Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3754

Incident date

June 3, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma’arat Al Nu’man, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were reported killed when an airstrike struck the popular market in the city of Ma’arat Al Nu’man south of Idlib in the morning of June 3rd, 2019. Local sources reported that the market was struck with at least three missiles, also described as “rocket-propelled grenades”, although Smart News Agency claimed the use of a total of four missiles. According to Shaam News, the raid was carried out by the Russian Air Force and Syrian regime helicopters.

Most sources reported that among the three killed civilians was one woman. According to Smart News, the other victims were a woman and a man. The source added that 20 civilians were wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll higher and claimed that a total of four civilians were killed, including a woman.

In a report in October 2020, Human Rights Watch wrote that “On June 3, 2019, the last day of Ramadan, at about 11 a.m., an aircraft released four munitions, one at a time, onto an extension of the town’s main market. The market was particularly full that day because of people shopping for Eid.”

HRW spoke to Obeida Zikra, the Syrian Civil Defence team leader in Ma’arat Al Nu’man, who stated that “two munitions hit the roof of the market and two others struck inside the market. Zikra said that when he arrived at the scene, he saw a fire burning in one of the shop stalls and many wounded people on the ground.”

HRW analysed several photos and videos of the scene: “The videos and photographs show damage to at least 15 market stalls and shop fronts, debris on the street, damage to motorbikes, a man who seems to have had his right leg severed by the attack being carried on a stretcher to an ambulance, a severely injured or deceased man, and two injured men in the back of an ambulance.”

The SCD team leader told HRW that he was unaware of any military objectives in the vicinity of the site before or at the time of the attack, “nor were there signs of military weapons, equipment, or personnel in the imagery reviewed”.

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (42) [ collapse]

  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Step News).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Step News).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Step News).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Aftermath of an airstrike that struck the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via @MGhorab3).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Aftermath of an airstrike that struck the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via @IdlibPlus).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Video of the first moments after an airstrike struck the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Video of the aftermath of an airstrike that struck the market in Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib after it was struck by an airstrike on June 3rd (via Edlib Media Center).
  • "When a child tries to escape death."
  • A child fleeing airstrikes on Ma'aret Al Nu'man on June 3rd, 2019. (via @LamiaSarhan1).
  • Destruction at a Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market after it was targeted with an airstrikes on June 3rd, 2019. (via @Sy24ria).
  • Destruction at a Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market after it was targeted with an airstrikes on June 3rd, 2019. (via @Sy24ria).
  • Destruction at a Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market after it was targeted with an airstrikes on June 3rd, 2019. (via @Sy24ria).
  • Destruction at a Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market after it was targeted with an airstrikes on June 3rd, 2019. (via @Sy24ria).
  • Aftermath of a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on June 3rd, 2019. (via @Darin_ALabdalla)
  • Aftermath of a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on June 3rd, 2019. (via @Darin_ALabdalla)
  • Aftermath of a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on June 3rd, 2019. (via @Darin_ALabdalla)
  • Damage to shops and properties at a popular market in Ma'arat Al-Nu'mann after it was attacked allegedly by Russia or the regime on June 3rd, 2019. (Enad Baladi from MMC)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the main market in Ma'arat Al Nu'man on June 3rd, 2019 (via Human Rights Watch).

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]