Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3591

Incident date

February 23, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

In renewed artillery shelling on Khan Sheikhoun, up to seven civilians died, and between six and 15 were wounded, according to local media. Sources were conflicted regarding who was to blame – though the majority pointed to the regime.

Sources reported that the Syrian regime were stationed at Kubaybat al-Huda camp in the eastern suburb of Idlib, which is where they reportedly fired the artillery from. Reports said that the bombardment consisted of high explosive missiles which caused huge material damage. Additionally, Smart News reported that “Russian forces [struck] from their positions in the village of Qubaybat al-Huda”.

Khaled Bin al Walid Mosque was “targeted” in the shelling, causing partial damage to the building. Additionally, “missiles targeted the residential neighbourhoods of the city of # Khan_Shikhun”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that an area near an automated bakery was also shelled.

The highest numbers of casulties reported was “seven martyrs… in Khan Sheikhan, including two children and two women”.

The civil defence reportedly worked tirelessly to dig victims out of the rubble.

@ShahpaPress reported that 15 was the highest number of wounded civilians. 

In the most distressing image, @Tamer_Turkmane tweeted a photograph of an embryo ripped from her mother’s womb. The source said that she has “been killed by Assad”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Child female Daughter of Huthayfa Diop injured
Embryo of Ms. Esraa Al Awad جنين السيدة اسراء العوض
Child female killed
Bashar Khattab بشار خطاب
Age unknown

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–15
  • 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 (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (32) [ collapse]

  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A fetus, torn from its mother before it was born by shrapnel, Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_ )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child - Mohammed Hassan al-Kurdi, 12 years old - killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man - Huthayfa Diop - killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Huthayfa Diop, daughter of Huthayfa Diop, killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via EdlibEMC1)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via EdlibEMC1)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via EdlibEMC1)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 23th February 2019. (via EdlibEMC1)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged regime strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged regime strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged regime strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Horrya)
  • The White Helmets rescue a man alive following a strike in Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: 'This girl was killed by Assad and its shells in the womb of her mother .. Is there more terrorism than this ?'
  • A wounded child following an alleged regime strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd.
  • The White Helmets at the scene.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child following a strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Free Syrian peopleunion )
  • A victim of a strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Free Syrian peopleunion )
  • Hala Huthayfa Diop, wounded in an alleged regime strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019. Her parents were reportedly killed. (via Ahmad Al Bakour)
  • Smoke rises from Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • Mohammed Saleh Bakour (the adult male), killed in a strike on Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 23rd 2019 (via Anas abou shawka)

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 February 1st – 31st 2019.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–15
  • 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 (40) [ collapse]