Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1504

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1475457, 36.9448239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three or four civilians including two girls and one woman died and as many as dozens more were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Urma al Kubra, according to local media.

The White Helmets gave the lowest death count of four civilians. But all other sources put the number at four, with most saying that this included the two girls and one woman.

LCCSY and Step were among sources that blamed Russia. According to All4Syria, the casualties were caused by “Russian airstrikes with rocket-propelled grenades”.

A number of other sources including the Shaam News Network and Al Jazeera blamed both Russian and regime warplanes.

Many reports said that “dozens” of civilians were wounded in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Urma al Kubra (أورم الكبرى), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.1475457, 36.9448239. 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
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • A member of the White Helmets digs a civilian from the rubble following the strike on Urma al Kubra, Oct 24th (via SNN)
  • A civilian casualty is carried from the scene after an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Urma al Kubra, Oct 24th (via SNN)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Urma al Kubra. (via SNN)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Urma al Kubra. (via SNN)
  • A member of the White Helmets digs a civilian from the rubble. (via SNN)
  • An image of someone trapped in the rubble. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Urma al Kubra. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Urma al Kubra. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid in Urma al Kubra. (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • White Helmets and Civilians rescue trapped people. (via Al Jazeera)
  • Moments after the raid in Urma al Kubra. (via spm_syria)
  • Moments after the raid in Urma al Kubra. (via spm_syria)
  • A man stands in the rubble. (via RFS_mediaoffice)
  • A man stands in the rubble. (via RFS_mediaoffice)

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
    3 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–24
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]