Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1477

Incident date

October 18, 2016

Location

Al Sabha, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2970537, 40.2363968 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 10 civilians died and several more were wounded in airstrikes on Al Sabha town in Deir Ezzor, according to local media. The majority of sources blamed Russia for the event, though there was also an allegation against the Assad regime.

The lowest death count was given as two by LCCSY, who blamed Russia.

However, Euphrates Post – who also said that Russia was responsible – was among other sources putting the death toll at 10 civilians.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that three died in an attack by “government warplanes”.

Some other sources didn’t apportion blame. According to Deir Ezzor24, “the bombing targeted the mosque of Omar ibn al-Khattab in the village of al Sabha in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Azur, which led to the death of six civilians and damage to houses surrounding the mosque. Our correspondent said that the bombing was repeated twice; the first time there was only material damage, but on the second occasion there was a massacre”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamada al Gadda’a
Age unknown named by Deir Ezzro 24 killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sabha, for which the generic coordinates are: 35.2970537, 40.2363968. 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
    2 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (19) [ 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 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
    2 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]