Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4476

Incident date

October 16, 2022

Location

كفرجنة, Kafr Janna, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes in the countryside of Azaz and Afrin, specifically the town of Kafr Jannah and Qatma, resulted in the death and wounding of civilians in addition to the death of up to six militants and the wounding of up to 12 militants.

@shaamnews reported that Russian airstrikes hit the countryside of Azaz and Afrin, killing and wounding Syrian National Army members and civilians. Shaam News was the only source that directly mentioned civilian casualties while others reported that “people” were killed without specifying if they were civilians or militants.

Shaam News also published a statement from the Ministry of Defense in the “Syrian Interim Government” which stated that “The warplanes of the criminal regime this morning, Sunday, October 16, 2022 AD, at eight o’clock, the military and civilian buildings in the regions of Afrin and Azaz, north of Aleppo governorate, with five air strikes that led to the deaths and injuries, most of them civilians. The areas that were targeted this morning include millions of civilians who were displaced due to the crimes of the Assad regime and its allies from the separatist and sectarian terrorist militias.” Shaam put the casualties at two SNA members killed and others wounded.

The Step News Agency correspondent reported that Russian warplanes took off from Hmeimim base in the northern countryside of Latakia and carried out 6 air raids with vacuum missiles against camps of the Turkish-backed opposition factions in the towns of Kafr Jannah and Qatma, resulting in two deaths and more than 7 wounded, with the destruction of a camp and several military vehicles in the vicinity of the building.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published that the death toll rose to three, including a fighter under the age of eighteen, and the injury of eight others. However, @SyriawatanNews put the casualties at six killed and 12 wounded among  “Suqur Al-Sham” members.

@Almohrar1 provided names of those injured and killed: Akram Derai, Ibrahim Muhammed Zureik, Abdel Hamid Zein El Din, Amin Hammadi Sattouf, Yusuf Masra Ibn Ibrahim, Mustafa Hamada Satouf, Elias Abdullah bin Ghalib, Bashar Al-Asi bin Samir, Ali Abras bin Muhammad, Khaled Hajj Musa Ibn Musa, Abdul Qasim bin Ahmed, Ubadah Hajj Darwish bin Abdul Qadir (Dead), Abdul Qahar Al-Asi bin Imad (Dead). Almglawy posted on Facebook that Suqur al-Sham Mujahideen member Youssef Ibrahim Al-Masrou was also killed.

@ly26935212 reported that the airstrikes caused outbreaks of fire in the area. All of the sources that reported on this incident attributed the strikes to Russian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–6
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–12

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by Step News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by Step News)
  • Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
  • Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @idleb_online)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Russian Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriawatanNews)
  • Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @Sharqya_reporte)
  • Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by Al Mohrar News)
  • Abdul Qahar Imad Al-Assi, an alleged militant killed by Russian strikes on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @allaith12345)
  • Ubadah Haj Darwish, an alleged militant killed by Russian strikes on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by @omaralabas1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Russian Airstrikes in the vicinity of Kafr Janna on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by Omar via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–6
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–12

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4324

Incident date

June 21, 2021

Location

احسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and nine civilians were killed and up to 14 were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the village of Ihsem on June 21, 2021. Sources contest whether some of the people identified, specifically the prisoners being held in a prison in Ihsem that was bombed, were belligerents.

The initial number given of casualties from the bombing on Ihsem, according to @jisrtv, was ” 4 dead and 14 wounded”. @HalabTodayTV tweeted that “the number of victims of the regime’s bombing of the town of Ihsem in the southern countryside of Idlib has risen to five” while @Sy24ria identified seven civilians as being killed.

Anadolu Agency reported that 10 civilians were injured in Al Bara and Ihsem but does not distinguish how many were injured in each town.

@EdlibNN reported on the “martyrdom of Ahmed Mustafa Nasouh (Ahmed Al-Satayef), from the town of Al-Bara, as a result of the bombing of the Ahsam police station today”. @Nabel_othman023 added that at the time, he was being detained at the police station.

