Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3874

Incident date

July 7, 2019

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to twelve civilians including at least six from the same family were reported killed in artillery shelling on Qastoun, Hama, on July 7th.

The family members killed were originally from Al-Badriya village, and were killed while working in the agricultural lands between Qastoun and Badriya.

According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least six civilians from the same family, including two girls and two women, were killed as Syrian regime forces fired artillery shells while they were working on agricultural land between Qastoun village and al Sahen village in Idlib governorate western suburbs, on July 7th.”

ResalaPost and Zamanalwsl  mentioned Russian participation in the attacks on Idlib and Hama on that day. Three sources attributed the attack to the Syrian regime, while one source did not positively attribute blame.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Manhal Juma Al Mar'i منهل جمعة المرعي
27 years old male killed
Daughter of Jumah Al-Mar'i ابنة جمعة المرعي
female killed
Daughter of Jumah Al-Mar'i ابنة جمعة المرعي
female killed
Sister of Jumah Al-Mar'i شقيقة جمعة المرعي
40 years old female killed
Sister of Jumah Al-Mar'i شقيقة جمعة المرعي
43 years old female killed
Khaled Subhi Al-Mar'i خالد صبحي المرعي
22 years old male killed
Daughter of Abdul Salam Al-Ezzo بنت عبدالسلام العزو
Age unknown female From Al-Sahen village killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (2 children3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “The moment the civil defence arrived to recover the victims of the warplane massacre in Qastoun in the Al Ghab Plain, west of Hama” (via @Damaskiagency).
  • Translation: “Six civilians of one family were killed and others were injured as a result of the Assad forces' shelling with rocket launchers on the town of Qastoun in the western Hama countryside. #Syria” (via @ibraheem890).
  • The image of this child was posted accompanied by the news of the killing of at least six civilians from one family in alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling in Qastoun in Hama on July 7th, 2019. (via @ibraheem890)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: “A horrific massacre in which seven civilians were killed from one family from the village of Al-Badriya in the Idlib countryside, including two women, as a result of missile strikes by gangs of Al-Asadi criminals on the agricultural lands of the town of Qastoun in the Al-Ghab Plain in the western countryside of Hama ... and the number may increase due to the presence of some wounded in a critical condition” (via Abu Ibrahim Ta'ata').

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (2 children3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3872

Incident date

July 5, 2019

Location

محمبل, Mhambel, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

14 to 17 civilians were reported killed, and 20 to 24 injured, in airstrikes on Mhambel, Idlib, on July 5th.

Syrian Network for Human Rights alleged that “at least 16 civilians, including ten children and four women, were killed in an intensive aerial attack by Syrian regime forces using missiles and barrel bombs on several areas in Mhambel town in Idlib governorate western suburbs, on July 5th.”

Meanwhile, Step News Agency cited “more than seven civilians killed and a number wounded, including children and women.” A number of sources referred to “dozens wounded,” while @SyrianCoaliton documented 20 injured.

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the children Arij, Saher and Samer Abdul Qader Abdul Aal were killed, along with their father and their mother Yasmin Taher Hafyan, as Syrian regime forces dropped barrel bombs on west of Mhambel town in Idlib governorate western suburbs, causing a massacre, on July 5th.”

According to this source, a doctor was also killed the airstrike, named ‘Mohammad Badr Abdul Baqi’, who succumbed to his wounds on July 8th.

@SyrianCoalition also reported that “the shelling caused fires and the destruction of homes and property, forcing large numbers of people to flee.”

Eleven sources attributed the attack to the Syrian regime, while seven others did not positively attribute blame. Two sources named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reporting the incident.

Local resources identified 14 of the victims while there are four unidentified yet. Resala post said they are “Unidentified woman lives in the house of Mohammad Adel Al-Sa’eed and her two children, in addition to a child from Morek who lives in the house of Malek Rahhal.”

@so_ria98 said that two of the families killed are IDPs from Eastern Ghouta.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Samer Abdul Qader Abdul Aal سامر محمد عبد العال
Child male killed
Saher Abdul Qader Abdul Aal ساهر محمد عبد العال
Child male killed
Arij Abdul Qader Abdul Aal أريج محمد عبد العال
Child female killed
Yasmin Taher Hafyan ياسمين طاهر حفيان
Adult female Wife of Mohammad Abdel Aal and mother of the children killed
Abdel Qader Mahmoud Abd Al Al عبد القادر محمود عبد العال
male killed
Anwar Mustafa Abd Al Al أنور مصطفى عبد العال
male killed

Family members (4)

