Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS085

Incident date

January 29, 2020

Location

عفرين, Afrin , Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and thirteen civilians, all adult males, were injured in alleged YPG artillery strikes on residential areas of the city of Afrin, Aleppo governorate, on January 29th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported the death of 13-year-old Ahmed Tammam Qatayerji. They listed the names of 13 injured men. The severity of the injuries was not reported.

Local activists told SMART News Agency that SDF forces stationed near Al Ahlam mountain – which reportedly is under control of the pro-Turkey faction the Syrian National Army – targeted Assiyasiah wa Fillat street ( شارعي السياسية و الفيلات ). Horrya, however, reported that SDF forces stationed in Maranaz were responsible for the artillery strikes, which hit civilian homes. Zaitun Agency reported that Qsad militarias stationed south of Afrin were responsible.

Qassioun reported that several shells landed on different locations in the city, mentioning the Commandos School, the first road to Jandares, next to Afrin Flowers Mall, Freedom Square, behind Nayrouz roundabout and opposite to Kabso restaurant. Aramme News mentioned the location of Raju Road near Saif al-Dawla school.

One source, Dwarozh, blamed pr-Turkey militants for the incident. The source read: “Pro-Turkey militants bombed the city of Afrin, Wednesday night, killing a child and wounding 13 others, all of them civilians. ”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Tammam Qatirji أحمد تمام قطاير
13 years old male killed
Muhammad Farooq Al-Suleiman محمد فاروق السليمان
31 years old male injured
Muhammad Hayani محمد حياني
21 years old male injured
Mohamed Shaghoury محمد شاغوري
43 years old male injured
Abdullah Badawi عبد الله بدوي
20 years old male injured
Haitham al-Shaqra هيثم الشقرا
28 years old male injured
Mustafa Hassoun مصطفى حسون
28 years old male injured
Ayman Miqdad يمن مقداد
22 years old male injured
Aboud Aboud عبود عبود
27 years old male injured
Mar’i Mohamed Diab مرعي محمد دياب
38 years old male injured
Muhammad al-Khalaf محمد الخلف
65 years old male injured
Mustafa Hassoun مصطفى حسون
28 years old male injured
Bassam Siraj بسام سراج
30 years old male injured
Ibrahim Sheikh Sa’dia ابراهيم شيخ سعدية
33 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 attackers
    YPG, Turkish Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers working in a damaged building after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searching a damaged building after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers working in a damaged building after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers inspecting a vehicle after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Photo of an injured man after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via @NewrozJamo21).
  • Photo of an injured man after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via @NewrozJamo21).
  • Photo of an injured man after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via @NewrozJamo21).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of an injured man after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via @NewrozJamo21).
  • Photo of an injured young man in what seems to be a hospital after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via @NewrozJamo21).
  • Photo of an injured man in what seems to be a hospital after alleged YPG artillery strikes on the city of Afrin on January 29th, 2020 (via @NewrozJamo21).

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 attackers
    YPG, Turkish Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4374

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

بشنطرة, Bashantra, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One person died and an unspecified number of others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime air or artillery strikes on Bashranta on January 28, 2020, according to local media. The Violations Documentation Center whether the person killed was a civilian.

Both the Shahba Press and Zaiton Agency released reports of multiple civilians killed due to the strike upon Bashantra. These reports were later amended by Halab Today, Step Agency, and Shaam News to be one individual was killed and others wounded.  No exact numbers or the name of the deceased was released.

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria reported that a non-civilian was killed in Russian missile attacks on Bashantra.

The airstrikes on the 28th on Bashantra were resorted to be part of a coordinated set of strikes upon civilian areas.

Halab TV reported that the warplanes involved were those of the Assad regime while Jesr Press attributed the strikes to Russia.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (18) [ collapse]

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4127

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

سرج,, Sarja, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source, Syrialiveua, reported that four civilians were killed in “raids” on Sarja.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4373

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

عنجارة, Ainjara, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One girl died and her mother and up to four siblings were wounded in alleged Russia or regime airstrikes on Ainjara village, according to local media. All but one source (the Step News Agency) blamed solely Russia for the strikes and associated civilian harm.

The Smart News Agency reported: “A girl was killed and others, all of them from the same family, were wounded on Tuesday [Jan 28th], by Russian air strikes on the village of Ainjara (18 km west of Aleppo) in northern Syria…local sources said that a child had been killed and four children and their mother were injured as a result of the bombing of Russian warplanes on civilian homes in the village of Ainjara.”

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria reported one death and four others wounded, including three children; this story was corroborated by Smart News. Smart News also reported that the deceased child’s mother was among the wounded. Thiga News reported that one wounded child was brought to Turkey for medical attention. Syrian Civil Defense later confirmed that all the casualties were from one family, with two sisters and their mother wounded, and one sister killed. Halab News reported that the family’s house was specifically targeted.

Smart added that some of the wounded – among them critical cases – were treated in Turkish hospitals, “while the rest of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in the region by the civil defense teams.”

The White Helmets put the wounded toll lower, reporting that “a child was killed and her mother and two sisters from the Hassan Dergham family were injured”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights named the girl as Hasan Dergham Rustum.

While the overwhelming majority of sources attributed the raids to Russia, The Step News Agency said that the regime also carried out strikes on Ainjara village on this day.

Halab News noted that Ainjara was civilian area, and the house of the casualties was targeted by warplanes.