A tweet from @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc identified Abu Tahrir Asad as being killed in the strikes on Ihsem and indicated that he was a member of the military. @SyriawatanNews also reported on “the killing of the military commander named “Mohammed Qazi” and a number of terrorists from the so-called “First Infantry Division” affiliated with the “National Liberation Front” terrorists”.

Resala post gives the name of four people killed in Ihsem: Muhammad Abd al-Ilah al-Qadi, from the town of Kafr Sijna  (identified above as a belligerent); Ahmed Mustafa Al-Nasouh from Al-Bara; Walid Al-Asaad from the town of Abdita; Iyad Tahrir Al-Ahmad from the town of Karnaz. 

@masri_yaser reported that the bombing struck the “homes of the security force” and identified that it “led to the death of nine people who were inside the house” but does not distinguish if those killed were members of the security force or not. This could indicate that two different locations may have been targeted, as at least four of the civilians killed are identified as being killed in the police station.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “elements of the National Front were there against the background of a dispute” in reference to the police station while Horrya News identified those killed at the police station as “a civilian, a policeman and three prisoners”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights named the policeman killed as Walid Al-Asaad (listed above) and “the deaths of two fighters who were detained in the station”. However, Zaman Al Wasl reported that “the three civilians who died as a result of the bombing were prisoners displaced from different areas in the south and west of Idlib governorate, in addition to the killing of two police station members, and the injury of 5 others, including two prisoners.”

Watan FM News further broke down the numbers to “5 deaths, including two civilians and 3 members of the Syrian National Army.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes. A tweet from @syriapostnew1 identified both Russia and the regime as to blame for the bombing while @resalapost attributed the strikes to Russia and Enab Baladi News blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walid Al-Asaad
Age unknown from the town of Abdita killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • (1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–14
  • 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
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–9

Sources (45) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Image of Abu Tahrir Asad, who is referenced to as being dedicated to military work and was killed in strikes on the town of Ihsem on June 21, 2021. (Image posted by @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc)
  • White Helmets rescuing one of the victims of the strikes on Ihsem on June 21, 2021. (Image posted by @Nabel_othman023)
  • Image of Ahmed Mustafa Nasouh (Ahmed Al-Satayef), who was killed in the bombing of Ahsam police station on June 21, 2021. (Image posted by @EdlibNN)
  • Walid Muhammad Al-Asaad, who was identified as the policeman at Ihsem police station who was killed when the station was bombed on June 21, 2021. (Image posted by Ehsim now via Facebook)
  • Walid Muhammad Al-Asaad, who was identified as the policeman at Ihsem police station who was killed when the station was bombed on June 21, 2021. (Image posted by Mohamed.alasad19 via Facebook)
  • Image of Abu Tahrir Asad, who is referenced to as being dedicated to military work and was killed in strikes on the town of Ihsem on June 21, 2021. (Image posted by Dadi’ Al Ahmad via Facebook)

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • (1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–14
  • 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
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–9

Sources (45) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4527

Incident date

October 26, 2020

Location

منطقة الدويله في كفرتخاريم في ريف ادلب, Al Dwailah in Kafar Takhareem in Idib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between two and 23 civilians were reported injured and at least one person alleged to be a civilian, a journalist, was killed during alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dwailah area near Salqin, west of the city of Kafr Takharim, in the northwestern countryside of Idlib on October 26, 2020. Multiple sources stated that the Russian forces targeted a military training camp belonging to the Turkish-backed “Sham Legion”, one of the factions of the National Liberation Front (NLF). Local sources reported that between 30 and 90 fighters sustained injuries and up to 78 fighters were killed as a result of the alleged Russian airstrikes. Step News Agency said that the NLF camp was located close to camps for displaced people and that the proximity of the raids to these camps resulted in civilian harm.

