Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS461

Incident date

December 17, 2020

Location

الجهبل, Al Jahbal, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.408418, 38.902309 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that two civilian males were killed in alleged Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Al Jahbal in eastern Ain Issa, Raqqa governorate, on December 17th, 2020.

According to Rudaw, “pro-Turkey militants carried out fresh attacks on Friday against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Ain Issa, with several civilian casualties reported by local outlets.”

@RojavaNetwork tweeted: “Civilian casualties reported as result of Turkish-backed terror groups targeting civilian home in the village of Al-Jahbel, eastern Ain issa.”

North Press Agency Syria reported: “A medical source from Ain Issa said that 31-year-old Yusef Abdo Maamou and his brother, 55-year-old Mustafa Abdo Maamou, were killed when the roof of their home collapsed on them. The source added that the bodies of the two brothers are still under the rubble of their house, and retrieval is impossible due to the village now sitting on the front lines. ” According to the source, the incident took place after midnight.

BissamFM reported that the strikes came from the village of Al Daif, which is about 20 kilometres north of Ain Issa town.

Rudaw wrote that residents of the villages surrounding Ain Issa “have previously told Rudaw of their fears of a Turkish attack, sleeping in deserted areas at night in case of renewed fighting.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yusef Abdo Maamou
31 years old male killed
Mustafa Abdo Maamou
55 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Jahbal (الجهبل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.408418, 38.902309. 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC423

Incident date

December 4, 2020

Location

ترهونة, Tarhuna, Murqub, Libya

Geolocation

32.434236, 13.635063 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and another was injured in an explosion of a shell from previous shelling on Tarhuna.

60:60 posted: “The death of the young man, Miftah Abu Aisha Al-Azraq, and the injury of another person, as a result of a shell exploding in their farm in the city of Tarhouna while they were doing cleaning inside the farm.”

Libya Alahrar TV added: “The same sources added that the explosion occurred while the family members, who were displaced in the capital, Tripoli, were visiting their farm and cleaning it of war remnants in the city of Tarhuna.”

Tarhuna had been shelled earlier in 2020 as part of fighting between GNA and LNA-aligned forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Miftah Abu Aisha Al-Azraq
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Miftah Abu Aisha Al-Azraq, killed by unexploded ordnance in Tarhuna (via Ras Hasan Al Toumiya)
  • Miftah Abu Aisha Al-Azraq, killed by unexploded ordnance in Tarhuna (via Ras Hasan Al Toumiya)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tarhuna (ترهونة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.434236, 13.635063. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4533

Incident date

November 23, 2020

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.68599, 36.54239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a man, was reported killed and an unknown number of civilians sustained injuries as a result of alleged Regime, Russian and/or Iranian artillery shelling on the town of Al Bara in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in the southern countryside of Idlib on November 23, 2020.

Baladi News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that the belligerent struck civilian houses. Both sources also stated that the attack on Al Bara was a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached following consultations between the Turkish and Russian presidents, which came into effect on March 6, 2020.

Regarding civilian harm, Halab Today TV tweeted that “A civilian was killed in the town of Al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town.” Similarly, The Syrian Civil Defense reported that “[a] person was killed, after being seriously wounded in the head” and that “The Syrian Civil Defense team worked to transfer the injured to the nearest medical point to provide treatment, but he died of his serious injuries. Multiple sources, including Stormagency1 and @anasanas84, identified the victim a the young man Muhammad Eido Shartah.

The SNHR was the only sources reporting wounded, saying that “[a] man named as Muhammad Eidou Shartah was killed while other civilians were injured when Syrian regime artillery forces fired shells at houses in [Al Bara].