Mohammad Badr Abdul Baqi محمد بدر عبد الباقي
male Doctor killed
Nuzha Abdel-Baqi نزهة عبد الباقي
Abd Al-Hafiz Abd Al-Baqi عبد الحافظ عبد الباقي
Child male killed
Mustafa Abdel-Baqi مصطفى عبد الباقي
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Bashira Taher Hfyan بشيرة طاهرحفيان
Adult male Wife of Hazem Al-Khaled killed
Abd al-Rahman Hazim al-Khaled عبد الرحمن حازم الخالد
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Hamada Ragheed Al-Ibrahim حمادة رغيد الإبراهيم
Child male killed
Ahmad Ragheed Al-Ibrahim أحمد رغيد الإبراهيم
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 17
  • (9–10 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (46) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image caption translation: "At least 10 martyrs, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the town of Mhambel, in addition to 20 injured persons, including 7 children and 8 women, and a large displacement of the town" after air raids by Russian forces and the Syrian regime (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • Image Caption translation: "A man presents his relatives, including his mother, with a last look after the planes of the Assad regime carried out a massacre that left 14 people dead in the town of Mhambel in the western suburb of Idlib last night." (via Step News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "A painful massacre: 12 martyrs so far, with the number increasing with a large number of wounded, after the bombing of the Assad forces to civilian homes in the town of Muhambal west of Jericho" (via @so_ria98)
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."
  • Image Caption: "Massacre carried out by the military aircraft and helicopters in the town of Mhambal West Idlib, on Friday, where the number of martyrs rose to 13, including 9 children."

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption: "The ascension of 13 martyrs in the massacre of Mhambal yesterday, mostly children" (via @abuhuzaifa_)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption Translation: "13 martyrs, including seven children and three women and wounding 20 others, after warplanes and helicopters bombard the neighborhoods of Mhambel in the village of Idlib yesterday evening. The victims are displaced from the countryside of Hama and forcibly displaced from Damascus, in addition to the people of the town." (via Syria Civil Defense) ,

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption: "at least 16 civilians, including ten children and four women, were killed in an intensive aerial attack by Syrian regime forces using missiles and barrel bombs on several areas in Mhambel town in Idlib governorate western suburbs, on July 5th" (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • The children Arij, Saher and Samer Abdul Qader Abdul Aal were killed along with their father and their mother Yasmin Taher Hafyan(via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • A man visiting his house after the regime's warplanes bombed the town of Muhambel, west of Idlib - July 6, 2019 (Via Enab Baladi)
  • Destruction in Muhambel after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 5th, 2019. (via SHRC)
  • Destruction in Muhambel after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 5th, 2019. (via SHRC)
  • A man from Muhambel looking at the bodies of his family members killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on July 5th, 2019. (via SCD).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of civilians inside a field hospital with ice blocks on Saturday, July 6, 2019, where 15 civilians were killed, including children and women, and 20 others were injured by the bombing of warplanes and helicopters of the Syrian regime on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)
  • A family stands in front of the destruction of civilian homes as a result of the bombing where 15 civilians, including children and women, were killed and 20 others were injured by the bombing of warplanes and helicopters belonging to the Syrian regime on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country on July 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest).
  • A woman stands in front of a destroyed house as a result of shelling by warplanes and helicopters of the Syrian regime on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man with special needs is standing in a field hospital front of the corpses of civilians killed as a result of Syrian regime warplanes and helicopters on the town of Mhambel near the city of Idlib in the north of the country on July 5th, 2019. (Copyright SMART. Published in the public interest.)

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 17
  • (9–10 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (46) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3871

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Khan Sheikoun, Idlib, on July 4th.

Macro Media Center alleged that “two civilians were killed, and another wounded, in Khan Sheikhoun city after being targeted by three fighter jets”, attributing the attack to the Syrian regime.

Another source, @ANews_Arabic, referred to the death of “four civilians, including two children”, and “10 wounded in airstrikes by Russia and the Syrian regime”, listing a number of locations, including Khan Sheikoun.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Caption: Two civilians killed as a result of Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun city in Idlib countryside.

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3870

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

حزارين, Hazarin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes struck the town of Hazarin south of Idlib. @IdlibPlus reported on resulting in “civilian casualties”, but did not provide any further details.

No further details are available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3868

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

حاس, Hass, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One girl was reported killed in airstrikes on Hass, Idlib, July 4th.

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the girl Hanaa Jamal al Sheikh Najib was killed as Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped barrel bombs on Hass village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on July 4th.”

Meanwhile other sources alleged “others injured”, with Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stating that “a female child was killed when barrel bombs were dropped by helicopters on Hass village – the death toll is expected to rise because there are people in a critical situation.”

Most sources attributed the attack to the Syrian regime using barrelbombs from helicopters. @SyrianCoalition named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reporting the incident.

Halab Today TV said one woman was killed and other wounded.

7al reported: “The reporter confirmed the fall of a child and wounding dozens of civilians as a result of those violent raids that also destroyed many properties.”

