Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4498

Incident date

January 18, 2023

Location

البارة, Al Bara village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a man named Bassam Mustafa al-Othman, was reportedly killed as a result of artillery shelling from contested Russian forces or Syrian regime actions, on January 18th 2023, in Al Bara, Idlib. Zamal al Wasl also reported that one civilian was injured in this same attack.

The White Helmets reported that this shelling was in conjunction with similar shelling which targeted the Kansafra village in nearby countryside.  The group reported on the rescue operation saying “we recieved distress calls with the presence of victims. When we reached the place, the ground was filled with blood and body parts.”

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the attack hit a public street in the centre of the village and also caused damage to some buildings.

@ShaamNetwork published a video reporting that “these children and this family… they lost their breadwinner today..” and blamed the attack on the “Assad regime”, whilst other sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Bassam Mustafa al-Othman
Adult male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • "A civilian was killed by artillery shelling of the regime forces and Russia targeting the village of Al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib, in conjunction with similar shelling targeting the village of Kansafra in the same countryside, today, Wednesday, January 18." (Image via @Syriacivildef / Twitter)
  • "Scenes of death and blood, death in the lives of Syrians, did not end. Today was harsh and difficult. The sounds of shelling were frightening" (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe /Twitter)
  • "Scenes of death and blood, death in the lives of Syrians, did not end. Today was harsh and difficult. The sounds of shelling were frightening." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "Civilian killed in an artillery attack by Syrian regime forces in northern Idlib governorate, January 18, 2023" (Image via SNHR)
  • Bassam Mustafa al-Othman, reportedly killed as a result of Syrian regime or Russian forces missile shelling (Image via SNHR)
  • ""Bassam Mustafa Al-Othman" was killed by artillery shelling of pro-Assad forces on the town of Al-Bara, south of Idlib" (Image via @OrientNews / Twitter)
  • "Pro-Assad forces target, with artillery shells, residential gatherings inside the town of Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib." (Image via @HmamYsy / Twitter)
  • "Pro-Assad forces target, with artillery shells, residential gatherings inside the town of Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib." (Image via @HmamYsy / Twitter)
  • "The martyrdom of the civilian, Bassam Al-Atman, as a result of missile strikes by the Russian external occupation, targeting the town of Al-Bara" (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • "The death of the civilian Bassam Al-Atman, as a result of missile strikes by pro-Assad forces on residential neighborhoods in the town of Al-Bara" (Image via @Almohrar1 / Twitter)

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]