The SNHR also noted that “[a]ttacks of this nature spread terror and panic among civilians, leading them to flee their lands and homes in an attempt to reach safety, and forcibly displacing them, with the number of internally displaced persons within Syria now reaching approximately 6.5 million Syrian citizens in total.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the attack with @HalabTodayTV and @aa_arabic attributing the attack to the Syrian Regime, while @anasanas84 and Scoop referred to Russia as having carried out the strike on Al Bara. @Ahmad_1alshble said that both Russia and the Regime were responsible for the attack and @Marea_Elshame blamed Russian and Iranian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Eidou Shartah محمد عيدو شرتح
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "A civilian martyr as a result of artillery and missile strikes from the Russian occupation militia and Bashar al-Assad's gangs on the town of Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib."
  • One civilian was allegedly killed as a result of Russian or Syrian regime attacks on Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @Ahmad_1alshble / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that one person was killed by a Syrian regime or Russian artillery on November 23th 2020 (Image via Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One civilian was reported to have been killed by Russian or Syrian regime artillery on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @Marea_Elshame / Twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Bara (البارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.68599, 36.54239. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS459

Incident date

November 23, 2020

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387671, 38.863106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians were injured as a result of alleged Turkish mortar shelling on Ain Issa countryside in Raqqa on November 23rd, 2020.

According to Ronahi, populated areas in the villages of Saida, Maalak, Ain Issa camp, and the vicinity of the district center in Ain Issa were targeted with hundreds of mortar shells and heavy artillery during midnight.

According to ANHA, this shelling accompanied a Turkish ground operation in Ain Issa where SDF was fighting back.

No further information is available.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) and its surroundings, for which the generic coordinates are; 36.387671, 38.863106. 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4530

Incident date

November 4, 2020

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including one child, and up toaround 12 others, including one child and four women were injured as a result of alleged artillery shelling by Syrian Regime and/or Russian forces on the city of Ariha, south of Idlib on the morning of November 4th 2020 according to local sources and news agencies.

Step news agency, Edlib media center and other few sources mentioned that three civilians were killed by the artillery shelling on Ariha that morning. The Director of the Media Office in the Southern Directorate of Civil Defense, Muhammad Hammadi, told Enab Baladi, that “three civilians were killed, including a girl, as a result of targeting civilian homes and main roads in the city of Ariha with 35 heavy artillery shells in the morning.” However the majority of the sources including Syrian Civil Defense, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian Network for Human rights documented the death of four civilians including one child in the attack.

Local sources mentioned the names of four civilians who were killed: the child Rimas Hindawi from the city of Ariha who was going to her school when the attack happened, Samer Madi from the city of Ariha, young Ibrahim Al-Younes born in 1990 in Urum Al Joz who is is a psychological support worker at Ihsan Relief and Development Organization, and young Ragheed Zakariya Al-Jesri from Ariha who worked as a driver in the same organization. Al Souria platform reported that Ibrahim used to drive a motorcycle from his village of Urum Al Joz to the city of Ariha, where he would meet his colleague Ragheed and drive together with a car to their office in the center of Idlib; and according to Syrian Network for Human rights, one of the shells fired that morning fell on a car carrying the two employees in the city’s Al-Midan neighborhood and led to their death. The same source claimed also that one of the shells fell on “the schoolyard of the city’s Martyr Zakariya Saedou school, partially destroying the yard and damaging furniture in the school”, and a number of the shells fell as well on the “city’s industrial zone, partially destroying several shops” and confirmed that the “industrial zone and the school which is located within a residential area are free of any military presence or equipment.”

As for the injured, a post by “Nors For Studies” claimed that five people were injured by the attack, however Syrian civil defense reported that eight people including one child and four women were wounded. Two other sources (the journalist Hadi Alabdallah and the activist Suheil Hammoud claimed that “dozens “ were injured in this attack, and a post by AlSouria News platform mentioned that more than 10 were injured that morning. The city of Ariha that was attacked is one of the most overcrowded areas inhabited by indigenous and displaced people according to Thiqa News agency.

