Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM400

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

in the vicinity of Basra, between Afgoye and Bal’ad towns, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Five al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners in the vicinity of Basra, between Afgoye and Bal’ad towns on August 25, 2023.

@HarunMaruf quoted state media who reported that government forces in collaboration with international partners carried out a second operation that resulted in the killing of five militants. @HarunMaruf pointed out that the casualty numbers reported by state media have not been independently confirmed.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM399

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

Sheekhow farm outside Awdhegle town, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

27 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners at Sheekhow farm outside Awdhegle town village on August 25, 2023.

@HarunMaruf quoted state media who reported that government forces in collaboration with international partners carried out an operation that resulted in the killing of 27 militants. @HarunMaruf pointed out that the casualty numbers reported by state media have not been independently confirmed.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    27

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    27

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS625

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

قرية جورين, Jurin and Na'orat Jurin villages, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.616504, 36.268706 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

35.638503, 36.265557 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On August 25th, 2023 at least two women were injured and a young woman and child later died due to injuries sustained in a Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) perpetrated assault on Jurin and Na’orat Jurin Villages in Northwest Hama. The woman, Taryaq Rustom and child, Maher Abbas, died four days after the attack after receiving care at Hama Hospital. Maher Abbas was described as a “wonderful child.”

Sources diverge on those wounded. Both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and AlyaumTV stated that two women had been injured, while Sahl Al-Grab (@Sahl Al-Grab) correspondent alleged a man had also been wounded. Sources also differ slightly on what weaponry was used. Sahl Al-Ghab alleged Grad missiles had been used, which SOHR corroborates, stating that missiles and artillery shells were responsible. AlyaumTV, however, points to bombs.

Multiple sources allege that HTS was responsible for the attack. An amalgam of Sunni insurgent groups, HTS evolved out of the Nusrah Front, Al Qaeda’s former Syrian Branch. HTS operates primarily in Northwest Syria. SOHR, Sahl Al-Grab, and AlayumTV point to HTS as the perpetrator, with AlayumTV alleging the group has ties to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Taryaq Rustom
female killed
Maher Abbas
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A child named Maher Abbas, killed by strikes on the villages of Qalaat Mirza and the town of Jurin on August 25th, 2023. (Image posted by سهل الغاب Al Ghab plain via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Jurin (جورين) and Na’orat Jurin (ناعور جورين). The generic coordinates for Jurin are: 35.616504, 36.268706. The generic coordinates for Na’orat Jurin are: 35.638503, 36.265557. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS623

Incident date

August 16, 2023

Location

راس العين , Ras Al Ayn, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the 16th of August, 2023, at least four civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in an outbreak of violence between two reportedly Turkish backed armed factions in the Al Mahatta neighborhood of the city of Ras Al Ayn, in Syria’s Al Hasakah Governorate.

The clashes allegedly began after raids carried out by the military police and the Hamza Division on homes belonging to members of the Al Mawali and the Suleiman Shah Brigade. The raids were aimed at smugglers that refused to pay their share of the proceeds to the police and to the Hamza Division, according to reports from both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Foxpress. Both sources also reported that civilian women were assaulted during the raids and civilian’s possessions were stolen. In retaliation, according to a source speaking to the North Press Agency,  “Nawaf al-Tarkawi, one of Suleiman Shah’s leaders in the city of Ras al-Ain, attacked the headquarters of the Abu Qafs group of the Hamzah faction with [12.7 mm] medium machine guns and RPGs in the center of the city, which led to six casualties, including two civilians, one of whom was a child. In critical condition, they were taken to the city hospital.” In addition, NPA and Foxpress reported the injury of a woman and three men after a stray shell breached the wall of their house, with NPA mentioning material damage in addition to the civilian injuries from the clashes.

All sources covering the incident have reported the Turkish backed factions as belligerents, and the violence between them as the reason for the civilian injuries – however, at present it is not clear which of the factions are responsible for each of these casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS613

Incident date

July 22, 2023

Location

عزمارين, Azmarin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.055887, 36.401023 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 22nd July 2023, two civilians were reportedly injured by gunfire from Turkish border forces on the Syrian-Turkish border near the village of Azmarin, Harem in Western Idlib.

The North Press reported that both Manaf Azaddin and Yamen al-Sufarani were injured when attempting to cross the border, one in the morning and the other in the evening. The source added that the two injured Syrians were detained by the Turkish border guards, “and what followed is unknown.”

15 other civilians, including six women and their children, were allegedly detained in the two crossing attempts with their personal data and eye prints logged to prevent their entry.

This version of events was reported by several news outlets, including Shaba Al Hadath and Ronahi TV conforming to the narrative provided by the North Press.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manaf Azaddin مناف عز الدين
Age unknown injured
Yamen al-Sufarani were injured يامن السفراني
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    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
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Azmarin (عزمارين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.055887, 36.401023. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    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
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS611

Incident date

July 15, 2023

Location

بلدة حارم, Harem town, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A man was injured when he was allegedly shot by Turkish border guards near Harem town on July 15, 2023.

North Press Agency reported that Turkish border guards shot and injured a 52 year old man named Riyad al-Kanou while he was checking on his land, which is adjacent to the Turkish border near the town of Harem. A local source told North Press that the Turkish border guards shot the man with several bullets, one of which hit his body, and that he was taken to Harem Hospital in critical condition.

No other sources were found reporting on this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Riyad al-Kanou رياض الكنو
52 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM393

Incident date

July 12, 2023

Location

Weelmarow Village, Lower Juba, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Kenyans.co.ke reported that a joint operation by US Commandos, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Security Forces in Jubaland resulted in the death of 17 al-Shabaab militants in Weelmarow Village in Lower Juba. The source added that the majority of the al-Shabaab militants were Kenyan and Ethiopian natives.

No other sources reported on the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    17

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    17

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS608

Incident date

July 5, 2023

Location

رأس العين, Ras al Ain, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.849005, 40.071581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At around noon on the 5th July, 2023, two children were killed and up to seven others, including a woman and a child were injured in an alleged armed clash between two of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions at the al-Qaws checkpoint at the entrance of the Turkish-occupied city of Ras al Ain in Hasakah.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, two children were killed and seven others, including a woman, were injured. Orient News reported that 11 year old Abdul Rahman Hamid Al-Ahmad and 14 year-old Hassan Ali Al-Obeid were allegedly killed in the incident. However, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights stated that a 9-year old was killed, whilst his mother, a child and three civilians were injured. Orient News added that five people were injured, and the injured woman was transferred to Turkey due to her critical condition.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the clashes broke out between the Sultan Murad faction and the ‘Civilian Police’ involving medium and heavy weapons. The report also indicated that the dispute broke out at the checkpoint due to the Civilian Police preventing members of the faction from crossing the border. Subsequently, reinforcements from the Civilian Police and Turkish intelligence were requested to control the situation, in accordance with a news report by the North Press.

Orient News reported that the policeman Ismail Al-Jadaan Al-Aboud was also killed in addition to the two children, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three members of the military police, including a minor, were killed and two members of the Sultan Murad faction were injured, and were taken to Turkish hospitals because of their critical injuries.

The majority of the sources noted that both the Sultan Murad faction and the ‘Civilian Police’ are both Turkish-backed militias operating in Syria. However, it is unclear which militia was responsible for the civilian casualties.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Hamid Al-Ahmad
11 years old killed
Hassan Ali Al-Obeid
14 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.849005, 40.071581. 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
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]