Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4539

Incident date

August 16, 2023

Location

Maaret Al Nassan, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 16th, 2023, at least one civilian was injured in shelling allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces in the Syrian village of Maarat Al-Nassan.

The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that a civilian was injured by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, adding that their volunteers inspected the bombing location and made sure no one else was injured.

However, a military source told North Press that “Damascus government forces targeted with heavy artillery shells and missiles sites in the town of Maarat al-Naasan, east of Idlib, which resulted in the injury of two people of varying severity.” Qasioun News stated that one civilian was injured during a bombing with artillery and rocket launchers, and another civilian was injured in the afternoon by continued shelling of civilian homes. The source added that the second injured civilian was transferred to a medical point for treatment.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime or Russian forces were responsible, with the majority of sources attributing the shelling to the Syrian regime while the Syrian Civil Defense blamed both Russian forces and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Maaret Al Nassan on August 16, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The effects of artillery shelling by the gangs of regime, on residential neighborhoods in the town of Maarat Al-Naasan in the northern countryside of Idlib

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]