Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4551

Incident date

September 2, 2023

Location

كفرتعال, Kafr Ta’al, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A resident of Kafr Ta’al in Western Aleppo died after being wounded in an artillery shelling — allegedly fired by the Syrian regime and/or Russian military — on the morning of September 2, 2023.

Civilians had rushed the injured Abdu Ahmad Qudur to a hospital, where he died the same day. Teams from the Syrian Civil Defense were prevented from reaching the site themselves due to ongoing bombardment, according to @syriancivildefe. Zaman al-Wasl specified that Abdu was “a civilian who did not belong to any military party”. Shaam News reported that in addition to the civilian death, “others” were injured, without providing an injury toll.

The Syrian Civil Defense attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime, but local media reports were conflicting. Shaam News also identified the Syrian regime as responsible, while Al Mohrar labeled Russian forces as the perpetrator.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdu Ahmad Qudur عبدو أحمد قدور
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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Abdo Ahmad Qaddour who was allegedly killed by Russian/Syrian regime strikes. Source: AlmuhrarNewsNEt

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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00013

Incident date

September 1, 2023

Location

جديد_بكارة, Jadid Bakara, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 15 year old child named Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid was killed on the 1st of September 2023, after a rocket propelled grenade was dropped by a drone allegedly controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the village of Jadid Bakara in the Deir Ezzor eastern countryside. Sources across local news and social media corroborated the information, attributing the strikes to the SDF.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid رائد محمد الزيد
15 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A 15 year old named Raed Muhammad Al-Zaid was killed by by a missile allegedly fired from a drone by the SDF in Jadid Bakara on September 1, 2023. (Image posted by @nahermedia)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00012

Incident date

August 31–September 1, 2023

Location

ذيبان, Thiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young child was seriously wounded when alleged-SDF mortar shells struck the town of Thiban, in the countryside of Deir Ezzor on August 31st or September 1st, 2023.

Euphrates Post, who described the child as an infant, claimed the injury occurred when shells hit the child’s home. Multiple sources corroborate the SDF as the perpetrators, with Kabeltalbker Post and local reporters (@syrdrr1, @OmarAbdulaziz82) stating the shelling was “indiscriminate.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a young child injured by alleged SDF shelling of Thiban on August 31/September 1, 2023. (Image posted by @nahermedia)

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG 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
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF00006

Incident date

August 29, 2023

Location

العزبة, Al Ezba, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 29, 2023, several sources reported that an SDF bombardment of the Syrian city of Al-Ezba killed a child and injured numerous civilians, with most putting the number of injured between two and three.

There are no sources that mention death of belligerents, and all accounts that offer specifics beyond “civilians killed and injured” put the civilian death count at one, with all sources in agreement that the person killed was a child. @Sohebbb1990 specified that the child kill, a girl, was 13 years old.

However, there is some variation regarding details of the number of people injured. The most common figure, cited by the twitter account for Halab Today TV, Twitter user Sohebbb199, the Jabour Post, and the Shahed Post report that one girl was killed and two injured. All of those sources, except Halab TV, also state that the two injured were the sisters of the girl killed in the strike. Halab TV says that the two injured were her brothers.

Twitter user @DeirEzzor says that a girl was killed, and two children and a women injured.

Several other sources offer less specific statements, such as Twitter user @Mohab_Nasser2 “civilians dead and wounded, including women and children” and Twitter user @idleb_online who said a child was killed and “others injured”.

All sources attribute the bombing to the forces of the SDF, which some sources refer to as the PYD/PKK.

Several sources, including Ayman Abdullah Post and Twitter user @HamamIssa7, say that the bombing took place in the context of fighting between the SDF and the Military Council of Deir Ezzor.

Finally, both Twitter user @Sohebbb199 and the Jabour Post state that the casualties were “displaced from the Al-Bukamal area”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    YPG
  • Suspected target
    Tribal Forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

SDF0005

Incident date

August 29, 2023

Location

العزبة, Al Ezba, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 29 August 2023, at least one civilian was reportedly killed by sniper fire from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Al Ezba, located in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

According to a tweet from an activist from the local area, Saleh Al-Muhya Al-Atiq was allegedly killed by SDF snipers stationed in Al Ezba. A tweet from @HamamIssa7 mentioned “civilian casualties” in Al Ezba from SDF heavy weapons but did not specify how many and whether they were killed or injured. The incident is amongst reports that the SDF fired heavy artillery on the village of Al Ezba.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saleh Al-Muhya Al-Atiq صالح المحيى العتيج
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Saleh Al-Muhya Al-Atiq, killed by alleged SDF sniper fire in Al Ezba on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    YPG

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4546

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the morning of August 26th, artillery shells allegedly fired by the regime forces and Russia hit the city of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, injuring at least one civilian and causing material damage to residential neighborhoods and the Abdul Rahman Al-Nasser School. The bombardment also fell in the vicinity of the Rabaa Al-Adawiya School and a mosque under construction, without any damage reported.

