Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4536

Incident date

August 5, 2023

Location

الطريق الواصل بين عين شيب ومدينة إدلب, the linking road between Idlib and Ain Sheep, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 5th, 2023, three civilians were killed and seven injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on residences along a road which links Idlib to the village of Ain Sheeb. The strikes occurred between 11:02 a.m. and 11:11 a.m. local time.

According to Syria Civil Defence (SCD), the first strike struck a residential house, located on a farm along the road at 11:02 a.m. The attack killed Absi Muhammad Sami Balsha (54), his wife Ibtisam Suleiman (40), and their son Ahmed Balsha (17).

A second strike hit the same location at 11:04 a.m.

The third strike occurred at 11:11 a.m. and struck a nearby residence, while humanitarian and medical workers—including some affiliated with Syrian Civil Defense—were rescuing injured civilians, per SCD News. The Syrian Network for Human Rights independently reported that this final attack wounded one aid worker.

Seven people were injured in the strikes: Abd al-Rahman Jazairi; Yahya Kayali; Mohamed Sabreen; Muhammad Abbas Benshi; his wife, Raghad Noman; and Omar Jamali. This list of victims is corroborated by Violations Documentation Center, Hdhod News, SCD News, and multiple independent reporters, among other sources. According to the Violet Organisation, the leader of its Idlib ambulance team, Abdul Aziz Natour, also sustained a minor injury.

Al-Marsad 80 and the Syrian Opposition Air Traffic Tracking Observatory reported that Russian forces launched the attack; on August 5th, two Russian Su-34 fighter jets left Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia to conduct raids across Idlib governorate. The Violations Documentation Center was the only source that accused the Syrian regime of carrying out the airstrikes.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also suggested that the farm housed the headquarters of a local faction of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The incident occured between 11:02 am and 11:11 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Absi Muhammad Sami Balsha بسي بن محمد سامي بلشة
54 years old male killed
Ibtisam Suleiman ابتسام بنت احمد سليمان
40 years old female killed
Ahmed Balsha أحمد بن عبسي بلشة
17 years old male killed

Family members (2)

Muhammad Abbas Benshi محمد عباس بنشي
male injured
Raghad Noman رغد نعمان
female wife of Muhammad injured

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Rahman Jazairi عبد الرحمن جزائري
Age unknown injured
Yahya Kayali يحيى كيالي
Age unknown injured
Mohamed Sabreen محمد صابرين
Age unknown injured
Omar Jamali عمر جمالي
Age unknown injured
Abdul Aziz Natour
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Aerial photography showing the moments when Russian warplanes carried out air strikes targeting farms, buildings, and civilian homes, on the road between Idlib and Ain Sheeb, today, Saturday, August 5, killing 3 civilians (a man, his wife, and their son) and wounding 6 people, including a woman.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first moments of our teams' response to Russian air raids targeted farms, buildings, and civilian homes, on the road connecting the city of Idlib and Ain Sheeb, today, Saturday, August 5, killing 3 civilians (a man, his wife, and their son) and wounding 6 people, including a woman.
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @Shadi_Alhasan_)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @YeniSafakArabic)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @YeniSafakArabic)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @YeniSafakArabic)
  • Victims of alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @YeniSafakArabic)
  • Alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by @mohamed_owaid)
  • Alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by Yaya via Facebook)
  • Absi Muhammad Sami Balsha and his son Ahmed Balsha, killed by alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by Muhammad Absi Balsha, son of Absi, via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by Mahio via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdel Aziz, a paramedic injured by alleged Russian strikes near Idlib on August 5, 2023. (Image posted by Kutaibasayed, via Facebook)

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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (28) [ collapse]