Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4499

Incident date

January 21, 2023

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Civilian were injured, and one later died, from alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of the city of Darat Izza on January 21, 2023.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was injured by Syrian regime and Russian artillery shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of the city of Darat Izza. Civil Defense volunteers inspected the site of the bombing and made sure there were no other injuries.

@OrientNews and other local sources referred to “civilians” injured but did not specify how many.

Syrian Network for Human Rights later reported on January 28th that Sameh Salim Ayyoub, a poultry farm worker from Qebtan al-Jabal village, died from the wounds he sustained during the artillery shelling on January 21st.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the shelling, with Baladi News blaming the Syrian regime while @thiqanewsagency specified that the regime forces stationed in Qabtan al-Jabal carried out the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Sameh Salim Ayyoub Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense at the site of civilian casualties in Darat Izza on January 21, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Shelling of Darat Izza on January 21, 2023. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

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
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI090

Incident date

January 13, 2023

Location

قرية خليفان, Khalifan village, Erbil, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Two children were injured when Turkish forces allegedly shot them in the village of Khalifan on January 13, 2022.

Alyaum TV reported that two children were injured while grazing cattle in the “Khalifan” area of the “Sidkan” district when Turkish forces shot them. Hawar News (quoting Roj News Agency) added that the children were shot with live bullets and Ronahi TV added that the children were taken to the hospital.

Kurdistan24 provided the names of the children as Lazim Murad Hamadamin and Bahzad Awdi Yusif, referring to them as “shepherds.” Ehsan Chalabi, Mayor of Sidekan, told Kurdistan24 that the two injured civilians were in stable condition.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shooting to the Turkish armed forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image of two children injured when Turkish forces allegedly shot them in Khalifan village on January 13, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Two children being treated for their injuries after Turkish forces shot them on January 13, 2022. (Image posted by Kurdistan24)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM365

Incident date

January 9, 2023

Location

Hawadley, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Up to 61 al-Shabaab militants were killed and dozens of others were wounded by alleged US drone strikes/Somali army operations near Hawadlay on January 9, 2022.

Anadolu Agency reported that according to the Somali Information Ministry, at least 61 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed and dozens others were wounded by an operation carried out by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and “international partners.” Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf al-Adalla was quoted by Anadolu Agency as saying that 150 al-Shabaab forces were planning to bomb government forces in Hawadlay when Somali forces attacked.

@SONNALIVE added that 2 VBIEDs were also destroyed by Somali forces and international partners at farmland in Hawadlay village.

Horn Sentinel attributed the casualties to US drone strikes that struck a convoy of “two heavily loaded VBIEDs that detonated after the drone missiles hit.” According to Horn Sentinel, the US drone strikes killed 50 al-Shabaab fighters and destroyed their convoy of “heavy battle wagons” while pointing out that though the Somali government claimed that the NISA was involved, sources in the Galmudug government confirmed there was no NISA involvement.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike, Ground operation
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    60–61
  • Belligerents reported injured
    12–24

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Location of Somali and international partner operations near Hawadley on January 9, 2023. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US 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
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    60–61
  • Belligerents reported injured
    12–24

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS582

Incident date

December 24, 2022

Location

قرية خزيموك, Khazimuk village, northeast of Al-Qahtaniya in the Qamishli countryside, north of Al-Hasakah, Hassakeh, Syria

Airwars assessment

On December 24th 2022, four civilians, three women and a child, were reportedly injured by a Turkish drone targeting a poultry farm. The attack was recorded at around noon, in Mezkift village (Mazkaft village) or near Khazimuk village, north of Hassakeh.

The women wounded were identified as Aisha Khalaf Ali, Jawaher Khaled Muhammad, Thawrat Al-Matar, and the child as Reham Azzam Al-Ali. They were reportedly working in the farm when the strike occurred. The injured were taken by Kurdish Red Crescent teams to a hospital in the district.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 am local time.

  • Aisha Khalaf Ali Adult female injured
  • Jawaher Khaled Muhammad Adult female injured
  • Thawrat Al-Matar Adult female injured
  • Reham Azzam Al-Ali Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "4 people, including a child wounded in Turkish drone attack 4 people, including a child, were wounded by a Turkish occupation army drone on the eastern countryside of Tirbe Spi district of Qamishlo canton in northeastern Syria." Source: ANHA English
  • Alleged pieces of a Turkish drone following its reported strike on a farm on December 24th 2022. Photo: NPA
  • "Four injured in a Turkish bombing in Tirbi Spiyyah". Photo: arta.fm

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS577

Incident date

December 10, 2022

Location

هيشان , Girê Spî, Al-Hishah town, Ain Issa district.Raqqah, Raqqah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On December 10 2022, a civilian, a 61 years old man working on a agriculture field, was reportedly killed during Turkish strikes targeting villages located between Ain Aissa district and Girê Spî (Tel Abyad) district, in Raqqah province. Turkish forces allegedly used light and heavy weapons.

