Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS006

Incident date

October 1, 2015

Location

الهبيط, Al Habeet, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.437757, 36.536166 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including one or two children were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike at Al Habeet.

The 9pm attack was said to involve high-explosive rockets, and three of the the dead, two men and a child were later named. Another child may also have died in the incident according to some reports.

Raghat’s mother Suheer told the Guardian her daughter had died of her injuries on the way to hospital: “We were supposed to be going home the next day. My husband never saw his daughter again.”

A video released at the time features a civil defence official discussing the attack: “The raid took place around 9pm. We were surprised to see the extent of the destruction as you can see. It is 3 or 4 times what the regime is capable of. We found an entire family, women and children, there are no military in this area… The victims are an old man, and a young man – a teacher – and a little girl and a little boy. As for the injured there are two little girls and an adult woman.”

Asked what message he had for the international community, the rescuer replied: “I don’t have a message to them. They are all enemies of the Syrian people. The Americans, the Russians, they’re with different faces but the death is the same.”

The incident occured at 21:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Adult male 58 years old killed

Family members (1)

Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male 28 year old, maths teacher killed
Child female 5 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of children killed in an alleged Russian strike at al Habeet , Oct 1st 2015 (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet by Abu Mohammed from the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently showing one of the victims. (via Abu Mohammed)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet by Abu Mohammed from the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently showing another of the child victims. (via Abu Mohammed)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Report showing aftermath of the targeting by alleged Russian planes of the town of al Habeet. includes interview with a member of the White Helmets saying the strike took place at 21:00 (via: journalist Hadi Al Abdallah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Report showing the child victims of the raid on the town of al Habeet. includes interviews with injured children (via: journalist Hadi Al Abdallah)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Habeet (الهبيط), for which the general coordinates are: 35.4379459, 36.5379524. Based on satellite imagery in which structural damage can be seen (see below), a possible location of the incident is: 35.437757, 36.536166

  • Structural damage seen on satellite imagery (left: 2 May, 2014; right: 21 February, 2017)

    Imagery:
    © 2021 Google

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

The Russian MoD confirmed carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate on October 1st-2nd 2015: “In the course of the last 24 hours, Su-24M and Su-25 effectuated 18 combat missions attacking 12 ISIS facilities on the territory of Syria. Ten flights were performed at night. Pinpoint attacks engaged 7 terrorist objects… Su-25 attack aircraft hit the field base of the ISIS militants near Maarrat Al-Nuuman (Idlib). Terrorist bunkers as well as ammunition and POL depots were completely destroyed. Pinpoint bomb attacks eliminated a facility used by militants as a transshipment base and a large ammunition depot.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]