Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1072

Incident date

July 30, 2016

Location

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.18553, 36.72231 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four or five civilians died in an airstrike on Sarmada, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Qasioun, Almntsrbalaah and Halabtoday all said that Russia was responsible, while Syria News Desk added that Russian warplanes had dropped cluster bombs on Sarmada’s main market.

Derynews, LCCSY and EMC also reported that the regime carried out strikes.

The Syrian Network, again blaming the regime, put the death toll at five including three women.

Some other sources didn’t identify the warplanes that carried out the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hussam Ali Khaled
Age unknown male killed
Khadeja Ali Khaled
Age unknown female killed
Khadeja Mohammed Khaled
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Hussein Karbouj
Age unknown killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sarmada (سرمدا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.18553, 36.72231. 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
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Vehicles and buildings destroyed on a street in Sarmada by alleged Russian attacks (Tweet by @jisrtv)
  • Demolished buildings on a street in Sarmada - the consequences of alleged Russian shelling (Tweet via @thesyrianmirror)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 29th – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]