Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4036

Incident date

August 16, 2019

Location

الغدفة, Al Ghadfa, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was reported killed and at least three other civilians were injured in airstrikes on Al Ghadfa, Idlib, on August 16th, 2019.

Both Shaam News and Step Agency reported that “Russian and Syrian warplanes launched several airstrikes” on a number of cities and towns including Al Ghadfa, on August 16th.

Shaam News and other sources documented the fatality in Al Ghadfa as a child, yet Step News referred to a “civilian killed” with no reference to the age of the casualty.

Meanwhile, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the child Ahmad Tareq al Ali was killed as Syrian regime warplanes fired missiles on west of al Ghadfa village in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on August 16.”

Syria Civil Defense also stated that two women were injured in the airstrike and a tweet by @jisrtv identified that three civilians were injured. A video posted by @blaas083 includes an interview with a cousin of the victims, who states that four children were injured and one of them, 4 years old, was in critical condition (later died).

A video posted by @anasanas84 on Twitter and other images show destruction to a building from the airstrike.

Two sources named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reports of the incident, while three sources attributed sole responsibility for the attack to the Syrian regime. One other source did not positively attribute blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "A child was martyred and two women were injured, as a result of a warplane air strike targeting al-Ghadfa town of Idlib countryside, our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "A child was martyred and two women were injured, as a result of a warplane air strike targeting al-Ghadfa town of Idlib countryside, our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "A child was martyred and two women were injured, as a result of a warplane air strike targeting al-Ghadfa town of Idlib countryside, our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @abdalazezketaz, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • Image from @IdlibPlus, strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmad Tariq Muhammad Al-Ali, killed in strike on Al-Ghadfa August 16, 2019

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]