Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3697

Incident date

May 14, 2019

Location

حيش, Heesh, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A man was killed and three other civilians were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Heesh, Idlib governorate, on May 14th, 2019, according to local sources.

Justice Organisation wrote: “One person was killed and 3 people were wounded as a result of the shelling of the Russian warplanes and the Assad regime’s helicopter warplanes on the city of Heesh in the southern Idlib countryside”, identifying the killed person as Muhammad Yusef Al Diab.

Mr Diab was reportedly replaced from Kafar Zeita. The pro-regime Facebook page “Syria Our Eternal Beloved” called Mr Al Diab a “terrorist”, but other sources identified the victim as a civilian.

Step News Agency wrote that Russian airstrikes caused fires in agricultural crops.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed Syrian regime forces helicopters and claimed they dropped explosive barrels on Heesh village. Step News blamed Russia, whereas other sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male from Kafr Zita killed
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “Heesh, in the countryside of Ma'arat Al Numan, is under severe air attack” (via @kuEjMLFlpBM7Vne).
  • Airstrikes on Heesh, May 14th, 2019 (via @kuEjMLFlpBM7Vne).
  • Mohammad Yousef Al Diab was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Heesh, May 14th, 2019 (via Syria Our Eternal Beloved on Facebook).
  • Translation: “The city of Kafr Zita, the martyr, by the permission of God, the young Muhammad Yusuf Al Thiab, is sold to you by bombing the city of Heesh” (via Abdl Atef Alasmar).
  • Mohammad Yousef Al Diab was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Heesh, May 14th, 2019 (via Abdl Atef Alasmar).
  • Translation: “Helicopter bombardment of the barrel on the town of # Hessh in southern countryside Idlib” (via LCCSY).
  • Translation: “Witness: The moment of the explosion of an explosive barrel Moscow planes dropped on the outskirts of the town of Heesh in the southern countryside of Idlib a little while ago! Sectarian crime and hatred # Idlib # Syria” (via @aboalhodaalhoms).

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]