Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2689

Incident date

November 9, 2017

Location

معرشورين, Ma'ar Shoreen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.667511, 36.727252 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians and members of the Civil Defence were injured due to airstrikes which struck  the village of Ma’ar Shoreen. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Witnesses told Smart News Agency that “that five raids by aircraft likely to be Russian, on civilian homes in the village, wounded two civilians and damaged property.” Ambulances were also reportedly damaged in the double raid.

There were no reported civilian deaths, and no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ambulances damaged in the aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'ar Shoreen, 6th Nov 2017. (via Shareef Al Ismail)
  • Ambulances damaged in the aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'ar Shoreen, 6th Nov 2017. (via Shareef Al Ismail)
  • Ambulances damaged in the aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'ar Shoreen, 6th Nov 2017. (via Shareef Al Ismail)
  • Ambulances damaged in the aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'ar Shoreen, 6th Nov 2017. (via SCD)

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2687

Incident date

November 6, 2017

Location

ابو الظهور, Abu Alduhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738034, 37.047858 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family of three were buried by rubble resulting in the death of both mother and father, when an airstrike hit their home in Abu Alduhur, according to local media. Sources all attributed blame to Russian warplanes.

As many as five civilians were reportedly injured, according to @SyriaCivilDefe.

As many as eight raids struck civilian housing, public property and a warehouse. According to sources, the Syrian Civil Defence base was also hit. Four houses were destroyed.

The bombardement was continuous meaning the victims were rescued many days later, reported Khaled Al Khalaf.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Khalif Mohammed Al Saleh
62 years old male killed
Dahiya al Hamdo
45 years old female killed
Daughter
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via Hassan Abou Ali)
  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via Hassan Abou Ali)
  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via Hassan Abou Ali)
  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via Hassan Abou Ali)
  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via Hassan Abou Ali)
  • Victims are pulled from the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes on Abu Alduhur, 6th November 2017. (via Hassan Abou Ali)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2685

Incident date

November 6, 2017

Location

رسم العبد, Rasim Al-Abid, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

34.97812, 37.384662 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed, and others were wounded, due to alleged Russian airstrikes on a refugee camp in Rasim Al-Abid. Many sources blamed Russia, while the others blamed “unknown warplanes” for the strikes. Some later research showed that sources attributed blame to Syrian regime planes too.

While Smart News Agency reported that “Civilian killed by raids of aircraft likely to be Russian targeting the village of Rasim al A’bid”, the Observatory reported that “warplanes shelled areas in a camp for the displaced, near Rasm Al-Abd village in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, leaving a child killed and others injured”.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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, Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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, Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1666 RS2697

Incident date

November 5, 2017

Location

الصبحة, Al Subha, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2970537, 40.2363968 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including two brothers died in airstrikes on al Subha, local media said – though it was unclear who was responsible. Sources attributed blame to both Russia and the US-led Coalition.

According to Al Sharq News “intense” raids by the Coalition were occurring in the area.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Al Natek , they were killed by regime warplanes. Al Hall however blamed Russia, reporting that planes carried out “more than eight raids, killing two displaced men from the town of Mosul and injuring 13 others in additional to demolishing a large number of houses”.

DeirEzzor24 reported “the Deir Ezzor Military Council and the forces of SDF took control of the village of Subha in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor”.

A third victim was later named by Marsad al Sharqiya. The source said that he died as a result of shelling. He was also named by SPC, which blamed the Coalition for his death.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hammadi Turk Al Ghadhban
Age unknown male brothers, named by Euphrates Post killed
Aboud Turki Al Ghadhban
Age unknown male brothers, named by Euphrates Post killed

The victims were named as:

Nu’man Hamoud al-Hunaidi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Brothers Aboud Turki Al - Ghadhban Al - Hado and Mohamed Turki Al-Ghadban Al-Hado were killed in a strike on Sabha, Nov 6th (via Ali Aldawla)
  • Brothers Aboud Turki Al - Ghadhban Al - Hado and Mohamed Turki Al-Ghadban Al-Hado were killed in a strike on Sabha, Nov 6th (via Ali Aldawla)
  • Brothers Aboud Turki Al - Ghadhban Al - Hado and Mohamed Turki Al-Ghadban Al-Hado were killed in a strike on Sabha, Nov 6th - one of them depicted here (via Albolil tribe-public figure)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Brothers Aboud Turki Al - Ghadhban Al - Hado and Mohamed Turki Al-Ghadban Al-Hado were killed in a strike on Sabha, Nov 6th (via B.N.N.)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incidents mention the village of Al Subha (الصبحة) for which the coordinates are: 35.2970537, 40.2363968

