Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Several civilians died and up to 20 more were wounded in airstrikes on Dara Azza in Aleppo, according to local media. The majority of sources blamed Russia – though there were also allegations against the regime – and focused on a strike on a field hospital. Other outlets reported more widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure in addition to the raid on the medical facility. The alleged use of phosphorous bombs was also noted by at least one source.
The Shaam News Network (SNN) said that Russia carried out 10 raids on Dara Azza (though some other reports put the number higher). “Civilian homes and neighbourhoods” were initially struck, resulting in an unspecified number of “martyrs and wounded”. SNN added that the Russian jets then returned in the evening, striking al Reeh hospital.
But according to Syria News Desk, the Russian raids occurred at “two o’clock in the morning, and destroyed the only field hospital”. It put the death toll at two civilians with 20 more injured.
The Smart News Agency said that four alleged Russian strikes “targeted the hospital directly”, leading to the “burning of two ambulances”, complete destruction of half of the building and “killing of two civilians who were next to the hospital” – but left no casualties among the medical staff.
However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the regime had carried out strikes on Dara Azat, killing two people – though the report didn’t mention the raid on the hospital. Radar2 named “a civilian”, as killed by regime warplanes. This victim was also named by LCCSY, though source listed him as a combatant. Alarabya added that “two militants” had been killed in the bombing.
Radio Alkul reported that “the local council in the town of Darat Izza countryside its work on Wednesday [Aug 17th] in all its departments, medical centres, public hospitals and civic institutions until further notice due to the barbaric bombardment of the Assad regime the Russians and its allies. Only emergency medical kits were provided. The shelling destroyed civilian infrastructure and displacement of residents of the city. Additionally, warplanes struck civil service institutions, particularly public hospitals, one of which – a field hospital – was completely put out of service.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Dara Azza (دارة عزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.28247, 36.85216. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (26) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]
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Fires spread in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Shahed-ayan)
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Fires spread in the aftermath of the incident. (via, Daretezzamedia)
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The inside of the hospital which was targeted by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime forces. (via, Syrianewsdesk)
Russian Military Assessment:
Original strike reports
On August 16th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that,"Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 tactical bombers took off from the “Hamedan” airbase (the Islamic Republic of Iran) and carried out a concentrated airstrike on objects of the ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groupings in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib. As a result, the strikes have eliminated 5 large ammunition depots with armament, munitions and fuel, training camps of militants near Serakab, Al-Ghab, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor cities, 3 control centres of militants near the cities Jafra and Deir ez-Zor as well as a significant number of militants. Ammunition depots, training camps and control centres destroyed by the bombing had been used for support of militant groupings near Aleppo."