Geolocation
Airwars assessment
A major airstrike on Idlib city killed up to 30 civilians and injured up to 300 more. Reports blamed both Russia and the US-led Coalition for the attack. The Coalition has expressly denied any involvement – though a unilateral US action remains possible.
The attack – which reportedly involved both airstrikes and missiles – caused massive casualties. However attribution was accused. Most blamed Russia – including Idlib Media Center, LCCSY, Halab Today, Step News, Shaam News, Idlib Media Centre, the Syrian Network and Al Araby.
Others said both the Coalition and Russia were responible – including Syria News, Baladi News, the Syrian Observatory and Al Jazeera. All for Syria was alone in blaming the Assad regime – though a later report went on to blame Russia and the Coalition – while the White Helmets did not attribute responsibility.
Complicating attribution, Russia later denied any role in the attack.
A later video by Halab Today referred to destruction caused by both “Russian and Coalition” warplanes.
Syria News Desk also reported that the warplanes were “believed to belong to Russia and the Coalition”.
Step reported: “Our correspondent pointed out that among the Russian raids were two raids by the international coalition which targeted Sheikh Abu Al Qassem al Muhajer who is a member of Haiat Tahrir al Sham [formerly Fatah al Sham Front] injuring him. He was rescued from under the rubble.”
Baladi went further, reporting that “We received from the observatories the information which is semi confirmed that there was coordination between the coalition and Russian planes. This was what the observatories confirmed.”
Alaraby reported that Russian warships and warplanes were responsible.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “it is not known whether they were Russian warplanes or warplanes of the international coalition, or if they were a combination of both.”
In its May 2017 report the Coalition denied responsibility: “Feb. 7, 2017, near Idlib, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was 90 km away.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (2)
Family members (5)
Family members (2)
Family members (2)
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (64) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]
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Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
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Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
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Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
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Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
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This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
Civil Defence workers at the scene of the strike (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib ) -
Destruction due to the air strike (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib )
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Civil Defence workers at the scene of the strike (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib)
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Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
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Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
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Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
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Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
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Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
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Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
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Rescue workers at the scene (via Idlib White Helmets)
Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.
The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was 90 km away.
Original strike reports
For February 6th-8th the Coalition reported no strikes in Idlib governorate. However unilateral US strikes are no longer reported by CJTFOIR.