Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3529

Incident date

July 30, 2018

Location

كويا, Kuya, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.748265, 35.819035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and nine civilians, including women and children, were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on a camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the town of Kuya, Dara’a governorate, on July 30th, 2018, according to local sources. Dozens were wounded.

Smart News Agency reported that, according to activists, six civilians were killed in likely Russian airstrikes on a camp for IDP in Kuya town. @OrientNews tweeted: “Nine civilians killed, including children and women from one family, by the bombing of Assad militia on the town of Kuya in the Yarmouk Basin.” The Dara’a Martyrs Documentation office reported “dozens of martyrs and wounded.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths of eight civilians, mostly women. @alhafiz1allah reported the names of six civilians. Their ages are unknown.

Mohammad Al Sahri’a with the Dara’a martyrs Documentation office told Smart News Agency that “a man, a woman and two children were killed on Sunday by an artillery bombardment of a camp for displaced people in the town of Koya, under the control of the Khalid bin al-Walid Army, accused of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State Organisation in Yarmouk Basin, Dara’a.”

Smart News concluded that based on information provided by activists, Russia had likely been responsible for the bombing. Other sources blamed the Syrian regime, or both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ahmed Al Ibrahim أحمد الابراهيم
Age unknown male killed
Ghada Al Ibrahim غاده الابراهيم
Age unknown female killed
Mona Al Ibrahim منى الابراهيم
Age unknown female killed
Raghad Al Ibrahim رغد الابراهيم
Age unknown female killed

Family members (2)

Rana Al Safadi رنا الصفدي
Age unknown female killed
Ghazal Al Safadi غزل الصفدي
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a woman who was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on a IDP camp in the down ot Kuya on July 30th, 2018 (via We are all the martyr Hamza Ali al Khateeb).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of a woman and children who were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on a IDP camp in the town ot Kuya on July 30th, 2018 (via Mohammad Amin on Facebook).

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
    6 – 9
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3528

Incident date

July 23, 2018

Location

الطريق بين عين ذكر و خنيزيرية في حوض اليرموك, the road between Ain Zakr and Ain Khanizyara in Al Yarmouk Basin, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.858333, 35.906389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was killed and injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the road between Ain Zakr and Ain Khenizra, west of Dara’a, on July 23rd, 2018, according to local sources.

Step News Agency reported “civilians killed and injured as a result of the Russian raids targeting the road between Ain Zakr and Ain Khanizyara in Yarmouk Basin in western Dara’a.” @soolangel886 tweeted that “Russian occupation aviation committed a massacre against civilians, as a result of being targeted by several airstrikes on the road between Ain Zekr – Khenizira, west of Dara’a.”

Step News later reported that eight civilians were killed in air raids on the Yarmouk Basin, but did not specify whether these airstrikes targeted the road between Ain Zakr and Ain Khenizra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported four civilian deaths in the area of the Yarmouk Basin, including the death of a woman.

@now_damascus reported that Syrian warfighters targeted ISIS in the Ain Zekr and Nafaa area with a number of airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 8
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1780

Incident date

July 16, 2018

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.52491, 40.95789 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to thirteen civilians were allegedly killed when Coalition aircraft struck two or more houses in al Soussa, local sources reported.

In September 2019, the Coalition’s monthly civilian casualty report noted: “In Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh explosive factory. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.”

Coalition officials subsequently indicated to Airwars that their own report was possibly a match to this incident. And in May 2020, the Pentagon declared this to be a US-perpetrated civilian harm event.

According to Boukamalna, the house of Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress was targeted on July 16th. This was reiterated by most sources, stating that this led to “his death along with his wife.” Euphrates Post later identified his wife as Mrs. Nabieh and also noted that their daughter or grand-daughter Mona was also killed, in addition to five victims of Iraqi nationality in a neighbouring house.

Later reports noted that the house of Hamid al-Ali, located next to the Mohsen family house, was struck while it was inhabited by an Iraqi refugee family. Baladi News Agency reported that this resulted in “the death of all members of his family of five people, including women and children”.

Al Soussa Youth stated that the strike took place “ten minutes ago”, which corresponds to around 7:20am and Euphrates identified the location of the airstrikes to the Filasteen neighbourhood.

Most sources, including an initial report by Smart News Agency, noted the death of eight civilians, “including at least one woman and several others wounded.” Step News Agency however later reported the highest tally of thirteen civilians killed. According to the news outlet, four airstrikes targeted “the homes of civilians in the town of “Sousse” at seven o’clock this morning”, causing the destruction of three houses.

The report added that the number of victims was likely to rise as people were still trapped under the rubble, “due to the lack of medical staff or civil defense teams in the town, amid a severe shortage of medical and ambulatory materials.”