According to @SyrianCoalition, the strike occurred in the afternoon, though the White Helmets said that it happened “in the morning”.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child female killed
Mother of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Adult female injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child female injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child female injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child injured
Sibling of Hasan Dergham Rustum
Child injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ainjara, Jan 28th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ainjara, Jan 28th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ainjara, Jan 28th (via White Helmets)
  • The ruins of a family's home following an alleged Russian airstrike in Ainjara, Jan 28th (via SyrianCoalition)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC284

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

مدرسة رجب النائب, Rajab Al Naab School, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.834167, 13.216611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four children were allegedly killed by LNA artillery shelling on the Hadaba Al Badri neighbourhood of Tripoli.

Initially sources reported two dead and two injured, referring to a GNA Ministry of Health spokesperson.

The Libya Observer reported: “Three children have been killed and others injured in Al-Hadba Al-Badri neighborhood as Khalifa Haftar’s forces have fired indiscriminate shells on residential areas in southern Tripoli.

The Volcano of Rage Operation’s media office said Tuesday that one of the random shells fired by Haftar’s forces fell near Rajab Al-Naeb School in Al-Hadba Al-Badri area.

Meanwhile, the media consultant of the Health Ministry Ameen Al-Hashimi confirmed the number of killed children and said other children were wounded, adding that they were on their way to school and that they aged between 9 and 12 years old.”

The Field Medicine and Support Center said: “In the context of the tasks assigned to the Center for Field Medicine and Support, a team from the center toured the field to find out the size of the injuries left by the fall of a projectile behind a school in Al-Hadaba Al-Badri region on Tuesday 28 January 2020, which resulted in the martyrdom of three children who were referred to the Mercy House at Tripoli Medical Hospital.

Anas Abdul Hakim Al-Ghazwi, 12 years

Ramadan Orabi, 10 years

Zakaria Jamal Mustafa, 9 years

The child Malik Abdel Hakim Al-Ghazewi entered operations at the Tripoli Medical Hospital.”

Al Wasat also reported that the third child had died.

Emadeddin Badi tweeted that the “last of the 4 child casualties of #Haftar’s LAAF shelling on Hadhba yday (initially 2 killed/2 severely injured) has also died this morning in intensive care due to the severity of his wounds.”

Other sources also later confirmed the death of the fourth child

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anas Abdul Hakim Al-Ghazwi
12 years old male killed
Ramadan Orabi
10 years old male killed
Zakaria Jamal Mustafa
9 years old male killed
Malik Abdel Hakim Al-Ghazewi
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Video of the incident
  • Damaged car after alleged LNA shelling on Tripoli on January 28th, 2020 (via Al Wasat)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ramadan Orabi, allegedly killed by LNA shelling on Tripoli on January 28th, 2020 (via Raif Zak)
  • Blood stain on the ground after alleged LNA shelling on Tripoli on January 22nd, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Hospital where victims were supposedly treated after alleged LNA shelling on Tripoli on January 22nd, 2020 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Rajab Al Naab School (مدرسة رجب النائب) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.834167, 13.216611. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4379

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a child, were injured in several alleged Syrian regime and Russian airstrikes and/or artillery strikes on an international road near Saraqib, Idlib governorate on January 28th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported that four civilians were injured in alleged Syrian regime airstrikes “targeting the international road near Saraqib city, during the flight of the people from the city to escape”. Edlib Media Center reported that “several people were injured as a result of the regime’s warplane targeting a car for the displaced in Saraqeb, east of Idlib”.

Macro Media Center said the road targeted was the international road M5. Zaiton Mag added that because of the flight of people from the city of Saraqib, the city was nearly empty of residents.

Ariha Today reported the following airstrikes near Saraqib on January 28th, 2020:

“00:08 Russian raid targeting the vicinity of Saraqib
00:16 Russian raid targeting the vicinity of Saraqib
01:28 Missile bombing by regime forces targeting the outskirts of Saraqib.
11:21 The regime’s warplane raid targeting the outskirts of the city of Saraqib, wounding three civilians, including a child.
11:56 A regime’s warplane raid targeting the outskirts of Saraqib city and resulted in one civilian casualty.
13:01 A regime’s warplane raid targeting the city of Saraqib.”

The conflicting reports make it difficult to assess which belligerent caused which civilian harm, with local sources attributing airstrikes and artillery strikes to both the regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime or Russian airstrikes on a road near Saraqib, Idlib governorate, on January 28th, 2020 (via Liveuamap).

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4380

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was wounded in an alleged regime or Russian airstrike and/or artillery strike on Al Bara.

Ariha Today reported that “at 10:52, a regime warplane targeted the area around the town of Al-Bara. At 11:18, a helicopter raid targeted the Al-Bara town, targeting a bakery and a mosque in the town, wounding a civilian man.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped a barrel bomb on al Bara Bakery in al Bara village in Jabal al Zaweya area in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, partially destroying its building and damaging its equipment, on January 28.”

While two of the three sources clearly blamed the regime, @allaith12345 noted the “insane bombardment from from Russian criminality and the gang of Bashar”. The source tweeted a video showing the aftermath of the strikes.

The incident occured between 10:52 am and 11:18 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of regime or Russian strikes on Al Bara, Jan 28th.
  • 'Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped a barrel bomb on al Bara Bakery in al Bara village in Jabal al Zaweya area in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, partially destroying its building and damaging its equipment, on January 28.' (via SN4HR)

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4378

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

حاس, Hass, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Hass, Idlib governorate, on January 28th, 2020, according to local sources.

According to a tweet from @JennRollins1002, three to six men were killed in the town of Hass by regime helicopters that dropped barrel bombs on the town. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that six men were killed because of the bombing of civilian homes.

Shaam News also reported that there were six victims of Russian strikes but did not specify whether these victims were killed or injured. Various other sources were conflicted over who was to blame, reporting that the regime was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–6 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–6 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]