Regarding civilian deaths, @MousaAlomar and others reported that the journalist Rasheed al-Bakr died as a result of the Russia attack. Al Araby quoted activist Mustafa Muhammad according to whom “Al-Bakr was killed (…) while covering the graduation of a military course for fighters from the “Al-Sham Legion”, in Jabal Al-Duwailah. He explained that [al-Bakr] was working as a photographer for several local agencies, and was also active in covering humanitarian events in the Kafr Takharim area near the Syrian-Turkish border. However, Hadiabdullah and Minbersham claimed that al-Bakr was part of the NLF’s media office and that he had “great participation in the popular movement, especially in Kafr Takharim.”

A correspondent from Step Agency said that “more than 20 people were killed in an initial outcome in the bombing, most of them were “Sham Legion” fighters, and among them were civilians, as a result of the proximity of the raids to the Talmanes [IDP] camp on the Syrian-Turkish border. @abo_gamal_1 reported that 25 people were killed in the Russian airstrikes, without specifying the status of the individuals. Resala Post published the names of 29 casualties, also without specifying their status. However, Syria TV posted the same 29 names plus seven additional names, explicitly stating that these people were members of the Sham Legion.

Regarding wounded civilians, Aramme reported that among the dead and wounded, although mostly Sham Legion fighters, were also civilians who lived in a camp near the targeted area. @SyrianCoalition tweeted that “[t]he raids carried out by the Russian occupation on the camp located in the Duwaila area in Idlib countryside, also included the bombing of the village of Al-Duwailah and the camp in it, which left many civilians injured, and dozens of them are still under the rubble.” @Nasr_Haririr stated that dozens of people were injured and killed as a result of Russian airstrikes, most of them cadets of the Sham Legion. This indicates that there were also some civilian casualties.

Regarding belligerent harm, Alkhabour stated that “[t]he Russian warplanes launched raids with high-explosive bombs on the Al-Duwailah area in the western countryside of Idlib, killing more than 30 fighters and wounding more than 30 other fighters of the National Liberation Front.”

A correspondent from Step News Agency reported that “the [NLF military training] camp contained about 200 fighters and leaders from the faction, and as a result of the targeting more than half of them were killed or wounded, as the number of dead reached 36 and more than 90 wounded.” Initially, Step had reported that more than 20 people, most of them Sham Legion fighters, were killed.

Syria TV documented the names of 36 killed members of the Sham Legion, stating that “the number can be increased due to the presence of injuries in critical condition, as the number of injured ranges between 50 and 75 injured, who have been distributed to a number of hospitals.”

The Daily mail reported that Russian airstrikes on a training camp killed more than 50 Turkish-backed militia fighters. It further said that the “Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in Syria, gave a higher toll of 78 fighters dead and nearly 90 wounded.”

Al Jazeera quoted Naji Mustafa, spokesman for the NLF, according to whom the raid was “”a clear and continuous breach of the de-escalation agreement signed between Russia and Turkey (…).” This is corroborated by a statement from US ambassador James Jeffrey, the Special Representative for Communication in Syria, that was posted by Raqqa.rwb. In the statement the US expresses its concerns about the “dangerous escalation by pro-regime forces and apparent violation of the March 5 Idlib ceasefire agreement.”

The Daily Mail said that “Syrian rebel groups vowed to retaliate.” Shaam reported that “[a]s a result of the shelling of the media activist, Rashid al-Bakr, the rebel factions responded by targeting the strongholds of the Assad forces on the axes of the cities of Kafr Nabl, Saraqib, Maarat al-Numan and the towns of al-Dar al-Kabir, Khan al-Sabil, Hazarin, Jubas, al-Hasa, al-Majalla and Kafr Batikh with artillery shells, which led to deaths and injuries, and the factions killed two members of the Assad forces Sniper rifle on the axis of Al Dar Al Kabira.”

