Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4000

Incident date

August 9, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed and three others injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, on August 9th, 2019.

Baladi News stated that “a civilian was killed and another was injured on Friday due to warplanes shelling the perimeter of Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

According to this source, “the regime’s warplanes bombed cluster bombs at dawn on Friday on the city of Khan Sheikhoun and the surrounding farms” leading to the casualties.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said ” at least two civilians were killed as Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped barrel bombs on Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on August 9th, 2019.”

Other sources stated that two civilians were killed in the incident. The Syrian Human Rights Committee named these fatalities as Mohammed Nasser Diab and Ahmad Omar Al-Ma’rati.

Many sources attributed the attack to the Syrian regime, while one other source named both Russian forces and the Syrian regime in reports of the incident. One other source did not positively attribute blame. Some sources didn’t mention any party as responsible for this.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

male Ahmad's uncle injured

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

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
    2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]