Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS2089

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

بداما, Bdama, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.811903, 36.202275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly injured following an airstrike in Bdama, Idlib, according to local media sources. It is not clear who was responsible for the event, whilst the majority of the sources blamed Russia, one mentioned the Assad regime.

Step News reported that “Russian air force carried out a massive airstrike targeting the town of Bdama in the western countryside of Idlib”. This was corroborated by Idlib Media Centre who added that it was two civilians that were injured.

However, one source – @ahmad_haj_bakri, blamed the Assad regime for the event. In a tweet, he said: “In response to the American bombardment, the Air Force of the Assad gang is bombing three towns in the western town of Badama in the western suburb of Idlib.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4196

Incident date

November 24, 2019

Location

بلدة حيش,, Heesh town, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 24th, 2019, a man and a women were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Heesh town, Idlib. Local sources and social media reported on the airstrike.

HalabTodayTV reported “A man and a woman were injured in a Russian air strike targeting the town of Heish in the southern countryside of Idlib”. The White Helmets also reported “A man and woman were injured in the town of Heesh southern idlib after aerial bombing of Russian Warplanes targeting civilian homes on Sunday.”

Various other sources also referred to “civilians” as being injured but did not specify how many people were injured.

A tweet from @QasiounAr identified barrel bombs as being used in the attack and @ZaitunAgency pointed out that the strikes occurred in the vicinity of the Turkish point.

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to Russia while @NEDAAPOST blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Heesh town, Nov 24th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Heesh town, Nov 24th (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike in Heesh town, Nov 24th (via White Helmets)
  • Strikes on the town of Heesh on November 24, 2019. (Image posted by @QasiounAr)

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
    Unknown
  • 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

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1939a

Incident date

November 27, 2019

Location

قرب قرية الميلبية على طريق الشدادي, near Al Milbiya village on Al Shadadi road, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.393926, 40.863744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

SANA reported: “A number of civilians were injured when a convoy for US occupation forces hit a microbus on al-Shadadi road in Hasaka southern countryside.

The SANA reporter said that a convoy for US occupation forces on Wednesday [Nov 25th] afternoon hit a microbus carrying civilians near al-Milbiyah village on al-Shadadi- Hasaka road in the south of Hasaka, causing the injury of the civilians.

Local sources told SANA that reporter that a US convoy consisting of about 20 military vehicles, carriers of four-wheel drive cars, and fuel trucks crossed Hasaka city ,and headed south on al-Shadadi /Deir Ezzor road.”

No further details are currently available.

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this event as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation “refers to a vehicular accident, not a Coalition force engagement”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Al Shadadi road (طريق الشدادي), near the village of Al Milbiya (الميلبية) that stretches south from Al Hasaka (الحسكة) towards the town of Al Shadadi (الشدادي). Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the closest point on the street to the village are: 36.393926, 40.863744

  • Reports of the incident mention Al Shadadi road (طريق الشدادي), near the village of Al Milbiya (الميلبية) that stretches south from Al Hasaka (الحسكة) towards the town of Al Shadadi (الشدادي).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFA671292
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020
  • Nov. 27, 2019, Al Milbiya, Syria, via Airwars report. This allegation refers to a vehicular accident, not a Coalition force engagement. 3214/CS1939a 37SFA671292

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM234

Incident date

June 16, 2019

Location

Vicinity of Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.494527, 42.777868 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US military carried out two separate airstrikes targeting al Shabaab in the vicinity of Jilib, Middle Juba, according to a press release from US Africa Command.

According to AFRICOM, “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, on June 16, 2019… At this time, it is assessed the airstrikes killed two (2) militants. Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of these airstrikes. Our process and procedures allow for additional information to inform post-strike analysis.

“With these coordinated airstrikes, we continue to degrade and deny al Shabaab’s freedom of movement in the region,” Air Force Brig. Gen. William P. West, deputy director of operations, US Africa Command, said in the press statement.