All sources attributed the airstrikes on the Al Dwailah area to the Russian Armed forces. The Manbij Military Council said that “the aviation observatories in the northern regions of Syria reported that they had monitored the take-off of a Russian “Sikhoy 30” warplane from the Hmeimim air base, which carried out its full cargo on the Duwailah area.” According to Alkhabour, the raids on Al Dwailah were carried out with high-explosive bombs. Euphrates Post and Step referred to Russian media outlets who claimed that Russia destroyed the Sham Legion camp with “half a ton of explosives”.

The incident allegedly took place in the morning.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Rashid Al-Bakr رشيد البكر
Adult male Media Activist killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 29
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–23
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    20–78
  • Belligerents reported injured
    30–90

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Rashid Al-Biker, a media activist, was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on a SNA military training camp in Al-Duwailah in Idlib on October 26th.
  • More than a hundred members of pro-Turkey Sham legion were killed as a result of a Russian airstrike on Idlib.
  • Satellite imagery showing the attack on Sham Legion military training camp in Al-Duwailah that according to local sources led to civilian casualties, including a media activist. (via Freedierazourradio)
  • Satellite imagery showing the attack on Sham Legion military training camp in Al-Duwailah that according to local sources led to civilian casualties, including a media activist. (via Freedierazourradio)
  • Statement by Special Representative for Syria Ambassador James Jeffrey on Idlib Airstrike by what he described as pro-regime forces. (via Raqqa.rwb)
  • Media activist Rashid Al-Bakr was killed in the Russian air strike that targeted the Jebel Al-Duwailah area in Idlib countryside.
  • Funeral of those killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Duwailah in Idlib on October 26th, 2020. (via Eye on Hasaka)
  • Funeral of those killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Duwailah in Idlib on October 26th, 2020. (via Eye on Hasaka)
  • Rashid Al-Bakr, a media activist, was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on a SNA military training camp in Al-Duwailah in Idlib on October 26th. (via ShahbaPress).
  • Rasheed Al-Bakr was allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Takharim city on October 26th 2020 (Image via Minbersham / Facebook)
  • Rasheed Al-Bakr was allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Takharim city on October 26th 2020 (Image via @MediaForumSy / Twitter)
  • Rasheed Al-Bakr was allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Takharim city on October 26th 2020 (Image via Hadiabdullah)
  • Rasheed Al-Bakr was allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Takharim city on October 26th 2020 (Image via Hadiabdullah)
  • Rasheed Al-Bakr was allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Takharim city on October 26th 2020 (Image via @pressrahhal / Twitter)
  • "Civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes bombing the Jabal Al-Duwailah area northwest of Idlib." (Image via @Support_023 / Twitter)
  • "Civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes bombing the Jabal Al-Duwailah area northwest of Idlib." (Image via @Support_023 / Twitter)
  • "Civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes bombing the Jabal Al-Duwailah area northwest of Idlib." (Image via @Support_023 / Twitter)
  • "Civilian martyrs and wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes bombing the Jabal Al-Duwailah area northwest of Idlib." (Image via @Support_023 / Twitter)
  • Rasheed Al-Bakr was allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Takharim city on October 26th 2020 (Image via @baladinetwork / Twitter)
  • "25 people were killed in Russian air strikes targeting the Jabal Al-Duwailah area in the northern Idlib countryside." (Image via @abo_gamal_1 / Twitter)
  • "From the roundabout of the martyrs in the city of Idlib... the funeral of the victims of the Russian air raid on Jabal Al-Duwailah, west of the city of Kafr Takharim." (Image via @madwar_siba / Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 29
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–23
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    20–78
  • Belligerents reported injured
    30–90

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS401

Incident date

December 20, 2019

Location

ام حرملة, Um Hammala, Al Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.872222, 40.330000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported injured as a result of alleged Turkish forces or Turkey-backed militants’ artillery shelling on Um Hammala village in Zarkan, Hasakah, Syria on December 20th, 2019 according to local sources.

