Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS471

Incident date

August 17, 2021

Location

ابو راسين, Abu Rasin, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.952382, 41.140923 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed and between 10 and 20 others, including two women and two children, were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Zirgan on August 17, 2021.

According to North Press Agency (NPA), at least one civilian was killed and between 10 and 20 others were injured. “Nadwa al-Nifekh, 45, was killed in the Turkish bombing, and more than ten wounded civilians were transferred to the hospitals of al-Derbasiyah, Amuda and Hasakah,” local sources from the town said.

Ahram News identified one of the civilians killed as being a woman while Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a little girl was killed along with five civilians injured, along with two images of young children in bandages in a medical facility but it is unclear if they were killed or injured. In another post, (SOHR) put the number of injured civilians at 20, including women and children, and the number killed at two, including a woman and a child.

Rudaw news also reported that a woman and child were killed along with 11 other civilians injured. Images they posted show at least two women, a child, and a man receiving medical treatment for their wounds following the strikes.

A military source of the SDF also told NPA that the bombing included five villages belonging to the town, which are Bab al-Khair, Bab al-Faraj, Tel al-Ward, al-Rabi’at and Shour. He said that about 50 artillery and mortar shells fell on the town alone, which, in addition to human losses, caused great material damage. Ahram News also reported that the bombing caused widespread panic among civilians and led to multiple families leaving the villages.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkey

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

45 years old female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abu Rasin (ابو راسين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.952382, 41.140923. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Shelling of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by NPA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, one of the victims of the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, one of the victims of the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • A child receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A woman receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A man receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A woman receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]