The majority of the sources reporting on the incident blamed the Syrian Regime for the attack including the Syrian civil Defense that claimed that the regime forces bombed the city of Ariha with “more than 35 artillery shells” that morning and the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights that mentioned that there was “an intensive rocket attack” and “the regime forces fired over 45 rockets” on the city of Ariha claiming that the attack happened while a “Turkish military column was passing by.” On the other hand, only one post by (Eye on Al-Hasakah) ( post) mentioned that the bombing was by Assad forces and Russia, and another tweet by the researcher Qusaai Jukhadar (@Qussai_jukhadar) blamed Russia for the attack. Worth noting that the Syrian Network for Human Rights mentioned as well that this bombardment was a “breach of the ceasefire agreement reached following consultations between the Turkish and Russian presidents, which came into effect on March 6, 2020.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Raghid Zakariya Al Jasri رغيد زكريا جسري
Adult male driver at Ihsan Relief and Development Organization killed
Samer Madi سامر ماضي
Adult male killed
Rimas Hindawi ريماس هنداوي
Child female killed
Ibrahim Al Younis ابراهيم اليونس
Adult male psychological support worker at Ihsan Relief and Development Organization killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Rimas Hindawi was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the city of Ariha, November 4th, 2020 (via Eye On Al Hassakah).
  • Injured civilians being brought to an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha on November 4th, 2020 (via SNHR).
  • Two employees of Ihsan Relief and Development Organization, named as Ibrahim al Younes (pictured right) and Raghid Zakariya al Jesri (left) were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Ariha on November 4th, 2020 (via SNHR).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha on November 4th, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • The child Rimas Hindawi was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the city of Ariha, November 4th, 2020 (via Eye On Al Hassakah).
  • Rimas Hindawi was reportedly killed on her way to school on November 4th 2022 by a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on November 4th 2020 (Image via Al Souria)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four people were allegedly killed when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit south of Idlib on November 4th 2020, including one young girl (Image via @Sharif199629 /Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four people were allegedly killed when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit south of Idlib on November 4th 2020, including one young girl (Image via @Sharif199629 /Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four people were allegedly killed when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit south of Idlib on November 4th 2020, including one young girl (Image via @Sharif199629 /Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS450

Incident date

October 13, 2020

Location

غرب منبج, West of Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Turkish artillery strikes on the villages of Umm Jalloud, Tal Sayada, Umm Adasat Al Farat, and Al Dundaniyya in Aleppo governorate on October 13th, 2020, according to Hawar News.

Hawar reported that: “The villages located on the front line west of Manbij city, including “Umm Jalloud, Tal Sayada, Umm Lens, and Al-Dundaniyya” are being bombed by the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries with heavy weapons and artillery, while the Manbij Military Council responds to the sources of bombing within the framework of the legitimate right to defence.”

The source added: “Clashes are still continuing until the moment this news is prepared, amid reports that civilians have been injured in the targeted villages.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention multiple strikes in the surrounding areas west of Manbij (منبج) city. These are the villages of Umm Jalloud (أم جلود), Umm Adasat Al Farat (أم عدسة الفارات, mistranslated as Umm Lens), Sayada (صيادة), and Al Dundaniyya (الدنينية). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for a middle point between these locations are: 36.587966, 37.767906.

  • Reports of the incident mention multiple strikes in the surrounding areas west of Manbij (منبج) city. These are the villages of Umm Jalloud (أم جلود), Umm Adasat Al Farat (أم عدسة الفارات, mistranslated as Umm Lens), Sayada (صيادة), and Al Dundaniyya (الدنينية).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS453

Incident date

October 22, 2020

Location

صيدا‎, Sayda, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.402080, 38.863921 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian male was critically injured in alleged Turkish or Turkish mercenary artillery strikes on the M4 road near the village of Sayda, Raqqa governorate, on October 22nd, 2020, according to local sources.

Correspondents for Hawar News reported that “[Turkish] mercenaries targeted civilians on M4 road by firing shells at the road and its surroundings; consequently, a citizen named Ahmed Ali Jumaa at 30 was wounded, after which he was transferred to a hospital in the city of Raqqa, and his condition was described as critical.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported two injured civilians, describing “a rocket attack by Turkish forces targeting a checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish), in Ain Issa area north of Raqqa, injuring two civilians who were near the checkpoint.”

