Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4526

Incident date

July 4, 2023

Location

كفرنوران, Kafarnouran, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A middle-aged male, reported by most sources to be a civilian, was killed by alleged Russian, or Syrian regime shelling of the town of Kafr Nouran, in the western countryside of Aleppo on July 4, 2023.

Baladi News reported that Anas Barakat was killed instantly in the village of Kafr Nouran as a result of alleged shelling and mortar fire carried by the Syrian Regime forces stationed in the 46th Regiment and the village of Kafr Halab.

The status of the Anas Barakat as a civilian is also contested. Most sources identify Anas Barakat as a civilian. However, @mzmgr941 alleges that Anas Barakat is a field commander of the Levant Corps – a Sunni islamist rebel group. The tweet is accompanied by a picture of Anas Barakat in what appears to be a khaki jacket, but the time at which the photo was taken is unknown and there are no distinguishing military indicators in the photo to corroborate the claim.

The majority of sources also report that the Syrian regime was responsible for the artillery shelling. However, @mzmgr941 tweeted that Russian forces used missiles to attack Kafr Kouran.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Anas Barakat, killed by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Nouran on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @mzmgr941)
  • Anas Barakat, killed by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Nouran on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @mzmgr941)
  • Alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Nouran on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by @Hamoudi_Free_Sy)

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
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]