Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

RS1148

Incident date

August 14, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and nine civilians including up to three children died and as many as 20 more were wounded in airstrikes in Idlib city, said sources on the ground. The majority of reports attributed the event to Russia, though one said that regime helicopters also participated in the assault. Some others sources didn’t identify the culprit.

Syrian Press Centre – who blamed unidentified “warplanes” – reported that more than four strikes occurred, which hit “a medical point near the perimeter of agriculture and industry area and the perimeter of Alknsroh”. This resulted in the outbreak of fires.

The Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the death of one child. All4Syria put the death toll at five with “dozens” more wounded, adding that “Hai al-Sinaa and several neighbourhoods in the city were targeted by Russian raids”.

Smart, also pointing towards Moscow, put the death toll at six including two children with 18 more civilians wounded.

The highest death toll was given by Alsoura, at nine civilians with 20 more injured “”across the province”. The source blamed both “Russian warplanes and regime helicopters”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Samir Zaarour
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Mohammad Jihad Recep
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Renad Jamal
Age unknown named by VDC

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Idlib (إدلب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.93062, 36.63393. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On August 14th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strike with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping in the regions located to the south-west, east, and north-east from Deir ez-Zor. Two command and control centers, six large storages with ammunition and armament, two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, seven off-roaders with large-caliber weaponry, and a lot of insurgents have been eliminated by the aviation strike." They also added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1145

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9976603, 36.7856598 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians including women and a child died and as many as 12 more were wounded in an airstrike on Taftanaz, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

RFS Media Office reported: “Russian aviation has committed a second massacre claiming the lives of four martyrs injuring 12 more in the town of Taftanaz In the countryside Idlib. Forces carried out shelling with missiles and cluster bombs”.

LCCSY said that three women and a girl died in the attack, while Al Jazeera put the death toll as high as seven, also blaming Russia. The lowest death count was given by @EdlibEmc: two killed and 10 more wounded.

One source, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, attributed the event to the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Al Jazeera reporting on the alleged Russian an Syrian raid in Taftanez. (via, Al Jazeera Arabic)
  • Aftermath of the incident. (via SyrianPC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Taftanaz (تفتناز), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9976603, 36.7856598. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 strikes between August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1135

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

شاميكو, Shamico, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.13635, 37.005129 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and ten civilians died and more were wounded in airstrikes on Shamico, local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

According to Syria News Desk, “nine civilians were killed and others wounded at dawn today [Aug 13th], a result of Russian warplanes carrying out six raids in the countryside west of Aleppo, in the Shamico area. One of the raids hit a farm, home to displaced people from the countryside south of Aleppo”. Further to this, Sln News reported the use of spatial cluster bombs which caused a lot of damage to the infrastructure.

Halab Today, Rozanafm, @Wesal_TV and Syrian Press Center were among other sources blaming Russia. However, Zamanalwasl said that the regime was responsible.

Many sources didn’t apportion blame – and put the death toll at five civilians with an unspecified number more wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • 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 (27) [ 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 strikes between August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1146

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

معراته, Maratah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.709221, 36.475634 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child and a woman were reportedly killed and up to 10 more civilians injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maratah, local media said.

According to LCCSY, “Russian warplanes raided the El Shaheed Farooq school for basic education in the town of Maratah in the south-west countryside of Gabal al-Zawiah. Idlib. The raid led to the death of a child and wounding of 10 other civilians”.

Orient news reported the death of one woman, while Syrian Press Centre said that one civilian died and three more were wounded. According to RFS Media Office, “two girls were slightly injured” in a Russian strike.

A number of other sources didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ 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 strikes between August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1136

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 20 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in air and artillery strikes on the Fardous neighbourhood of Aleppo, local sources reported. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible – though several blamed both parties. According to Sky News and the Step News Agency, the raids took place on a popular market in the area.

Syria News Desk reported that “20 civilians were killed and 15 others were wounded following a raid by Russian aviation on the Fardous neighborhood. The bombing led to the complete collapse of a residential building.”

Other sources blaming Russia included Jisirtv and Baladi. Al Jazeera said that “two dozen people died and dozens more were wounded in Russian raids”.

However, other sources including Alyemen Today attributed the event to the regime.The Syrian Network for Human Rights (who gave the lowest death count of three including a child), reported the use of explosive barrels, while @ALAMAWI accused “Assad helicopters” of killing ten civilians.

Alsharq published general figures on civilian harm in Aleppo. It reported that “53 civilians were killed in the province of Aleppo as a result of shelling with rockets and cluster bombs by Russian and Assad regime warplanes on the neighbourhoods of Al Fardous, ‘Pilgrimage Bridge’ in Aleppo and the towns of Aouijl and Kfarahmrh and Hayan and Dara Aza in the countryside of the province”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 20
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • News bulletin reporting on the damage caused by the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid which struck Al Fardous, causing huge material destruction on 13th August 2016. (via, Aleppo AMC)
  • The aftermath of the incident in Al Fardous. (via, JisirTV)
  • Wounded civilians receiving medical treatment amidst chaos following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Alamawi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded civilians receiving medical treatment amidst chaos following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Alamawi)
  • Wounded civilians receiving medical treatment amidst chaos following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Alamawi)
  • Wounded civilians receiving medical treatment amidst chaos following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Alamawi)

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 strikes between August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 20
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1137

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

تفتناز, Taftanez, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.996045, 36.787730 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians including one named women, and children, died and as many as 25 more were wounded in an airstrike on Taftanaz, local media reported. Reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

RFS media office and Halab Today TV were among sources that blamed Russia. Halab Today put the death toll at eight non-combatants.

