Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4305 IRS007

Incident date

May 3, 2021

Location

الفوعة, Al Fu'ah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.967389, 36.681596 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed and up to 11 others, including five children to six children and three women, were wounded in an alleged Iranian or Russian drone strike on a weapons depot near the Al-Furousiya camp for the displaced, in the vicinity of the town of Al-Foah on May 3, 2021. However other sources blamed the casualties on a weapon malfunction.

According to Euphrates Post, “an Iranian drone targeted a weapons depot of the Ahrar al-Sham faction, near the Al-Furousiya camp for the displaced, in the vicinity of the town of Al-Foah, north of Idlib. The targeting resulted in the killing of three civilians, including two children, and the wounding of others, some of them seriously.” Their reporting also identified “the death of two members of the same faction” and that the strike resulted in extensive damage, including “several houses were razed to the ground, and many tents in the camp were damaged.”

Step News reported that “the explosion killed a woman and injured eight other civilians, including five children, in an initial toll” and that some were in a “dangerous condition.” In addition, “there were deaths and injuries among the “Uzbek” and the ranks of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham, amounting to approximately 14 soldiers, including two dead from “Ahrar Al-Sham” and 2 others whose identities were not known.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified “the death of two fighters and a woman who was passing by the site of the explosion, while six other people from the camp, including women and children, sustained injuries.” The Syrian Civil Defense put the numbers at “a woman was killed, and 11 civilians were injured, including 6 children and 3 women” while @Sy24ria identified four civilians as being killed.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights identified two of the civilians killed: 25-year-old woman, named as Fahimeh Khaledeh Shehadah, and man, named as Alaa Muhammad al Mesleh. 

A post from Maher Naser Diab on Facebook identified the names of those injured: Zarifa Al-Ahmad (F), Fatima Al-Muhaimid (F), Ali Al-Dakhil (M), Nayef Al-Haled (M), Alaa Asry Al-Kassar (M), Ahmed Deeb Al-Jasem (M), Wafdiya Ahmed Al-Hussein (F), Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hayer (M), Muhammad Fawaz Al-Awad (M). The material damage from the explosion included more than 50 tents destroyed and more than 30 sheep were killed.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible, with Step News reporting that one source said that “it it was caused by a technical failure in manufacturing that led to explosions” while another claimed “a Russian drone was flying in the targeted area, and it is expected that it bombed the place with guided missiles.” Zaman Al Wasel News and Euphrates Post attributed the explosion to an Iran drone. Other sources also reported that it wasn’t clear whether the explosion resulted from an aerial attack or a malfunction. An image posted by @NagiNajjar seems to show an aircraft flying near the camp around the time of the strikes.

Geolocation of the incident was completed by @obretix.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

25 years old female killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female injured
Age unknown female injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown female injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Fu’ah (الفوعة). According to research conducted by @obretix, the exact location of this strike is: 35.967389, 36.681596 . Cross referencing evidence from audio-visual material from sources, we can confirm this location.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–11
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Iranian Military, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    10

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (36) [ collapse]

