Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS132

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple sources, at least ten non-combatants died, and 30 were injured by alleged Russian warplanes struck the popular market in the centre of Ma’arat Al Numan.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for the alleged raids, but a member of The White Helmets, who came to the scene, told SN4HR Russian jets were responsible: “On Sunday in the afternoon, alleged Russian warplanes launched two rockets on the market in Abi’ Alaa Street. We directly went there. One rocket targeted Al Ma’ara Pharmacy which flattened it to the ground, and the other rocket fell to the east of the first location. The region is completely free of any armed opposition groups or ISIL.”

The Violations Documentation Center named seven victims as having been killed alleged Russian strikes.

Additionally, on November 18th, the VDC also listed Mostafa Mohammad Khair al Thikra as having died from wounds sustained in the bombing. Ibraheem al Ekel described as having died from injuries sustained in a strike on Maasaran. However, a list compiled by the Syrian Center suggests that while he is from Maasaran, Mr al-Ekel killed on November 8th in the Ma’arat al-Numan market bombing.

Moreover, The Syrian Network for Human Rights named Alaa Zarzour and Hasan Ahmad Ja’afar Al Shardoub as having died in the attack. And according to Syrian Center News, a young man from the Sheroot family was also killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Kareem al-Shardoub
Adult male killed
Yasin al-Dergam
Adult male killed
Jamal Mohammad Mendel
Adult male killed
Hosain al-Sobaih
Adult male killed
Abd la-Khaleq al-Baik
Adult male killed
Mostafa al-Sherawi
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mostafa al-Sherawi
Adult male killed
Mostafa Mohammad Khair al Thikra
Age unknown male killed
Ibraheem al Ekel
Age unknown male killed
Alaa Zarzour
Age unknown male killed
Hasan Ahmad Ja’afar Al Shardoub
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat al Numan (مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.647038, 36.679174. 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
    10 – 12
  • (10–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Maarah Network Report A new massacre committed by Russian aircraft with their hateful missiles, which targeted the commercial market in the city of Maarat al-Nu'man in the countryside of Idlib
  • Abd al Kareem Hardoub
  • Jamal al Mendeel

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia confirms in its report covering November 6th-9th 2015 carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate: “In the suburbs of al-Zerba (Idlib province), a large command center of Jabhat al-Nusra illegal armed group was destroyed. The object had been arranged in the course of the last three weeks as well as well-camouflaged. The command center coordinated terrorists’ actions at the Idlib-Aleppo direction. After additional reconnaissance of the object by means of unmanned aerial vehicles, a Su-34 aircraft made a strike with a guided bomb KAB-500. As a result, the object was destroyed with all its contents.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (10–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]