Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Incident Code

RS3048

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalaka, Damascus , Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eight civilians, including at least two women, were killed along with several wounded as airstrikes and artillery shelling continued in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, this time in Zamalaka, local media reported who blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Masrawy News reported how many parts of eastern Ghouta, including Zamalaka, continuously were under “air, missile and artillery shelling”, inflicting great civilian and material damage.

Reports were, however, not clear in terms of how many fatalities the incident had claimed as the death toll spanned from one to eight.

While HalabTodayTV, for example, reported one fatality and several wounded due “an air raid on the city of Zemlka in the eastern Ghouta”, the majority of sources, such as Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), reported “at least” eight fatalities, hereof two women. Masrawy News cited a civil defence member who put the death toll in Zamalaka at seven.

Ghouta Media Center (GMC) identified seven of the fatalities by name.

Only a few reports apportioned blame. While Masrawy News only blamed the Syrian regime, others, such as SN4HR and GMC, pointed to shared Russian/Assad responsibility.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Lina Shamou
Age unknown female killed
Touka Shamou
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Khalid Eid
Age unknown male killed
Bassam Nooh
Age unknown male killed
Zaher Reyhan
Age unknown female killed
Mohammed Al Sheikh Yusuf
Age unknown male killed
Abu Raed Al-Jassim
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (2 women)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Four of the victims from the contested shelling of Zamalaka, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (2 women)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3046

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus , Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four but up to 11 civilians, including one woman and two female children, were killed and several wounded as Saqba in eastern Ghouta, Damascus was subject to intense air and artillery shelling, local media reported, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame.

Al-Jazeera reported how both Syrian and Russian air forces had “launched dozens of raids on residential neighborhoods in the eastern cities of Ghouta”, including Saqba.

Saqba was in large parts left in rubble as it reportedly was struck by both explosive barrels from helicopters, missiles and even cluster bombs as reported by Rajaa. Also, al-Jazeera mentioned artillery shelling.

The death toll spanned from “at least four” as reported by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) to as many as 11 as reported by Dirar Khattab and @LaLaKdaho. The latter identified 11 fatalities by name and age, hereof two female children and one woman.

According to Step News Agency, who blamed Assad helicopters for dropping barrel bombs, the incident wounded at least two civilians.

Additionally, the strikes inflicted great material damage on civilian properties. Al-Jazeera reported that the shelling “led to the suspension of the field hospital in the city of Saqba”.

While few sources pointed to respectively exclusive Russia or the Syrian regime culpability, the large majority of reports pointed to shared Russian/Assad responsibility.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the strikes may have taken place the previous day, on Monday, February 19th. While all sources reported from the incident on Tuesday 20th, HalabTodayTV referred to it as occuring “yesterday” (Monday 19th).

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khalid Ghazi Al-Quwatli
35 years old male killed
Abdul Rahman Al-Quwatli,
50 years old male killed

Family members (3)

Khawla al-Rihani
Age unknown female killed
Daughter of Khawla al-Rihani
Age unknown female killed
Daughter of Khawla al-Rihani
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Hisham Eid
29 years old male killed
Alaa Debian
31 years old male killed
Bilal Ajaj
30 years old male killed
Firas Al-Shayeb (Abu Shadi)
31 years old male killed
Asmaa 'Obeid
14 years old female daughter of Abu Maher killed
Judy Hossam El Harbly
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 11
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The immediate, chaotic aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via AbuAlhuda)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Remnants from cluster bombs, reportedly used in the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Rajaa)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Women and children trapped inside a house following the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via HalabTodayTV)
  • The immediate, chaotic aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Orient News)
  • The atermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)
  • A civilian is being carried away after being wounded by the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)
  • 29-year old Hisham Eid, working as a nurse, was reportedly among the victims of the contested strikes in Saqba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 11
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3043

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

النشابية, Al Nashabiya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514157, 36.487656 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, including one girl, were killed along with several wounded as al Nashabiya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was subject to aerial and artillery shelling, local media reported, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame.

Like many parts of eastern Ghouta, aerial and artillery shelling intensified in Al Nashabiya in this period, especially striking in residential areas.

