Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1372

Incident date

September 30, 2016

Location

كفر زيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on Kafr Zita in Hama – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Syria News Desk reported: “Two civilians were killed yesterday evening [Sept 30th] due to the Russian warplanes targeting the city of Kafr Zita which neighbours Al Lataminah and is under the control of the opposition. The strike also led to the destruction of three houses and other physical damage.”

However, All4Syria attributed the attack to the Syria regime, stating that chlorine gas had been used: “More than 20 civilians were suffocated on Saturday in the attack by helicopter gunships using an explosive drum containing chlorine gas on agricultural land surrounding the town of Kfar Zeita in the northern suburb of Hama.”

Smart News also reported 20 civilians injured as a result of a chlorine gas attack.

Atif24osman posted an image of an alleged bunker buster strikes on Twitter.

N_workMediaHoms said the town was hit by barrel bombs from regime helicopters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Hamada Al-A’raj
Age unknown male killed
Ali Sulaiman Al Bakour
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the warplanes striking at the town of Kafr Zita, Hama, 30th September 2016. (via ECS)
  • Destruction caused by the contested airstrike, which reportedly contained bunker busters, Kafr Zita, Hama, 30th September 2016. (via @atif24Osman)

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (10) [ collapse]