Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4320

Incident date

June 17, 2021

Location

ابديتا, Abdita, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two people were killed and three others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes or artillery shelling on Abdita on June 17, 2021. The status of those killed is contested, with the majority of sourced reporting that those killed and injured were civilians whole Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Al Mahjar News reported that they were “members of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham (HTS).

@HalabTodayTV reported that “two civilians were killed and others were injured as the regime forces targeted with heavy artillery”. @defense_syr tweeted that in addition to the civilians killed, three others were injured.

Al Mahjar news reported that “government forces kill two members and injure three members of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham during artillery shelling on the village of Abdita”. A tweet by @HamMrakb also identified two members of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham that were killed, Mujahid Abu Abdo Khan and Abu Malik al-Adlabi, but doesn’t specify if they were killed in Abdita.

Images posted by @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc show the extensive damage to buildings caused by the strikes.

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to the regime. However, @anasanas84 reported “laser-guided artillery shelling by the Russian occupation”.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by the strikes on the village of Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Image posted by @tawjih_syria)
  • Damage caused by the strikes on the village of Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Image posted by @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc)
  • Damage caused by the strikes on the village of Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Image posted by @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc)
  • Damage caused by the strikes on the village of Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Image posted by @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc)
  • A tweet by @HamMrakb also identified two members of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham that were killed, Mujahid Abu Abdo Khan and Abu Malik al-Adlabi, but doesn't specify if they were killed in Abdita.
  • Images of White Helmets searching through the rubble of a destroyed building following airstrikes on Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Images of White Helmets searching through the rubble of a destroyed building following airstrikes on Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Images of White Helmets searching through the rubble of a destroyed building following airstrikes on Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Images posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Blood from one of the victims of the airstrikes on Abdita on June 17, 2021. (Image posted by @ArihaToday)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (22) [ collapse]