Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4399

Incident date

October 8, 2021

Location

معارة النعسان, Maarat al-Naasan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.0351379, 36.8356507 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Maarat al-Naasan on October 8, 2021.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, three civilians were injured, one critically, in shelling on the town of Maarat al-Naasan by the regime and Russia. They added that their volunteers inspected the area for any other casualties.

Local activist @mzmgr941 tweeted that four civilians were injured and named three of them: Mohamed Al-Masry, Ahmed Lazkani, Hamada Ma’adal.

A tweet from @Click_Syria identified Maarat al-Naasan as one of the locations where militants were targeted but they do not indicate that militants were among the injured.

Military sources in the opposition told North-Press Agency that the government forces “bombed with heavy artillery shells residential neighborhoods in the village of Maarat al-Naasan”. The Zaman Al Wasl correspondent added that five artillery shells were launched against the northern neighborhood, which is close to the contact lines with the regime forces.

The majority of local sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to the regime. However, local journalist @Almohrar1 attributed the shelling and resulting injuries to Russian forces.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Al-Masry محمد المصري
Age unknown injured
Ahmed Lazkani أحمد لاذقاني
Age unknown injured
Hamada Ma’adal حمادة معدل
Age unknown injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Maarat Al Naasan (معارة النعسان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.0351379, 36.8356507. 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
    3–4
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense members search for victims of shelling on the village of Maarat al-Naasan on October 8, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • A piece of an artillery shell used in the shelling on the village of Maarat al-Naasan on October 8, 2021. (Image posted by @humam_isa)

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 (30) [ collapse]