Al Soussa Youth later reported that Ali Al Muhsin Al-Faris, his wife and the daughter of Muhammad Ali Al-Mohsen had been buried and that “the son of Saleh Al Mohammed Al-Salim and the mother of Walid are in hospital and in a stable condition”.

The incident occured at approximately 7:20 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress
Adult male pictured killed
Mrs Nabieh
Adult female Wife of Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress killed
Mona
Age unknown Daughter or grand-daughter of Haj Ali Al Mohsen Al Faress and Mrs Nabieh killed
Son of Muhammad Al-Ali Al-Muhsin
Age unknown male Said to have been severely injured injured
Son of Saleh Al Mohammed Al-Salim
Age unknown male injured
Mother of Walid
Adult female Association with family unclear injured

Family members (5)

Unnamed victim 1
Adult male Iraqi refugee family killed
Unnamed victim 2
Adult female killed
Unnamed victim 3
Child killed
Unnamed victim 4
Child killed
Unnamed victim 5
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ali Muhsen al Fares, killed in reported Coalition airstrikes on al Soussa (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • A reported photograph of the aftermath of a lethal Coalition raid on al Soussa, July 16th 2018 (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Soussa, for which the coordinates are: 34.528889, 40.9675. The alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the “house of Hamid al-Ali, located next to Mohsen family house,” Airwars was unable to verify the exact location of these civilian houses Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 34.528889, 40.9675

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    in Deir ez-Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU797221
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019

  • July 16, 2018, in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh explosive factory. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition publicly reported at the time that: “On July 16 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed one Daesh vehicle, two Daesh supply routes and one Daesh-held building."

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

From July 11th to 17th, France report that Task Force Wagram carried out six artillery ‘shooting missions’ in the Euphrates Valley. In total since the start of the offensive on May 1st, it’s conducted 195 shooting missions. Aircraft conducted 24 sorties but there were no strikes.

‘IRAK – SYRIE – CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, l’offensive contre les deux dernières emprises territoriales de Daech a marqué un temps d’arrêt durant quelques jours, afin de stabiliser les zones récemment libérées. L’objectif des forces démocratiques syriennes reste d’éviter que des éléments de Daech ne se laissent dépasser et tentent de conduire des actions sur leurs arrières. L’offensive a depuis repris. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak Pour contrer l’organisation terroriste, plusieurs opérations sont menées par les forces de sécurité irakienne en Ninive et dans le désert de l’Anbar. Elles ont permis cette semaine la destruction de plusieurs tunnels, la mise hors de combat de dizaines de terroristes et la neutralisation de nombreux engins explosifs improvisés. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Formation au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes Élaboré à la demande de l’état-major de la 6e division irakienne, un stage « combat en zone urbaine » a été conduit par la Task Force Monsabert du 9 au 12 juillet. Le format retenu pour cette instruction résulte de l’analyse des retours d’expériences français et irakiens sur l’importance de la maîtrise des actes élémentaires du combat en zone urbaine. Cette formation couvre les techniques de progression, de sécurisation de bâtiment, ainsi que l’ensemble des savoir-faire caractéristiques du combat en zone urbaine. Ce stage, qui s’inscrit dans une dynamique de long terme, devrait contribuer chaque mois à la formation de quinze soldats des bataillons commando de la 24e brigade. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Les artilleurs de la Task Force Wagram demeurent engagés en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Depuis le lancement de l’offensive le 1er mai, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 195 missions de tirs, dont 6 sur la semaine écoulée (bilan du 11 au 17 juillet inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1854 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des operations Sur la semaine écoulée, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 24 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 11 au 17 juillet inclus). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8238 sorties / 1453 frappes / 2244 objectifs neutralisés.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3435

Incident date

May 18, 2018

Location

مخيم اليرموك, Al Yarmouk Refugee camp, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.473938, 36.300631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children and four women were killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Yarmouk refugee camp, Damascus governorate on May 18th 2018, according to local sources.

Syria TV reported that “Syrian regime and Russian warplanes carried out a massacre of Palestinians in Yarmouk refugee camp today, by targeting a shelter with dozens of people [inside].” Local activists told Syria TV that more than 10 civilians, including children and women, had been killed or wounded, adding that the camp was under the control of ISIS and that the Syrian regime aimed to “completely destroy the Yarmouk camp as a slum area.”

According to Smart News Agency, “two children and four women, one of them elderly, were killed and civilians were injured as a result of aerial bombardment by Syrian regime and Russian warplanes.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that the 85-year-old woman Thahabiya Fahd Abo Rashed was among the fatalities.

