Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4420

Incident date

November 28, 2021

Location

معرزاف, Maarzaf, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.204464, 36.555058 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 10 children were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of Maarzaf on November 28, 2021.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, 10 children, all from one family, were injured as a result of laser-guided artillery shelling against civilian homes in Maarzaf. One of the injured children was heard yelling out “I want Youssef” to one of their siblings that was still trapped under the rubble of their home.

Halab Today TV’s correspondent reported that “four children survived the bombing that targeted their house in the town of Maarzaf, indicating that ambulance teams transferred the injured to the nearest medical point in the area for treatment” after also putting there injury count at 10. Xeber24 News added that the injuries were “seriously” wounded.

A tweet from @resalapost and @thiqanewsagency identified four children as being injured in the strikes on the town of Maarzaf and both blamed the regime.

The correspondent of “Zaman al-Wasl” in Idlib said that the two brothers, “Fatima and Marwan Aref Suleiman“, were injured to varying degrees and that the parents and the civil defense teams managed to get four children out from under the rubble without any injury.

An image posted by @IdlibPlus shows three children covered in dust who were said to have escaped from the rubble of the house.

Alsouria News specifically referred to the area affected by the strikes as being a residential neighborhood and the buildings struck as being civilian homes.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime was responsible, with @Wesal_TV blaming the regime while @OmarAlMakhtar86 attributed the strikes to Russia. A tweet from @freeehsem mentioned that “rocket-propelled grenades” were used in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

male injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Maarzaf (معرزاف), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.204464, 36.555058. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A state of panic and fear for children who were pulled out from under the rubble as a result of Russian bombing in the morning on the town of Maarzaf, south of Idlib
  • Three of the children that escaped from the rubble of their house after strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @IdlibPlus)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    https://archive.md/2mZHs
  • Smoke and dust from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @OmarAlMakhtar86)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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

Sources (37) [ collapse]