Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1013

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

“People were torn apart”, reported Aletihad Press, in an airstrike which hit Al Atarib on 16th July 2016, the Western side of Aleppo. Local media put the death toll at between two and 20 civilians – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible for the civilian harm.

SMO News blamed Russia for the warplane shelling, as did Aletihad and some local residents.

Other local sources pointed to both Russian and regime warplanes. Thiqa News posted images of the destruction which ruined buildings and destroyed cars. Some accounts said that an industrial area was struck.

According to multiple sources such as, SMO News and Thiqa News, eight people were killed in the raid which used cluster bombs and missiles. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least two people had died. Only two victims, see below, were named by other sources.

Orient News interviewed two local civilians. The first man described how most of the people living in this industrial area were displaced from other parts of Aleppo. He added that it was around “lunchtime” that an alleged Russian missile killed 20 people. The second man claimed that the attack was at around 5pm. He also blamed Russian warplanes and noted that many children were also killed in the raid.

The number of injured is a minimum of 40, according to more than one source.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Hamid Za’zou’
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Ahmad Hassoun.
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Atarib (الأتارب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.1375975, 36.8284035. 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
    2 – 20
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The inside of a hospital after an airstrike which hit Al Atarib. (via Aletihad News).
  • Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting Al Atarib. (via SMO News).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Atarib (via Itihad press)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Alleged victim of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Atarib (via Itihad press)
  • Child in the aftermath of the contested airstrikes targeting al-Atarib (via Itihad press)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Atarib (via Thiqa News Agency tweet)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes on al-Atarib (via Shehab Agency tweet)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 16th – 27th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 20
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]