Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1235

Incident date

September 6, 2016

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and nine civilians, including two female children and two or three members of the civil defence died in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, according to sources on the ground. While the majority of reports blamed Russia, several attributed the attack to the Syrian regime or did not identify the culprit.

According to Smart, 20 civilians were also wounded. It reported “when the civil defense came to rescue them the warplanes came back and targeted their car. Two members of the civil defense were killed and two were wounded.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at eight an in a later report at nine, reporting that “two female children and civil defense members” were killed.

PrimoAhmad, however, alleged three members of the civil defense died.

The source Mohamadsalomala attributed the event to the Syrian regime, while the Shaam News Network referred to “Russian/Assad planes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Hamid Kirawan
35/36 years old male White Helmet killed
Ibrahim Dayoub
30/31 years old male White Helmet killed
Maher Saloum Al-Abed
Age unknown killed
Mohammed Khattab Abu-Anas
Age unknown male killed
Rami Mohammed Ref’at Idris
Age unknown killed
Norman Abdul-Razzak
Child killed
Bilal Issawi
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–20
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A street in Khan Sheikhoun following alleged Russian warplane shelling (via Ana Press)
  • Clouds of smoke rise above Khan Sheikhan, the impact of suspected Russian warplane shelling (via Arabstoday)
  • Five members of the civil defense team killed - two in Aleppo and three in Khan Sheikhoun. It is unclear from the source which members died in each area. (Tweet via @PrimoAhmad) [Page no longer availabe - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Ibraheim Ahmad Dayoub - A member of The White Helmet's team suspected killed by Russian warplanes on Khan Sheikhoun (via SN4HR)
  • Abdul Hameid Abdullah Kairawan a member of The White Helmets killed in alleged Russian warplane shelling on Khan Sheikhoun (via SN4HR)

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (2 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–20
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]