Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

SDF00011

Incident date

August 30, 2023

Location

الصنور, Al Sanour, Abo Hama, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 30th, 2023, during clashes in Abo Hama between SDF forces and tribal fighters, Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah, 15 years old, and young man Bashar Al-Abd Al-Ali, were killed and 10 other civilians were injured, according to reports from multiple news agencies and the boy’s family.

Sada Al Sharqieh was the sole report found within the sources to report that Bahar Al-Abd Al- Ali had been killed and Shaam News was the sole report found within the sources to allege that 10 civilians had been injured.

According to reports from @freesyriachann, @Rian_almasri, @EuphratesPost, and others, Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah was killed by a stray bullet, and they did not allege any specific belligerent was responsible, while Shaam News, Alaraby News, @SyriaFreew, and others allege that SDF fighters were responsible for his death. Further details about Bashar Al-Abd Al-Ali or injured civilians were not available within the sources, except that they had been victims of the violent clashes in Abo Hama, east of Deir Ezzor. Shaam News reported that Abo Hama was hit by “indiscriminate shelling by the SDF with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades” and @yasersoufi alleged SDF forces hit civilian homes with mortar shells and heavy artillery.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah
15 years old male killed
Bashar Al-Abd Al-Ali
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah, 15 years old, killed during clashes between the SDF and tribal fighters in Abo Hama on August 30, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • Youssef Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah, 15 years old, killed during clashes between the SDF and tribal fighters in Abo Hama on August 30, 2023. (Image posted by Khaled via Facebook)
  • #SDF militias target civilian homes in the town of #Abu_Hamam, east of #Deir_ez-Zor, with mortar shells and heavy artillery

YPG Assessment:

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

Tribal Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF0004

Incident date

August 29, 2023

Location

الحصين, Al Haseen, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young girl was killed during clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Deir Ezzor Military Council in the village of Al Haseen on August 29, 2023.

@DeirEzzore tweeted that a seven year old girl was killed by a stray bullet during clashes in the town of Al Haseen. @nahermedia identified the little girl as “daughter of Shaheen Al-Khalif” while a Facebook post from Tigris named the girl as Sabah Salfeej Al-Shaheen Al-Khalif Al-Hamad but stated that she had been injured.

The majority of sources attributed the bullet that killed the young girl to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) while others referenced her death as a result of clashes between the SDF and Deir Ezzor Military Council.

A tweet from @almohrarmedia2 specified that the shooting occurred at an SDF checkpoint in the village. According to Araraby News, members of the Deir Ezzor Military Council had attacked the SDF checkpoint and the SDF had transferred reinforcements to confront them.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

daughter of Shaheen Al-Khalif ابنة "شاهين الخليف"
7 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (13) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Tribal Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF0003

Incident date

August 29, 2023

Location

جديد عكيدات, Jadid Akidat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 29th, 2023, up to three civilians were reportedly killed as a result of ongoing clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Deir Ezzor military council in the town of Jadid Akidat, east of Deir Ezzor.

Sources @DeirEzzore, @nahermedia, @OrientNews and Mhmad Alseed only reported on the death of Basil Muhammed Al-Salem (Basil Al-Raouj), with at least one source referring to him as a child while others refer to him as a young man. Local sources Euphrates Post and Syria TV News reported the death of two civilians, with Euphrates Post mentioning that “Basel Al-Akla and Ibn Muhammad Salem Al-Hilal” were killed. It is unclear if these are two different people, as both names contain elements of Basil Muhammed Al-Salem’s full name and no other sources mention these full names. A Facebook post from Mhmad Alseed added that “the burial will be tomorrow morning in the village of Jadid Akidat.”

All sources agreed that the death of the civilian/s was as a result of clashes between the SDF militia and the forces of Deir Ezzor military control, with some sources directly attributing the civilian casualties to the SDF. @alsharqia24news stated that “Basil Muhammed Al- Salem was killed by a stray bullet.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Basil Muhammed Al-Salem
Age unknown killed
Basel Al-Akla
Age unknown killed
Ibn Muhammad Salem Al-Hilal
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (0–1 children0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (11) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Tribal Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (0–1 children0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF0002

Incident date

August 29, 2023

Location

زغير جزيرة, Zaghir Jazira, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured as part of a violent clash between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Deir Ezzor Military Council in Zaghir Jazira on August 29, 2023.

Both gender and name are unknown, while no other identifying information about the civilian casualty has been reported in the sources. The clash took place on 29 August, with the use of machine guns and hummers. One source, Rasputin Press, noted that the SDF opened fire on demonstrators in Zaghir Jazira, which led to the “clan forces” responding, resulting in damage to a military hummer and the withdrawal of the SDF patrol.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Tribal Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF0001

Incident date

August 29, 2023

Location

الشيفية في غرانيج, Al Shayfiyyah in Granij, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were injured in crossfire allegedly between the SDF and Deir Ezzor Military Council on August 29th, 2023 in the Al-Shafiyyah area of Granij, a town east of Deir Ezzor.

