Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2565

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

حارم, Harem, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.212564, 36.519736 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A multitude of civilians were killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the village of Harem, close to the Turkish border in Idlib Province, according to local sources.

The number of deaths reported varied between sources, ranging from three to 11. All sources reported the killing of a woman and her five children.

The White Helmets reported “six violent air raids targeting residential areas in the city of Harem, rural Idlib, resulting in the deaths of three people – two women and a child – and the injury of five others”.

Nedaa Syria published a video in which a White Helmets reporter says: “Today after Friday prayers, Russian and Syrian warplanes targeted Harem with six raids. The worst raids totally destroyed three floors of a building, leaving dozens of people are under the rubble. We pulled out seven killed people and worked for 48 hours to remove all others”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ola Gadab
Adult female killed
Hasan Rifaat Gadab
Child male killed

Family members (5)

Adnan Qahfazan
Adult male killed
Mohammad Qahfazan
Adult male killed
From Qahfazan family 1
Child male killed
From Qahfazan family 2
Child male killed
From Qahfazan family 3
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 13
  • (1–5 children1–2 women)
  • 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

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • A picture of four of the five children allegedly killed in a Russian airstrike on Harem on September 29th (via Twitter: @7UFCmSxd0lUBffH)
  • Civil defense teams working to save trapped civilians from under the rubble left behind by the alleged Russian airstrike on Harem on September 29th (via Smart News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "Martyrs and wounded from one family in the city of Harem countryside # Idlib as a result of the targeting of Russian warplane to residential neighborhoods in seven successive raids."

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "Russian terrorism in Harem in Idlib a little while ago"
  • Translation: "Russian criminal bombardment is now on Harem"
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike on Harem, Sept 29th 2017.
  • The aftermath of the strikes.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is pulled from the rubble.
  • More footage of the aftermath of the strikes.

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
    3 – 13
  • (1–5 children1–2 women)
  • 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

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2564

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

التمانعة, Taman'ah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians of the same family, including a child and two women, were killed by airstrikes, believed to be Russian, on the town of Al-Tamana’ah on September 29th, according to local sources.

The airstrikes should be seen in the context of aerial bombardments since dawn on the city of Jisr Al-Shougour and the nearby town of Al Beshiriya.

Some sources said two women and a man were killed.

 

Masralarabia put the death toll at four

Sources reported that cluster bombs and space rocket were used in the raid, resulting in several civilian injuries.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zamzam Abdul Aziz Halawa
Adult female killed
Suhaila al-Bakri, wife of Zaki Halawa
Adult female killed
Abdul Aziz Khaled Halawa
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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 (17) [ 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
  • (1 child2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2563

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisir Al-Shoghour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Smart News Agency reported that five civilians were reportedly wounded by airstrikes, likely to be Russian, on the city of Jisr Al Shoughour and its surrounding villages.

@jesrNEWS reported: “The cancellation of Friday prayers in the city of Jisr al-Shخughour and most of the villages and villages because of the fierce attack on the city and its countryside by the Russian warplanes.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (10) [ 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
    0
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2561

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

خان العسل, Khan Al-Assal, Aleppo , Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.169667, 37.040255 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local reported that an air raid struck the village of Khan Al Asal, resulting in injuries of a woman and a child.

Smart News attributed the airstrike to Russian warplanes.

However other sources said that the regime was also active in the area.

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 (10) [ 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 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2560

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

اورم الكبرى, Orme Al Kubra, Aleppo, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.147179, 36.9367003 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two consecutive air raids using cluster munition and thermobaric rockets struck the town of Orme Al Kubra near Aleppo, resulting in the deaths of between three to five persons and the injuring many others, according to local media. Russian or regime warplanes were reported to have been to blame.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported five civilian casualties, including three children. Smart News Agency reported four civilians killed as a consequence of the strike.

Multiple reports named three civilians from the same family as killed.

Several other sources also said that the regime was carrying out strikes on the area during this time.

