Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS675

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eleven civilians including six children and three women were killed and up to 60 others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Douma, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported that “intense air raids by the Russian enemy on civilian homes in the city of Douma led to the fall of many wounded including women and children.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least five non-combatants died – “a citizen woman, man and two of his children and the child of his brother” – when suspected Russian warplanes carried out around 30 raids on areas in city, Ein Tarma and elsewhere in al-Marj and in the Eastern Ghouta. It later reported the death toll had risen to eight and added that the death toll was expected to rise because there were more than 20 people injured, some in critical condition. Friday Prayers in Douma were cancelled as a result of the strikes.

According to the Damascus White Helmets, there were more than 10 raids by Russian warplanes on residential areas in Douma, in conjunction with “violent artillery shelling“. Most other sources also blamed Russia, with accounts of the number of raids carried out varying between 20 and 50.

Syrian Press Centre reported that “Russian warplanes have launched 21 air raid targeted the neighbourhoods of the city of Douma on Friday, resulting in the fall of the eight martyrs dozens wounded, most of them children, were killed.”

According to Al Jazeera, there were “more than 50 Russian warplane raids in Eastern Ghouta on Douma, Jobar, Ain Tarma and Zamalaka which killed 11 people and wounded many others. Five of the dead were in Douma.”

Baladi, attributing the incident to Russia, also put the death toll at eight, but said that as many as 60 were injured – most of them women and children.

However, Al Souria appeared to blame both Russia and the regime, saying: “the Russian and regime Aviation targeted a number of residential neighbourhoods within the city”. But it  went on to add: “According to media activists from the city of Douma there have been more than 22 documented raids targeted several neighbourhoods within the city, with three Russian planes circling the skies coinciding with surveillance planes.

For his part, the correspondent of ‘Douma coordinating committee’ on Facebook said that 20 raids was carried out by the Russian Aviation within one hour on the neighbourhoods of the city under bombardment from rocket launchers.”

However, other reports, including those by the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the regime was responsible. Some other sources referred to “terrorist groups”. Hour News tweeted: “According to SANA [government news agency] terrorist groups attacked Douma and Jobar in Damascus with missiles and shelling” – though didn’t identify these groups.

Annahar added that “Jaysh Al-Islam in Eastern Ghouta accused the regime of throwing two explosive barrels in an apparent breach of the ceasefire.”

The Violations Documentation Centre named 11 victims, including six children and one woman, as killed in regime shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Child female killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Child female killed
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (6 children3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–60
  • 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 (71) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ismael Haj Yousef, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • Moments after the alleged Russian and Syria Regime shelling began. (via, Qasioun)
  • Suspected alleged warplane which caused devastation and killed civilian casualties in Douma. (via, Qasioun)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of civilian casualties in the aftermath of the raid. (via, Masl15115 tweet)
  • A child describes in an interview his experiences as an airstrike hit his building. (via, Qasioun)
  • A child is rescued from the rubble by the White Helmets following an alleged Russian and Syria Regime raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged airstrikes on Douma. (via, Douma Revolution)
  • More footage showing the exact moments the airstrike fell. (via, Baladi-News Network)
  • Amina al Badawi, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Douma Revolution)
  • Omran Anwar Hamed, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Douma Revolution)
  • Rateb Hamed, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Douma Revolution)
  • Smoke rises in the aftermath of the raid. (via, SNN)
  • Smoke rises in the aftermath of the raid on Douma. (via, SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a child is carried from the scene following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Baladi News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a deceased adult male following the alleged raids in Douma. (via, The White Helmets)
  • Deceased civilians are carried away from the scene. (via, The White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A seriously injured young boy receiving medical treatment following an alleged raid on Douma. (via, The Unified Medical Office for Douma)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured chilren receiving medical treatment following an alleged raid on Douma. (via, The Unified Medical Office for Douma)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receiving medical treatment following an alleged raid on Douma. (via, The Unified Medical Office for Douma)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Omran Anwar Hamed, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (6 children3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–60
  • 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 (71) [ collapse]