Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS3662

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

ترملا, Tarmala, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians including a child and a woman died and as many as 10 more were injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Tarmala, local media reported.

Several sources reported only one fatality, though it was widely reported that a man and his seven-year-old daughter were killed, and that the rest of the family got injured.

Other reports mentioned the deaths of a man and a woman. For example, according to the White Helmets, the strikes caused “the death of a man and a woman and the injury of two other children from the town of Tarmala in the countryside of south Idlib South.” The report added that  civilian homes had been targeted with “artillery shelling that originated from regime forces ”

Tarmala village in Idlib. Six others were reported wounded.

SY24 suggested that two children were killed and several others wounded, adding that a school and mosque were damaged. Several other reports said that a hospital in the town was struck and rendered out of service.

Smart News Agency put the death count at three civilians “including a woman and a girl with 10 others injured as a result of dozens of raids with explosive barrels fired by Russian and regime forces”.

Sada.pro noted: “On Sunday [May 5th], the local councils in both the towns of Tarmala and Homs south of Idlib announced in separate statements that the two areas were devastated by the continuing shelling of Russia and the regime.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled al Fahd
Adult male killed
Daughter of Khaled al Fahd
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Khaled al Fahd was killed along with his daughter in an alleged Russian airstrike on Tarmala village in Idlib on May 5th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Translation: 'A child and her father were killed by an air strike on the town of Tremala, south of Idlib, Syria'
  • An alleged Russian or regime raid hits Tarmala, May 5th 2019 (via Ebaa )
  • An alleged Russian or regime raid hits Tarmala, May 5th 2019 (via Ebaa )
  • An alleged Russian or regime raid hits Tarmala, May 5th 2019 (via Ebaa )
  • The aftermath of strikes on Tarmala, May 5th.
  • Aftermath of a barrel bomb attack on Tarmala, May 5th.
  • Translation: "Helicopter aircraft throws explosive barrels on the outskirts of the village of Tarmala in southern countryside Idlib"

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM218

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

جيليب, 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 Somali military said that double US strikes near Jilib town killed 16 al Qaeda and al Shabaab fighters, according to Radio Risaala. US Africa Command did not however publish a press release for this event – though it did report a strike on the same date near Tortoroow.

Quoting an anonymous military official, Risaala said that the first strike at Jilib targeted a vehicle carrying group’s chief of Intelligence Unit in charge of Mogadishu, Khalid Aboukar Hassan, while the second raid killed 16 other militants. It was unclear which group Hassan belonged to.

Security Intelligence claimed that “Somali special forces backed by US troops raided al-Shabaab base near Jilib over the weekend. At least 16 al Shabaab militants were killed in the raid that saw a bomb factory and living quarters of the militants destroyed.  According to Somali military officials, the joint troops backed by airpower raided an explosive assembling center near Jilib in Lower Juba region before launching another attack on-base housing al-Shabaab Amniyat elite unit commander, Khalid Abukar Hussein.”

According to Jinaay, 13 fighters died at the bomb factory; while Hassan and his two bodyguards were killed in the other strike.

Asked whether it had been responsible for this event, in February 2020 a senior AFRICOM official told Airwars that this was not the case. However, this may not preclude actions by the CIA which conducts its own undeclared strikes in Somalia

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    16–18

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place near the town Jilib, 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:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    16–18

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3663

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nubul , Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died and up to five more were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime strike on the surgical hospital of Kafar Nubul, according to local media.

The New York Times later published audiofile transcripts which it said proved Russia had deliberately targeted the hospital.

According to Syria TV at the time: “A Syrian television correspondent reported that two civilians (Hussein al-Diri and Ahmad al-Rahal, who worked in the ambulances) were killed in air raids by the regime which targeted the center of the city of Kafar Nabil in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

However, a number of other sources blamed Russia.

@HadiAlabdallah tweeted: “War crime! Russian planes destroy three hospitals in one day in the countryside # Idlib and Hama, the last one was the hospital Kfarnbul surgical 5-5-2019”

The UN Commission of Inquiry for Syria described the attack in its September 2019 report, noting: “Also on 5 May, at approximately 5.30 p.m., pro-Government forces attacked Orient hospital in Kafr Nabl (Idlib) three times, with 3 to 5 minutes between each strike. Orient hospital was the closest medical facility to the Hass cave hospital, and had served up to 500 patients per day. The first air strike struck the main entrance. Two persons were killed and another five injured. The attacks rendered Orient hospital completely destroyed and inoperable.