While multiple sources reported about the shelling, it was only Souriyati and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) who reported about fatalities, both reporting four victims. SN4HR added that a girl was among these.

Other reports mentioned that several were left wounded.

According to a few sources, such as Zaman al-Wasl, the Syrian regime was to blame. However, Russian culpability cannot be ruled out as several sources, including SN4HR and Enab Baladi, pointed to shared Russian/Assad responsibility.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (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]

  • Image published by the civil defence reporting about the intense shelling of eastern Ghouta on February 20, 2018, including Al Nashabiya. However, the source does not specify the exact location of the image (via Syria Civil Defense)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (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

RS3044

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least seven but as many as 18 civilians, including up to eight children and one woman, were killed and dozens left wounded as Russian and/or Assad forces carried out aerial and artillery shelling of Arbeen, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, as reported by numerous local sources.

In this widely-documented incident, Arbeen was, like the rest of eastern Ghouta, subject  to intense air and ground-launched shelling, especially striking residential areas.

The initial death toll spanned from seven to 11, with many sources reporting four child fatalities. However, the following day, February 21st, The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that the toll rose to “at least 18 civilians”, including eight children and a woman, while describing the incident as a “massacre”.

A total of eight civilians were identified by name, including one pair of siblings and a female nurse.

According to Damas Press and Moaz ALshami, “dozens” of civilians were left wounded, hereof mostly children as noted by the latter.

Sources were not clear in terms of culpability. While some, such as the Syrian Civil Defence, blamed the Syrian regime, Aleppo AMC and Ghouta Media Center pointed to Russia. Finally, several reports, including SN4HR, attributed blame to both belligerents, while Ahmad Abazeid, as the only one, blamed both the Syrian regime, Russia and Iran.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hassan al-Kahala
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Rahman Al-Kahala
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Amina Obaid
Age unknown female killed
Marwan Obeid
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Amina Salem
Child female killed
Mohammed Salim
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Tawfiq Sayah
Age unknown male killed
Bushra Abeid,
Adult female nurse killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 18
  • (4–8 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Footage from Arbeen, Damascus, that on February 20th, 2018 was subject to aerial shelling carried out by either Russia or the Assad regime (via Step News Agency)
  • The immediate aftermath of the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, that left houses in rubble and inflicted great harm upon civilians (via Arbeen Youtube)
  • The moment Arbeen, Damascus, is being hit by airstrikes, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, February 20th, 2018 (via Arbeen Youtube)
  • The immediate aftermath of the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, that left houses in rubble and inflicted great harm upon civilians (via Omar Madaniah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A paramedic holding the body of a dead child, reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Omar Madaniah)
  • The missiles, striking in Arbeen, Damascus, on February 20th, 2018, ignited a fire on residential houses (via HalabTodayTV)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A father from Arbeen posted images of his dead son and daughter, reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Ahmad Abazeid)
  • The CIvil Defense evacuating wounded civilians following the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Syria CIvil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most victims of the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, 2018, were children (via Moaz ALshami)
  • Marwan Abeid was along with his sister Amina among the victims of the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)
  • Most victims of the contested shelling of Arbeen, Damascus, February 20th, 2018, were children (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 18
  • (4–8 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3049

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

كفربطنا , Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to dozens of civilians, mostly children, were left wounded following Russian and/or Assad-waged airstrikes in Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta Damascus, as reported by local media. There were, however, no reports of fatalities.

Supported by photo documentation, several media reported how “several” to “dozens” of civilians in Kafar Batna were wounded as the town was hit by airstrikes during the night, as reported by Ghouta Media Center (GMC). Photos following the incident showed that many of the victims were children.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces, while GMC in some tweets pointed to Russian culpability, while in another to the Assad regime. Thus, the culprit remains contested.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • One of the wounded children caused by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)
  • Large parts of Kafar Batna was left in rubble following the contested aerial shelling on February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Many civilians, including children, were left wounded by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Many civilians were left wounded by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Many civilians, including children, were left wounded by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3047

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus , Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Assad or Russian-waged air and artillery shelling of Hamouriya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus killed at least five civilians, including one woman, and wounded several, local media reported.

