Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1482

Incident date

October 20, 2016

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

A member of the White Helmets died and five of his colleagues were wounded, along with “dozens more civilians” in a strike on the Civil Defence center in the city of Maarat al Numan, according to local media. Sources noted that the Civil Defence Center – “the most important center in the southern Idlib countryside” – was almost completely destroyed by the strike. While most sources blamed Russia, two others pointed to the Syrian regime. Several reports said that “rocket-propelled grenades” had been used in the attack.

According to Syria News Desk, “a member of the civil defence was killed and five others wounded at noon today [Oct 20th], due to the Russian warplanes raid targeting the civil defence center in the town of Maaret al-Numan

“The media opposition activist Khaled AlIdlbi of Idlib countryside told Syria News Desk that the raid hit the center building directly, pointing out that the wounded were taken to the field hospital in Maaret al-Numan”.

Qasioun, who also blamed Russia, said that dozens of civilians were also wounded.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “government warplanes ” for the death of “Bassam Ghassan Hadla, born in 1986, from Hama city”.

Bof-sy also pointed towards the regime, reporting that “sources in the Civil Defense of Anatolia, who did not wish to reveal their identity for security reasons, said that the Syrian regime’s aircraft bombed the Civil Defence Center in Ma’arat al-Nu’man, killing a volunteer and causing significant damage to the building, equipment and vehicles”.

A number of sources tweeted graphic images showing blood on the ground in the center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bassam Ghassan Hadla
Adult male member of the White Helmets killed
Ahmed Hablousi
Age unknown male member of the White Helmets injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (25) [ collapse]

  • Inside an ambulance in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Maarat al Numan, Oct 20th (via SN4HR)
  • A friend of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, carries his uniform away from the scene after he died in a field hospital. (via Baladi News Network)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The uniform of Bassam Ghassan Hadla on the floor where he was killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Sdusyria)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Sdusyria)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Sdusyria)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, including graphic footage of pools of blood left where he fell. Cluster bomb shells are also seen in this footage. (via Rim turkmani)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The uniform of Bassam Ghassan Hadla on the floor where he was killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Enabbaladi)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn at the burial of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • A man holds a pair of glasses covered in blood. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmed Hablousi, wounded in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via Smart)
  • Friends mourn after the death of Bassam Ghassan Hadla, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which targeted a field hospital. (via RevolutionSyria)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmed Hablousi, wounded in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid. (via omar_alwan1)
  • Field hospital struck by alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids and rendered out of use. (via t3aawn)
  • An ambulance which was damaged in the raid. (via t3aawn)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The uniform of Bassam Ghassan Hadla on the floor where he was killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via t3aawn)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The uniform of Bassam Ghassan Hadla on the floor where he was killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Maarat al Numan which struck a field hospital. (via t3aawn)
  • Field hospital targeted by alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids and rendered out of use. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo.

""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo.
“We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence.
According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]