Smart News also reported that “hundreds of civilians have been trapped in the Yarmouk camp cellars since the start of the military campaign about 30 days ago. It is difficult to pull dead bodies out of the streets and provide medical assistance to patients in the cellars, amid power cuts and communications.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Thahabiya Fahd Abo Rashed
85 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mrs. Thahabiya Fahd Abo Rashed, the 85 year-old who was killed after the alleged regime airstrike on Yarmouk Refugee Camp on May 18th 2018 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI877

Incident date

May 14, 2018

Location

السفينة و حويجة, Mashraq village, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.57707, 43.34567 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local reports, airstrikes targeted villages south of Mosul on the morning of May 14th and resulted in considerable damage – and injured between two and five civilians. The Coalition later conceded injuring 13 civilians in the event.

Yaqein quoted a local source that stated that “An aircraft believed to be an American fired two large missiles on the village of Hawija south of Mosul”. The source added that “the rockets fell near the houses of the population, which resulted in the injury of five civilians”. All other sources also noted that the strikes took place south of Mosul, but identified the strike location as the village of al Safina. Ajl News reported that the “unknown bombing” targeted the villages of al Sefena, Mashraq, Talul Nasser, Nimrod and was believed to be executed by an “international Coalition aircraft”.

The security information center of the Ministry of Defense reported that a Coalition airstrike struck north of al-Qayarah base and injured 13 civilians. The center noted that “the injured were taken to the hospital, where ten of them left after receiving treatment while 3 remain in the hospital.”

Sputnik quoted an Iraqi security source who stated that two civilians were injured and that the aircraft may be either affiliated with the Coalition or the Iraqi air force. The source also mentioned that the strike may have been “made by mistake” as Iraqi forces had already liberated the Nineveh province from ISIS.

A local source told Yaqein that “the security forces carried the wounded to a military hospital in Mosul.”

In July 2018 the Coalition admitted responsibility, noting: “May 14, 2018, near Mishraq village, Iraq, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh campsite, thirteen civilians were unintentionally killed.” The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

In August 2019 the Coalition noted that they had made an error in the July 2018 report, stating that it should have read 13 civilians were injured, instead of killed.

In its 2019 annual report to Congress, the Pentagon declared this to be a US action – though also wrongly stated 13 deaths. This was corrected in the following year’s report.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Destruction at Mishraq following a Coalition strike which killed 13 civilians in May 2018 (via Ajl News)
  • Destruction at Mishraq following a Coalition strike which killed 13 civilians in May 2018 (via Ajl News)
  • Destruction at Mishraq following a Coalition strike which killed 13 civilians in May 2018 (via Ajl News)
  • Destruction at Mishraq following a Coalition strike which killed 13 civilians in May 2018 (via Ajl News)
  • Destruction of one of the villages south of Mosul after an alleged Coalition or Iraqi airstrike (via Ajl News)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

The coordinates provided to Airwars by the US-led Coalition are 35.57707, 43.34567 (Military Grid Reference System: 38SLE501383), defining an area of 100 × 100 m. Satellite imagery of this area shows none of the built structures or terrain visible in the documentation from local sources. Airwars has contacted the Coalition for clarification.

  • Coordinates of 100 m area indicated by Coalition

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    13
  • Stated location
    near Mishraq village, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE501383
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 29, 2019
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • May 14, 2018, near Mishraq village, Iraq, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh campsite, thirteen civilians were unintentionally killed.

  • In the July 26, 2018 Monthly Civilian Casualty Report, CJTF-OIR reported, "May 14, 2018, near Mishraq village, Iraq, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh campsite, thirteen civilians were unintentionally killed." This was an administrative error and should have read, "May 14, 2018, near Mishraq village, Iraq, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh campsite, thirteen civilians were unintentionally injured." The total civilian casualty assessment has been updated to reflect this correction.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition publicly reported at the time that: “On May 14 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1748a

Incident date

May 10, 2018

Location

Khatuniya, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.43054, 41.17421 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously untracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian in an event near Khatuniya. The Pentagon later reported this to have been a US action.

According to CJTFOIR’s June 2019 civilian casualty report: “Coalition forces engaged in a small arms fire event. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in the exchange.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. Airwars researchers could not find any publicly reported claims of civilian harm in the area on this day.

In May 2020 in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon declared this to have been a US action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table from DoD's annual civilian harm report to Congress, May 2020, listing additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria conceded for 2018.

Geolocation notes

In its June 2019 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition released the MGRS for this incident as 37SFA949339.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Khatuniya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFA949339
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2019

  • May 10, 2018, near Khatuniya, Syria, via self-report. Coalition forces engaged in a small arms fire event. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in the exchange.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between May 4 and May 10, Coalition military forces conducted 53 strikes consisting of
63 engagements in Iraq and Syria.

On May 10 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four
engagements against Daesh targets.
- Three strikes took place near Abu Kamal.
- Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed one Daesh artillery piece.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Incident Code

CS1740

Incident date

March 26, 2018

Location

البوكمال, Near Abu Kamal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Airwars assessment

In a previously unknown event, the UK for the first time admitted that its forces caused civilian harm during an airstrike against so-called Islamic State.

