Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS014

Incident date

October 3, 2015

Location

عقرب, Akrab, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.16310, 36.46512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Network reported that Russian warplanes attacked Akrab, a town under the control of the Free Syrian Army, in a joint attack with the Assad regime. All4Syria also reported that “regime forces tried to storm the town, in southern Hama, after several raids by Russian aviation, resulting in several casualties among civilians.“

Two rockets, which SN4HR said contained cluster bombs (pictured below), reportedly killed two civilians including a child: “Four cluster bombs were left un-exploded and the FSA dismantled them by shooting from a very long range. The Russian aerial strikes were accompanied with shelling from rocket launchers by the Syrian regime.”

The incident occured at 13:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Cluster munitions reportedly retrieved from Akrab, October 3rd 2015 (via SN4HR)
  • The Civil Defence transporting the injured. (via SN4HR)
  • Rescue workers at Akrab. (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the sheep market in the village of Akrab (عقرب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.163100, 36.46512. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

The Russians made no direct reference to strikes in Hama for October 3rd-5th 2015, noting only that “Su-34, Su-24M and Su-25 pilots performed 20 flights over the last day. They hit 10 ISIS facilities.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]