According to Voice of America reporter Harun Maruf, at least one of the victims was a senior al Shabaab figure: “BREAKING: US military conducted two new airstrikes in Jilib town area, Middle Jubba region on June 16 killing two Al-Shabaab militants – @USAfricaCommand. Local sources say one of the individuals targetted was a senior militant official.”

Although Airwars does not have any more specifics at present, we are treating the two strikes near Jilib on this date as separate events, as AFRICOM itself has chosen to do.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of the town Jilib (جيليب), for which the coordinates are: 0.494527, 42.777868. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces

U.S. airstrikes target al-Shabaab in support of the Federal Government of Somalia
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, on June 16, 2019.
By U.S. AFRICA COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, United States Africa CommandStuttgart, GermanyJun 17, 2019
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, on June 16, 2019.
“With these coordinated airstrikes, we continue to degrade and deny al-Shabaab’s freedom of movement in the region,” said Air Force Brig. Gen. William P. West, deputy director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. “Precision airstrikes like these are one part of our strategy working with the Federal Government of Somalia to increase security and protect the Somali people.”
At this time, it is assessed the airstrikes killed two (2) militants.
Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of these airstrikes. Our process and procedures allow for additional information to inform post-strike analysis.
U.S. Africa Command will continue to work with its partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia from AMISOM to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States. In support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to assist in the protection of the Somali people, including partnered military counterterrorism operations with the Federal Government of Somalia, AMISOM, and Somali National Army forces.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4251

Incident date

December 16, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kafarouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One person was killed and several civilians wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Kafarouma, Idlib Governorate on December 16th, 2019, according to local sources.

Iskenderun Arabic reported Russian aircraft struck the town four times between 20:38 and 20:55 on December 16th, 2019. According to the source, strikes on Kafarouma and the town of Jarjanaz resulted in the injury of Ahmed Mustafa Al-Ziyadi, Hind Al-Sateef and Mahmoud Abdullah Al-Subhi. The source did not clearly specify in which location the men were injured. Following a request for information from the Violations Documentation Center, the source provided the following names of people injured in the strikes: Mustafa Ziadi, Hind Al-Sateef and Mustafa Al Ali. According to the source the injuries were caused by a Russian strike that occurred at 20:40.

Baladi News reported: “Russian Air Force airplane took off from Khmeimim Airport in Lattakia countryside and bombed the town of Kafarouma in southern Idlib countryside with a number of rockets, which resulted in the injury of several civilians with varying wounds”.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported one person killed and several injuries from a Russian “rocket attack” that targeted the outskirts of the Kafarouma.

@jisrtv, @tarekahmd22  and @MMCSYR  reported that Russian warplanes had used vacuum bombs.

In a summary of events that took place on December 16th, Shaam News reported that Russian and Syrian regime helicopters carried dozens of strikes against towns in the Idlib countryside including Kafarouma.

The majority of the sources attributed the strike to the Russian airforce.

The incident occured at 20:40:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4274

Incident date

December 19, 2019

Location

الواقعة بين قرية الهلبة ومعر شمارين, area between al Hlubba village and Ma’ar Shamarin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A least one civilian, a journalist, was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the area between al Hlubba village and Ma’ar Shamarin on December 19, 2019.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Milad Ahmad al Fares, from al Hlubba village in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the area between al Hlubba village and Ma’ar Shamarin village in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, Syria on December 19th 2019.

Local Coordination Committee Syria reported that the Russian strikes occurred at 18:29 and identified Milad Ahmad al Fares as being a journalist.

A tweet from @SkySyria_org pointed out that Russian planes were launching strikes against “the locations of terrorist organizations” without mentioning any casualties.

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to Russia and @Step_Agency specified that helicopters dropped barrel bombs.

The incident occured at 18:29:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM262

Incident date

December 29, 2019

Location

Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

In retaliatory strikes against al Al Shabaab for a mass casualty bombing in Mogadishu a day earlier, the United States said that it had conducted three strikes against al Shbaab commanders, killing four people in total.

This entry relates to one of two strikes in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow in Lower Shabelle.

According to an AFRICOM press release issued on the same day, “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted three (3) airstrikes in two (2) locations targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Qunyo Barrow and Caliyoow Barrow, Somalia, respectively, Dec. 29.”