A Orient News team reported coming under fire from Assad forces in Hass on the same day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hanaa Jamal al Sheikh Najib
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Caption: "The girl Hanaa Jamal al Sheikh Najib was killed as Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped barrel bombs on Hass village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on July 4th" (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Video caption translation: "The first moments to target the cities of Kafar Nabil and Hass in the countryside # Idlib with explosive barrels of Assad helicopters 4-7-2019" Video Translation: "Reporter confirmed that civilians killed in each town" (via Hadi Al Abdullah)

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3869

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was killed and others injured, when alleged Russian airstrikes struck the outskirts of Al-Bara.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “the Russian warplanes carried out raids on places on the outskirts of al-Bara and Kansafra in Jabal al-Zawiyah south of Idlib, which killed a child and injured others”. Local Coordination Committee of Syria added that among the wounded was a man.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM237-C

Incident date

July 3, 2019

Location

Iskushuban or Mareero, Bari, Somalia

Geolocation

10.170363, 49.847404 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a local source, heavy fighting near the port of Bari in Puntland killed two people and injured five others, including civilians. AFRICOM later declared that “no U.S. military strike took place on the alleged date or location.”

Radio Shabelle initially said that an airstrike by an unknown party had contributed to the violence – though did not blame it directly for the casualties.

“It is not clear what led to the shelling, and it is not yet known who carried out the airstrike. There was no immediate comment from the Puntland government regarding the shelling,” noted Radio Shabelle.

“There was fighting for several hours between Puntland forces and a militia guarding a migrant group operating there. Reports indicate that Puntland forces with armored vehicles attacked the militants who were based in the Marero area of ​​Bari region.

“At least two people were killed in the fighting, while five others were wounded, including civilians.”

Halgan Media – when tweeting a link to the Radio Shabelle story – claimed the strike on a location it gave as Iskashubun – had been conducted by US forces.

However in April 2020 US Africa Command explicitly denied responsibility, noting: “January 21, 2020, AFRICOM received a report from a foreign non-government organization claiming two (2) civilians were killed and five (5) injured as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Iskashubun, Somalia, on July 3, 2019. After review, the allegation was assessed to be unsubstantiated because no U.S. military strike took place on the alleged date or location.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–5

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident gave conflicting accounts on the location where civilians were killed. Radio Shabelle reported that various places in Bari, northern Puntland, were bombed. There was heavy fighting in the Mareero area, the outskirts of the port town Bossaso, for which the coordinates are: 11.33052, 49.29675. At the same time it said that shelling took place in Iskushuban district. Halgan Media, only pointed to the town of Iskushuban as the location of a strike. The coordinates for the town of Iskushuban are: 10.28178, 50.23009. It is unclear where in Bari the civilians were killed and injured. The generic coordinates for the Bari region are: 10.170363, 49.847404. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Bossaso, Mareero and Iskushuban in the Bari region (borders of Bari marked in red)

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Apr 27, 2020

  • January 21, 2020, AFRICOM received a report from a foreign non-government organization claiming two (2) civilians were killed and five (5) injured as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Iskashubun, Somalia, on July 3, 2019. After review, the allegation was assessed to be unsubstantiated because no U.S. military strike took place on the alleged date or location.

Original strike reports

Unknown
  • English
    /
    Original

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–5

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3865

Incident date

July 2, 2019

Location

مدايا, Madaya, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Seven to 30 people were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Madaya, Idlib governorate, on July 2nd, 2019, according to local sources. Sources are conflicted about the number of civilians among the victims.

While Step News Agency reported “news of a massacre of civilians in the town of Madaya, south of Idlib, after a raid carried out by Russian warplanes” – later citing seven dead – the same source also reported that “seven soldiers of the opposition forces died, and five others were wounded, when Russian airstrikes targeted their headquarters south of Idlib.”

@NagiNajjar tweeted that “the Russian occupation air force commits a massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed more than 20 martyrs and dozens of wounded.” According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, two civilians from the same family were killed in the attack.

@syrian191124 shared a video of the aftermath of the strikes, writing: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian forces “targeted a military headquarters of Jaysh al-Nukhba of the National Liberation Front in Madaya village in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed at least 15 members and injured 10 others, some of them were critically injured which may raise the death toll.” A later source, Step News, alleged that “the number of people killed as a result of the Russian attack on the headquarters of the Syrian Free Army rose to 30.”

@M25hLAkKS2ra6WD later tweeted that “the number of victims of the massacre in the town of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, due to its bombing by the regime’s warplanes, has risen to 30.”

Meanwhile, Shahba Press tweeted that “dozens of civilians were killed and wounded by heavy air raids on the town of Madaya in rural Idlib.” According to Fresh Syria, the incident occured in the evening.

While most sources attributed the strikes to Russia, a few sources, including Fresh Syria, blamed the Syrian regime, whereas @anwaralnhar blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment” (via @syrian191124).
  • Translation: “#Idlib: A horrific massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed 16 martyrs as a preliminary result, and a number of civilians were wounded as a result of the targeting of the village with several air strikes with vacuum missiles by the Russian occupation forces and the Assad regime” (via @anwaralnhar).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim on the scene after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Madaya, July 2nd, 2019 (via @anwaralnhar).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]