killed and martial damage was caused by the airstrikes. According to Orient news, Amr Niam was one of the people killed and he was described by loyalist pages as someone who reportedly fought 12 years ago with the Assad militia and was killed by “friendly fire” after his demobilization.

Athar Press quoted the head of the municipality of Al-Kisswa, Muhammad Al-Hayek, who said that “the young man (Omar Naim) works as a watchman in the glass warehouse that was targeted at dawn today.” @Kenan80490227 on Twitter corroborated that he was a facility guard, writing about the attack “in which the facility guard spent his last night before he was killed”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights posted on Twitter that one of the dead was a member of “Hezbollah”.

The glass plant sustained infrastructure damage as well. Al-Hayek clarified that the 500 square meter factory was almost. completely damaged. He said, “The glass goods in it have become like sand, in addition to the roof of the warehouse falling to the ground along with the walls,” indicating that this warehouse is private and does not belong to any government agency.

A military source speaking to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) claimed that the Syrian regime air defence system intercepted the missiles and shot them down. Radio Al Kul quoted Voice of Capital, which attributed the civilian casualties to a Syrian regime air defense missile and not an Israeli missile.

The incident occured at 00:15:00 local time.

  • Amr Naim Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • Damage caused by alleged Israeli or Syrian regime missile strikes near Damascus on April 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Kenan80490227)
  • An Israeli missile targeted a glass factory in the Al-Kiswah area in the countryside of Damascus, owned by craftsmen in Damascene glass. The scenes show the recovery of a number of civilian martyrs who were in their workplaces in the factory.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Kisswa (الكسوة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.358774, 36.252222. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Incident Code

TS589

Incident date

March 4, 2023

Location

بغديك, Bagdik, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.735505, 38.659869 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Bagdik village in eastern countryside of Kobani on March 4, 2023.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that two civilians were injured and taken to the hospital after sustaining injuries from mortar fire launched by Turkish forces on Bagdik village.

Hawar News also reported that “civilians” were injured and provided the name of one of the civilians who was injured, and who was taken to Kobani Hospital to undergo surgery and was in critical condition at the time of reporting: Ahmed Asaad Hamza, 28 years old.

Hawar News included details that a number of people’s homes were destroyed in the village of Bagdik, and ARTA FM added that homes in the village of Kolteb were also destroyed.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces, with some referring to mortar shells as being used while ANF reported that howitzers carried out the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Ahmed Asaad Hamza 28 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bagdik (بغديك), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.735505, 38.659869. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY030

Incident date

February 19, 2023

Location

المزرعة, Al Mazra, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.526388, 36.297152 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed and others were wounded by alleged Israeli airstrikes or Syrian regime anti-aircraft missiles which struck Al Mazra neighborhood in Damascus on February 19, 2023.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a woman was killed at the Al Mazra roundabout in Damascus by Israeli missiles. A tweet from @alhaidar990 reported that a pharmacist named Lillian Odeh was killed in the Al Mazra district of Damascus. Orient News added that “other people” were injured, in additional to material damage.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the civilian casualties, with the majority of sources attributing the casualties to the Israeli airstrikes while Orient News blamed the anti-aircraft missiles launched by the Syrian regime for killing a woman and injuring other people.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Lillian Odeh Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Mazra (المزرعة) roundabout, for which the generic coordinates are: 33.526376, 36.297152. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Israeli Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMBi008

Incident date

January 30, 2023

Location

محطة الحايرة, Al Hayra petrol station, Mareb, Yemen

Geolocation

15.501673, 45.380729 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On January 30th 2023, an alleged United States drone strike was reported to have hit a car in Wadi Ubaidah in the Marib Governorate of Yemen. Three people were allegedly killed who were in the car at the time, who Al Mahara and other local sources reported were “members of Al-Qaeda”, including a prominent leader in Wadi Ubaidah. @BnMhwr tweeted that one militant inside the car was Hassan al-Hadhrami, “responsible for making IEDs and explosives in al-Qaeda.” No civilian casualties were mentioned by local sources at this time.

Al Khabar Al Yamani news channel reported that the attack happened when the car was waiting in line to get petrol, at the Al-Hayra petrol station. This source and other local sources also identified the missile as a R9X Hellfire. Task and Purpose pointed out that based on images showing that the target vehicle was shredded from the roof in rather than destroyed in an explosion, it is likely the AGM-114 R9X Hellfire missile was used.

A Yemeni government official told AFP on a condition of anonymity, that “three Al-Qaeda members were killed in a strike by a drone that is believed to be American.”

AP described the after-math of the strike as “onlookers gathered around a small, four-door car coated in dried mud, peering through its shattered windows and torn-away roof at three dead men inside.”

Despite most reports attributing this to the US, there was no immediate statement from US officials. Local sources speculated that this could mean that this attack was carried out by the Special Operations Unit (JSOC) or the CIA, according to Al Khabar Al Yamani. US Central Command told Stars & Stripes that there was “no operational reporting at the time of this incident in Yemen”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • On January 30th 2022 a reported US forces drone targeted a petrol station in Wadi Ubaidah, killing three Al Qaeda members (Image via @South24_net / Twitter)
  • Reportedly the strike was with a R9X Hellfire Missile (Image via @akhbar / Twitter)
  • Reportedly the strike was with a R9X Hellfire Missile (Image via @akhbar / Twitter)
  • "The sources said that Hassan al-Hadhrami, responsible for making IEDs and explosives in al-Qaeda, was killed in an air strike carried out by a US drone on his car near al-Hayrah station in the al-Samdah area of Wadi Ubaidah district" (Image via @BnMhwr / Twitter)
  • "According to local sources - quoted by the broadcaster Al Arabyia - the target was Hassan al Hadrami, an extremist specialized in making explosive belts and bombs. At his side were two accomplices." (Image via @e_yementoday / Twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Al Hayra petrol station (محطة الحايرة), located in Wadi Ubaidah (وادي عبيدة) . According to research conducted by @VleckieHond, the exact coordinates for this strike are: 15.501673, 45.380729. Cross referencing source material, we can confirm the accuracy of this location.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS586

Incident date

January 19, 2023

Location

رميلان, Rumailan, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.006190, 41.950519 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A SDF fighter was killed and another person, either another SDF fighter or a civilian, was injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes in the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023.

A Facebook post by قامشلو الحدث Qamislo reported that a young man named Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad was killed in the attack close to his wedding day. A Facebook post by the cousin of the victim named Alan Basho stated that the victim’s name was Rojhat Basho, which Hawar clarified is the victim’s “code name”.

Hawar News quoted a statement from the Syrian Democratic Forces who revealed that one of their fighters was killed and another person was wounded in the Turkish drone attack. According to the SDF, the fighter that was killed was working in the Department of Relations with the International Coalition. It is unclear if the other person injured was a fighter or a civilian.

Hawar News identified the location as the southern side of the town of Rumailan and the sources also quoted the SDF who stated that the drone struck a “military relations point in the town of “Rumailan” used to coordinate meetings with the international coalition forces.”

All of the sources attributed the attack to Turkish drones.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Image of Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad, an SDF fighter killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب كوردستان Qamislo heart of Kurdistan via Facebook)
  • Image of Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad, an SDF fighter killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب كوردستان Qamislo heart of Kurdistan via Facebook)
  • Image of Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad, an SDF fighter killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by صاعقة الشمال North industry via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Rumailan (رميلان), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.006190, 41.950519. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (9) [ collapse]