Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM388

Incident date

June 11, 2023

Location

Bulo-Mohamed-Abdalla under Awdhigle district, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

At least 19 al-Shabaab militants were killed by operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners in Bula-Mohamed-Abdalla village on June 11, 2023

Somali National News Agency (@SONNALIVE) announced that at least 19 al-Shabaab militants were killed by joint operations between the National Intelligence Service Agency and international allies in Bula-Mohamed-Abdalla village. In addition, vehicles and weapons were destroyed.

Other local and international sources provided similar details quoted from the Somali government sources, with @ZakeriyeAxmed added that they had not independently verified the claims.

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
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    19

Sources (5) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    19

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4515

Incident date

May 29, 2023

Location

معارة النعسان, Maaret Al Nassan, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 29th May 2023 three civilians, a man and his two children, were injured by machine gun fire and/or artillery shelling in the town of Maarat al-Nassan, east of Idlib.  The victims were treated locally before being sent to hospital. Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces were responsible.

Several sources reported the injuries had been caused by machine gun fire while two others reported they had been caused by artillery shelling (@Syr_television, @radioAlKul). The confusion may have arisen because of a separate attack – the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the initial machine gun attack in Maarat al-Nassan invited a response from rebel groups to which the Syrian regime initiated bouts of artillery shelling.

Both the Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) and Nedaa Post attributed the incident to both the Syrian regime and Russia while the other sources blamed only the Syrian regime. Neither the Syrian regime nor Russian forces have claimed responsibility for the attack.

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
    3
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ 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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS597

Incident date

May 28, 2023

Location

عفرين ، رأس العين ، اعزاز ، تل أبيض ، الباب ، جرابلس, Afrin, Ras Al Ain, Azaz, Tell Abyad, Al Bab, Jarablus, various regions, Syria

Geolocation

36.512278, 36.865389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.848621, 40.072403 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.586827, 37.048090 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.691939, 38.951152 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map 36.372135, 37.516151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.818970, 38.007554 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was killed and between 20 to 25 civilians, including two women and four children, were injured by alleged Turkish-back faction heavy gunfire around Afrin on May 28, 2023.

Hawar News initially reported that a child was killed and “a number of people, including women” were injured by gunfire from Turkish militia members while celebrating the re-election of Turkish president Erdogan. Hawar then updated their information to 25 injuries, including women and children, in Afrin district and then went on to specify that two people were injured near Al-Thura bakery, a woman was injured in Sajo camp in Azaz, and others were injured in the city of Sere Kaniye.

North Press Agency initially reported that three people were injured, specifically in Mahmudiyah camp in Afrin, but then revised their numbers to 20 people total wounded by stray bullets, including four children and two women. The source then clarified where the injuries occurred: “seven wounded in Afrin and its countryside north of Aleppo, four in Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in the countryside of Hasakah, three each in the city of Azaz north of Aleppo and the city of Tel Abyad In the northern countryside of Raqqa, two in the city of al-Bab east of Aleppo, and one was wounded in Jarablus.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians injured by alleged Turkish gunfire in Afrin district on May 28, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the cities of Afrin (عفرين), Ras Al Ain (رَأْس ٱلْعَيْن), Azaz (أَعْزَاز), Tell Abyad (تَلّ أَبْيَض), Al Bab (الْبَاب), and Jarablus (جَرَابُلُس). The generic coordinates for Afrin are: 36.512278, 36.865389. The generic coordinates for Ras Al Ain are: 36.848621, 40.072403. The generic coordinates for Azaz are: 36.586827, 37.048090. The generic coordinates for Tell Abyad are: 36.691939, 38.951152. The generic coordinates for Al Bab are: 36.372135, 37.516151. The generic coordinates for Jarablus are: 36.818970, 38.007554. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4514

Incident date

May 24, 2023

Location

between the towns of Kansafra and Al-Fatira, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young man was reportedly injured by shrapnel from machine guns attributed to both Russian forces and the Syrian regime on May 24th 2023. The incident occured on agricultural land between the town of Kansafra and Al-Fatirah, in the southern countryside of Idlib.

