Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1162

Incident date

August 17, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93130, 36.630222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Fifteen named civilians were among those killed in multiple airstrikes on Idlib, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible – though the event was referred to as a “horrific massacre” in several reports. Dozens more civilians were said to have been wounded.

A popular market, “the ball rotor area of the city” and the area near the National Hospital were reportedly struck.

Death counts varied, from 15 (Aa) to 27 civilians (Mada). These sources blamed Russia.

However, Step and Syria News Desk attributed the event to the regime. According to Syria News Desk, “twenty-three civilians died and more than 30 others were wounded – many seriously – in regime military action. There were three raids with rockets and cluster bombs, striking residential buildings near the hospital clinics and other areas”.

Syria Press Center added that many civilian homes were destroyed.

A number of sources didn’t identify the culprit. The highest death toll was given by Zaitonmag, at 28.

Hi Idlib named 12 civilian fatalities, ‘Plus five unknown martyrs’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

33 years old killed
30 years old killed
3 years old

The victims were named as:

4 years old killed
20 years old killed
60 years old killed
13 years old killed
17 years old killed
33 years old killed
40 years old killed
13 years old killed
20 years old killed
45 years old killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the globe roundabout, the area near the National Hospital and the vegetable market being struck. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates of the roundabout are 35.93130, 36.630222.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 28
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Zakaria Bhro, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Hi Idlib)
  • Muhammad Wajih Nassan, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Hi Idlib)
  • Salim Naas, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, Hi Idlib)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A body is pulled from the rubble by the White Helmets following an alleged raid. Syrian civil defense in Idlib)
  • The aftermath of the incident including interviews with local civilians. (via, Maaz al-shami)
  • Damage caused to local shops. (via, Baladi)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, SyrianPC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets carry an injured child to an ambulance. (via, Alkhabar_Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets carry an injured child to an ambulance. (via, Alkhabar_Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The rescue of wounded civilians. (via, shababRevolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty is dragged from the rubble. (via, shababRevolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian is dragged from the rubble following an alleged raid on Idlib. (via, JisirTV)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid. (via, Mada News)

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
    20 – 28
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]