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 am local time.
- Eidow Ahmad Joumaa Adult male killed
- Latouf Ahmad Juma Child male killed
- Mousa Mahmoud Jouaa Adult male killed
- Ahmad Muhammad Joumaa Child male killed
- Heba Mhemed Adult female killed
- Khaled Alqassab Adult male killed
- Muna Soulaiman Arour Adult female killed
- Tawfeq Abdulghani al-Dheak Adult male listed as civilian but wearing military top in photo killed
- Yamen Muhammad Jouma Child male killed
- Belal Ahmad Juma al-Latouf Adult male killed
- Abdow Mehdee Khashfeih Adult male killed
- Ahmad al-Dheak Adult male killed
- Abdulghani Abdulrahman AlSheikh Adult male killed
- Mustafa Khaled Wakia Adult male killed
- Abed al-lateef al-Dheak "Alwawee" Adult male Syrian Civil Defence killed
- Mohammad omea Shnat Adult male killed
- Ritaj al-Khateeb Child female From Za'afarana killed
- Khaled Omar Hadid Adult male reported missing believed dead killed
Summary
Sources (18) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]
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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.
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.”