Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1159

Incident date

August 17, 2016

Location

Arbeen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two children died and up to dozens more civilians were wounded in airstrike on Arbeen – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

According to Halab Today TV, a 12 year old boy was killed and four others were injured in the Russian raids.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed Russia but in a later tweet appeared to change its position and point towards the regime.

Rudaw was among sources putting the death count at four, but it didn’t apportion blame for the “five airstrikes”.

According to Syrian Press Center, there were “six martyrs, including two children”.

However, Nabd, Elwehda, Madardaily and Zaitonmag blamed the regime – with Zaitonmag adding that dozens were injured in the attacks.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustapha Mohammad Mustapha Hourieh
12 years old male named by Halab Today killed
Maher Bird
Age unknown named by Syrian Press Centre killed
Abdul Razzaq Kdcod
Age unknown named by Syrian Press Centre killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On August 17th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Russian bombers Su-34 took off from Hamedan airbase (Islamic Republic of Iran) with full fragmentation bomb charge and made an airstrike on ISIS terrorist facilities in the Deir ez-Zor province. As a result, 2 command centres and large ISIS field training camps near the Deir ez-Zor city were destroyed, over 150 militants (with foreign mercenaries among them) were eliminated."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–24
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]