Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4619

Incident date

November 2, 2023

Location

كفرتعال, Kafar Taal, west of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

During the morning of Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, an alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling on agricultural lands in the village of Kafar Taal, west of Aleppo, Syria, killed a woman and injured at least two civilians, including a woman and 70-year-old man, while they were harvesting olives.

Several sources, including the Syrian Civil Defence, first reported that two women and a child were injured as a result of the bombing. A few hours later, the Syrian Civil Defence issued an update on the situation and reported that the strike killed one woman, Amal Mahmoud Ghaiba, and injured two civilians, including a woman and a 70-year-old man. Two photos posted on Facebook by Arabic Syria and Alhadth showed at least two wounded civilians being rescued by ambulances.

Amal Mahmoud Ghaiba reportedly died as a result of her injuries a few hours after the strike. Her death was reported by several sources including a Facebook post that named her husband who survived her as Taher Abdel Qader Ghaiba.

The identity of the belligerent is contested, with some sources naming the Syrian regime forces as the perpetrators, others – the Russian military, and some attributing the responsibility for the strike to both belligerents.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Amal Mahmoud Ghaiba أمل محمود غيبة
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Source: Ammar Khayra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alhadth
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Arabic Syria
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
  • Infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]