According to ANF, “the artillery of the Turkish jihadist occupation troops struck in the immediate vicinity of the grain silos in Qizelî in the afternoon. The shelling on the village of Sayda, which marks the border between the occupation zone Girê Spî and Ain Issa, as well as on the center of the city and the international route M4, continues.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Ali Jumaa
30 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Ali Jumaa was injured in alleged Turkish strikes near the M4 road near Sayda village on October 22nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Translation: "The Turkish occupation and its mercenaries renew the shelling of Ain Issa and its countryside, seriously wounding a civilian" (via Hawar News).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sayda (صيدا‎) located in the vicinity of the M4 highway, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.402080, 38.863921. 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS451

Incident date

October 16, 2020

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.391336, 38.875099 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Hatem Hazem, aged eight or 13 years old, died of injuries he sustained as a result of an alleged Turkey forces or Turkey-backed militants shelling on Ain Issa area and its camp, or the explosion of a mine according to local sources. Other eight civilians including a child and two men were also reported injured in this incident.

At first, Hatem was injured and taken to hospital. One of his legs was amputated, but he died later in a hospital in Raqqa. According to Rojinfo, ‘The young boy’s leg was amputated. He was also severely injured in the other leg and in various parts of the body, he was placed in intensive care at the hospital in the city of Raqqa where he lost his life despite the efforts of medical personnel to save him.’

Most of sources blamed Turkey forced and Turkey-backed militants for the incident, but @soheb20200 tweeted that Hatem was killed while he was herding the sheep when a land mine exploded.

The US embassy in Syria condemned death of the child as a result of ‘apparent artillery fire’, without attributing the incident to any party.

Some sources circulated a different name of they boy calling him Ahmed Hasan, Mihemed Hatem Hazem, Hatim Hazim Mihemed Hatim, Hatem Zaidan Al-Mastu and Hatam Zedan Alkhel. It is unclear which one is the correct name. Sources also gave him different age with some saying eight, and others saying 13.

Freeburmarangers said that ‘At 9:30a.m on October 16th, mortar rounds from Turkish forces fell near Ain Issa, north of Raqqa in northeastern Syria. One mortar landed in the midst of a herd of sheep, killing many sheep and injuring two men and a boy, Akmed Hassan. The men received minor wounds but shrapnel tore through the boy’s left leg just above the ankle, leaving his foot dangling and held on only by skin. Akmed also received a gash high in his right thigh and shrapnel penetrated his right chest cavity. He died later of his wounds. Akmed is the 11th child killed by Turkish forces in the Ein Issa area this year. We pray for a stop to these attacks, a withdrawal of the Turkish forces and their proxies, the Free Syrian Army, and help to get people back to their homes.’

Other results of the shelling reported were destruction and damage of some houses and the killing of a number of sheep.

@Servanenefrine described the shelling on Ain Issa that led to the death of the child as indiscriminate, and Rudaw said that according to ANHA, after the bombardment, Turkish drones were seen flying over the area.

The incident occured at approximately 9:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Hatem Hazem حاتم حازم
Age unknown male From Bu Assaf tribe injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army, Kurdish Forces
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Shelling on Ain Issa, Tal Abyad district in Raqqa allegedly by Turkey or its Syrian militants on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA).
  • Shelling on Ain Issa, Tal Abyad district in Raqqa allegedly by Turkey or its Syrian militants on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA).
  • A child died of his injuries sustained as a result of a Turkey or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA)

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    Hatem Hazem, a child died of his injuries sustained as a result of a Turkey or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA)
  • Caption translation: Artillery shells fell on the Ain Issa city checkpoint, the silos and the houses of Al-Tahri. Two children were wounded, one of them was seriously injured, and they were taken to a hospital.
  • Caption translation: The child Hatem Hazem Dhu, aged 13, died of wounds he sustained this morning, and another child was wounded, during the Turkish forces' shelling of the vicinity of Ain Issa town, the M4 international road and Ain Issa camp.
  • US Embassy in Syria statement about the death of the chilld.

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the fields surrounding the city of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) being struck. Researching audiovisual material, we have narrowed down the exact location of the blast to these coordinates: 36.391336, 38.875099.

  • Reports of the incident mention the fields surrounding the city of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) being struck. Researching audiovisual material, we have narrowed down the exact location of the blast.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged audiovisual material showing smoke from blast area.

    Imagery:
    Free Burma Rangers

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Kurdish Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army, Kurdish Forces
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (38) [ collapse]