The victim was described as “Saleh al-Ali al-Salama (61 years old), from the Albu Assaf clan”, from Al-Hawija village. Local sources added that the man “was martyred by shrapnel from a shell fired from the Turkish base in the village of Bir Issa while he was plowing his land”. Bir Issa is located 7km east of Al-Hisha town.  Saleh al-Ali al-Salama was reportedly “buried in Bir Saran cemetery”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Saleh al-Ali al-Salama 61 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Saleh al-Ali al-Salama (61 years old), a civilian working in his land, was allegedly killed by Turkish strikes on December 10th 2022. Photo: ANHA English

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI089

Incident date

December 2, 2022

Location

جبل اسوس شارباجار, Mount Assos, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and up to five others were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes/drone strikes on Mount Assos on December 2, 2022.

The mayor of Charbajar, Shaho Othman, told Kurdistan 24  that three people were wounded and three civilians were missing following Turkish airstrikes on Mount Assos. Kurdistan 24 later revised their casualty count to one person killed and two others wounded, adding that four people were hunting in the mountain and hiding in the cave of Kelashin when the strikes occurred and that one person is still missing.

Kurdistan Revolution posted on Facebook that a civilian named Aziz Muhammad Rasool who worked as a farmer was killed and two others were injured.

A tweet from @cptiraq reported that six civilians were victims of the bombing, with one civilian killed (Aziz Muhamed) and five others injured (Muhamad Kadir, Kwexa Muhamad, Zana Muhamad, Saeed Muhamad and Salih Kadir).

Roj News Agency, quoting the mayor of Mawat district Kamiran Hassan, reported that a group of civilians were collecting wild herbs in the village of Kalala when Turkish airstrikes hit. Mayor Kamiran Hassan told Rudaw News Network that one civilian was killed and one was injured from the bombing, and that the victims were from the village of Qamish. Medya News put the casualty toll at two civilians killed and three injured, adding that medial teams could not rescue them until late in the day because of fear of a second bombardment.

The majority of sources attributed the incident to Turkish forces, with Rudaw News pointing out that it was unknown whether the bombing was carried out by warplanes or drones.

The incident occured around midday.

  • Aziz Muhammad Rasool Age unknown killed
  • Muhamad Kadir Age unknown injured
  • Kwexa Muhamad Age unknown injured
  • Zana Muhamad Age unknown injured
  • Saeed Muhamad Age unknown injured
  • Salih Kadir Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged strikes on Mount Assos on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by Kurdistan24)
  • Location of alleged Turkish drone strikes on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by @cptiraq)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Turkish strikes near Zarun village on December 2, 2022. (Image posted by @cptiraq)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4492

Incident date

November 21, 2022

Location

معربليت, Maarbelet, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 35 year old man was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of the outskirts of the village of Maarbelet on November 21, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a man was injured while working on agricultural land by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces on the outskirts of the village of Maarbelet. The Civil Defense added that a woman also suffered a nervous breakdown from the shelling.

@HalabTodayTV reported that the injury was suffered by a civilian.

A Facebook post by Rasheed Alosman identified the civilian injured as Yasser Muhammad Sheikh Hussein, age 35, with an image showing an injury to his leg.

Pro-regime source @idleb_online tweeted that the Syrian regime army launched artillery shelling against “terrorist sites”  without specifying casualties.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russian or the Syrian regime were responsible, with @Almohrar1 attributing the shelling to Russia while Shaam News blamed the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Yasser Muhammad Sheikh Hussein 35 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Artillery shelling of outskirts of the village of Maarbelet on November 21, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the injury suffered by Yasser Muhammad Sheikh Hussein when Russian or Syrian regime forces shelled the village of Maarbelet. (Image posted by Rasheed Alosman via Facebook)

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
    Agriculture
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS568

Incident date

November 21, 2022

Location

بينة, Ibbin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.46599, 36.99337 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two people were reported “slightly” injured and tens of sheep were reportedly killed by Turkish shelling in Ibbin village, Sherawa district in Afrin, Syria on November 21st 2022.

According to North Press Agency and ANHA between 20 to 35 sheep were killed which were owned by Walida Hamadi.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Up to 35 sheep were reportedly killed by a Turkish missile on a village in Afrin on November 21st 2022 (Image via ANHA English)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ibbin (بينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.46599, 36.99337. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]