Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2639

Incident date

October 15, 2017

Location

السعلو, Sa'lo, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.141173, 40.363297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a missile strike which allegedly hit a school in Sa’lo, between five and 11 civilians were killed, and ten civilians were injured, local media reported. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes for the alleged strikes, with only one source, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), blaming unspecified airstrikes. 

Despite sources giving nine as the highest number of civilian deaths reported, there were 11 named civilian casualties from various sources, suggesting highs of 11 civilian deaths. Four of these were men, two women and two children.

Only one source specified how many people were injured, with most saying “some” or “others” were wounded. However, UNOCHA  reported that ten civilians were thought to have been injured. 

According to local media, the school was housing internally displaced people, most of them women and children. However, one source alleged that a school teacher was also killed in the raid, suggesting therefore that the building was possibly still used as a school.  

Euphrates Post announced that the town was “completely free of Daesh” when the vicinity was struck. 

Two sources reported that a “phosphorous bombardment” occurred.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

60 years old male killed
Adult female killed
Age unknown male killed
40 years old killed
Adult male killed
40 years old male killed
Adult male a pharmacist killed
Child female killed
Age unknown female killed
Adult female killed
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • (1–2 children2–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Ghannam Al Mulla, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sa'lo, 15th October 2017. (via Euphrates post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • (1–2 children2–3 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]