Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1328

Incident date

September 23, 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

Between four and 14 civilians including two or three children died and dozens more non-combatants were wounded in airstrikes on Al Rastan, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to LCCSY, “four civilians including two children were martyred after Russian planes raided residential homes in al Rastan with four vacuum missile raids”.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “government warplanes”, putting the death toll at four including three children.

Al Jazeera also blamed the regime.

@ajamubasher tweeted a video (see below) showing “painful scenes summarising what happened today [September 23rd] in the Aleppo and Homs as a result of Russian and Syrian shelling”.

The highest death toll was give by @ZakariaNassani, who said that 14 civilians died following “10 raids on the homes of people” – though the source didn’t name the culprit.

@AraNewsArabic added that dozens were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 14
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A little boy treated by medics in Al Rastan for injuries sustained in alleged warplane shelling, Sept 23rd (via @ajmubasher)
  • Smoke clouds rise above Al Rastan following suspected Russian or Regime raids, Sept 23rd (via @ZakariaNassani)

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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 14
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]