Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4468

Incident date

February 20, 2020

Location

معرة النعسان, Ma`arat Al Na`asan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 20th, the village of Ma’arat Na’asan was struck by alleged Russian or regime warplanes, resulting in the death of one civilian, a media activist.

A tweet from Ahmed Dekhan announced the killing of media activist and photographer Abdul Nasser Haj Hamdan. @MousaAlamar and Edlib News tweeted similar information as well. Alaraby News said that the photographer was working in the city media office, just north of Idlib and went to cover the assault when he was killed. This information was corroborated by IMC News, Zaitun Agency, and the Justice Organization.  Shaam News later reported that the activist was originally from Bunche.

Smart News reported that Russian warplanes specifically hit the buildings within Ma’arat Na’asan.

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to Russian forces. However, Euphrates Post attributed the death of the civilian to artillery shelling by the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 journalist)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Abd al-Nasir Haj Hamdan, a media activist, was killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Ma'arat al-Na`san in the northern countryside of Idlib, February 20th, 2020 (via Justice Organization).
  • Abdul Naser Haj Hamdan (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Naser Haj Hamdan (via @I42e3oXib8OK27z)
  • Abdul Naser Haj Hamdan (via @I42e3oXib8OK27z)

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 man1 journalist)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]