Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4458

Incident date

February 17, 2020

Location

الدانا, Al Dana, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed, including a woman and a child and an unknown number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian air or artillery strikes on the city of Al Dana, Idlib governorate, on February 17th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Ahmad Abu Dai, a displaced civilian from Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed as Syrian regime forces’ artillery fired a shell on al Dana city in the northern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on February 17th.”

@ShahbaPress reported “civilian martyrs and wounded due to artillery bombardment by Assad forces on the city of Dana in the northern Idlib countryside”.

According to @SyrianCoalition, three civilians were killed and @Hani_Alymani reported that a woman and her child were killed, bringing the death toll to three. A Facebook post from Mohammad Tarman reported that in addition to the one civilian killed, “Mustafa Nader Al-Sousi and his child Hassan, 12 years old, from Khan Sheikhoun” were injured. Later reporting indicates that Mustafa and Hassan died of their injuries.

SMART reported that activists stated the attack came from the “46th Regiment”.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian and Assad air forces launched violent airstrikes amid artillery and missile shelling” targeting several cities and towns, among which Al Dana, reportedly leading to the death of one civilian. @mhmdfaisel identified “rocket-propelled grenades” as being used in the attack.

According to @pressrahhal, “Turkish forces near the city were subjected to a similar bombardment”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mustafa Nader Al-Sousi مصطفى نادر السوسي
male Possibly later died injured
Hassan, child of Mustafa Nader Al-Sousi طفله حسن
12 years old Possibly later died injured

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Dana, Idlib governorate, on February 17th, 2020 (via @SyrianCoalition).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a civilian killed in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Al Dana on February 17, 2020. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a civilian killed in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Al Dana on February 17, 2020. (Image posted by Abu walid via Facebook)

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 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]