No more details are available at the moment.

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
    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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention multiple villages being struck in the countryside of Abu Rasin (تل بو رأسين). The village of Um Hammala (ام حرملة) for which the coordinates are: 36.872222, 40.330000; the village of Um Eshba (برقة) for which the coordinates are: 36.896389, 40.295000; and the village of Til Hermil (تل حرمل) for which the coordinates are: 36.906667, 40.356944. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army 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
    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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS400

Incident date

December 9, 2019

Location

تل الورد غربي, Tal Al Ward, Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.797222, 40.338611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, one civilian was reported killed when Turkish forces or Turkey-backed forces launched an artillery attack on Tal Al Ward in Tal Tamr town of Hasakah in Syria, on December 9th, 2019.

No further details are available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Liveaumap Middle East marking the location of the strike on Tal Al Ward (via @lummideast).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention bombing in the village of Tal Al Ward (تل الورد غربي) for which the coordinates are 36.797222, 40.338611 and the village of Al Rubaiat (ربيعات غربي ) for which the coordinates are: 36.820000, 40.333333. 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
    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
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS339a

Incident date

October 10–13, 2019

Location

منبج‎ / عين العرب‎ / كوباني‎, M4 Highway, between Manbij and Kobani, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.6304613, 38.2997323 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Kurdish civilians were summarily executed by Turkish forces on the M4 highway in north east Syria, according to local media.

Video shared by @zana_med on twitter shows Turkey-backed militants near bodies of two civilians that they executed earlier on the M4 highway in Hassakah governroate.  The date of the summary execution is not known but possibly between 10 and 13 October 2019.

The content of the video is graphic.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the incident took place on the M4 highway between the cities of Manbij (منبج‎) and Kobani (عين العرب‎ / كوباني‎) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6304613, 38.2997323. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the incident took place on the M4 highway between the cities of Manbij (منبج‎) and Kobani (عين العرب‎ / كوباني‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3996

Incident date

August 7, 2019

Location

راشا, جبل شحشبو, Rasha village, Jabal Shashbou, Hama , Syria

Airwars assessment

Five men were reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the headquarters of the monitoring unit team of the Al Naser Army in the village of Rasha in Jabal Shashabou, Hama governorate, on August 7th, 2019, according to local sources. It is unclear if the men were directly participating in hostilities. An unknown number of other people were injured.

Geiroon reported that “five members of the monitoring unit team of the Al Naser Army, one of the components of the National Liberation Front were killed today, Wednesday, in a Russian airstrike targeting their headquarters, in Jabal Shashabo in the northwestern countryside of Hama.”

Local activist Muhammad Abu Rifaat told Geiroen: “Russian SU24 airstrikes targeted the headquarters of the Jaysh Al Nasr monitoring unit in the village of Rasha, in Jabal Shahshabo in the northwestern countryside of Hama. Four members of the team were killed, and two others were wounded.”

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, four of the victims were part of the monitoring unit, while the fifth was a fighter with the National Front. The observatory reportedly monitors the movement of warplanes to warn civilians of airstrikes. The SOHR added that “the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in a critical situation.”

Several sources, including the Syrian Human Rights Committee, identified the victims as Abdul Razzaq Na’san, Ahmed Hilal Shaheen, Mohamed Jabero, Ahmed Salloum Abu Jalibib and Yasser Jerboa.

The Syrian Civil Defence wrote on Facebook: “Five martyrs and wounded others after an airstrike targeted Jabal Shhashbo in Hama countryside this morning, our teams were able to recover the martyrs despite the difficulty of access to the area, because of the intensity of the shelling.”

