Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3736

Incident date

May 29, 2019

Location

الهبيط, Al Habit, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019, according to local sources.

@NagiNajjar reported that “three civilian men were martyred as a result of an airstrike by the warplanes of the Assad forces on the outskirts of the town of Habit this morning, where Civil Defence men were able to pull their bodies from the target place and hand them over to their families.”

According to Shaam News Network, there were “four martyrs in Al Habeet from the same family”, while other sources cite three fatalities, and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights states that “two civilians and a fighter” were killed in the attack. Anadolu Agency also reported the death of four civilians.

Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura identified the victims as Ismail Khaled KhanfouraMustafa Khaled Khanfoura and Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khanfoura.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria added that an unknown number of civilians was wounded in the strikes.

@MMCSYR2 reported the use of explosive barrels fired by regime helicopters. The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that missiles were fired on agricultural land.

While most sources blamed the Syrian regime for the airstrikes, Halab Today TV pointed to Russia, whereas Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the airstrikes on Al Habeet on May 29th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Translation: “Three civilian men were martyred as a result of an air strike by the warplanes of the Assad forces on the outskirts of the town of Al Habit this morning, where civil defense men were able to pull their bodies from the target place and hand them over to their families” (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on May 29th, 2019 (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Translation: “The town of Habit belongs to God and to Him we shall return. The martyr Ismail Khaled Khanfoura. The martyr Mustafa Khaled Khanfoura. The martyr Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khanfoura” (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019 (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019 (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 29th, 2019 (via Abdl Al Hamid Khanfoura).

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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (14) [ collapse]