Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1929

Incident date

February 27, 2017

Location

اريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8141415, 36.6017972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 20 civilians were killed, and dozens more were wounded, in an airstrike on Ariha. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Around half the sources blamed Russian warplanes, while the rest pointed to the Syrian regime. Some sources such as Idlib Media Centre blamed both parties for the raids.

SMO reported that the rockets used were highly explosive, while others said they had sighted vacuum bunker-buster missiles.

The airstrikes reportedly struck residential homes, which led to the collapse of three buildings and huge amounts of material damage. It was reported that an entire family of four were killed when a missile struck and destroyed their home.

Additionally, dozens of other civilians were trapped and wounded. According to RFS, a child was stuck under the rubble for hours after the raid. Similarly, other sources reported there were many missing civilians and the White Helmets worked tirelessly to dig people out of the rubble.

Many of the wounded were allegedly unidentifiable due to “charring” of the bodies.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child male brothers killed
Child male brothers killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ariha (اريحا), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.8141415,36.6017972. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.  

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 20
  • (2–8 children2–4 women1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets attempt to dig civilians out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Halab Today)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A boy is buried under the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via aboalhodaalhoms)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Omar Madaneya)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A body is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Mohammed Masri)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Mohammed Masri)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Mohammed Masri)
  • A body is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Mohammed Masri)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Mohammed Masri)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Mohammed Masri)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Shehab)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Shehab)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Shehab)
  • A body is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Shehab)
  • Omar and Zain Anas Sarmini, brothers killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Shabab revolution)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Syriacivildefense)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Syriacivildefense)
  • The exact moment and aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Sada Al-Sham)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is buried under the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Euronews)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Shabab Revolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is pulled out of the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Shabab Revolution)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Halab Today)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via HNN)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via HNN)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via HNN)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via HNN)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via HNN)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Idlib media centre)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Idlib media centre)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Idlib media centre)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via Idlib media centre)
  • White Helmets search for missing civilians in the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Ariha, 27th Feb 2017. (via HNN)

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
    7 – 20
  • (2–8 children2–4 women1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]