Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Fifteen non-combatants were reported killed at the village of Za`faranah in Russia’s first wave of airstrikes in support of the Syrian regime.
According to the Syrian state-run news agency SANA, Russian warplanes targeted “ISIS dens” in al-Rastan, Talbiseh and Zafaraniya in Homs province; Al-Tilol al-Hmer, in Qunaitra province; Aydoun, a village on the outskirts of the town of Salamiya; Deer Foul, between Hama and Homs; and the outskirts of Salmiya.”
At Za`faranah, according to SN4HR, 15 civilians were killed “including two children and five women.” Following a field investigation the Violations Documentation Centre also put the death toll at fifteen.
Citing an eyewitness, VDC noted; “Two attacks were launched on the southern entrance to the village, specifically on four adjacent civilian houses.There were neither military locations nor an ISIS presence in the targeted area. Unfortunately, fourteen civilians, many unidentified, were instantly killed and more than thirty others were injured in the two strikes. Following this, at 10:00 am, warplanes targeted the area of al-Makramiah, south-west of Zaafaraneh village. As a result, a young man was killed and eight civilians were injured. On that day, the air strikes did not stop, they continued targeting the southern part of the village at about 11:00 am, causing injury to eight more people.”
Nine of the victims were named by VDC.
Russian media made no mention of civilian casualties – with TASS referring only to “pinpoint airstrikes” against what were described as ‘ISIS targets.’
The incident occured between 9:00 am and 11:00 am local time.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (11) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]
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Destruction caused at Za`faranah. (via Activist Anas Abu Adnan /VDC)
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Searching for victims at Za`faranah, (via Activist Anas Abu Adnan /VDC)
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Following the alleged Russian strike at Za`faranah, Sept 30th 2015 (via Activist Anas Abu Adnan/VDC)
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Rescuers seartch for victims of the alleged Russian strike at Za`faranah, Sept 30th 2015 (via Activist Anas Abu Adnan/VDC)
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Activist Anas Abu Adnan captures moment of an Russian airstrike on al Za'afarana Sept 30th 2015 (via VDC)
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Image showing the aftermath of the alleged Russian shelling at Al Zaafarana on 30th September 2015, Source Baladi News
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This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
Geolocation notes (6) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention an airstrike that targeted homes in an area called al-Makramiah located southwest of Za`faranah (الزعفرانية). Investigating visual material from sources, we narrowed the location of the airstrike to a block of homes on the southwest outskirts of Za’faranah. Post-strike satellite imagery also corroborates the location of the incident, for which the exact coordinates are: 34.882683, 36.770165.
Unknown Assessment:
Original strike reports
The Russian MoD has confirmed carrying out airstrikes on September 30th 2015, though did not give precise locations: “Today the Russian aviation, which was located at the Syrian airfield Hmeymim, performed high accuracy strikes against international terrorist organization ISIS. The attack jets with modern armament hit eight facilities, including munition, armament and POL storages, combat vehicles, command and communication posts. All targets have been successfully engaged. The pilots completely destroyed HQ and coordination centers of the ISIS troops located in the mountains.”