Followed by days of intense shelling of eastern Ghouta, including Hamouriya, the death toll reportedly reached five on Tuesday, February 20th. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported “at least” five fatalities, including one woman in Hamouriya.

@LaLaKdaho and SN4HR identified four of the victims by name.

A civil defence member, cited by Masrawy News said that many civilians were still left under the rubble, expecting more dead and wounded, while adding that Hamouriya had been bombed with rockets carrying cluster bombs.

Also, the local hospital reportedly went out of service due to “systematic bombardment” by air raids, barrels of explosive aircraft helicopters and rockets, as reported by Damascus Media Center.

While Masrawy News as the only one pointed to Assad regime culpability, the remaining sources blamed both Assad and Russian forces, why the event remains contested.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Yassin
Adult male media activist killed
Mahmoud Yousef Eyas
Age unknown male distribution Officer of the Humanitarian Relief Committee killed
Yasser Dufesh
Age unknown male killed
Maysa Zuhairi
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A girl is being evacuated from a struck building following the contested shelling of Hamouriya, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via HalabTodayTV)
  • The media activist Abdul Rahman Yassin was reportedly among the victims of the contested shelling of Hamouriya, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via al-Hooran)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3050

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As Russian or Assad-waged warplanes struck Mesraba, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, up to seven civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and “dozens” left injured, local media reported.

As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on Tuesday, February 20th, the death toll in Mesraba rose to at least four and up to seven, according to local reports.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), who put the toll at four, said that one child and one woman were among the fatalities. Other sources reported seven killed, such as Masrawy News, who quoted a civil defence member in the area.

The number of wounded spanned from “several” to as many as dozens, the highest reported by Masrawy News.

While most sources, including al-Jazeera and Masrawy News, identified the Syrian regime as responsible, Russian culpability cannot be ruled out as SN4HR pointed to shared Russian/Assad responsibility.

It should be noted that the incident possibly occurred on February 19th – or somewhere between the 19th and 20th – as HalabTodayTV posted a video, reportedly from the shelling in Mesraba, dated February 19th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil defence members evacuating a child and a woman following the contested shelling, Mesraba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Hadi al-Abdullah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded and killed civilians found in the rubble following the contested shelling, Mesraba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via HalabTodayTV)
  • Civil defence members evacuating wounded civilians following the contested shelling, Mesraba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Moaz al-Shamy)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3038

Incident date

February 19, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as nine civilians, including two children and one woman, were killed and at least one civilian was wounded as the Syrian regime and/or Russia carried out air and artillery shelling of Douma, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

As several sources reported, large parts of eastern Ghouta, including Douma, were subject to heavy shelling around February 19th, 2018.

Arab48, blaming the Syrian regime, described the situation as “a new escalation of the regime’s forces”. In Douma, Safeildeyn tweeted that the city had been subject to “eight attacks by the city since morning”.

The death toll spanned from three to as many as nine – the latter reported by Orient News’ correspondent. Several reports, including Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported three fatalities; two children and one woman. A photo of one of the child victims, a small baby, was published by some sources.

According to al-Jazeera, at least one civilian was left wounded.

However, sources were not clear in terms of apportion of blame. Most reports blamed the Syrian regime, pointing to aerial shelling from its warplanes and helicopters, while Hasan Mustafa also blamed the regime for launching surface-to-surface missiles.

Meanwhile, Marshad al-Hassaka blamed Russia in general terms for carrying out heavy shelling of eastern Ghouta, however without mentioning Douma specifically.

Finally, several reports blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime, including Safeildeyn.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby child was among the fatalities of the contested shelling of Douma, Damascus, February 19th, 2018 (via Safeildeyn)
  • The immediate aftermath of the contested shelling of Douma, Damascus, February 19th, 2018 (via Hasan Mustafa)
  • The moment an explosive barrel is being dropped from an unidentified helicopter flying over Douma, Damascus, February 19th, 2018 (via Douman)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]