Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4488

Incident date

November 6, 2022

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 6th, 2022, in Kansafra, South of Idlib, between one to three civilians – one woman, or two women and a girl – were reportedly injured as a result of artillery shelling. While the Syrian Civil Defence (SCD) accused both the Russian and Syrian forces of carrying out the attack, other local sources claimed it was only conducted by the Syrian regime. @Sharqya_reporte added that the artillery shelling occurred in a residential neighbourhood.

SCD noted that a woman injured was sent to a hospital for treatment, without further precisions.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • On November 6th 2022, in Kansafra, Idlib, artillery shelling reportedly injured between one to three civilians. Source: @Sharqya_reporte

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4486

Incident date

November 6, 2022

Location

اّفس, Afes, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 6th, 2022, a civilian – a woman – was reportedly injured by artillery shelling and/or by an airstrike in Afes village, East of Idlib.  According to the Syrian Civil Defence, the shelling was carried out by Syrian and Russian forces but other local sources argued that it was either conducted by the Syrian regime or by Russian forces only. @Step_Agency reported that the “artillery and missile” bombing by the Syrian regime in Afes village coincided with “the flight of Russian reconnaissance airplanes” in the area. @mhmdalk66278540 noted that the shelling led to “casualties among civilians”, without further precisions.

The Syrian Civil Defence added that they sent an ambulance to carry the injured to a hospital.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Summary

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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4485

Incident date

November 6, 2022

Location

مدينة أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 6th, 2022, between one and two civilians were reportedly injured as a result of a bombing by artillery and/or missile shelling on the outskirts of Ariha city, South of Idlib. The injured were either described by local sources as a child and/or as a woman. Syria TV noted that “two civilians were wounded including a 13 years old girl”, while @Sharqya_reporte claimed that “civilians were wounded, including women and children”, without further precisions. The Syrian Civil Defence said the strike was conducted by Russian and Syrian forces, other local sources claimed that  Syrian forces were responsible for the strike.

@Step_Agency also recorded “dozens of missiles and artillery shells” by the Syrian regime in several villages located South of Idlib”, with no precisions regarding any civilian casualities.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A strike reportedly by Syrian and Russian forces injured one civilian - a child, on Ariha city, November 6th 2022. Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • A strike reportedly by Syrian and Russian forces on Ariha city, November 6th 2022. Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • A strike reportedly by Syrian and Russian forces on Ariha city, November 6th 2022. Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • A vehicule of the Syrian Civil Defense following a strike reportedly by Syrian and Russian forces on Ariha city, November 6th 2022. Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Video of the strike by Syrian and Russian forces on Ariha town (source: @IdlibPlus)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4382

Incident date

September 3, 2021

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.658395, 36.484453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a child, was killed and one to two others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes while grazing a flock of sheep on the outskirts of Kansafra on September 3, 2021.

Idlib Plus reported that the child “Ali Ahmed Al-Brouk” was killed in Russian airstrikes on the town of Kansafra. Syrian Network for Human Rights identified Ali as being 12 years old and Zaman Al Wasl News said that Ali died from “severe wounds he sustained in the abdomen and pelvis, as well as bleeding in the vertebral arteries and vertebral veins”.

Shaam News added that in addition to the child that was killed, a man was also injured in the bombing and North Press Agency provided the name of the injured young man: Youssef al-Najjar, resident of Kansafra. Both were with a flock of sheep on the outskirts of the village when the attack occurred, which also killed many of the sheep. Syrian Civil Defense added that both tended to sheep to support their families.

Edlib Media Center put the victim toll from the strikes at one child killed and two others injured. The correspondent for Radio Al Kul added that the two wounded were between light and medium injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The correspondent of “Zaman Al-Wasl” in Idlib identified the child that was killed’s father as also sustaining wounds to varying degrees.

Firas Khalifa, the media official in the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets), told Anadolu Agency that the bombing targeted a farm for raising animals and a workshop for making bricks.

A tweet from @Tiger_forces_ identified “terrorist gatherings and headquarters in the vicinity of the town of Kansafra” as the location of the strikes but provided no other information.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the airstrikes to Russia. Anadolu Agency reported that the “Aviation Tracking Observatory” of the Syrian opposition stated, on its social media accounts, that a Russian plane took off at around 10 am this morning, local time, from Hmeimim Airport in Lattakia Governorate (west) and bombed the village of Kansafra in the southern countryside of Idlib Governorate.