The Syrian Civil Defense confirmed the civilian casualty, stating that the city “was subjected to aerial bombardment previously, shortly before children started arriving to it to participate in a summer club that is being held in it.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights corroborated this information, additionally noting that the “area is under the control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.” A tweet from @alladyanyaslam2 stated a civilian was “slightly injured”, while @sawarqi47568 mentioned civilian casualties, without specifying a number.

Multiple sources on twitter and local media attributed the strikes to the regime forces and Russia, although it is unclear which of the belligerents was responsible.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • The mean regime's hatred of civilians in Jisr al-Shughour
  • The regime forces shelled the city of Jisr al-Shughour with artillery
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Jisr al-Shughur on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @alladyanyaslam2)

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
    Religious Institution, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4547

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed and at least four other civilians were injured, including up to three children and two women, in artillery shelling allegedly perpetrated by Syrian regime forces and/or Russian forces during the afternoon on August 26th, 2023 in Kansafra, Idlib. The two children were siblings and have been identified by the Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) as the children of Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa. They were both buried that day.

Sources diverge on the gender of the children, with the Civil Defense stating they were brother and sister, while Syria News and Sky News claimed they were both boys. Along with the siblings, three other children were reported injured along with their mother and another unidentified woman. Syrian Civil Defense took the mother and at least one child to the hospital, before inspecting the neighborhood for further casualties. Syria TV, on information from the Civil Defense, alleged the injured child was a girl. Shaam News alleged those injured were related to the two children who were killed. Though numerous reports state five people were injured, there is some disparity: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights believed four to have been wounded, with Sky News alleging six.

Though sources agree that the casualties were a result of artillery shelling, there is some disagreement regarding the perpetrator. Syrian Civil Defense stated its belief that the shelling was carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, while Orient News alleged the regime along with Iranian militias bombed Kansafra.

Sky News alleged the casualties occurred during an exchange of missile and artillery shelling between the Syrian regime and insurgent group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS).

The shelling affected residential areas, including schools. The Civil Defense specified that the schools were in use, with summer clubs and preparation courses for high school exams taking place.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child of Mr. Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa
Child killed
Child of Mr. Muhammad Mahmoud al-Mustafa
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers with victims of shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • One of the children killed by shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescuing a child and her mother who were wounded by the artillery shelling that targeted the village of Kansafra in the southern countryside of Idlib today, Saturday, August 26, which led to the killing of two siblings and wounding 5, including 3 children and their mother.
  • #Sham | “She fell asleep in heaven.” Two children were killed and wounded as a result of the Assad regime’s artillery shelling on the town of Kansafra
  • The bodies of the two children killed by shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • Pro-Assad and #Iranian militias bombard the town of #Kansafra, south of #Idlib
  • Shelling in Kansafra on August 26, 2023. (Image posted by @spc_fr)

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4545

Incident date

August 26, 2023

Location

دير سنبل, Deir Sinbol, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the morning of August 26th 2023, an elderly male civilian was “slightly injured” according to Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe), during shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces on a residential neighborhood in the village of Deir Sunbul, south Idlib, Syria.

The Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that their volunteers gave medical treatment to the injured man after civilians took him to their center in the town of Ihsim, after which he was taken to a hospital in the city of Ariha for additional treatment.

Enab Baladi news reported that the civilian was injured when Syrian regime and Russian forces allegedly shelled the vicinity of the Rabi’a al-Adawiya school during the approaching start of the new school year.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An elderly man injured by shelling carried out by Russian forces and/or the Syrian regime in the village of Deir Sunbul, Syria (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe via Twitter, on August 26th, 2023)
  • The Air Force renewed its targeting of the militants' movements and destroyed their vehicle south of Kafr Aweed hill Heavy artillery units and missiles continue to target their positions and supply lines in the towns of Al-Bara, Kansafra, Sufohen, and Deir Sanbel in Jabal Al-Zawiya, and the axes of Sahl Al-Ghab in the western countryside of Hama.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]