Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3287

Incident date

March 16, 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

Between 11 and 30 civilians, among which women and children, were killed in airstrikes on the city of Zamalka on March 16th 2018, as reported by several sources. The belligerent is contested, with sources reporting both Russia as the Syrian regime as responsible for the incident.

The Syrian Revolution reported that “the city of Zamalka has been targeted since the night of Thursday to Friday until this morning [March 16, 2018] with 30 raids by Russian warplanes and 24 barrels (explosives) of aviation helicopters and 25 heavy artillery shells.” Sources report residential areas were targeted.

Whereas some sources, such as Shaam News Network, reported 11 killed, MicroSyria and the Syrian Civil Defence put the death toll at 21.

Yousef Al Ghosh, president of the local city council, reported on Facebook that the “the planes targeted a cellar full of civilians, killing more than 30 civilians and injuring dozens, mostly women and children.”

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria listed 11 adult casualties, among which two women. Other sources stated that children were killed as well.

Twitter user @aboalhodaalhoms reported 50 injured, stating most of them were women and children, whereas the Syrian Civil Defense wrote that around 70 civilians got wounded in the airstrikes.

The White Helmets also reported that there had been 16 warplane raids and that 18 explosive barrels were fired, in addition to sixty artillery shells and rockets. Reportedly, two missiles loaded with cluster bombs and another with burning napalm were used.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 30
  • (1 child2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–70
  • 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

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of the airstrikes on Zamalka, March 16th 2018 (via @aboalhodaalhoms).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Syrian Civil Defense volunteers helping one of the victims after the airstrikes on Zamalka, March 16th 2018 (@SyriaCivilDefe).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the airstrikes on Zamalka, March 16th 2018 (@sophie_zanetti).

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
    11 – 30
  • (1 child2 women9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–70
  • 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

Sources (22) [ collapse]