Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1673

Incident date

November 24, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that up to three airstrikes struck the city of Douma in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, killing one woman and injuring up to another nine civilians. The female victim was identified by many sources. It was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Several sources said that the strikes hit residential areas, including a mosque, according to @alitaha1973.

LCCSY reported that “Russian warplanes launched two airstrikes with thermobaric missiles on neighborhoods in #Douma city in the Eastern Ghouta, which killed a civilian, injured others and set houses on fire.”

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “three airstrikes targeted Duma, leading to the death of one civilian and wounding of nine others”. 

Most sources did not identify the culprit and referred to “warplanes”.

But two sources, @alitaha1973 and @SyriaPressorg1, attributed the strikes to the Syrian regime, while only one, LCCSY, blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samer Mahmoud Zerara
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • The conflicted strike reportedly struck a mosque in Douma, Damascus (via @alitaha1973 tweet)
  • This is reportedly the body of victim Samer Zerara who was killed by the airstrikes targeting Douma, Damascus (via Ndouma986 tweet)
  • This is reportedly the body of victim Samer Zerara who was killed by the airstrikes targeting Douma, Damascus (via Douma.Revolution facebook)

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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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]