Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS002

Incident date

September 30, 2015

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.845002, 36.731549 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 18 non-combatants were reported killed at Talbiseh by Russian aircraft in their first day of bombing in Syria.

Paramedic Omar Al Daqa, based at one of Talbiseh’s field hospitals, told VDC: “Around 10am, Russian warplanes launched several fierce airstrikes, targeting a number of neighbourhoods with vacuum missiles, including: Karameh, Bareed and Mashjer streets, as well as the city’s bread distribution center. The shelling was along one track with almost 100 meters between each missile. As a result, 17 civilians were killed, 34 were wounded and one is missing (probably torn into pieces).”

At least one of those killed – civil defence volunteer Abdul Latif al Duheik – died during a secondary strike.

A doctor named as ‘Abu Sham’ also noted that “We received 65 wounded with injuries from minor to critical. Among them, there were cases of suffocation as a result of dust and smoke. As for the martyrs,they were killed by the enormous pressure or shrapnel that pierced their bodies and tore some of them into pieces.“

18 Victims were named by VDC.

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. Russian media made no mention of civilian casualties – with TASS referring only to “pinpoint airstrikes” against what were described as ‘ISIS targets.

Amnesty International later noted, “According to the testimony of two eyewitnesses whom Amnesty International interviewed, complementary testimony, audiovisual material of the direct aftermath of the attacks and reports received from human rights defenders in and from Homs there were no military targets in the vicinity and there were no military casualties. Armed groups allied with the Free Syrian Army controlled the area but were not located in the town itself.”

The incident occured at 10:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Adult female killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Adult male listed as civilian but wearing military top in photo killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male Syrian Civil Defence killed
Adult male killed
Child female From Za'afarana killed
Adult male reported missing believed dead killed

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an airstrike that targeted homes in Talbisah (تلبيسة). Investigating audiovisual material from sources, we narrowed the location of the airstrike to a block of buildings in the northern part of Talbisah, for which the exact coordinates are: 34.845002, 36.731549.

  • Image showing buildings destroyed by airstrike in Talbisah.

    Imagery:
    Violations Documentation Center in Syria

  • Opposite perspective of buildings destroyed in airstrike, this time also showing a walled garden (feature D) and water tower (feature E).

    Imagery:
    Violations Documentation Center in Syria

  • Satellite image showing features of site targeted by airstrike in Talbisah.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite image showing exact location targeted by airstrike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 18
  • (4–5 children2 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    65–72
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the strike on Talbiseh, Sept 30th, 2015. (via SN4HR)
  • Footage showing remains of the bombs dropped in the strike on Talbiseh, Sept 30th, 2015. (via Talbisa h)
  • Abed al Lateef al Dheak Alwawee, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • Yamen Muhammad Jouma, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • Tawfeq Abdulghani al-Dheak, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • Mohammad Omea Shnat, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • Khaled Omar Hadid, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • Belal Ahmad Juma al-Latouf, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • Ahmad Muhammad Joumaa, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • Mousa Mahmoud Jouaa, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video of the victim Belal Ahmad Juma al-Latouf published by Talbisah, a local news outlet. (via Talbisah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video of the victim Ahmad al-Dheak published by Talbisah, a local news outlet. (via Talbisah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video of the victim Abdulghani Abdulrahman AlSheikh published by Talbisah, a local news outlet. (via Talbisah)
  • Talbisah following the raids, (via: paramedic Omar al Daqa /VDC)
  • The aftermath of the attack at Talbisah. (via: paramedic Omar al Daqa /VDC)
  • Yamen Mohamed Joumaa and his brother Ahmad Mohamed Joumaa (via: Tablisah Network)
  • Video showing the destruction caused by the strikes on Talbisah (via SN4HR)
  • Aftermath of the raids at Talbisah, (via SN4HR)
  • Children injured as a result of the raids on Talbisah. (via, Talbisah Network)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

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.”

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 18
  • (4–5 children2 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    65–72
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]