Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3276

Incident date

March 15, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian harm incident, up to 21 civilians died and as many as 70 more were wounded in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Zamalka. Many sources said that this was a chemical attack by the regime, though there were also multiple allegations against Russia.

The Violations Documentation Centre named “18 victims killed in warplane shelling by Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

@Mo7ameDAl_shami and other sources noted reports of “toxic gases”.

According to Micro Syria, the town was bombarded with barrel bombs dropped by the regime and warplane raids by Russa, along with artillery fire. The source said the bombardment had “hysterically targeted places crowded with civilians. It recorded:

30 Russian warplanes

24 barrel bombs

25 heavy artillery shells”

The White Helmets reported  “Twenty-one martyrs, including three women and two children, with more than 70 others injured”. It added that residential neighbourhoods had been targeted with “16 air strikes, 18 barrel bombs, more than 60 rockets, rocket launchers and heavy artillery, along with incendiary Napalm bombs”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Fahed Zain al-Deen
Adult male killed
Hasan Zain al-Deen
Adult male killed
Yazan Zain al-Dee
Adult male killed
Haneen Zain al-Deen
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Ragad al-Malla
Child female killed
Qamar al-Malla
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Yasin Diae al-Shaikh
Adult male killed
Mahmoud al-Helo
Adult male killed
Iman al-Dabbas
Adult female killed
Salwa al-Dahla
Adult female killed
Abo Ali Shaikho
Adult male killed
Haytham Shaebia
Adult male killed
Khaled Wakkaf
Adult male killed
Husam Karkour
Adult male killed
Abdo Saedoun
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Laila
Adult male killed
Waleed al-Sadat
Adult male killed
Alae Faeour
Adult male killed
Zia Sheikh
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 21
  • (2 children2–3 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child following a strike on Zamalka, March 15th 2018.

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 21
  • (2 children2–3 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]