@ZaitunAgency posted a video on Twitter of strikes, captioning it: “A part of the artillery and missile strikes of Assad’s forces on Mount Shashabo in the southern Idlib countryside.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al Salloum أحمد السلوم
Adult male killed
Ahmad Hilal Shaheen أحمد هلال شاهين
Adult male working for the Observatory 20 killed
Abdo Al Naasan عبدو النعسان
Adult male killed
Muhammad Jabero محمد جبيرو
Adult male killed
Yasser Jarbu' ياسر جربوع
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 5
  • (0–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “Shelling of Assad forces' rocket launchers on Jabal Shashabo in the northern Hama countryside” (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Photo of alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Rasha village on August 7th, 2019 (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Translation: “A part of the artillery and missile strikes of Assad's forces on Mount Shashabo in the southern Idlib countryside” (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Translation: “Their voices terrified our enemy, and their warnings were preventing death like a shield of another kind, and their evils that delight our hearts have ceased. Jaish Al Nasr announces the death of a group of its observatories, as a result of targeting a contact point for them in Jabal Shashabo, west of Hama. Photo: Abdul Razzaq Na’san, Ahmed Hilal Shaheen (Twentieth Observatory). Mohamed Jabero, Ahmed Salloum Abu Jalibib and Yasser Jerboa” (via @AishaSapri).
  • Abdul Razzaq Na’san, Ahmed Hilal Shaheen, Mohamed Jabero, Ahmed Salloum Abu Jalibib and Yasser Jerboa were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the village of Rasha on August 7th, 2019 (via @AishaSapri).
  • Syrian Civil Defence recovering the bodies of victims after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Rasha village on August 7th, 2019 (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Abdul Razzaq Na’san, Ahmed Hilal Shaheen. Mohamed Jabero, Ahmed Salloum Abu Jalibib and Yasser Jerboa were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the village of Rasha on August 7th, 2019 (via Step News Agency).

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 5
  • (0–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3865

Incident date

July 2, 2019

Location

مدايا, Madaya, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Seven to 30 people were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Madaya, Idlib governorate, on July 2nd, 2019, according to local sources. Sources are conflicted about the number of civilians among the victims.

While Step News Agency reported “news of a massacre of civilians in the town of Madaya, south of Idlib, after a raid carried out by Russian warplanes” – later citing seven dead – the same source also reported that “seven soldiers of the opposition forces died, and five others were wounded, when Russian airstrikes targeted their headquarters south of Idlib.”

@NagiNajjar tweeted that “the Russian occupation air force commits a massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed more than 20 martyrs and dozens of wounded.” According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, two civilians from the same family were killed in the attack.

@syrian191124 shared a video of the aftermath of the strikes, writing: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian forces “targeted a military headquarters of Jaysh al-Nukhba of the National Liberation Front in Madaya village in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed at least 15 members and injured 10 others, some of them were critically injured which may raise the death toll.” A later source, Step News, alleged that “the number of people killed as a result of the Russian attack on the headquarters of the Syrian Free Army rose to 30.”

@M25hLAkKS2ra6WD later tweeted that “the number of victims of the massacre in the town of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, due to its bombing by the regime’s warplanes, has risen to 30.”

Meanwhile, Shahba Press tweeted that “dozens of civilians were killed and wounded by heavy air raids on the town of Madaya in rural Idlib.” According to Fresh Syria, the incident occured in the evening.

While most sources attributed the strikes to Russia, a few sources, including Fresh Syria, blamed the Syrian regime, whereas @anwaralnhar blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “A horrific massacre committed by the Russian occupation planes in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib with concussion bombs, which killed more than 16 martyrs until this moment” (via @syrian191124).
  • Translation: “#Idlib: A horrific massacre in the village of Madaya in the southern countryside of Idlib, which killed 16 martyrs as a preliminary result, and a number of civilians were wounded as a result of the targeting of the village with several air strikes with vacuum missiles by the Russian occupation forces and the Assad regime” (via @anwaralnhar).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim on the scene after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Madaya, July 2nd, 2019 (via @anwaralnhar).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    7–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (20) [ collapse]