Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4048

Incident date

August 18, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafar Sijna, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

During another day of heavy Russian and Assad regime strikes on rebel-held areas of Idlib, one civilian was reported killed and another wounded in Kafr Sijna according to local sources.

A tweet from @baladinetwork identified a “martyr and wounded as a result of Russian warplanes targeting the town of Kafr Sijnah.”

Shaam News noted that “Russian warplanes and helicopters launched fierce airstrikes amid artillery and rocket shelling that targeted the cities and towns of Maarat al-Numan, Khan Shaykhun, Hayesh, Kafr Sijnah, Kansra, Beida, Hassa, Hamedieh, Ma’arshoorin, Naqir, Deir Sharqi, Ma’aturahma, Turai, Ghannum, Zheyan, Tabish, Al-Tabaya, Ar-Raqaya, Shaykhita, Damamt, Ar-Raqaya, Shuqayt, Shmayt, Tamarah, Raqaya, Shaykamt, Damas, Ar-Raya, Raqaya, Shaykh, Damas, Maher As a result, two martyrs were killed in Maarat al-Nu’man and one martyr  in each of Haas, Kafar Sijna, Ma’arat Horma and al-Hamediya.”

Baladi News also reported one civilian death, noting that unspecified “warplanes also raided the village of Kafar Sijna in the same countryside, resulting in a civilian death.”

The Syrian Human Rights Commission later named Abdul-Halim al-Haj Ahmad as being killed by “Russian shelling on the town” that day.

The majority of sources attributed the strike to Russia, including @NagiNajjar, posting that “Russian warplanes drop their full cargo on the town of Kafr Sijnah, in conjunction with its bombardment with rocket launchers” in addition to an image they posted showing the smoke and dust from the explosion.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • During another day of heavy Russian and Assad regime strikes on rebel-held areas of Idlib, Abdel Halim Haj Ahmed was reported killed and another wounded in Kafr Sijna according to local sources.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]