Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS013

Incident date

October 3, 2015

Location

إحسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.7209426, 36.5562773 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Russian aircraft reportedly bombed the town of Ihsem in Idlib, killing five members of one family – four of whom were young girls.

The victims were later named.

The White Helmets civil defence force tried to reach the dead and injured, but were subjected to a ‘double tap’ strike which killed one of their rescuers and injured six others, two seriously. In a later interview with al Jazeera, survivor Kaddour al Zaeim spoke of the deaths of family members.

While most sources blamed Russian aircraft, the Syrian Network initially said the attack was the work of the Assad regime. Following an investigation it later attributed the deaths to Russia, citing local activist Kasem Abu Nizar: “At 1pm on Saturday, Russian warplanes launched four airstrikes on Ihsim town in Jabal Al Zawiya in Idlib suburbs. The raids targeted the poultry farm which was shelled with 10 rockets. The first and second raids shelled three rockets, and the third and fourth raids shelled two rockets at a time.”

The incident occured at 13:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Mariam Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Iynas al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Maysaa Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Fatema Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Waheede Qaddour al-Zaeim
Adult female killed
Abdo Al Zaeim
Age unknown male injured
Khadija al Zaeim
Age unknown female injured
Khaled al Zaeim
Age unknown male injured

The victims were named as:

Essam al-Saleh
Adult male Civil Defence Staff killed
Mohammad Faress Fadel
Adult male Civil Defence Staff injured
Ahmad Najjar
Age unknown male injured
Khaled al Assa'ad
Age unknown male injured
Ali Takika
Age unknown male injured
Moustapha al Droubi
Age unknown male injured
Aya al A'ssar
Age unknown female injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ihsem (إحسم), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.7209426, 36.5562773. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (4 children1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (32) [ collapse]

  • Locals and White Helmets at the scene of a reported Russian strike on Ihsem, shortly before the aircraft returned (via SOHR)
  • Issam al Saleh, a civil defence member killed in the strike (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of Issam al Saleh, the Civil Defence worker killed in the strike on Ihsim. Via: Civil Defence [graphic]
  • Mohammad Faress Fadel a member of the civil defence injured while rescuing civilians following the alleged Russian raids in Ihsim. (via Ihsim Martyrs Facebook page)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of the airstrike on Ihsem, Oct 3rd 2015. (via Al Jazeera)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • Rescuers searching for victims under the rubble following the devastation caused by warplanes believed to be Russian in strikes on Ihsem. SOHR published 24 pictures on their facebook account, posted below (via SO4HR)
  • The aftermath of the strike. (via SN4HR)
  • Video showing the aftermath including interviews with rescuers. One man says they pulled out five kids and their mother. Another civilian says this was a poultry farm. (via SN4HR)
  • Mohammad Faress Fadel, injured in an alleged Russian raid. (via Ihsem martyrs facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Kremlin reported a number of airstrikes in Idlib for October 3rd 2015, though made no direct reference to Ihsem.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (4 children1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]