Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R3472

Incident date

May 8, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a child, were killed and at least 11 civilians were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun, Hama governorate, on May 8th, 2019, according to local sources.

Several sources reported that a total of three civilians were killed, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights. The local monitor added that “Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes fired missiles in parallel with shelling by their missile launcher on Khan Sheikhoun city”.

Smart News Agency initially reported that one man was killed and ten wounded in Khan Sheikhoun, but in a later post claimed that four civilians including a child were killed and 17 others wounded, including women and children. According to the source, 15 airstrikes were conducted in addition to four barrels of explosives dumped on the city by helicopters amid shelling with more than 100 rockets and 35 artillery shells.

The Syrian Civil Defense Forces that were present at the scene reported that a total of 11 people were killed and 11 others injured by “four airstrikes with 60 rocket-propelled grenades and 20 artillery shells struck residential neighbourhoods of the town of Khan Sheikoun in Idlib”.

Al Souria reported that 26 civilians had been injured. According to @DirarKhattab, the attacks occured during iftar, when Muslims break their fast around dusk during the holy month of Ramadan.

Radio Alkul reported that “39 schools have been bombed by the regime and Russia in the past two months, resulting in the departure of 17 schools from the service completely, and the destruction of some others in whole or in part, Mohammed al-Hussein, assistant director of education in Idlib, told Radio All.” Some 23 of these schools were reportedly in Khan Sheikhoun.

Al Nahar, a pro-regime paper, reported strikes against the al-Nusra front in Khan Sheikhoun.

The incident occured around dusk.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–26
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An unidentified victim of an alleged airstrike on in the morning in Khan Shikhoun on May 8th (via Abuhuzaifa_ ).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteer aiding a man who was wounded by an alleged airstrike on the town of Khan Sheikoun on May 8th (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • The White Helmets work to extinguish fires in Khan Sheikhoun, May 8th.
  • The White Helmets work to extinguish fires in Khan Sheikhoun, May 8th.
  • The White Helmets work to extinguish fires in Khan Sheikhoun, May 8th.
  • Video showing the moment of the strike on Khan Sheikhoun, May 8th.
  • Food covered with dust, prepared by a Syrian family, following a strike on Khan Sheikhoun, May 8th (via Alaraby)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a victim of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, May 8th, 2019 (via @Abuhuzaifa_).

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
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–26
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]