Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1525

Incident date

November 4, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and five civilians were killed, including two to three children, and others were wounded, including one child, from airstrikes against the city of Al Atarib. Included in the wounded was a child that had to have their leg amputated from the explosion. Once source reported that as many as five children were killed in this incident. 

The airstrikes came just hours after a humanitarian truce had been declared by Russia in Aleppo.

Sources were unclear as to whether the airstrikes were carried out by Russia planes alone or were done in concert with regime planes. The majority of local sources, including Shaam Network and SMO-Sy, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes while Al Jazeera and @SyriaArwad attributed the attack to both Russia and regime planes.

Following the airstrikes, the civil defence teams rushed into the area of the bombing to transport the injured to hospitals and remove the victims from the rubble.

According to various sources including Microsyria News, the airstrikes struck a popular market area and civilians homes. A video posted by Baladi showed the streets covered in blood and the surrounding buildings completely destroyed.

A single source, @RFS_NORTH, tweeted that cluster bombs were used in the airstrike. Many others reported that para-missiles were used to target the city. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child of Ahmed Atta Akoush 1
Child named by Shaam killed
Child of Ahmed Atta Akoush 2
Child named by Shaam killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–24
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrike on Al Atarib, 4th November 2016. (via Baladi)
  • A photo showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrike on Al Atarib, 4th November 2016. (via Enabbaladi)
  • A photo showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrike on Al Atarib, 4th November 2016. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child whose leg had to be amputated due to injures sustained in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, 4th November 2016. (via Shaam)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that “Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces General of the Army Valery Gerasimov stated about the decision taken by the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoigu to set a humanitarian pause in Aleppo at 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on November 4 under the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief :“All attempts of insurgents to break through in Aleppo have not succeeded. Terrorists have suffered mass losses in manpower, armament and combat hardware. They have no possibilities to leave the city.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–24
  • 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]