In a written statement to Parliament on May 2nd, UK Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson MP stated that “one civilian was unintentionally killed,” when a UK Reaper drone struck three ISIS fighters in rural Syria a few weeks earlier.

The UK MoD had stated at the time in its weekly update that a “Reaper tracked a group of terrorists in a vehicle in the Syrian Euphrates valley on Monday 26 March, and successfully destroyed it and its occupants with a precision Hellfire missile attack.”

According to the statement made to Parliament, a civilian had accidentally driven a motorbike into the strike area, and had died in the attack on Daesh. “We reached this conclusion after undertaking routine and detailed post-strike analysis of all available evidence”, said Williamson.

Airwars researchers were unable to identify any public reports of civilian harm relating to the UK drone strike. However there were reports of Coalition airstrikes on the day which allegedly targeted regime forces. Abdul Jabbar noted “Continued escalation between US forces and Kurdish militias on the one hand and the forces of the Syrian regime on the other and US aircraft [sic] bombed regime positions in the area of Mohsin east of Deir al-Zour.” And Euphrates Post published a video of what it said was the strike.

The US-led Coalition does not include this event in its own tally of credible civilian deaths – noting to Airwars that it has never been notified of this event. The Ministry of Defence has also refused to supply Airwars with the grid coordinates – despite almost all such credible incidents now being disclosed.

In March 2020, Airwars and the BBC revealed that the MoD was refusing to concede 15 further civilian deaths from its actions in 2017 and 2018, despite the US-led Coalition itself determining that civilian harm reports for three more UK strikes were in fact credible.

Airwars and the Guardian released an investigation into this civilian harm admission in April 2023 in which it detailed the steps taken to track down additional information on the civilian who was said to have been killed. Airwars’ investigation unit contacted every rights organisation that tracks civilian harm in Syria. None had any record of a civilian killed that day in circumstances that matched the MoD’s description. The Ministry of Defence released to Airwars, via Freedom of Information requests, details of every RAF strike in which a militant was killed. Despite initially saying 3 militants were killed in the March 26 strike, it did not appear in the data. The article also pointed out that the conflict in the part of Syria where the strike allegedly occurred was tapering off in early 2018 – Airwars recorded six civilian harm allegations in that region that month, compared with hundreds during intense periods of fighting in cities such as Mosul and Raqqa.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment directly on discrepancies in the UK public record, with coalition public statements or with data from Syrian groups. “A highly trained and professional team of UK military personnel assessed a civilian fatality had been caused,” a spokesperson said. “We remain confident in the transparency of our reporting and data published by the department can be considered as authoritative on UK military operations as possible.” Williamson did not respond to requests for comment on his statement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    UK Military
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (16) [ collapse]

UK Military Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    UK Military
  • UK Military position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    Euphrates valley, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    n/a
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

Original strike reports

UK Military
Official source

For March 26th, the Coalition originally reported “On March 26 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged a Daesh tactical unit."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Monday 26 March – a Reaper destroyed a terrorist vehicle in eastern Syria…A Reaper tracked a group of terrorists in a vehicle in the Syrian Euphrates valley on Monday 26 March, and successfully destroyed it and its occupants with a precision Hellfire missile attack. Following an detailed investigation, it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed in the strike. [The final line was later added as an amendment to the report.]

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    UK Military
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1734

Incident date

March 2, 2018

Location

قرية عفرة, Afra Al Barjari Village, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8183333, 41.0280556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to two civilians were killed and between one to four seriously injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of Afra al Barjari, on the evening of March 2nd.

Multiple sources identified some of the adult male victims.

The civilians were said to have been in their car when they were hit by an airstrike and according to a local source quoted by Zaman Al Wasl, the passengers were on the road between Abu Hamda and Al Touymen.

The same report also stated that apart from the civilian victims, two members of so-called Islamic State were killed in the airstrike.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for September 2019 – published on November 15th – the alliance classed the event as ‘non credible’, asserting that “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

Coalition officials confirmed to Airwars that their review was a match for this event, and provided coordinates for the area assessed to within 100 metres.

The incident occured around dusk.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Jasser Al Shalabi
Adult male Also known as Jamil al-Ahmad al-Jasser killed
Attallah al-Hajij
Adult male killed
Ammar al-Fayyad al-Ali
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jamil al-Ahmad al-Jasser, who was killed when a missile hit the car he was travelling in (via Marsad al Hassakah)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Afra Al Bajari, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV832657
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 15, 2019

  • March 2, 2018, near Afra Al Bajari, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 2nd, the Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in the vicinity of Afra Al Bajari, Al Dahra or the Hasakah governorate.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (12) [ collapse]