Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4052

Incident date

August 19, 2019

Location

حيش, Heesh , Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a child, were reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib, on August 19th 2019.

Smart News cited “two civilians killed by Russian warplanes in Heesh town, south of Idlib” and @jisrtv tweeted that two civilians had been killed in the strike.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented “the death of 3 citizens in the Russian airstrikes on Heesh.” Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that “at least three civilians, including a child, were killed as warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Heesh village, on August 19th”. A tweet from @honestis1 named those killed as Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ali (Al-Arandas), Khaled Ahmad Al-Aloush, and Ahmed Subhi Al-Ali. 

Syria.liveuamap also reported “several wounded”.

According to @HalabTodayTV, more than a hundred rockets struck the town of Heesh and surrounding areas while @honestis1 reported that “3 air strikes by Russian warplanes on residential neighborhoods in the town of [Heesh] caused massive destruction.”

Sources predominately attributed the attack to Russian forces, yet two sources named both the Syrian regime and Russian forces in reports of this incident, among others and @jisrtv attributed the strikes to the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Image caption: " at least three civilians, including a child, were killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Heesh village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on August 19th" (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Two to three civilians, including a child, were reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib, on August 19th. Their names were identified as Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ali (Al-Arandas), Khaled Ahmad Al-Aloush, and Ahmed Subhi Al-Ali (Images from Sharif Al Ismail via Facebook).
  • Two to three civilians, including a child, were reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib, on August 19th. Their names were identified as Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ali (Al-Arandas), Khaled Ahmad Al-Aloush, and Ahmed Subhi Al-Ali (Images from Sharif Al Ismail via Facebook).
  • Two to three civilians, including a child, were reported killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib, on August 19th. Their names were identified as Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ali (Al-Arandas), Khaled Ahmad Al-Aloush, and Ahmed Subhi Al-Ali (Images from Sharif Al Ismail via Facebook).

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
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]