Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1783

Incident date

December 11, 2016

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians, including two children, were killed and as many as 24 more were wounded following air or artillery or mortar strikes targeting Douma, Damascus, local sources reported. Sources, however, were unclear as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime carried out the strikes.

Sources reported the death of between one and six civilians, and all six victims were identified by name, including two children.

One of the victims,  Hassan al-Mahash, was reportedly a media activist for the Civil Defence. Another victim, Al Haj Mohammad Deeb Muhi al Deen Sariyou, reportedly died on December 13th 2016 from wounds sustained during the strikes on December 11th.

SMO News and Zamanalwasl  reported that Douma was targeted by both warplanes, mortar shelling, artillery and land-to-land missiles, inflicting heavy damage on civilian infrastructure.

The majority of the sources blamed the Syrian regime while a few attributed the strike to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mustafa al Tinawi
Child male killed
Mohammed al-Tinawi
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Hassan al-Mahash
Adult male killed
Mohammed Berghash
Adult male killed
Kassem Ramadan
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male Died the following days due the his wounds caused by this event's airstrikes killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defence carrying a victim of the contested airstrikes targeted Douma, Damascus on 11 December 2016 (via SMO News)
  • Hassan al-Mahash, who was working for the Syrian Civil Defence himself, was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes targeted Douma, Damascus on 11 December 2016 (via Rfsmediaoffice)
  • Hassan al-Mahash, who was working for the Syrian Civil Defence, was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes hit Douma, Damascus on 11 December 2016 (via @YousefAlbostany)
  • Footage of the aftermath of strikes in Douma, Damascus, on December 11th 2016 (via Syrian Civil Defense in the Eastern Ghouta)
  • Footage of the Civil Defence working to rescue civilians in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Douma, Damascus on 1December 11th 2016 (via Syrian Civil Defense in the Eastern Ghouta)
  • Footage of the Civil Defence working to rescue civilians in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes on Douma, Damascus on December 11th 2016 (via Syrian Civil Defense in the Eastern Ghouta)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Chaotic aftermath in Douma, Damascus after being hit by the contested airstrikes on December 11th 2016 (via Yasser Al Fawwal)
  • Hasan Al Mahshi, a media activist of civil defense, was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes targeting Douma, Damascus on December 11th 2016 (via SN4HR)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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 December 1st – 31st 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.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]