Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4384

Incident date

September 4, 2021

Location

الكفير, Al Kafir, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.781561, 36.321330 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians, including one to two women and one child, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on al-Kafir on September 7, 2021.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD), a woman was seriously injured in artillery shelling in al-Kafir

@baladinetwork put the injury toll at three injuries from the strikes while Nedaa Post identified four civilians, a child, two women and a man, as being injured.

Other source that reported on this incident referred to “civilians” as being injured but did not specify how many civilians.

The SCD pointed out that civilian homes were affect by the artillery shelling.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the shelling. The Syrian Civil Defense attributed the incident to both the regime and Russia while Radio Al Kul blamed only the regime for the artillery shelling. 7al News specifically identified regime forces stationed in “Jorin” camp, west of the city of Hama, as being responsible for the strikes.

The incident occured in the morning.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Kafir, the generic coordinates for which are: 35.781561, 36.321330. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense members search an affected area following artillery shelling of the village of al-Kafir on September 7, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Facebook)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]