Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS819

Incident date

May 30, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty incident, consecutive strikes were reported by local sources across the city of Idlib, targeting the National Hospital and other locations. Up to 60 civilians – including women and children – were reported killed and 200 more injured.

Multiple sources attributed the incident to Russia, though there was some initial confusion in reporting by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Russia responded to the allegations by categorically denying responsibility for the attacks.

Raqqa Post said that according to activists, “a flock of Russian planes launched raids on the residential neighborhoods and the national hospital in the city of Idlib“.

The Shaam News Network reported eight consecutive Russian strikes from six warplanes flying at the same time over the city center of Idlib, targeting  “the National Hospital, al Jalaa Garden, Saad Mosque and other areas”. It added that it had received reports of more than 150 wounded civilians and a “massacre at the National Hospital”, along with strikes on other locations including Al Kestna Park, a mosque and a kindergarten. A further SNN report said that while there were no accurate figures for the number of dead, the initial toll was 20 with more than 200 wounded and 16 people missing. SNN went on to report that Russia had denied responsibility for the attack, issuing a statement in which it insisted that none of its planes had launched strikes on Idlib.

In another report, the US said that the culprit should be punished, however, it had not yet been able to determine the identity of the aircraft. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Russia had killed more than 60 non-combatants in attacks on the hospital and a mosque.

LCCSY listed some of the areas that were struck: “the National Hospital, Ibin Sina Hospital, the industrial city, Mutanabi roundabout and the outskirts of Abrar Mosque in addition to the neighborhoods of Qusou and Thawra“. They reported 10 deaths at the hospital and named

Safwan Daaboul, a member of “Molham Volunteer Team“ and Hamad Youseef Aoun as victims.

They later reported that the number of dead had risen to 50, including 10 children, with dozens more civilians injured.

The White Helmets published videos showing a man, a woman and a child being rescued from the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes.

However, in a series of news briefs, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime. It named “Safwan Daboul, head of food security at Banfsaj Organization” and “a volunteer in Mulham Voluntary Team” as victims. As well as the National Hospital, it said that the Sham Emergency System Office was struck, putting it out of service and destroying four ambulances.

But the Network later changed its position and attributed the incident to Russia, reporting that its warplanes carried out eight strikes on several areas of the city, killing 29 civilians. Muslim Al Sayeed Eissa, a media activist gave SN4HR the following testimony:

“I was one of the first to get to the vicinity area of the national hospital after it was targeted with two missiles. One of the missiles fell in the main street between the residential buildings while the other fell near Al Ashqar where Al Ashqar pharmacy is located. the building was destroyed completely. Medical teams pulled out 12 victims and more than 20 others who were wounded including very well-known figures such as a lawyer from the family of Izzdin and a female Pharmacist and a female doctor from Al Ashqar family. The bombing was Russian, it didn’t break the sound barrier and the bombing was carried out from a very high altitude.”

Twenty three civilian deaths including seven children and a number of women were documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It also blamed Russia.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anas Ezz Eldeen
Adult male laywer killed
Yehya Naes
Age unknown male injured
Roua Naes
Age unknown female injured
Rand Naes
Age unknown female injured
Ahmad Sayed Youssef
Age unknown male injured
Khaled San’na.
Age unknown male killed
a female doctor from Al Ashqar family
Age unknown female injured
Safwan Da'boul
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 60
  • (7–10 children2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–200
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (40) [ collapse]

  • Fires rage in the city of Idlib following multiple alleged Russian strikes on May 30th (via LCCSY)
  • A man carries a distressed child through a crowd in what appears to be a hospital after raids upon Idlib. (via BBC Arabic)
  • Title: recovering a child alive from under the rubble after working for hours. (via White Helmet)
  • Martyr Safwan Da'boul (via LccSY)
  • Recovering a woman from under the rubble. (via White Helmets)
  • Rescue workers recover a man alive from under the rubble. (via White Helmets)
  • rescue workers at the scene. (via White Helmets)
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    rescue workers recover a dead child from the rubble. (via White Helmets)
  • rescue workers at the scenes in Idlib. (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the airstrikes in Idlib. (via SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child wounded in the airstrike (via Baladi)
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    One of the dead children in the airstrike (via hala-just1)
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    One of the dead children in the airstrike. (via Hala-just_1)
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    children were killed in the airstrike. (via Hala-just_1)
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    One of the victims. (via hala-just_1)
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    one of the children killed in the airstrike. (via Hala-just_1)
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    one of the wounded children in the airstrike in Idlib. (via Iransiskis1)
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    Lawyer Anas Ezz Eldeen was killed in a suspected Russian warplanes shelling in Idlib. (via Al-Amawai)
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    One of the wounded children in the airstrike. (via baraa2abd)
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    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via muhanaalsunaidy)
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    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via muhanaalsunaidy)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)
  • Safwan Daboul was one of the victims of the airstrike in Idlib. (via Zakaria Nassani)
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    A wounded child in the airstrike. (via Al-Amawi)
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    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via Sedra Idlib)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via Sedra Idlib)
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    A mother checking if her daughter is still alive (via Abuarwa)
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    One of the victims in the airstrike. (via khbrnet)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Alsouria)
  • martyr Safwan Daboul (via Alwan news)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via Erem news)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via LccSY )
  • Aftermath of the airstrike. (via LccSY )

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between May 1st – 31st

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 60
  • (7–10 children2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–200
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (53) [ collapse]