Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1241

Incident date

September 8, 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

Up to five civilians including as many as four children died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Qasioun reported the death of a female child, blaming the regime. Other sources also published images of a dead child.

According to LCCSY, “regime warplanes fired C5 missiles and used heavy machine guns in Khan Sheikoun and killed three children and wounded dozens.” Though in a later report, LCCSY appeared to change its position and attribute the event strikes to Moscow.

Smart, also pointing towards the regime, said that “three children from the Al-Kutayni family were killed and 20 wounded”. Nabdsyria put the death toll as high as five.

Other sources – Syriamubasher and RFS north – blamed Russia.

The Syrian Observatory joined several other sources in not apportioning blame. It reported: “Warplanes targeted areas in the city of Khan Shaykhun south of Idlib province, killing a baby and injuring several people, including citizen women and children. The number of children killed rose to four since Monday morning, including three children from one family; two of whom were brothers. The death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation in addition to the presence of missing people under the rubble”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed
A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed
A child from the Al-Kutayni family
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photographs of children killed or severely wounded following suspected Regime shelling (Tweet via @edlepnews)
  • A street in Khan Sheikhoun full of rubble and clouds of smoke following suspected Regime warplane attacks (via Qasioun)
  • Plumes of smoke rise above Khan Sheikhoun after suspected Regime warplane shelling (via LCCSY)
  • Local people salvage materials from a demolished building in Khan Sheikhoun (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby killed in the suspected warplane shelling on Khan Sheikhan - the source did not apportion blame (Tweet via @syria191124)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Regime warplane attacks, laid and covered on the streets of Khan Sheikhoun (Tweet via @jisrtv)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian child killed in suspected Regime attacks - the body was laid on top of a UNHCR blanket (Tweet via @PrimoAhmad)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child is comforted by an adult after sustaining injuries in alleged Regime offensive (Tweet via @ALAMAWI)
  • An ambulance at the scene in Khan Sheikhan (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A burnt out vehicle on the street in Khan Sheikhan - material evidence of alleged warplane strikes (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A White Helmets member rides down the in street Khan Sheikhan where the suspected airstrikes took place (via RFS) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A plume of smoke above Khan Sheikhoun the source alleged C5 missiles used by warplanes responsible - they did not apportion blame (via Syrianpc)

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
    1 – 5
  • (1–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]