Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1487

Incident date

October 20, 2016

Location

Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6155094, 36.5471898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilian males died and at least two more were wounded – including members of the White Helmets – in an airstrike on Kafr Nabil, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

@syriapost1 was among several sources pointing to Russia and putting the death toll at two “with several more wounded.”

However, Qasioun, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Enabbaladi blamed the regime. The latter reported that “in the morning [Oct 20th], two members of the civil defense in the city of Kafr Nabl were injured by heavy machine guns targeting the city from warplanes”. They also mention that there was damage to a fire engine.

Rfsmediaoffice joined other sources in reporting that members of the White Helmets were wounded. The figures was put at either two or three.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Najib Zator
Adult male named by @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH killed
Ammar Ayman Altaob
Adult male named by @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A damaged vehicle in the aftermath of the alleged raid, on Kafr Nabil, Oct 20th (via ShahbaPress)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man is treated in an ambulance by a member of the White Helmets following the strike on on Kafr Nabil, Oct 20th (via ShahbaPress)

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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]