Some 8,000 families fled Kafr Nubl since the first onslaught of aerial attacks in February, many of whom were left with no choice but to shelter under olive trees throughout northern Idlib. Also on 5 May, pro-Government forces launched air strikes against al-Sham hospital.”

In October 2019, the New York Times published what it said was proof that Russia was responsible for this attack and three other hospitals targeted on May 5th-6th: “An analysis of previously unpublished Russian Air Force radio recordings, plane spotter logs and witness accounts allowed The Times to trace bombings of four hospitals in just 12 hours in May and tie Russian pilots to each one.”

The Times gave the following account: “A doctor who worked there said that the hospital was struck four times, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The strikes landed about five minutes apart, without warning, he said, killing a man who was standing outside and forcing patients and members of the medical staff to use oxygen tanks to breathe through the choking dust.

A spotter logged a Russian jet circling above at the time of the strike, and in another Russian Air Force transmission, a pilot reports that he has “worked” his target at 5:30 p.m., the time of the strike. He then reports three more strikes, each about five minutes apart, matching the doctor’s chronology.”

Accoridng to Human Rights Watch report “The hospital was closed for a week while they repaired the damage. It was closed again in January 2020 because of Syrian army advances, and has remained closed since. Syria Sentry messages indicate that flight spotters sighted attack aircraft circling Kafr Nabl at 5:37 p.m., 5:40 p.m., and again at 5:49 p.m. In the 5:37 and 5:49 p.m. instances, spotters identified Russian “warplanes,” while at 5:40 pm the spotter identified a Russian-made Sukhoi-24 (Su-24) “Fencer,” which is flown by both the Russian and Syrian air forces in Syria. Intercepted radio communications between a Russian air force pilot and Russian ground control obtained by the New York Times also implicate a Russian aircraft in this attack.”

The incident occured at approximately 5:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Hussein al-Diri حسين الديري
Adult male killed
Ahmad al-Rahhal أحمد رحال
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • An alleged Russian airstrike struck the surgical hospital of Kafar Nabil on May 5th (via Edllib Media Center).
  • An alleged Russian airstrike struck the surgical hospital of Kafar Nabil on May 5th (via Edllib Media Center).
  • An alleged Russian airstrike struck the surgical hospital of Kafar Nabil on May 5th (via Edllib Media Center).
  • An alleged Russian airstrike struck the surgical hospital of Kafar Nabil on May 5th (via Edllib Media Center).
  • The destructed surgical hospital in Kafar Nabil after it was struck by an alleged Russian airstrike on May 5th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime strike on Kafar Nabil, May 5th.
  • An alleged Russia airstrike on the surgical hospital of Kafar Nabil, May 5th.
  • Explosive barrels, allegedly dropped by the regime, hit Kafar Nabil, May 5th.
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian strike on Kafar Nabil, May 5th.
  • The aftermath of a strike on Kafar Nabil, May 5th.
  • Translation: "Air raids and explosive ordnance targeted at the environs of the city of Kafarnabil in the southern suburb of Idlib"
  • The aftermath of strikes on Kafar Nabil, May 5th (via SY24)
  • The aftermath of strikes on Kafar Nabil, May 5th (via SY24)
  • The aftermath of strikes on Kafar Nabil, May 5th (via SY24)
  • The aftermath of strikes on Kafar Nabil, May 5th (via Syrianmosaic)
  • The hospital in Kafar Nubul following the May 5th strikes. (Via @AleppoAMC).
  • Translation: "A patient in the streets of kafar nabil fleeing the hospital for fear of bombing"
  • @HadiAlabdallah tweeted: "War crime! Russian planes destroy three hospitals in one day in the countryside # Idlib and Hama, the last one was the hospital Kfarnbul surgical 5-5-2019"
  • An unnamed victim of a strike on Kafar Nabil, May 5th (via Justice Organisation)
  • Ruins of the hospital in Kafar Nabil, May 5th (via MMC)
  • The aftermath of a strike on the hospital in Kafr Nabil, May 5th (via Alitihad)
  • An image of a hospital in Kafr Nubul in the aftermath of a Russian/Syrian regime airstrikes on May 5th. 2019 (via @Fouadhallak89)
  • Aftermath of an airstrike on the hospital in Kafar Nubul on May 5th 2019. (Via @AleppoAMC).
  • Aftermath of an airstrike on the hospital in Kafar Nubul on May 5th 2019. (Via @AleppoAMC).
  • Aftermath of an airstrike on the hospital in Kafar Nubul on May 5th 2019. (Via @AleppoAMC).
  • Aftermath of an airstrike on the hospital in Kafar Nubul on May 5th 2019. (Via @AleppoAMC).
  • Screenshot of messages from Syrian Observatory flight spotters indicating that a Russian-made Sukhoi-24 (Su-24) “Fencer” aircraft, which is flown by both the Russian and Syrian air forces in Syria, was in the area during the attack on Orient Hospital near the town of Kafr Nabl, Idlib, on May 5, 2019. (via HRW).