Naher Media (@nahermedia) stated the injured were farmers, with Euphrates Post (@euphratspost) identifying one as Ibrahim al-Hamid al-Abd al-Hay, a young man.

Euphrates Post alleged the civilians were struck by stray bullets fired either by the Deir Ezzor Military Council and their tribal allies, or the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), while multiple local sources attributed the shooting to the SDF directly. The men were near the SDF checkpoint, located by the Sycamore (Al-Jamizan) bakery at the entrance to the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim al-Hamid al-Abd al-Hay
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The young man Ibrahim Al-Hamid Al-Abd Al-Hay injured by a bullet during clashes in the town of Gharanij on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by @ADAMGRAYZO21829)
  • A civilian injured by a bullet during clashes in the town of Gharanij on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by Alsaityat via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by a bullet during clashes in the town of Gharanij on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by Alsaityat via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by a bullet during clashes in the town of Gharanij on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by Alsaityat via Facebook)

YPG Assessment:

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

Tribal Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Tribal Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4546

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the morning of August 26th, artillery shells allegedly fired by the regime forces and Russia hit the city of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, injuring at least one civilian and causing material damage to residential neighborhoods and the Abdul Rahman Al-Nasser School. The bombardment also fell in the vicinity of the Rabaa Al-Adawiya School and a mosque under construction, without any damage reported.

The Syrian Civil Defense confirmed the civilian casualty, stating that the city “was subjected to aerial bombardment previously, shortly before children started arriving to it to participate in a summer club that is being held in it.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights corroborated this information, additionally noting that the “area is under the control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.” A tweet from @alladyanyaslam2 stated a civilian was “slightly injured”, while @sawarqi47568 mentioned civilian casualties, without specifying a number.

Multiple sources on twitter and local media attributed the strikes to the regime forces and Russia, although it is unclear which of the belligerents was responsible.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution, School
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • The mean regime's hatred of civilians in Jisr al-Shughour
  • The regime forces shelled the city of Jisr al-Shughour with artillery
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)

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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution, School
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4547

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed and at least four other civilians were injured, including up to three children and two women, in artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces during the afternoon on August 26th, 2023 in Kansafra, Idlib. The two children were siblings and have been identified by the Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) as the children of Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa. They were both buried that day.

Sources diverge on the gender of the children, with the Civil Defense stating they were brother and sister, while Syria News and Sky News claimed they were both boys. Along with the siblings, three other children were reported injured along with their mother and another unidentified woman. Syrian Civil Defense took the mother and at least one child to the hospital, before inspecting the neighborhood for further casualties. Syria TV, on information from the Civil Defense, alleged the injured child was a girl. Shaam News alleged those injured were related to the two children who were killed. Though numerous reports state five people were injured, there is some disparity: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights believed four to have been wounded, with Sky News alleging six.

Though sources agree that the casualties were a result of artillery shelling, there is some disagreement regarding the perpetrator. Syrian Civil Defense stated its belief that the shelling was carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, while Orient News alleged the regime along with Iranian militias bombed Kansafra.

Sky News alleged the casualties occurred during an exchange of missile and artillery shelling between the Syrian regime and insurgent group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS).

The shelling affected residential areas, including schools. The Civil Defense specified that the schools were in use, with summer clubs and preparation courses for high school exams taking place.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child of Mr. Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa
Child killed
Child of Mr. Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • One of the children killed by shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescuing a child and her mother who were wounded by the artillery shelling that targeted the village of Kansafra in the southern countryside of Idlib today, Saturday, August 26, which led to the killing of two siblings and wounding 5, including 3 children and their mother.
  • #Sham | “She fell asleep in heaven.” Two children were killed and wounded as a result of the Assad regime’s artillery shelling on the town of Kansafra
  • The bodies of the two children killed by shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • Pro-Assad and #Iranian militias bombard the town of #Kansafra, south of #Idlib
  • Shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @spc_fr)

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4545

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

دير سنبل, Deir Sinbol, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the morning of August 26th 2023, an elderly male civilian was “slightly injured” according to Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe), during shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces on a residential neighborhood in the village of Deir Sunbul, south Idlib, Syria.

The Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that their volunteers gave medical treatment to the injured man after civilians took him to their center in the town of Ihsim, after which he was taken to a hospital in the city of Ariha for additional treatment.

Enab Baladi news reported that the civilian was injured when Syrian regime and Russian forces allegedly shelled the vicinity of the Rabi’a al-Adawiya school during the approaching start of the new school year.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An elderly man injured by shelling carried out by Russian forces and/or the Syrian regime in the village of Deir Sunbul, Syria (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe via Twitter, on August 26th, 2023)
  • The Air Force renewed its targeting of the militants' movements and destroyed their vehicle south of Kafr Aweed hill Heavy artillery units and missiles continue to target their positions and supply lines in the towns of Al-Bara, Kansafra, Sufohen, and Deir Sanbel in Jabal Al-Zawiya, and the axes of Sahl Al-Ghab in the western countryside of Hama.

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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]