“Initial assessment concluded two airstrikes killed two (2) terrorists and destroyed two (2) vehicles in Qunyo Barrow; and one airstrike killed two (2) terrorists in Caliyoow Barrow. We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of these airstrikes. We comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict during the course of our operations to ensure the safety of civilians.”

It added that “These precision airstrikes targeted al-Shabaab militants responsible for terrorist acts against innocent Somali citizens and coordinating with al-Qaeda.”

In what may be a separate or related incident, according to one local source, Somalia Terror Updates, two strikes took place “in the vicinity of Moqokori in Hiiraan region.” Since this is not in Lower Shabelle this would appear to be a different event.

The alleged al Shabaab suicide bombing on December 28th 2019 caused the largest single loss of civilian life of the year – with at least 78 people slain.

However there was later some doubt over whether al Shabaab was responsible, with VOA reporter Harun Maruf tweeting on December 30th that “Somalia’s intelligence agency says it has submitted a preliminary report indicating that a foreign country ‘planned’ Saturday’s bombing in Mogadishu. NISA didn’t publicly release the evidence pointing towards the involvement of a foreign country.”

The incident was first reported on December 29, 2019 at 3:00 pm by .

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • 'We submitted to the national authorities, an initial report indicating that the massacre of the Somali people in Mogadishu, 28 Dec-2019, was planned by a foreign country. In the ongoing investigation, we will work with some of the world's intelligence agencies.'

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4295

Incident date

January 5, 2020

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

In a major incident, 14 civilians including children and women were reported killed and between 23 and 30 injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on the western neighborhood of Ariha city in Idlib, Syria on January 5th, 2020.

Macro Media Center (MMC) reported that airstrikes were launched by a SU-24 warplane with a full load of vacuum missiles.

Local sources said the airstrikes targeted civilian areas in the city attacking six civilian facilities including Khaled Bashir al Halabiyah School- known as al Muhdatheh School, al Hadidi Mosque- known as al Imam Malek Mosque-, Woman Centre of Zayzafon Charity Organization, Baraem al Islam Kindergarten, al Muslim al Saghir Kindergarten and an institute of Muslim Care Organization.

The Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) reported that the airstrikes also targeted IDPs on the outskirts of the International Highway (Aleppo- Lattakia road) causing casualties. Ariha Facebook Page mentioned that two of the victims are students at the Technical Institute for Media at the University of Idlib, and they died while they were on their way to their homes in Jabal Al-Zawiya.

Initial local repots listed five killed and twenty wounded from air strikes carried out by pro-Assad forces. The air strikes specifically targeted homes and a kindergarten that increased the numbers to seven killed then ten. Alarby News reported that thirteen individuals were killed and thirty-two were killed as a school, a mosque, and homes were bombed. This reported followed a report from Horriya News that listed thirteen killed and twenty wounded. The dead were identified as the following: Najeeb Bezmawi (17 years old), Abd al-Mu’in al-Mustafa (75 years old), Mohammed Abdel Moeen Al-Mustafa (41 years old), Fatima Al-Mustafa (3 years), Hamdo Al-Mustafa (55 years old), Mustafa Ahmed Al-Mustafa (41 years old), Lina Mustafa Al Mustafa (18 years old), Mohamed Madi (age unknown), Mustafa Krum (age unknown), Ahmed Adnan Ajjan (30 years old), Adnan Ahmed Ajjan (12 years old), Abdullah Yasser Al-Bayor (Child), Abdul-Jabbar Muhammad Al-Othman (27 years old).

The wounded were identified as the following: Muhammad Ahmed Al-Mustafa, Jawad Eido, Jalal Al-Hamd, Mohammed Alloush, Mahmoud Habbush, Yasser Pure, Gena Turkmani, Abdullah Saado, Maher Habbush, Fatima Habbush, Adeeb Al-Dabal, Sobhi Rahmoun, Fatima Ghonimi, Abdullah Badawi, Khadija Sham, Sham Al Dabal, Mohamed Sobhi Halloum, Majd Al-Hussein, Ranim Saraqibi, Muhammad Rostom, Ahmed Al-Hassan, Maryam Al-Khidr, Burnata Al Azim.