A number of other sources put the death count four – with the Syrian Network for Human Rights reporting that “at least three people died”. SN4HR pointed to the regime, as did Syrian Press Centre and Alsouria.

The highest toll was given by Freedom News – at 11, “mostly women and children” with “25 more injured.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rouboaa Khatib
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Rouboaa Khatib, killed in an alleged Russian an Syrian Regime raid on 13th August 2016. (via, VDC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid showing damage to the infrastructure as well as wounded civilians being taken in an ambulance. (via, Aboamer ghazel)
  • An Al Jazeera news bulletin documenting the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Al Jazeera Arabic)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Taftanez (تفتناز). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we were able to narrow down the location to these exact coordinates: 35.996045, 36.787730.

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  • Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Imagery:
    Abdullah Amer Ghazal

  • Imagery:
    Al Jazeera

  • Imagery:
    Abdullah Amer Ghazal

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 strikes between August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1138

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

الجينة, Al Jeineh, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.117309, 36.802243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians including children and a woman died and as many as dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Al Jeineh, local media said – though it was unclear whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. Many reports mentioned the use of cluster bombs in the attacks.

Syria News Desk, blaming Russia, put the death count at six with “dozens more injured”. It added that the strikes “targeted the local council in the building”.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “on Saturday noon 13 August 2016, alleged Russian warplanes fired missiles at the residential homes located in western Al Jeyna village, located in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate which s under the control of armed opposition factions. As a result, nine individuals were killed including two children and one woman.”

However, regime involvement couldn’t be ruled out, with Alburaq reporting that both Russian and Syrian regime warplanes had been carrying out raids over Aleppo during.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Age unknown
Khduj Tahir Sharif
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

9 years old female killed
Age unknown killed
Abdullah Taha, son of Mustafa Ali
Age unknown male killed
Jamal Mustafa Ameen
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Al Jeineh. (via, AMC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Al Jeineh. (via, AMC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Al Jeineh. (via, AMC)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Al Jeineh. (via, AMC)
  • Rayan Juma Yassin, killed in an alleged Russian ans Syrian Regime raid on 13th of August 2016. (via, SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hossam Amen, killed in an alleged Russian ans Syrian Regime raid on 13th of August 2016. (via, Halab News)
  • Hussein Sharif, killed in an alleged Russian ans Syrian Regime raid on 13th of August 2016. (via, Halab News)
  • Jamal Mustafa Ameen, killed in an alleged Russian ans Syrian Regime raid on 13th of August 2016. (via, Halab News)
  • The aftermath of the incident showing damage to civilian homes. (via, Thiqa)
  • An image showing the material damage caused by the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, SHRC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby that has been lifted from the rubble, killed in an alleged Russian ans Syrian Regime raid on 13th of August 2016. (via, Syrian PC)
  • Hussein Sharif Taher, killed in an alleged Russian ans Syrian Regime raid on 13th of August 2016. (via, al-Geneh village)

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 strikes between August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1139

Incident date

August 13, 2016

Location

عرب سعيد, Arab Said, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.960397, 36.554818 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and 13 civilians died and up to dozens more were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on a fuel market in Arab Said, according to local media. The majority of victims were reportedly so badly burnt that it was impossible to identify them.

The lowest death count was give by Radio AlKul, who said that three civilians died and several more were wounded – though the source added that this was just the initial count. All other reports put the death toll higher.

According to Syria News Desk, “ten civilians were killed and more than five others injured when Russian warplanes targeted a fuel shop in the village of Arab Said”. Laith al-Assi, the media opposition activist from the countryside of Idlib, said that most of the bodies were charred as a result of the huge fire which broke out after the Russian raid.

He added that the civil defence teams took the wounded to medical points in the region and also completely extinguished the fire which had burnt thousands of litres of fuel and caused much damage to the area.

LCCSY – who put the death toll at 10 – reported that a truck “near a petrol station” was struck by Russian jets.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the strike was on “a fuel market”, killing 13 non-combatants. A number of other sources added that “dozens” more were injured.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to “government warplanes and its allies”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghiath Mustafa Al-shekh
Age unknown named by SN4HR killed
Asaaf Aslan
Age unknown named by SN4HR killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 13
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty being lifted from a burnt car following a targeted attack on a gas station. (via, SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty being lifted from a burnt car following a targeted attack on a gas station. (via, SN4HR)
  • Fires are extinguished at a gas station following an alleged Russian and Syrian raid. (via, Shaam News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty being lifted from a burnt car following a targeted attack on a gas station. (via, Orient News)
  • A burnt car in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, SHRC)

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 strikes between August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 13
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]