Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2611

Incident date

October 7, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five and as many as 13 civilians, including children and women, were killed and between six and eight were left wounded following alleged Assad or Russian-waged airstrikes on residential areas in Khan Sheikhoun, Deir Ezzor, local sources reported.

Most sources reported the death of five civilians. However, a total of seven victims were identified by different sources, including one child, three women and three men.

Arab48 reported the highest number of fatalities as the media cited the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdul Rahman who said that  “the strikes likely to have been launched by the regime resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians, including four children.”

Smart News cited Anas al-Diab, a member of the Civil Defense Center in the city, who said that “the planes targeted three residential areas in the city on Friday night, killing two men, two women and a child, and wounding three children, two women and one man”.

Like Smart News, most sources reported that six civilians were left wounded. However, a total of eight, mostly children, were identified as being wounded by Mustafahajali85. 

While most sources identified the Syrian regime as the culprit, Smart News Agency attributed blame to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male injured

Family members (2)

Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Child female killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown female injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown female injured
Child female Baby girl injured
Child female Baby girl injured
Child male injured
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (1–4 children2–3 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Local rescuing team working to rescue civilians out from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes in Khan Shakhoun on October 7th, 2017 (via Nabaa News)
  • Local rescuing team working to rescue civilians out from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes in Khan Shakhoun on October 7th, 2017 (via @edlebmohammed)
  • Abdullah Salah al-Qadah was reportedly among the victims of the contested airstrikes in Khan Shakhoun on October 7th, 2017 (via VDC)
  • One of the many children who were left wounded following the contested airstrikes in Khan Shakhoun, October 7th, 2017 (via Mustafahajali85)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the many children who were left wounded following the contested airstrikes in Khan Shakhoun, October 7th, 2017 (via Mustafahajali85)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (1–4 children2–3 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–8
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]