Reports from the Syrian Civil Defence, Halab Today TV and Twitter user @Almohrar1 said that the man was injured by shrapnel from machine guns whilst grazing sheep. He was treated with first aid by the Syrian Civil Defence and taken to hospital.

The Syrian Civil Defence attributed the machine gun fire to both Russian forces and the Syrian regime. Halab Today TV and Twitter user @Almohrar1 blamed the Syrian regime for the gun fire.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A young man injured by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian machine gun fire on May 24, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM384

Incident date

May 13, 2023

Location

Ali Fuuto, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.545015, 44.042082 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

44 al-Shabaab militants were killed during operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners in the Ali Fuuto area in Lower Shabelle on May 13, 2023.

Voice of America quoted Somalia’s deputy information minister, Abdirahman Al-Adala, who said that the intelligence unit, with the support of international partners, killed 44 al-Shabab militants in the Ali Fuuto area while they were regrouping in the area at the time. Various Twitter accounts quoted this information without offering additional details.

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
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    44

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ali Fuuto, for which the generic coordinates are: 1.545015, 44.042082. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    44

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS592

Incident date

May 3, 2023

Location

بحيره, Bahira, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.108679, 40.862353 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 49 year old man was allegedly shot and injured by Turkish border guards in the village of Bahira on May 3, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a civilian was wounded by live bullets fired by the Turkish army. A relative of the injured civilian told a Hawar reporter that live bullets fired between 14:00 and 14:30 injured Abdelaziz Darbo, 49, in the village of Bahira. The bullet struck Abdelaziz in the back while he was watering his agricultural land, which was reported as not located along the Turkish border. He was taken to the People’s Hospital (Al-Shaab Hospital) in Amuda district. Hawar reported that at the time of publishing, Abdelaziz had been released from the hospital and was in stable condition. Xeber24 and ANF reported similar details.

The three sources that reported on the incident attributed the shooting to border guards.

The incident occured between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdelaziz Darbo
49 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    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 Bahira (بحيره), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.108679, 40.862353. 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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    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

USSOM383

Incident date

May 2, 2023

Location

near Nungare, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.047260, 44.897476 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

More than 40 al-Shabaab militants were killed during operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners near Nungare/ Barire town in Lower Shabelle on May 2, 2023.

The National Intelligence & Security Agency (NISA) @HSNQ_NISA tweeted that more than 40 al-Shabaab militants, including leaders and foreigners, were killed during an army operation in collaboration with international partners. The statement added that the al-Shabaab members were organizing themselves in the area in preparation for an attack.

Radio Kismaayo reported that 10 foreign fighters were among the al-Shabaab members killed and that the operation occurred near Nungare in the Afgoy district, Lower Shabelle region. @sntvnews1 identified the location as being farmland near Barire town.

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 incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention farmland in the vicinity of the town of Barire, for which the generic coordinates are: 2.047260, 44.897476. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM382

Incident date

April 20, 2023

Location

between Ugunji and Mubarak villages, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.873068, 44.721608 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

1.916810, 44.772570 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 20 al-Shabaab militants were killed and “dozens” of others were injured by an operation carried out by the Somali government and international security partners between the Ugunji and Mubarak areas of Lower Shabelle region on April 20, 2023.

The National Intelligence & Security Agency (NISA) announced that 20 al-Shabaab militants, including a ring leader, were killed in a planned operation carried out by the NISA and international security partners between the Ugunji and Mubarak areas of Lower Shabelle region. The statement added that the targeted al-Shabaab members had been organizing themselves in a forest area at the time of the operation and that some of the militants escaped.

According to Voice of America, NISA also announced that “dozens” of other al-Shabaab members were injured in the operation.

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
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a forested area between the village of Ugunji and the town of Mubarak. The generic coordinates for Ugunji are: 1.873068, 44.721608. The generic coordinates for Mubarak are: 1.916810, 44.772570. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (4) [ collapse]