The Violations Documention Centre said that “Syrian government and affiliated militias” were responsible for the deaths of three named civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hamze Ahmad Attal
Adult male killed
Qamar Ahmad Attal
Adult female killed
Khadeja Ahmad Attall
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children2 women)
  • 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

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Civil defense team working to remove civilians stuck underneath the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Orme Al Kubra on September 29th (via Smart News Agency)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme Al Kubra, Aleppo, Sept 29th.
  • Dead bodies are recovered in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme Al Kubra, Aleppo, Sept 29th.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of dead civilians following an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme Al Kubra, Aleppo, Sept 29th.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "A massacre committed by a Russian airliner in the town of Orme Al Kubra in Aleppo`s countryside"

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of dead civilians following an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme Al Kubra, Aleppo, Sept 29th.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of dead civilians following an alleged Russian airstrike on Orme Al Kubra, Aleppo, Sept 29th.

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
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children2 women)
  • 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

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2571

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

Al Atarib, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1371787, 36.8106364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was killed in an airstrike, likely to be Russian, on the city of Al Atareb, according to multiple local sources.

While the vast majority of sources blamed Russia, there were also several reports that the regime were also active over the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Abdul Ghafour
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An airstrike hits Al Atarib, Aleppo, Sept 29th 2017.

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ057

Incident date

September 28, 2017

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Libya

Geolocation

29.3223255, 24.7302246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Egyptian air force destroyed ten vehicles it said were attempting to enter the country from the border with Libya, and which were allegedly smuggling weapons.

According to Arab Today, “The raid was carried out on Wednesday on the basis of information that “criminal elements were preparing to infiltrate” Egypt, said army spokesman Col. Tamer El-Refai in a statement. The officer said that the vehicles were attacked once they entered Egyptian territory, but he did not specify the fate of those in the convoy. Egypt, which has struck terrorist targets inside Libya, regularly warns of a spillover of instability from its lawless western neighbour, a haven of arms and people trafficking.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Egyptian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1635

Incident date

October 17, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Euphrates Post, amongst other sources, reported that “the bodies of Ramadhan Sheikh’s family were found in the rubble after being lost for nearly two months in the city of Raqqa. They’re from Jabila neighbourhood in Deir Ezzor”.

DCHRS listed eight victims, including Mr Ramadhan Sheikh, his wife and six of his children.

It is currently unclear at what point during the Raqqah campaign that the victims died. Despite this, Mohammed Ramadhan Sheikh Mohammed (60), has since been identified by a testimony with a relative of a victim that he died on the 27th of September 2017 alongside three other men. It is unclear when his wife and six children were killed. See Airwars incident CS1536 for details.

Ismail Akkush was also named in Airwars incident CS1535, with two other victims. He has also been removed from this incident.

The Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” (https://raqqa.amnesty.org/), stated that “An air strike killed four men who were burying their neighbour, Mohammed al-Wadi (47), who had been killed by Islamic State fighters the previous day, in another neighbour’s garden. During the war the dead were buried in parks and gardens, as it was impossible to reach the cemetery, which was outside Raqqa.” The garden belonged to Abdul Rahman al-Qantar.

The father of Abdallah al-Wadi gave a testimony to Amnesty International stating that, “My son was shot dead by Daesh (IS) fighters and the following morning four neighbours were burying him in the garden of a nearby house when an air strike killed all four of them.”

Amnesty International field notes claim that a “small impact radius missile” was fired on the vicinity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

the wife of Ramadan al-Sheikh
Adult female killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 1
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 2
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 3
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 4
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 5
Child killed
Child of Mr Ramadhan Sheikh 6
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 'The bodies of Ramadhan Sheikh's family were found in the rubble after being lost for nearly two months in the city of Raqqa. They’re from Jabila neighbourhood in Deir Ezzor' Via Euphrates Post
  • Mr. Ramadan Al-Sheikh's family were found underneath this rubble in Raqqa some two months after the battle finished (via Sharqiya Voice)

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 35.94804, 39.01182

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Unknown when deaths occurred.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]