Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1924

Incident date

February 25, 2017

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

Eleven named civilians were killed – including five children, a woman and two men – and dozens more were wounded in an alleged air and artillery strike on a market in Douma, according to reports from the ground. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Many attributed the strikes to Russian missiles, while others reported the Syrian regime was responsible for ground artillery shelling.

Three of the children killed in the airstrike were siblings. One man was a blacksmith who worked in the market.

The strikes allegedly struck a popular market and residential neighbourhood with napalm bombs and missiles. Additionally, many sources reported that land-to-land missiles and artillery shells were used in the bombardment. Many of the shells resulted in a “severe blast” according to Shaam.

Additionally, sources such as Alsouria reported that eight raids occurred, each one carrying at least two missiles. 

Video footage showed huge fires in the immediate aftermath of the raid, with civilians being dragged from burning buildings. Douma Revolution reported that bodies were charred from the fires caused by the blast. 

Many wounded civilians were trapped under the rubble, and video footage showed the Syrian Civil Defence searching for the missing.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some of the injuries were so severe that the death toll was expected to rise.

The incident occured at 15:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult killed
Child killed

Family members (4)

Child siblings killed
Child siblings killed
Child siblings killed
Adult female mother of the three siblings killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown [Abu Adnan], blacksmith killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown male [Abu Mahmoud], his body was charred killed
Child male killed
Child died of wounds on the 28th killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (5 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man is rescued from the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Qasioun)
  • The immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Fires are extinguished and children are taken from the rubble that once was their homes in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via ABoalhodahom)
  • The immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Safapc)
  • Civil defence go to find missing civilians in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Safapc)
  • Civil defence rescue civilians in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Safapc)
  • Civil defence rescue civilians in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Safapc)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children who suffer from physical injuries and shock receive medial treatment in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Douma medical)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children who suffer from physical injuries and shock receive medial treatment in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Douma medical)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Baby Abdullah al-Hanafi, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Omar Madaniah)
  • Civil defence rescue civilians in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Syria civil defence)
  • Civil defence rescue civilians in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Hadi Alabdullah)
  • Civil defence rescue civilians in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Hadi Alabdullah)
  • Civil defence rescue civilians in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Subhi al Hinnish, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Douma revolution)
  • Mohammad Al Dalati, whose body was charred, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Douma revolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dead and injured civilians are taken from the scene in the immediate the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Qatar al Nada Issam al Rheibani, died on the 28th due to injures receieved on the 25th by an an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Douma, 25th Feb 2017. (via Douma revolution)

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 February 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (5 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]