Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS174

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians including two women and one child were reported killed in an airstrike on Al Buliyal.

While most sources blamed Russia, the Damascus Centre said that both regime attacks and Russian aircraft were responsible.

VDC later named five victims.

An additional male civilian fatality, the husband of Amira Muheisen al-Elkeh, has been died. Moreover, another girl by also named reportedly died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Khalaf al Milhem
Adult male husband of Amira Muheisen killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC injured

The victims were named as:

Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult male named by VDC killed
Adult female named by VDC killed
Maha Ghazi al A’bbad
Child female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Buliyal (البوليل ), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.20253, 40.37126. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The second news summary 21/11/2015 (via Al - Jisr Satellite Channel TV)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit.” It added that “29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea,” though gave no details of the areas targeted.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]