Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1429

Incident date

October 11, 2016

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19569, 37.14229 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what local media described as a ‘massacre’, 52 civilians including up to 10 children and seven women died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Bustan al-Qasr  in Aleppo – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. There were reports of bunker-busting missiles and helicopters being used in the attacks.

According to The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), “the death toll rose to at least 40 including 10 children and five women due to suspected Russian warplanes firing missiles on Bustan Al Qasr neighbourhood in Aleppo city”.

Multiple sources said that residential buildings were destroyed, leaving many civilians trapped under the rubble. According to Revolution Syria, a children’s medical center was struck, while IranArabSpring reported that “a children’s school’ was shelled.

Shahed Ayan reported that “warplanes fired five missiles at residential building in Bustan Al-Qaser and killed 25 civilians and wounded more than 30”. However, according to Halab News Network (HNN) and Video Documentation Center Syria (VDC) the total number of victims rose to 52, and the two media identified the names of 47 of the victims.

The exact number of wounded also varied, but as shown above, most sources reported put the number at between 20 and 30. The Twitter account Mhridadnikiskyar identified one of the injured as the child Raghad Ibrahim.

Most sources – VDC, Ara News, Syria Press Center, ShahbaPress, SN4HR, LCCSY and Step News Agency – blamed Russia. Only one sources. al-Hal, pointed to the Assad regime, while Human Rights Watch, Orient News, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Shaam News Network attributed the event to both Russia and the Assad regime.

Halab News Network and VDC named 47 victims and also listed 5 unidentified males.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (3)

Family members (2)

Family members (7)

Family members (2)

Family members (8)

Family members (3)

Family members (2)

Family members (3)

Summary

  • Strike target
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    52
  • (7–10 children7 women37 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (34) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Amin Mohammed Hemami, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via, VDC)

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    A woman and a young boy mourn over the death of two children in the aftermath of the alleged Russian or Syrian regime raid, 11th October 2016. (via Enab Baladi)

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    A baby is rescued from the sight of the alleged raid of Bustan al Qasr, Oct 11th (via Syrian PC)
  • A photo showing the extent of the destruction on Bustan al Qasr in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via Zakaria Nassani)

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    Two children, victims of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustain al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via Syrian Revolution)

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    Seriously disturbing footage of a family grieving over the loss of their children. (via, the video is taken from Thiqa but published by Shahed-Ayan)

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    An injured child named Raghad Ibrahim awaits medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via IranArabSpring)
  • Children in shock cry on the side of the road in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid non Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via IranArabSpring)

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    An injured child awaits medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via IranArabSpring)

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    Graphic footage of children and adults being attended to in a medical facility in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Shahed_Ayan)

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    An injured child awaits medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via SyriaArwad)

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    Inured children receive medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via SyriaArwad)

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    An injured child awaits medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via SyriaArwad)

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    A man holds a deceased baby in his arms. (via SyriaArwad)

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    An injured child named Raghad Ibrahim awaits medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via Mhridadnikiskyar)

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    Footage of members of the White Helmets digging civilian casualties from the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Thiqa)

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    Footage of members of the White Helmets digging civilian casualties from the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via CDS)
  • Civilians and White Helmets attempt to begin clearing the rubble in Bustan al Qasr. (via Thiqa)
  • Civilians and White Helmets attempt to begin clearing the rubble in Bustan al Qasr. (via Thiqa)

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    Civilian casualties remain trapped under the rubble in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr. (via Thiqa)
  • Civilians and White Helmets attempt to begin clearing the rubble in Bustan al Qasr. (via Thiqa)

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    A civilian casualty is carried from the scene. (via SN4HR)

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    An injured child is carried into a medical facility to receive care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via AbuAlhudaHomsi)

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    Inured children receive medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via AbuAlhudaHomsi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Inured children receive medical care in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr, 11th October 2016. (via AbuAlhudaHomsi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man receiving medical treatment. (via AbuAlhudaHomsi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A family mourn over the death of two children in the aftermath of the alleged Russian or Syrian regime raid, 11th October 2016. (via Shehab)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A family mourn over the death of two children in the aftermath of the alleged Russian or Syrian regime raid, 11th October 2016. (via Shehab)
  • Saleh AHmad Ejj, from Darrat Izza, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bustan al Qasr. (via Anas AlHage)
  • Rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via SNN)
  • Rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via SNN)
  • Rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via SNN)

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    A civilian casualty is carried from the scene in the aftermath of the raid. (via SNN)
  • Rubble in the aftermath of the alleged raid. (via SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike target
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    52
  • (7–10 children7 women37 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (39) [ collapse]