Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS458

Incident date

January 24, 2016

Location

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died and 12 were injured in alleged Russian airstrike on Tel Rifa’at, according local sources.

The Syrian Press Centre reported that Russia carried out four raids and that a young man was killed in addition to a number of other civilians being wounded.

The Violations Documentation Centre also alleged that this was a Russian raid.

According to Al Souria, three non-combatants died and 12 others were injured when “Russian fighter jets targeted residential localities in Tel Rifa’at“.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights briefly reported that “a young man was killed and others were wounded when warplanes carried out raids on areas in the town of Tall Rifaat,” but they did not say whether the planes were Russian or belonged to the Assad regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
35 years old female was listed once as a child however this was a mistake killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Qusai Mahmoud Hamdawi "Haj Dibo", killed in an alleged Russian raid on 24th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian struggles to stay alive following an alleged Russian raid on Tall Rif'at. (via, Tall Refaat City)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS457

Incident date

January 24, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 13 and 19 civilians including 10 children and three women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources.

Syrian News Desk reported that at least 19 civilians died and more than 30 were wounded when Russian warplanes fired “cluster rockets” on the city “to coincide with helicopter dumping barrel bombs“.

The source explained that most of the victims were killed in the bombing, which targeted a the place where the buses were positioned in the city center. This led to a number of vehicles being burnt out and those inside them dying.

Halab News Network also blamed Russia.

Al Souria said seven died and 20 were injured – most of them critically – in an aerial bombardment on a garage in Al Bab, though they did not say who was responsible.

According to Syrian Press Center, Russia conducted five raids on the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported Russian strikes and casualties, but did not provide any further information.

The Violations Documentation Center named seven victims (killed in Russian shelling) as:

They also listed six unidentified victims:

Unidentified 1 – adult, female

Unidentified 2 – child, male

Unidentified 3 – child, male

Unidentified 4 – child, male

Unidentified 5 – child, male

Unidentified 6 – child, male

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Child female killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 19
  • (10 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment the airstrike hit Al Bab, 22nd January 2016. (via, Al Souria)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 19
  • (10 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS456

Incident date

January 24, 2016

Location

سلقين, Salqeen, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.13951, 36.45413 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 20 civilians died and 10 to 20 were injured – many critically –  in strikes by Ballistic missiles, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The Syrian Committee for Human Rights reported that 10 people died and 20 more were wounded in a strike by ballistic missiles “believed to have been launched from Russian warships in the Mediterranean“.

A video published by Qasioun depicted casualties being treated following an alleged Russian raid.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 16 people died (“11 fighters from Jabhat Al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in Levant) and Islamic factions”), three civilian males and two civilian women, when a suspected ballistic missile landed in the area of a former police station “which is now taken by Jabhat Al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in Levant) as a ‘court’ in the city of Salqin at the northwestern countryside of Idlib”. The report added that the missile targeted the area after a meeting in the “court” for reconciliation between al-Nusra Front and the Islamic movement of Ahrar al-Sham. They did not say who fired the weapons, but added that the incident was accompanied by warplanes flying overhead.

Alaan TV said that the “Judges Road” area was targeted on Sunday evening by “long-range shelling with rockets loaded with cluster bombs, resulting in 10 deaths.

A nurse working in the hospital in Salheen gave the following testimony to Alaan: “We received a large number of people who were injured – more than 20, including women and children. Some were transferred to other medical points close. There was an urgent need for blood donors as some cases suffered severe bleeding.

The activist Ahmed Istanbuli indicated that the regime was responsible: “observatories in the town of Saraqeb reported that the source was near the Aazan mountain in the countryside of Aleppo, and the weapons were fired from  regime positions in there. A missile loaded with cluster bombs exploded while another failed to explode after falling in the Sgayn”.

However, the report went on to say that others who heard the sounds of the rockets identified them as Russian and said that they had been fired by warships on the Syrian coast.

The Syrian Press Centre also that this was an attack by the regime, which led to 20 civilians dead and wounded. They named victims including one other unidentified female.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Mohamed Amiri
Age unknown male named by the Syrian Press Centre killed
Yasser Hamadoun Boubaki
Age unknown named by the Syrian Press Centre killed
Dania Marmour
Age unknown named by the Syrian Press Centre killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 20
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammad Hadi Omieri, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on 24th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Salah Saeed Naffakh, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid on 24th January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Inside a medical facility in the aftermath of the raid. (via, Syrian Press Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Syrian Press Centre)
  • Inside a medical facility in the aftermath of the raid. (via, Syrian Press Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man receives medical treatment following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Qaision Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 20
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS453

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.383201, 37.565723 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to four civilian children and one woman were killed in an airstrike on Baza’a, according to local sources – though one report says that they were killed by the regime.

The Shaam News Network published a news roundup in which they said that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town of Baza’aa, the village of Qasr al Buraij, and a farm near the town of Kabassin, which led to the fall of many martyrs and the wounded.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least three non-combatants (all children) died when “suspected” Russian warplanes fired missiles on the town of Baza’a.

Al Jisr TV reported that a woman and her four children died in a Russian strike.

According to Eye on the City Albab, the daughter of Ibrahim al-Mohammad alSweid and her four children were killed, and others injured, in an airstrike, though the source did not say who carried it out.

However, the Violations Documentation Centre named four victims as killed by regime shelling.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Another child of mother
Child according to Eye on the City Albab, four children were killed killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image documenting the aftermath of the alleged airstrike by Russian and Syrian Regime forces. (via, Al Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS454

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.751055, 39.615398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were killed in an airstrike on Ma’adan, according to local sources – though it is currently unclear whether Russian forces or the Assad regime were responsible for the incident.

Only the Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the raid, reporting in a news roundup that “Russian enemy planes launched air raids on civilian homes in the city of Ma’dan which led to the fall of the four martyrs and a number of wounded.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also reported that four were killed, but they did not say who the “warplane” responsible belonged to.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at “at least three“, regime warplanes carried out the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Destruction resulting from the air raid that targeted Ma’adan today [Jan 23rd) and killed 4 people'. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS455

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

تدمر, Bal el Hawa or Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to four civilians including two children and possibly one woman were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Bab el Hawa and Sarmada, according to two local sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male from Palmyra killed
Child male from Palmyra killed
Adult male from Palmyra killed

The victims were named as:

Child female as having died due to her wounds sustained in a Russian strike a “month ago“ killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children0–1 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abdulkareem Yaseen al-Abdullah, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 23rd January 2016. (via, VDC)
  • Nour el-Dein Abdulkareem Yaseen al-Abdullah, killed in an alleged Russian raid on 23rd January 2016. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children0–1 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS452

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including one woman and her five children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources.

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town of Baza’aa, the village of Qasr al Buraij, and a farm near the town of Kabassin, which led to the fall of many martyrs and the wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that one woman and her five children died when “suspected” Russian warplanes fired missiles fired on a farm near Al Bab city.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS450

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one child were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Buliyal, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No reports on strikes on Al Buliyal have yet been found.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male also listed by Syrian Shuada as killed in a Russian strike, but it says that he died on Jan 19th. There is therefore the possibility the date of death in the VDC listing is incorrect. However, according to Syria 2011, who also listed him, claims he was killed in a regime strike on Jan 19th. killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]