Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1470

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1995518, 37.1815538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty event, up to 31 civilians including at least nine children and five women from several families died and as many as 70 more were wounded in multiple airstrikes on residential buildings in Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, according to local media. Many sources blamed Russia for the event, though several also pointed to the regime. Micro Syria quoted the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdul Rahman, who said that “it was not known whether the raids were Syrian regime or Russian”.

All sources, however, were agreed on the widespread destruction inflicted on the area – and a death toll which rose into double figures. At least two residential buildings – including a five-storey apartment block – were reportedly destroyed in the attack, leaving tens of people trapped under the rubble.

According to Focusaleppo, “On Sunday [Oct 16th] , Syrian and Russian warplanes targeted a car repair shop in the Al Qaterji district with four air strikes, killing 31 civilians and injuring more than 70. The civil defence said in a statement that the shelling targeted a five-story residential building, completely destroying it and damaging adjacent buildings inhabited by residents close to the targeted area. Civil defence teams were able to rescue many of the injured and transport them to field hospitals, though there are still people trapped under the rubble.”

@rola1katib provided a brief and chilling tweet, stating that “most of the martyrs were buried alive under their homes”.

Syria News reported that “high-explosive rockets were used on the neighbourhood for the first time”, while Halab News reported that Russia deployed “bunker busting missiles”.

While the majority of sources said that Russia was responsible, The Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the event to the regime, reporting at least 13 civilian deaths, including “Fatima, Rimas, Jinan Abu Akhras and their mother”.

@iphs_tr – put death toll at 30 publishing images of a child who survived being treated in a medical facility. According to the White Helmets “the child Marouf” was rescued. Many sources published images of the children slain in this event: @ahmad09904 named a little girl as “Amira“, while @plespost posted a picture of five dead infants.

Halab News and BNN named 25 civilians as killed and included 4 unidentified civilians from the Sharfo family.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (18)

Mohammad Kamal Abu Kharas
Age unknown male named by Halab News and BNN killed
Kamal Mohammad Abu Kharas
Child named by Halab News and BNN killed
Zainab Kamal Abu Kharas
Child named by Halab News and BNN killed
The wife of Mohamamd Kamal Abu Kharas
Adult female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Abdallah Kamal Abu Kharas
Age unknown named by Halab News and BNN killed
Kamal Abdallah Abu Kharas
Child named by Halab News and BNN killed
Zainab Abdallah Abu Kharas
Child named by Halab News and BNN killed
The wife of Abdallah Kamal Abu Kharas
Adult female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Omar Kamal Abu Kharas
Age unknown named by Halab News and BNN killed
Zainabl Omar Abu Kharas
Child named by Halab News and BNN killed
The wife of Omar Kamal Abu Kharas
Adult female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Ahmad Mustafa Abu Kharas
Adult male named by Halab News and BNN killed
Wife of Ahmad Mustafa Abu Kharas
Adult female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Daughter of Ahmad Mustafa Abu Kharas
Child female named by Halab News and BNN killed
he wife of Fayez Abu Kharas
Adult female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Daughter of Fayez Abu Kharas 1
Child female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Daughter of Fayez Abu Kharas 2
Child female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Daughter of Fayez Abu Kharas 3
Child female named by Halab News and BNN killed

Family members (7)

Alaa Dannouf
Age unknown named by Halab News and BNN killed
The daughter of Alaa Danouf
Child female named by Halab News and BNN killed
Zainab Danouf
Age unknown named by Halab News and BNN killed
Member of the Sharfo family
Member of the Sharfo family
Member of the Sharfo family
Member of the Sharfo family

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25 – 31
  • (9–13 children5–6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (26) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of a child's body trapped in rubble in Al Qaterji, Oct 16th (via SN4HR)
  • Fatima, Rimas, and Jinan Abu Akhras, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Qaterji, 16th October 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • Huge amounts of damage can be seen to the local infrastructure which includes civilian housing in Al Qaterji on 16th October 2016. (via HNN)
  • Huge amounts of damage can be seen to the local infrastructure which includes civilian housing in Al Qaterji on 16th October 2016. (via HNN)
  • Huge amounts of damage can be seen to the local infrastructure which includes civilian housing in Al Qaterji on 16th October 2016. (via HNN)
  • Injured civilian makes his way through what is left of the area in the aftermath of the alleged raid, Oct 16th (via HNN)
  • Huge amounts of damage can be seen to the local infrastructure which includes civilian housing in Al Qaterji on 16th October 2016. (via HNN)
  • Child stands amongst the rubble. (via HNN)
  • Huge amounts of damage can be seen to the local infrastructure which includes civilian housing in Al Qaterji on 16th October 2016. (via HNN)
  • A member of the White Helmets in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via HNN)
  • Attempting to clear up the rubble in the aftermath of the incident. (via HNN)
  • Members of the White Helmets in the aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via HNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Marouf, a wounded child who is stuck on what looks like the side of a building, which has been struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via ali_i2xx7)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Marouf, a wounded child who is stuck on what looks like the side of a building, which has been struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via ali_i2xx7)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Marouf, a wounded child who is stuck on what looks like the side of a building, which has been struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via ali_i2xx7)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Marouf, a wounded child. (via ali_i2xx7)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Marouf, killed and his body stuck on what looks like the side of a building, which has been struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via fadidahouk)
  • Amira, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on 16th October 2016. (via ahmad09904)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Marouf, a wounded child receiving medical treatment. (via iphs_tr)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Babies, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on 16th October 2016. (via plespost)
  • Two girls, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on 16th October 2016. (via plespost)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid. (via HalabTodayTV)
  • White Helmets to be seen the following day after the raid, Oct 16th, still sifting through rubble. (via White Helmets)
  • A news bulletin documenting the raid. (via Al Boazizi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child casualties seen being pulled from the rubble of civilian homes which were struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime warplanes, Oct 16th (via Buraq.Media.Fundation)
  • The aftermath of the alleged raid. (via Almodon )

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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25 – 31
  • (9–13 children5–6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]