Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1181

Incident date

August 22, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named child died and up many more civilians were wounded in airstrikes on Rastan, according to sources on the ground – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

LCCSY reported one “child martyr and the critical wounding of other civilians in airstrikes on residential houses in ‪‎Rastan‬ city”.

According to Qasioun, “Russian fighter jets used phosphorous bombs and napalm on residential neighborhoods, resulting in fires in civilian homes and commercial shops”.

However, other sources – Syria News Desk, Rozana, Radio Al Kul and Rasd-sy – blamed the Assad regime. Rasd-sy put the death toll at two, while Syria News Desk reported that one child died when regime jets carried out “eight vacuum missiles strikes in Rastan neighborhoods”.

Sln added that “dozens were wounded in the cities of Rastan and Brive in Homs.”

More than one source reported the use of “phosphorous bombs”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hossam Abdul Rahman Obaid
Child male named by Syrian Newsdesk killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ar-Rastan (الرستن‬), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.93, 36.74. 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
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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

Russia has not reported any strikes between August 20th – 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
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • 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]