Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4425

Incident date

December 9, 2021

Location

جامع قباء, Quba Mosque, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.350014, 40.118543 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Russian forces army patrol reportedly killed a child with disabilities, Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, 17 or 16 years old, by gunfire, in the Al Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021, in the evening.

Euphrates reported that Abdul Al-Hajar was sitting next to the “Quba Mosque” and that the “patrolmen treated him as a suicide bomber because of the uniform he was wearing, known as the “skull.”” Euphrates also reported that he was wearing an abaya (a winter fur) – but as Deir Ezzor 24 News reported, the patrol members accused him of wearing a suicide vest. According to a local source, @Sada_AlSharqieh, one of the Russian patrol saw the young man filming the Russian forces, and shot him “directly for fear of having any weapons with him.”

Euphrates reported that the Russian patrol “ran him over with a car after he was killed.” Deir Ezzor 24 News added that they also beat him and dragged his body to a security branch. Other local sources corroborate this, saying that his body was tied to one of the military vehicles.

Abdul Al-Hajar was from Subikhan in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

@Sada_AlSharqieh reported on Twitter that “the city is witnessing a great security alert, fearing the people’s reaction to the incident.”  Aramme News also reported that “the killing comes amid popular anger in Deir Ezzor governorate for weeks, after Russian patrols tried to pass through the governorate, which was completely rejected by the people.”

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar
16 or 17 years old years old male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Quba mosque (جامع قباء) in the Al Jura neighbourhood (حي الجورة) of Deir Ezzor (دير الزور).The generic coordinates for the Quba mosque are: 35.350014, 40.118543. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, aged 17, was reportedly shot by Russian patrol in the Al-Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021 (Image via Euphrates Post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, aged 17, was reportedly shot by Russian patrol in the Al-Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021 (Image via Euphrates Post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, aged 17, was reportedly shot by Russian patrol in the Al-Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021 (Image via Euphrates Post)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]