  • Two huge explosions occurred in weapons depots belonging to the "Uzbek" factions affiliated with the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham, and another for the Ahrar Al-Sham faction, today, Monday, near the Equestrian camp in Kafraya, north of Idlib.
  • Reliable sources have told SOHR that the explosion which occurred near al-Furousiyyah refugee camp in al-Fu’ah area in the north-east of Idlib was caused by an explosion in a warehouse belonging to jihadi groups, where shells and IEDs are manufactured.
  • Photo shows damages to a number of IDP tents in al Furousiya Camp near Kafrayya town in North Idlib governorate caused by a massive blast of unknown sources and type near the camp on May 3, 2021. (Image by Ahmad Rahhal via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed, and 11 civilians were injured, including 6 children and 3 women, this afternoon, Monday, May 3, as a result of an unknown explosion at a place for raising poultry southwest of the town of Al-Foua in the northern countryside of Idlib. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed, and 11 civilians were injured, including 6 children and 3 women, this afternoon, Monday, May 3, as a result of an unknown explosion at a place for raising poultry southwest of the town of Al-Foua in the northern countryside of Idlib. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed, and 11 civilians were injured, including 6 children and 3 women, this afternoon, Monday, May 3, as a result of an unknown explosion at a place for raising poultry southwest of the town of Al-Foua in the northern countryside of Idlib. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed, and 11 civilians were injured, including 6 children and 3 women, this afternoon, Monday, May 3, as a result of an unknown explosion at a place for raising poultry southwest of the town of Al-Foua in the northern countryside of Idlib. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and others were wounded, most of them women, in an unknown explosion near the Equestrian camp in the northern countryside of Idlib. (Images posted by Edlib Media Center via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and others were wounded, most of them women, in an unknown explosion near the Equestrian camp in the northern countryside of Idlib. (Images posted by Edlib Media Center via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and others were wounded, most of them women, in an unknown explosion near the Equestrian camp in the northern countryside of Idlib. (Images posted by Edlib Media Center via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: The Equestrian Club camp explosion, west of the town of Al Foah. (Images posted by @NagiNajjar)
  • Caption translation: The Equestrian Club camp explosion, west of the town of Al Foah. (Images posted by @NagiNajjar)
  • Caption translation: A large unknown explosion near the Equestrian Club camp, northeast of Idlib So far, the death of a woman and the wounding of a number of civilians, as a preliminary outcome (Images posted by @anasanas84)
  • Caption translation: A large unknown explosion near the Equestrian Club camp, northeast of Idlib So far, the death of a woman and the wounding of a number of civilians, as a preliminary outcome (Images posted by @anasanas84)
  • Caption translation: A large unknown explosion near the Equestrian Club camp, northeast of Idlib So far, the death of a woman and the wounding of a number of civilians, as a preliminary outcome (Images posted by @anasanas84)
  • Caption translation: A large unknown explosion near the Equestrian Club camp, northeast of Idlib So far, the death of a woman and the wounding of a number of civilians, as a preliminary outcome (Images posted by @anasanas84)
  • Caption translation: The young Alaa Muhammad Al-Musleh, from the displaced in the village of Qubeibat in the northern Hama countryside, rose to the equestrian camp near the town of Al-Fu'ah, northeast of Idlib, as a result of the explosion that happened a short while ago (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and 11 injured in an unidentified explosion near the Al Furousiya camp on the outskirts of the village of Al-Fu'ah, north of Idlib (Images posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and 11 injured in an unidentified explosion near the Al Furousiya camp on the outskirts of the village of Al-Fu'ah, north of Idlib (Images posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and 11 injured in an unidentified explosion near the Al Furousiya camp on the outskirts of the village of Al-Fu'ah, north of Idlib (Images posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and 11 injured in an unidentified explosion near the Al Furousiya camp on the outskirts of the village of Al-Fu'ah, north of Idlib (Images posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Caption translation: A woman was killed and 11 injured in an unidentified explosion near the Al Furousiya camp on the outskirts of the village of Al-Fu'ah, north of Idlib Photography: Nour Al-Shami (Images posted by @ZaitunAgency)
  • Caption translation: Idlib ... This is how the site of an explosion that shook a weapons depot in Al Foah looked like. (Images posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Caption translation: Idlib ... This is how the site of an explosion that shook a weapons depot in Al Foah looked like. (Images posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Caption translation: Idlib ... This is how the site of an explosion that shook a weapons depot in Al Foah looked like. (Images posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Caption translation: Idlib ... This is how the site of an explosion that shook a weapons depot in Al Foah looked like. (Images posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Caption translation: The death toll from the explosion that occurred in the Al Furousiya camp, southwest of the town of Al Foah in Idlib countryside, has risen to four. (Image posted by @AlaaHattabAlaa)
  • Caption translation: Idlib ... This is how the site of an explosion that shook a weapons depot in Al Foah looked like. (Images posted by Enab baladi)
  • Caption translation: Idlib ... This is how the site of an explosion that shook a weapons depot in Al Foah looked like. (Images posted by Enab baladi)
  • Geolocation of an alleged strike on an ammunition warehouse on May 3, 2021. (Images posted by @obretix)
  • Geolocation of an alleged strike on an ammunition warehouse on May 3, 2021. (Images posted by @obretix)

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian Military 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–11
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Iranian Military, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    10

Sources (25) [ collapse]