Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4287

Incident date

December 24, 2019

Location

جوباس, Joubas, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 12 civilians including five children and two women were reported killed and seven others injured in Joubas, Idlib in Syria on December 24th, 2019 when Russian warplanes attacked a school building that is used as a shelter for displaced people in the village.

A Syrian Civil Defence statement said that “Russian warplanes launched raids on a camp for displaced persons near the village of Jobas village, east of Idlib, killing five children, two women and a man, and wounding seven others, including two children and two women.”

Images of the deceased children were tweeted by local sources, and the deaths were later confirmed by Al-Jazeera and their reporter Milad Fadl, along with Syrian Civil Defense, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The number of dead was later raised to ten, and the Syrian Human Rights Committee reported ten confirmed deaths and five wounded individuals, although one local source stated that twelve had been killed, but that number was not confirmed by any other source.  The victims were five children and five adults, with all five children being siblings. The adults were identified as Saleh Al Ashiq, Rahaf Saleh Al Ashiq Hamada, Rowaida Hammadi, Hanan Mazal Al Hammadi, and Fatuma Saleh Al Hammadi.  The five children were named Safa Ahmed Hammadi, Moataz Ammar Hammadi, Muhammad Ashiq Hammadi, Yamen Ammar Hammadi, and Aisha Saleh Hammadi.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the death toll is expected to increase as many of the wounded are in a serious condition.

The warplanes specifically struck a school that was being used as a home for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) within the village of Joubas.

All local sources stated that the warplanes were Russian planes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (8)

Aisha Saleh Hammadi عائشة صالح حمادي
killed
Hanan Mazal Al Hammadi حنان مزعل الحمادي
killed
Fatuma Saleh Al Hammadi فطومة صالح الحمادي
killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (5–6 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (51) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two of the children reported killed in the Russian airstrike on Jobas in Idlib (via EuphratesPost)
  • One of the victims of alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @mahmoudalbakor1)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by Al Hurra News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on Jobas on December 24, 2019. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (5–6 children2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (51) [ collapse]