Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS348

Incident date

January 6, 2016

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians including three to four children and two women were killed and dozens more injured in alleged airstrikes and an artillery bombardment on Zamalka, according to multiple sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russian or Assad regime forces were responsible for the deaths.

Shaam News initially reported that four non-combatants were killed and 20 injured – mostly women and children – in an alleged Russian airstrike. They said the aircraft targeted different district of Zamalka with vacuum missiles, leading to widespread destruction of civilian property, and added that the aerial bombardment was followed by heavy artillery shelling. A subsequent report stated that the number killed had risen to more than seven.

The White Helmets put the initial number killed at seven (but said it was likely to rise) including two children with dozens wounded. They did not say who was responsible, referring to “air raids by warplanes and artillery, heavy mortars and field artillery land – surface missiles in conjunction with the surveillance planes circling the skies.” The White Helmets added that two ambulances were hit following the bombing and that two of their own members were injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four children and two women were killed – with tens of other injured (again, mostly women and children). It produced two reports. The first blamed the regime for the “aerial bombardment and shelling”, but the second said Russian warplanes killed six, including three children, and wounded dozens more.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said Assad regime warplanes had fired several missiles near two White Helmets ambulances.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male was killed after the Russians targeted an ambulance on the road linking Hazza and Zamalka killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Mohammad Muhiye Al Deen
Adult male the White Helmets reported that two people died one week later from injuries sustained in the strike killed
A’isha Al Baka’i
Age unknown the White Helmets reported that two people died one week later from injuries sustained in the strike killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 13
  • (3–4 children1–2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets on the scene in the immediate aftermath of the incident. (via, The White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the Syrian Civil Defense ambulances which was hit in the raid. The footage shows the inside filled with blood in the aftermath of the incident. (via, The White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Saleh al-Goush, killed by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Osamah Basheer al-Ghoush, killed by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, VDC)
  • Mohammad Bashar al-Ghoush, killed by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Bashar al-Ghoush, killed by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, VDC)
  • Hasan Anwar Zaino, a White Helmet volunteer killed by raids on 6th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • A civilian searching in the rubble following a raid which destroyed residential buildings. (via, SNN)
  • Damaged infrastructure in the aftermath of the raid. (via, SNN)
  • Civilian homes destroyed by the raids on 6th January 2016. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 13
  • (3–4 children1–2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]