Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS211

Incident date

November 29, 2015

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81374, 36.60964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 37 civilians, including four children, were reported killed – and more than 72 others injured – in an alleged Russian airstrike on the market in the centre of Ariha, according to multiple reports. Amnesty International placed the death toll at 49 following an investigation.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Russian warplanes launched three rockets on the market, destroying more than 20 shops and 25 cars. It noted that vital facilities were targeted, and after conducting interviews with witnesses stated that: “Through careful examination of the photo and video evidence we concluded that the airstrikes had targeted a purely civilian marketplace void of any military or weapons depots neither during nor before the attack.”

Mohamad Jattal, a media activist from Ariha, was near the market and went directly to the shelling location. He told SN4HR: “The Russian warplanes launched three rockets that fell on the market. One hit a civilian gathering which turned them to body parts. We still cannot identify the victims. The rockets, possibly vacuum missiles, caused huge damage. The attack destroyed what was left of the market where 20 shops were almost completely destroyed. Most of the victims were vendors who sold their products in the market. Since the Russian warplanes started their airstrikes, the city became free of any presence of the [rebel] Al Fateh Army, so as to protect residents from the shelling. However, it seems that Russia considers civilians a target.”

Relief aid activist Omar Rihawi also described the scene for the Syrian Network: “Civil Defense teams arrived and pulled dead bodies from under the rubble and took the injured to medical points. However, the medical points could not receive all the injured people at once due to the lack of medical supplies. Russian and Syrian regime warplanes have both targeted this market.”

Mohamad Ameen, a media activist and photographer who was near the shelling location, added: “I went to the market a few minutes after the shelling and the scene was horrific. Blood, bodies and body parts were scattered all around the market. I saw a woman sitting next to her husband and children’ dead bodies. She was sobbing and calling to them. It was devastating. The number of the injured individuals reached more than 70, and we do not have the proper medical equipment to deal with this number of injuries.”

The Syrian Network named  30 victims. It also said there were six further unidentified victims. And Shaam News later reported the White Helmets recovered the body of a man under rubble, 20 days after the initial alleged airstrike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Child male Named by SN4HR killed

Family members (2)

Child male Named by SN4HR killed
Child male Named by SN4HR killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Child male Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown Named by SN4HR killed
Adult male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed
Age unknown male Named by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    37 – 49
  • (4 children10–16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    72
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • The shelling aftermath by alleged Russian warplanes on Areeha's main market, November 29th2016. (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man beside the body of a victim from the alleged Russian raid on Areeha, November 29th 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • A video that depicts aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on the main market in Areeha. (via, Maara Media Center)
  • A video that depicts the massacre’s location on the main market in Areeha city due to the alleged Russian shelling. The video shows a number of residents who appear to be survivors from the shelling. (via Ariha Today)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of deceased children who were killed due to the alleged Russian shelling on Areeha’s main market. (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image that depicts a deceased man who was killed due to the alleged Russian shelling on Areeha’s main market. (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image that depicts a deceased mans body who was killed due to the alleged Russian shelling on Areeha’s main market. (via SN4HR)
  • Impact location (in red) of a suspected Russian air strike on a market in Ariha on 29 November 2015. Imagery date: 23 September 2014. Coordinates: 35.813144, 36.610613 © Google Earth / DigitalGlobe.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    37 – 49
  • (4 children10–16 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    72
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]