Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1567

Incident date

November 11, 2016

Location

كفر داعل, Kafr Dael, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.216015, 37.021403 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and ten civilians were killed and up to 30 more were wounded, some critically, in airstrikes targeting Kafr Dael, Aleppo, described as “systematic bombing” by one report.

According to sources, two of the victims were from the same family. There is confusion as to who is the blame for the alleged raids, with some sources blaming Russia and others the Syrian regime. Additionally, a few sources do not name a belligerent.

While most sources say that cluster bombs were used in the bombardment, there are also claims which suggest “stereochemistry rockets”, “napalm bombs” and “white phosphorous” was used.

Despite varying reports on the numbers of civilians wounded, between 12 and 30, it is made clear through multiple reports that some of the wounded were critically so, as they were taken to a field hospital for treatment. 

Syria News Desk additionally stated that “those in a critical condition were moved  to Turkish hospitals across the Bab Hawa border under the control of the opposition, north-west crossing.”

Images of the event showed much material damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the incident, with one source reporting that vehicles were burned.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amer Sheikh Mohammad
19 years old male killed
Mohammad Sheikh Mohammad
13 years old male killed
Hanin Sheikh Mohammad
3 years old male killed
Haydar al Taweel
46 years old male killed
Emad Alaya
40 years old male killed
Munther ~Alaya
13 years old male killed
Omar Salim Kaddah
30 years old male killed
Unidentified person from Ghazal family
Age unknown killed
Unidentified person
Age unknown killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kafr Dael, Aleppo (كفر داعل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.216015, 37.021403. 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
    4 – 10
  • (3 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Kafr Dael, 11th November 2016. (via Syria News Desk)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Kafr Dael, 11th November 2016. (via Thiqa Agency)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Kafr Dael, 11th November 2016. (via Thiqa Agency)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Kafr Dael, 11th November 2016. (via Thiqa Agency)
  • A kitten in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Kafr Dael, 11th November 2016. (via Thiqa Agency)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Kafr Dael, 11th November 2016. (via Thiqa Agency)
  • Hassan Radwan Sheikh Mohammed. Omar Radwan Sheikh Mohamed. Mohammed Radwan Sheikh Mohammed Hanin Radwan Sheikh Mohammed, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Kafr Dael, 11th November 2016. (via Mohammad shih mohammad)

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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (3 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]