Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3046

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four but up to 11 civilians, including one woman and two female children, were killed and several wounded as Saqba in eastern Ghouta, Damascus was subject to intense air and artillery shelling, local media reported, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame.

Al-Jazeera reported how both Syrian and Russian air forces had “launched dozens of raids on residential neighborhoods in the eastern cities of Ghouta”, including Saqba.

Saqba was in large parts left in rubble as it reportedly was struck by both explosive barrels from helicopters, missiles and even cluster bombs as reported by Rajaa. Also, al-Jazeera mentioned artillery shelling.

The death toll spanned from “at least four” as reported by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) to as many as 11 as reported by Dirar Khattab and @LaLaKdaho. The latter identified 11 fatalities by name and age, hereof two female children and one woman.

According to Step News Agency, who blamed Assad helicopters for dropping barrel bombs, the incident wounded at least two civilians.

Additionally, the strikes inflicted great material damage on civilian properties. Al-Jazeera reported that the shelling “led to the suspension of the field hospital in the city of Saqba”.

While few sources pointed to respectively exclusive Russia or the Syrian regime culpability, the large majority of reports pointed to shared Russian/Assad responsibility.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the strikes may have taken place the previous day, on Monday, February 19th. While all sources reported from the incident on Tuesday 20th, HalabTodayTV referred to it as occuring “yesterday” (Monday 19th).

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

35 years old male killed
50 years old male killed

Family members (3)

Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

29 years old male killed
31 years old male killed
30 years old male killed
31 years old male killed
14 years old female daughter of Abu Maher killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 11
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The immediate, chaotic aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via AbuAlhuda)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Remnants from cluster bombs, reportedly used in the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Rajaa)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Women and children trapped inside a house following the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via HalabTodayTV)
  • The immediate, chaotic aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Orient News)
  • The atermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)
  • A civilian is being carried away after being wounded by the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)
  • 29-year old Hisham Eid, working as a nurse, was reportedly among the victims of the contested strikes in Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 11
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]