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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3664

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

التمانعه, Al Tamani’a, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were reported wounded in an alleged Russian or regime strike on the town of Al Tamani’a in rural Idlib.

There was a report that Al Tamani’a hospital was struck by the regime.

Other sources pointed to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike on Al Tamani’a, May 5th.

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3670

Incident date

May 6, 2019

Location

أم نير,, Um Neir, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Um Neir, Idlib governorate, on May 6th, according to local media.

Hmaid al Mohammad was killed as fixed-wing warplanes believed to be Russian fired a missile on Um Neir village in Idlib, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. An unknown number of civilians were also wounded.

Anadolu Agency wrote that, according to the Observatory of the Air Traffic Department of the opposition, “Russian planes took off from the Humimim airbase in rural Lattakia (west) and bombed the three towns of Um Neir in the southern countryside of Idlib, and the towns of Kafrna and Zahra al-Madain in the western countryside of Aleppo.”

All sources blamed Russia for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hmaid Al Mohammad
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ 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
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3665A

Incident date

May 6, 2019

Location

مشفى نبض الحياة - حاس, Nabd Al Hayat hospital - Hass, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and another injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Nabd Al-Hayat hospital in Hass, on May 6th, 2019.

Jamal Al Farhat named Abdullah Khaled Al-Farhat as the victim.

Airwars Syria Researcher spoke to a witness to this incident, Abu Abdallah who preferred to use a pseudonym and who was a staff at the hospital at the time when the airstrike happened. He said that the hospital was targeted on many different occasions:

1- May 5th at 10.30 pm the vicinity of the hospital was targeted by the regime using SU 22-and SU 24 warplanes  (No CIVCAS)2- May 5th at 3.30 pm directly targeted by Russia (No CIVCAS)
3- May 5th at with 3-4 barrels  (No CIVCAS)
4- May 6th at 1.05 am with Russia warplanes (CIVCAS reported) they weren’t able to reach the injured before 6 am. The injured where on the way to or from their poultry farm when the airstrike hit the hospital.

Human Rights Watch also reported that a civilian was killed and another injured by the airstrike on the hospital. They had been walking by when the attack took place. ” Messages from flight spotters known as “Sentry Syria,” reviewed by Human Rights Watch, indicated that Russian aircraft were in the area at the time of the attack.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the name of Abdullah Khaled Al-Farhat as a victim of an airstrike on May 9th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abdullah Khaled al Farhat عبد الله خالد الفرحات
Adult male killed
Jamal Khaled Al Farhat جمال خالد الفرحات
male Witness source injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • May 15, 2019: Before and after satellite imagery shows the damage caused by the May 5, 2019 attack on Nabd al-Hayat Hospital. Before: November 17, 2018. After: May 15, 2019. Satellite imagery © 2020 Maxar Technologies Source: Google Earth. (HRW)
  • May 15, 2019: Before and after satellite imagery shows the damage caused by the May 5, 2019 attack on Nabd al-Hayat Hospital. Before: November 17, 2018. After: May 15, 2019. Satellite imagery © 2020 Maxar Technologies Source: Google Earth. (HRW)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr199

Incident date

May 6, 2019–May 7, 2020

Location

بين الحزمة والرمسة, Between Al Hazma and Al Ramsa, Ma'rib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.512300, 45.396140 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Wadi Obeidah, Marib governorate, overnight from May 6th-7th 2019.

On May 15th 2019, US Central Command told New America that no strikes had taken place since March 29th, and explicitly denying reports of a May 5th US military strike, which may refer to this event. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Multiple missiles reportedly targeted a small passenger bus or truck, passing between the Al-Ramsa and Al-Hazma areas, according to local-language news outlets, including 7Hadramout, Al-Ain, and Shabwa Press. Sources indicated to AFP and others that the vehicle was heading to a farm in the governorate. A security source told Al-Ain that there were successive explosions from the scene, indicating that the bus may have been transporting weapons and ammunition.

Most claimed that the strike took place on May 7th. One source, Maeen Press, instead suggested a time late on the evening of May 6th. Indeed, the earliest identified tweet relating to this event was at 12.26am local time on May 7th. As such, Airwars has assessed that the strike took place at some time overnight from March 6th to March 7th.

