Airwars assessment
A major bombardment of the town of Tafas in Daraa caused up to three civilian deaths and up to six more injuries, according to extensive local reporting. Both the Assad regime and to a lesser extend Russia were blamed for the attacks.
Horan Free Media, citing its local correspondent, initially described the death of one young civilian male and six injuries “including critical cases” in the attack. The Syrian Observatory also described the deaths of a man and woman.
All sources were agreed on one fatal victim, 26 year old Hafeza Mar’i al-Rabadawi, a woman. Horan for example noted that “a medical source from Tafas Hospital told the Ahrar Horan Gathering that the woman, Hafeza Mar’i al-Rabadawi, died directly as a result of the bombing, while all 6 injured people were treated in the city hospital.”
Adding some confusion to reporting, a second woman’s death – that of Sabah al-Bardan – was also initially claimed by the outlet, though this was later denied on its own Telegram channel, which reported that Ms al-Bardan was in fact alive. The Syrian Network instead reported the death of Ms al-Bardan, as did several other local sources.
A third fatal victim was named by several sources including Qasioun as Samir Reshan Al-Zoubi, a young man.
The White Helmets, which posted a video showing at least six strikes on the town, declared that “Civilians were killed and wounded in a major military escalation by the regime and Russia forces on the city of Tafas in Daraa governorate.” Halab Today said that more than 30 missiles had targeted the town, while Thiqa News claimed that 50 missiles had struck. It was one of several local sources to report three civilian deaths.
In a separate video, Shaam News showed what it described as “the state of panic and fear among the students, after missile shelling by the Fourth Division militias on the vicinity of a school during work hours in Tafas city.”
The Syrian Network condemned what it said was “the bombing of civilian-populated areas by the Syrian regime which fails to distinguish between populated civilian areas and military targets, resulting in the destruction of homes that threatens and forcibly displaces the residents of those areas.”
Baladi News was alone in suggesting the attack may have been in response to local rebel actions, noting that “The area is witnessing a security alert by regime forces, after a military vehicle was targeted with an explosive device on the Nawa – Sheikh Maskin road, west of Daraa, and the regime’s ranks were killed and wounded.”
The incident occured in the morning.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (30) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]
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Reported victim of Regime and/ or Russian strikes on Tafas on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
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Medics attend to a victim of a Russian or Regime strike on Tafas, August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free News)
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'The moment the Fourth Division militias bombed Tafas, 26th August 2021' (via Horan Free Media)
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Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
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Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
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Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
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Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
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Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
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Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
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Unidentified injured male reportedly harmed in Regime and/ or Russian strikes on Tafas, August 26th 2021 (via @syria7ra)