Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2204

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were killed and up to 15 more were wounded as airstrikes, allegedly carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, struck Saqba, Damascus, local media reported.

While LCCSY said that two civilians were killed in the attack, the majority of sources reported  four victims and SaqbaCoordinating1234 identified all four civilian victims by name.

One of the victims, Munir Bashir Abdel-Ala’l, was furthermore identified by his cousin Abou Hamza Abd Al Aa’l who published a photo of him on Facebook.

The number of wounded spanned from two to 15, the highest reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Many sources said that children and women were among the wounded.

While most sources attributed blame to Russia – such as LCCSY who also said that cluster munitions were used in the targeting – the incident remains contested.

AleppoAMC and Al Jazeera  identified the Syrian regime as the culprit while the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed blame to both parties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Suleiman Abu Haitham
Age unknown male killed
Munir Bashir Abdel-Ala’l
Adult male killed
Abu Ghassan
Age unknown male from Haran Al-Awamid killed
Asmu Anwar Abu Alaa
Age unknown male from the town of Ghashula killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The moment Saqba, Damascus is hit by alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on May 1st, 2017 (via DMC)
  • Photos showing the destruction caused by alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Sagba, Damascus, May 1st, 2017 (via @SiegeWatch)
  • Mounir Bashir Abd Al A’al was reportedly killed by the airstrikes on Sagba, Damascus, May 1st 2017 (via Abou Hamza Abd Al Aa’l)

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 May 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
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]