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 5th-6th: “Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three ISIS missiles. Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed an ISIS line of communication and a fighting position.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Sunday 5 November: Two flights of Typhoon FGR4s, armed with Paveway IVs, flew similar missions over eastern Syria. One flight eliminated a mortar team near the border town of Abu Kamal, whilst the second pair of Typhoons successfully conducted four phased attacks against a tunnel complex near Al Mayadin.‘

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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

Russian Military
  • Oct 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties..

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2683

Incident date

November 5, 2017

Location

دوير, Dweir, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.76714, 40.650959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and her three children were killed in an airstrike on Dweir, according to local media. Most sources blamed Russia for the strikes, however others reported it was a “military aircraft” – not attributing blame to a belligerent.

The first source reported that only two children were killed, however a later source reported three had died.

There were no reports of any wounded civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2681

Incident date

November 5, 2017

Location

معيزلية, Ma'izilya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.620672, 40.454355 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 13 civilians were killed, including a family of five, and others were injured, following airstrikes on Al-Rifai camp for displaced peoples in Ma’izilya. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible, with most blaming Russia, however Syrian Network for Human rights was among a few who blamed the Syrian regime. Many sources also reported sighting “unknown military warplanes”.

Initial reporting suggested only three were killed including a mother and child, however it was later reported by Euphrates Post that the death toll had risen to 12. Most of the victims were named.

“Dozens” were allegedly wounded, however this remains unspecified. Bukamalna, however did name two injured victims.

On the 27th, Euphrates Post reported that another man had died due to his injuries sustained in the raid. Allegedly 11 members of his family were killed at the time of the strike.

The hospitals in the vicinity were – according to Smart News – reportedly out of service. Additionally, the wounded were in a serious condition therefore the number of victims was expected to rise.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Daughter of Abed Al Abdullah Al Osman Al Mashhadani
Child female killed
Daughter of Abed Al Abdullah Al Osman Al Mashhadani
Child female killed

Family members (7)

Woman from Nihad Awad al-Hiba al-Bassis family
Adult female killed
Child of victim 1
Child killed
Child of victim 2
Child killed
Child of victim 3
Child killed
Child of victim 4
Child killed
Child of victim 5
Child killed
Child of victim 6
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Daughter of Nasser Al-Abdullah Al-Asman Al-Mashhadani
5 years old female killed
Mohammed Al - Mahmoud Al - Taha
Child male killed
Son of Ibn Al-Awad Al-Bassis
Age unknown male killed
Saad Fahmi al-Kassar
Age unknown male rom the town of Al-Sayyal, died later due to wounds sustained killed
Ali Al-Hamad
Age unknown injured
The wife of Hussein Al - Hamad
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 13
  • (10 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (13) [ 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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 13
  • (10 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr112

Incident date

November 4, 2017

Location

صرواح, Sirwah, Ma'rib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.431441, 45.016976 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Some local language sources, including @MasirahTV, suggested that a US drone strike took place in the Sirwah district of Marib governorate on the morning of November 4th.

All sources posted on November 4th 2017 itself. There were no known associated reports of civilian or militant harm, and no further information was given.

Given that all of the sources were roughly identical, it appears that all were derived from a single source (perhaps @_H0rh).  As such, this incident has been assessed to be a single-source claim by Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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 in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Sirwah (صرواح), for which the generic coordinates are: 15.431441, 45.016976. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Sirwah (صرواح).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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 in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1665a

Incident date

November 4, 2017

Location

الكواشية, Al Kwashiya, Hassakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that Coalition warplanes shelled areas in the vicinity of Al-Kwaishia village in the southern countryside of Hasaka. According to a single source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a child was killed.

Other sources reported that a child named Omar Thamer al – Shibli was injured. @ShMC99 claimed that two children were injured.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Thamer al - Shibli
Child injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition 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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV585541
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • Nov. 4, 2017, in Al Kwashiya, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3164/CS1665a 37SFV585541

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]