According to list of names documented by local sources, eight of those killed belong to the same family. Victims include at least three children, one woman and three unidentified bodies and those injured include at least eight women.

The death toll is expected to rise as many of those injured remain in critical conditions.

According to Human Rights Watch report in October 2020, “at about 1 p.m., six rockets struck al-Naqib neighborhood in Ariha. One hit next to al-Hadid mosque, another hit the top story of a four-story building that housed the Muslim Care preschool on the ground floor, and two others hit residential buildings next to two schools – Khaled Bashir Halabieh and Omar Bin Abdul Aziz (also known as Muhadatheh) – which teachers had evacuated minutes earlier. The other two rockets struck just off the M4 highway. The strikes killed a total 13 civilians, wounded another 25, and destroyed four residential buildings, including the one that housed the preschool.”

While Justice Organization blamed solely Russia for this incident, most of sources blamed the Syrian regime like @SyriaCoalition, Macro Media Center, Ariha Today, Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. From their side, Syrian Civil Defense, Step News, Shaam News and @SyrianCoaltion blamed Russia and the regime, with @SyrianCoaltion stating that the attack was done by the regime with Russian and Iranian support.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Strike target
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (3–8 children1–2 women5–8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–30
  • 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 targets
    Assad regime, Unknown

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (25) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via @SyrianCoalition).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage made by a Syrian Civil Defence volunteer of the aftermath of the alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via MMC).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via MMC).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via MMC).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via MMC).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via MMC).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via MMC).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via SCD Idlib).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via SCD Idlib).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via SCD Idlib).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via SCD Idlib).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via Ariha Today).
  • Muhammad Al Madi and Mustafa Krom, students at the Technical Institute for Media at the University of Idlib, were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020, when they were on their way to their home in Jabal Al- Zawiya (via Ariha Today).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Ariha on January 5th, 2020 (via Ariha Today).
  • SCD volunteer broke into tears as she carried body of a child killed in the airstrikes on Ariha in Idlib on January 5th 2020 (via SCD).
  • Satellite imagery from February 3, 2020. © 2020 Maxar Technologies. Source: EUSI. Bottom left image: © 2020 Orient News. Bottom right image: © 2020 Arab 24 News Agency. (via HRW)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • White Helmets sort through rubble following strikes on Afrin on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Al Quds News)
  • *The documented martyrs and injured in #Ariha until this moment:* -1- *Naguib Bezmawi* -2- *Mohamed Abdel-Ghani Al-Mustafa* 3 * Daughter of Abdul Hamid Al Mustafa * -4- *Ahmed Adnan Ajjan* -5- *Adnan Ahmed Ajjan* -6- *Hamdo Al-Mustafa* -7-8-9- *unidentified corpses* *injured* 1- *Muhammad Ahmed Al-Mustafa* 2- *bone marrow* is elderly 3- *Jawad Eido* 4- Jalal Al-Hamd 5- *Mohammed Alloush* 6- *Mahmoud Habbush* 7- *Yasser Pure* 8- * Gena Turkmani * 9- *Abdullah Saado* 10- *Maher Habbush* 11- *Fatima Habbush* 12- *Adeeb Al-Dabal* 13- Sobhi Rahmoun 14- *Fatima Ghonimi* 15- *Abdullah Badawi* 16- *Khadija Sham* 17- *Sham Al Dabal* 18- *Mohamed Sobhi Halloum* 19- *Majd Al-Hussein* 20- *Ranim Saraqibi* 21- *Muhammad Rostom* 22- *Ahmed Al-Hassan* 23- *Maryam Al-Khidr* C
  • Damage caused by strikes on Afrin on January 5, 2020. (Image posted by Walk.in.ariha 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
  • Strike target
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (3–8 children1–2 women5–8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–30
  • 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 targets
    Assad regime, Unknown

Sources (42) [ collapse]