On May 8th, an AQAP feed claimed that a militant named Habib Al-Jadawi was killed by a “Crusader” drone strike, likely referring to a recent strike, according to Dr Elisabeth Kendall (@Dr_E_Kendall). Given that this was the only known reported US strike since mid-April, it is possible that Al-Jadawi was one of those allegedly killed in this event.

Despite CENTCOM’s denial, this event may have been either a CIA or Saudi-led Coalition action.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • An alleged US drone strike, which US Central Command denied conducting, reportedly killed four AQAP militants in Wadi Obeidah, Marib (@OqgdOKEUisl0Is7, May 7th 2019)
  • The strike reportedly targeted a small passenger bus, allegedly carrying weapons and ammunition (Shabwah Press, May 7th 2019)
  • Alleged images of the strike location appeared to confirm that a small passenger bus was destroyed.
  • Yemeni news reports indicated that a US drone strike targeted alleged AQAP militants.
  • An AQAP feed stated that Habib Al-Jadawi was kiled in a "Crusader" drone strike, possibly referring to this event (@Dr_E_Kendall, May 9th 2019)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck between the villages of Al Hazma (الحزمة) and Al Rasma (الرمسة), within the Wadi Obeida (وادي عبيدة) area, east of Marib (مأرب) city. Research shows two locations known as Al Hazma within the vicinity. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Wadi Obeida are: 15.512300, 45.396140.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck between the villages of Al Hazma (الحزمة) and Al Rasma (الرمسة), within the Wadi Obeida (وادي عبيدة) area, east of Marib (مأرب) city. Research shows two locations known as Al Hazma within the vicinity.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

On May 15, 2019, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) responded to an inquiry from New America about the number and dates of any counterterrorism strikes in Yemen in April 2019 by stating that it had conducted no strikes in April. LTC Earl Brown told New America, “The last U.S. Military strike in Yemen was on 29 March.”
CENTCOM also specifically denied conducting a May 5th strike in Marib, Yemen that had been reported as a suspected U.S. drone strike by AFP citing a “security official in the area.” As previously argued in Just Security, the proliferating number of actors armed with drones along with the difficulties of reporting from Yemen and likely covert U.S. strikes (which would not be acknowledged or carried out by CENTCOM) makes it difficult to assess whether a U.S. drone strike occurred that day or whether it was another actor.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3671

Incident date

May 6, 2019

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes struck northern Kafar Zeita in the night of May 6th to May 7th, 2019. Four civilians were reported killed, including two women and two children of the same family. A man and three children were reported wounded.

SyriaTV wrote that “the city of Kafar Zeita was hit at night with heavy machine-gun raids carried out by Russia, killing four civilians (two women and two children) and wounding a man and three children from one family.” Horrya News, however, reported that the Syrian regime had been responsible for firing rocket-propelled grenades on civilian homes.

The Violations Documentation Center of Syria reported the names of two women, a boy and a girl killed in the strikes. Baladi News reported that the family was internally displaced.

On May 6th, a hospital in Kafar Zeita was also targeted, leading to the facility being out of service, but there were no reports of civilian casualties. In the afternoon of May 7th, a  man and his pregnant wife were also killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the city.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Yousra Al Araour يسرى العرعور
Adult female wife of Hamid Al Qasabi killed
Afra Darwish عفراء الدرويش
Adult female wife of Hamid Al Qasabi killed
Razan Hamid Al Qasabi رزان حميد القصابي
Child female killed
Jawad Hameed Al Qasabi جواد حميد القصابي
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense forces rescuing a wounded man and two children after an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Zeita on May 6th (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Video of the Syrian Civil Defense forceces rescuing the wounded and carrying the dead afteran alleged Ryssianaistrike sruck Kafar Zeita on May 6th (via Syrian Civil Defense).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body underneath the rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zeita on May 6th (via Macro Media Center).
  • Translation: "The correspondent of Orient News said that 15 civilians were killed today and others were wounded by the air and missile attacks on the cities and towns of Kafar Zeita and Zakat north of Hama, Ras Al Ain, Deir Snbel, Marj Al Zuhour, Barah, Matarat and Abidin Idlib" (via OrientTV).
  • Translation: “The scene after two raids targeting civilian homes in the city of #Kafar Zeita late last night, led to the death of four martyrs, children and women, in addition to the injury of a man and three other children” (via @SyriaCivilDefe).

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]