Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4442

Incident date

February 27, 2022

Location

اّفس, Afes, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed and between two and four other civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling of the town of Afes on February 27, 2022.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two civilians were killed and two others were injured when the regime forces and Russian forces bombed a market in the center of Afes.

Syrian Network for Human Rights gave the names of the two civilians killed: Hussein Aboud al Aboud and Ismail Farzat Mas’oud. Local news channel @Almohrar1 reported the names of the civilians injured: Iyad Zreik and Zaher Masoud. Zaman Al Wasl added that Iyad Zreik is the principal of the school of the town of “Afes”.

Shaam News quotes activists who said that a popular market was struck with several artillery shells, which led to the death of two civilians and the wounding of others, including a teacher, in addition to the “massive destruction of the facilities” of the market. @Syrianfreeyouth also identified a kindergarten as being struck by the shelling and Zaman Al Wasl add details of the location as being ” in the center of the town of “Afes”, near the city of “Saraqib” at the intersection of the two international highways (M4 and M5)”.

Macro Media Center reported on the incident, providing information that four people were injured and one person was killed in the artillery shelling.

According to Zaiton Mag, “the civil defense teams rescued the victims and treated the injured from the village clinic to the hospitals in Idlib city.”

Syrian Network for Human Rights noted that “the village’s main market has been almost empty recently as most of the village residents were displaced as a result of previous military operations by the Syrian-Russian alliance in the region.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified Afes village as “considered as one of the “Turkish Army” strongholds in “De-escalation Zone” where number of points and bases of the Turkish Army are located”.

The majority of sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the Syrian regime. However, local journalist @anasanas84 and a local nonprofit @Syrianfreeyouth blamed the shelling on Russian forces.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Aboud al Aboud مسعود حسين عبود
Adult male killed
Ismail Farzat Mas’oud اسماعيل فرزات
Age unknown male killed
Iyad Zreik إياد زريق
Age unknown injured
Zaher Masoud زاهر مسعود
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets rescue and treat one of the civilians injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Afes on February 27, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The bombing of a popular market in the town of Afes in the countryside of Idlib led to the fall of two martyrs and the injury of civilians.
  • Here in Idlib, death has been going on for 10 years now... And no one wants to hear or see... As if everyone is enjoying our death... #Martyrs and wounded in #Efes, east of #Idlib
  • The crime of #Russia continues from #Syria to #Ukraine Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of Russian artillery shelling on the town of Afs, east of Idlib, a while ago
  • Our correspondent reported the killing of two civilians and the wounding of others in shelling by the regime forces targeting the town of Afes in Idlib countryside
  • Hussein Aboud al Aboud, killed in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Afes village on February 27, 2022. (Image posted by Hussein Al Hadidi via Facebook)

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]