Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

RS459

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

ترمانين, Termanin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.228263, 36.816857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

12 civilians including four to five children and five women were killed – and 20 others injured – in airstrikes on Termanin, according to multiple sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said that the target of the strike, a military commander of an Islamic battalion, was a 13th victim.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published an initial report in which they said that the strike was carried out by regime warplanes. They put the death toll at at least 12 including five women and four children.

But according to a later report by SN4HR, Russian aircraft were responsible, killing 13 people including three women and five children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Russia, reporting that “the commander of al-Mujahedeen battalion in the Islamic movement of Ahrar al-Sham” died along with 12 members of his family, including five women and five children, when Russian warplanes targeted his house and other homes in Termanin.

The Shaam News Network also put the civilian death toll at 12, with more than 20 wounded. They published images of injured children, and said that an aerial bombardment by Russian planes targeted non-combatants’ homes, resulting in “a terrible massacre against civilians and destruction of residential buildings.“ Activists told SNN that three houses were completely destroyed.

A video posted by the White Helmets depicts the aftermath of an “air raid on the town of Tarmanin“, but did not say who was responsible. They put the number killed at six civilians, with 20 more injured – “most of them in a critical condition.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child is placed in an ambulance after an alleged Russian airstrike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A injured child following an alleged Russian strike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians are dug out of the rubble by the White Helmets in the immediate aftermath of the incident in Termanin. (via, The White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives medical treatment at a hospital in Termanin. (via, SNN)

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 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory,” but makes no mention of strikes in Idlib.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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

RS460

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and six civilians including a child died in airstrikes on Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

The Shaam News Network, reported that several non-combatants were killed and several more injured when warplanes “thought to be Russian” carried out airstrikes on areas within the city of Raqqah.

Activists told SNN that the raids targeted “Mu’awiya School and the Garage“.

Alnateq said that a child, Majd Aldendal was killed and his mother and father wounded when an air raid targeted their home near “the women’s union“. They did not say who carried out the strike.

Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies – also blaming Russia – named Majd Aldendal as a victim, along with five other unidentified civilians.

According to Alaan TV, Russian warplanes targeted the “women’s union” building at 4pm, but a residential building was hit instead, leading to the death of three non-combatants. They added that there had also been raids on a garage and on “Train street“.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently did not say who was responsible.

However, Zaiton magazine attributed the incident to the regime warplanes, reporting that a whole family died  – naming the child Majd and four others.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Majd Aldendal
Child male named by Alnateq killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Part of the popular market town which was ruined in the alleged Russian raid. (via, SHRC)

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 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Rijm al-Ammala (Raqqah province), a Su-34 bomber attacked a mini-oil refinery of terrorists. Objective monitoring data confirmed elimination of the object by a direct hit.”

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 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS461

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.32417, 37.05886 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Hayyan, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. The children were listed as having died on January 25th.

In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported thatRussian enemy planes carried out air raids on the city of Mare` and Tal Rifa’at and the towns of Masagan, Ma’arasta al Khan, Mayer, Ihress, tal Jbeen, Tal Msseibin, Ratiyan, Hardtanin, Hayyan, Ma’arasta Al khan and Deir Al Zeitoun region,” adding that this led to the death of one person in Hayyan.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights – who published an image of a wounded child – helicopters belonging to the Assad regime dropped two barrels bombs on the town.

Two victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Child male killed
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Injured civilians are rescued from the rubble following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids, 26th January 2016, Hayyan. (via, North Media Institute)
  • An injured child in the aftermath of an alleged Russia and Syrian regime raid on Hayyan, 26th January 2016. (via SN4HR)

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 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory…Near Jeb Ghabishah (Aleppo province), a Su-24M bomber destroyed ammunition and POL storages of the ISIS terrorists.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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

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

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

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

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]