Macro Media Center identified “vacuum missiles” as being used in the airstrikes. “Nedaa Post” correspondent said that the southern outskirts of the village of Kansafra were targeted with three raids.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ali Ahmed Al-Brouk
12 years old male killed
Ali Ahmed Al-Brouk's father
Adult male injured

The victims were named as:

Youssef al-Najjar
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • The death of the child "Ali Ahmed Al-Brouk" as a result of targeting the town of Kansafra in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in the Idlib countryside, with Russian air strikes. (Image posted by @IdlibPluss)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the child Ali Ahmed Al-Brouk, killed in airtrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021. (Image posted by Shaam News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sheep that were killed in an airstrike on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • The death of the child "Ali Ahmed Al-Brouk" as a result of targeting the town of Kansafra in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in the Idlib countryside, with Russian air strikes. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Animals that were killed in airstrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Crater caused by airstrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Animals that were killed in airstrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets help victims of the airstrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Smoke and dust from the airstrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)
  • Smoke and dust from the airstrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)
  • Civilians killed and injured in airstrikes on Kansafra on September 3, 2021 that also killed a child and injured a man. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kansafra, the generic coordinates for which are: 35.658395, 36.484453. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • (1 child)
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4369

Incident date

August 10, 2021

Location

معرزاف, Maarzaf, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in regime and/or Russian shelling in the village of Maarzaf on August 10, 2021, multiple sources reported. Four sources also reported injuries from the incident, but none gave any estimate of how many.

Little information was given on the identity of the person killed. SY-24 reported the victim was a man.

Numerous sources identified the use of Russian Krasnopol shells. Some said these were fired by regime forces, while others specified that the attack included artillery shelling by regime forces and Russian forces firing the Krasnopol shells. @abo_aljod84 reported reconnaissance planes in the air at the time of the attack.

Step reported that several houses were also destroyed as a result of the missiles.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • @hadikhraat
    Translated image caption: Pro-Assad forces target with artillery the village of Maarzaf in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by @hadikhraat)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC426

Incident date

July 9, 2021

Location

سيدي حسين, Sid Hussein, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.112797, 20.070677 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the first reported civilian harm event involving explosive weapons use in Libya since March, several outlets said that four civilians had been injured by shelling from an unknown party on the Sidi Hussein neighbourhood of Benghazi. The injured were taken for treatment at the al-Jalaa Hospital.

The hospital released the following statement: “Doctors of Al-Jalaa Hospital, Benghazi, received four injured as a result of the shelling that occurred in the Sidi Hussein area, according to the injured. Three of them received first aid and left the hospital, while the other was accommodated in one of the departments.”

Photographs from the scene showed several cars damaged by the shell. It was unclear which party or faction might have conducted what appeared to be a random attack. Libya Alahrar noted concerns about “armed militia and random shooting” in the city.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Vehicles damaged by a shell from an unknown party, Benghazi, July 9th 2021 (via Bengazi24)
  • Vehicles damaged by a shell from an unknown party, Benghazi, July 9th 2021 (via Bengazi24)
  • Vehicles damaged by a shell from an unknown party, Benghazi, July 9th 2021 (via Bengazi24)
  • Vehicles damaged by a shell from an unknown party, Benghazi, July 9th 2021 (via Bengazi24)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Sidi Hussein (سيدي حسين), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.112797, 20.070677. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Sidi Hussein (سيدي حسين).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
    4
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS468

Incident date

April 19, 2021

Location

صيدا, Sayda, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Saida in Ain Issa on April 29, 2021.

According to Almasirah, “a number of civilians were injured as a result of the Turkish occupation forces and their mercenaries… with artillery shells on the perimeter of the town of Ain Issa.” The artillery shells struck “the population centers in the village of Saida and the vicinity of Ain Issa town and the roads leading to it,” resulting in injuries and damage to homes and property.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “the bombardment targeted a petrol station on the western outskirts of Ain Issa, which injured three people and burned down an oil truck.” Turkish forces had also reportedly shelled similar areas the day before, April 18th, but no casualties were claimed.

Various other sources also reported that alleged Turkish shelling occurred in residential areas and caused injuries and damage to property, but did not identify how many civilians were injured. All of the sources attributed the shelling to Turkish forces or pro-Turkish factions.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: a number of civilians were injured as a result of the Turkish occupation forces and their mercenaries from the takfiri groups with artillery shells on the perimeter of the town of Ain Issa. (Image posted by Almasirah)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a petrol station in the village of Sayda  (صيدا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Akeerbat are: 32.6290749, 36.2233829.

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
    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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS102

Incident date

March 18, 2021

Location

حزوان, Hazwan, western Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.409167, 37.405 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured in an alleged Kurdish counterstrike during an exchange between the SDF and a Turkish base in the village of Hazwan, west of the city of Al Bab on March 18th, 2021.

A tweet from @HalabTodayTV reported that there was an “exchange of artillery shelling between the SDF and a Turkish base near the village of Hazwan.”

According to Syria TV, the artillery shelling “led to the injury of a civilian.” Shaam News also reported that “a civilian was wounded by artillery shelling by the Syrian Democratic Forces.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hazwan (حزوان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.409167, 37.405. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]