Incident Code

RS1501

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R1367)

Between four and 10 civilians including one child and one woman died and as any as 30 more were wounded in air and/or artillery strikes on Douma, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame for the deaths, with sources reporting that both parties carried out actions on this day. Many sources referred to the use of cluster bombs and rockets.

But in a later post, the source said that “civilians were martyred due to Assad’s forces shelling on Douma city with cluster bombs”. A popular market was reportedly struck.

The Shaam News Network blamed both Russia and the regime putting the number killed at five with dozens more wounded.

However, other sources attributed the event to only the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that one child and a woman were among five people killed; the Syrian Observatory put the death toll at six; while the highest death count – of eight civilians with 30 more injured – was given by @syria1news1, who blamed “heavy shelling of markets and schools in Douma” – though the source didn’t identify the culprit.

Victims

Invidivuals

Mahmoud Baraka
Child male named by LCCSY killed
Salah Bweidani
Age unknown named by LCCSY killed
Samer Muhammad Takla
Age unknown named by LCCSY killed
Ahmad Daloul
Age unknown named by LCCSY killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
4–10
1 Child, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
12–30

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Douma (دوما), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.5714804, 36.4033699. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
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

Media From Sources (9)