Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2803

Incident date

December 17, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 17 civilians were killed – including ten who were named – as well as 6 or more wounded, in internationally banned Napalm and Phosphorous airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the “air and artillery strikes” which were conducted in the vicinity. Madardaily was the only source to report that “military aircraft” bombed the vicinity, all others attributed blame.

The event was described by local media as a “massacre” which “targeted” a market and civilian homes causing huge fires and many casualties. Madardaily added that there were as many as ten airstrikes on the vicinity.

Sources reported that the victims were mostly an entire family. As many as seven of them were women and four were children.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “The martyrs are a woman and her child from one family, six others from another family; they are a woman and two of her children and two sisters and another woman, in addition to a child -whether he belongs to one of the two families is not yet known. The death toll is expected to increase due to several of the injured being in a serious condition”.

“Heavy artillery” strikes were also reported on the residential area.

very graphic photographic evidence shows civilians who were burned until their bodies were unrecognisable.

The wounded were taken to nearby “health centres” by members of the Civil Defence. The death toll was expected to rise.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walae Riad al-Sermani
Adult female killed
Fatima Riad al-Sermani
Adult female killed
Hala Ziad Idrees
Adult female killed
Tala Ganem al-Najem
Child female killed
Nada Mohammad al-Sermani
Child female killed
Yazan Mohammad al-Sermani
Child male killed
Ola Gadban al-Sermani
Adult female killed
Fatima Najeeb Qatini
Adult female killed
Shahed Mohammad Rida Qatini
Child female killed
Safae al-Neser
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 17
  • (2–4 children6–7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the Syrian Civil Defence attempt to rescue civilians from the rubble following alleged Napalm and Phosphorous airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefence)
  • Victims before burial n the aftermath of an alleged Napalm and Phosphorous airstrike attack on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via Paldf News)
  • The aftermath of the strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via Madardaily)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the Syrian Civil Defence attempt to rescue civilians from the rubble following alleged Napalm and Phosphorous airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via @almajd700)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A charred body in the aftermath of strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via @freedoms1y2r3ia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child victim in the aftermath of strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via @tarykh_iran2017 )
  • The aftermath of the strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via @HadiAlabdallah)
  • A victim in the aftermath of strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib The White Helmets)
  • Fires in the immediate aftermath of strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib The White Helmets)
  • A victim in the aftermath of strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib The White Helmets)
  • Fires in the immediate aftermath of strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib The White Helmets)
  • Fires in the immediate aftermath of strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 17th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib The White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 17
  • (2–4 children6–7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]