Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS042

Incident date

October 15, 2015

Location

تيرمعلة, Teir Ma'ala, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.802364, 36.709287 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 57 civilians were killed in a sequence of Russian airstrikes across Homs governorate. According to reports the attacks were in support of a Syrian regime ground offensive, backed by Iranian troops.

In Teir Ma’ala, up to 23 non-combatants were said to have died alongside militants in a 6am attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later described the victims as including “the Teir Ma’ala operations room commander, 8 citizens and one child” while the Shaam News Network raised the toll to 15, noting that “one of the air strikes targeted a gathering of civilians in front of a bakery in the town near al Nour Mosque, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the final death toll at 24: “23 civilians, including 2 children and one armed opposition gunman.”

Human Rights Watch concluded that the attack “apparently violated the laws of war.“

The VDC later named 10 of the dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 23
  • (2 children1 woman7 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the injured civilians following warplane raids on Talbissa, 15th October 2015.(via: Shaam News Network)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photos showing civilians killed as a result of alleged Russian raids on the villages of the northern Homs countryside, 15th October 2015. (via: @rafiksalkini)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of the one of the victims of an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via @rafiksalkini)
  • Abdulsalam Hammoud killed in an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via, VDC)
  • Rabei Ezzeldeen al-Hammoud killed in an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via, VDC)
  • Abdulellah Ibraheem al-Raheemo killed in an alleged Russian raid on Teir Ma'ala, 15th October 2015. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia made no reference to strikes in Homs governorate for October 15th-16th 2015, despite its aircraft clearly having been filmed in action (see below event.)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 23
  • (2 children1 woman7 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]