Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4175

Incident date

November 16, 2019

Location

معرزيتا‎, Maarzita, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported to have been killed and at least eight injured by either Syrian regime forces or Russian forces in an airstrike on November 16th 2019 in Maarzita, in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, northern Syria.

According to various sources such as Halab Today and Syria TV, one civilian was a doctor on duty with the Idlib Health Directorate, identified as Doctor Mohamed Hashum. Syria TV reports that he was “wounded in the bombing while carrying out a mission to assess the medical and emergency situation in the southern countryside of Idlib.” SOHR News reported that Dr Hashum later died of wounds sustained in the airstrike.

Although the majority of sources identify the deceased doctor as Mohamed Hashum, Abo Ameer Al Homsi and SNHR described him as Jamal Hashoum.

Various sources reported injured civilians. Step News reported that there were ten casualties, who were “transferred by the Civil Defense to hospitals”, whereas Shahba Press puts the number wounded at eight.

There were various mentions that “barrel bombs” were used in the attack, some sources attributed them to ‘Russian warplanes’ whilst others said that they were from “Assad’s helicopters”.

A local source on social media with handle @Mohmad_Rasheed included a video of the moment the airstrike hit Maarzita.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male other sources identify him as Jamal Hashoum killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • "A video documenting the bombing of Assad's helicopters with barrel bombs on the town of Maarzita in the southern countryside of Idlib." فيديو يوثق قصف" الطائرات المروحية التابعة للأسد بالبراميل المتفجرة بلدة معرزيتا بريف ادلب الجنوبي."
  • Zaitun Agency reports: "Idlib Health Directorate mourns the martyrdom of a doctor from its cadres, "Mohamed Hashum", in Russian air strikes while he was performing his duty in the town of #Maarzita in the southern countryside of #Idlib"
  • Local source Abo Ameer Al Homsi reports on November 26th 2019 that Dr. Hashoum died of his wounds.

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
    3
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]