Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1569

Incident date

November 13, 2016

Location

مخيم خان الشيخ, Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.373059, 36.112682 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two men were killed and others were wounded in airstrike and artillery raids which struck al-Huda Mosque in a refugee camp for displaced Palestinians in Khan al Sheikh, Damscus, according to sources on the ground. Reports were conflicted as to who was to blame for the raids – with some blaming Russian and others the Syrian regime. 

According to sources rocket propelled grenade launchers, 20 explosive barrel bombs and thermobaric missiles were all used in the raid. Material damage was significant and some reports said that the Mosque was rendered inoperable. Additionally, it has been reported that farms in the surrounding vicinity were also struck.

Step News Agency reported the use of barrel bombs, rockets and artillery – as well as warplanes.  

Sources claimed that the wounded were sent to field hospitals, however no specific numbers were reported.

Step News Agency noted: “The town of Khan al Sheikh has been subject to a siege by regime forces since the beginning of last month, with people suffering from an acute shortage of all materials necessary for life, the most important being bread and milk for children.” The source went on to describe how this included airstrikes on farms, with clashes between rebel factions”.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Hendi al-Khalidi
Adult male imam of the Mosque killed
Mouhammad Muhsen Fallah
Adult male crier of the Mosque killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the material destruction to the city following an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via SN4HR)
  • Inside of the Mosque which was rendered inoperable following alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via Syria News Desk)
  • Inside of the Mosque which was rendered inoperable following alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via Syria News Desk)
  • Inside of the Mosque which was rendered inoperable following alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via SyrianPC)
  • Inside of the Mosque which was rendered inoperable following alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via @QdsTvSat)
  • Outside of the Mosque which was rendered inoperable following alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via @QdsTvSat)
  • Outside of the Mosque which was rendered inoperable following alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via @QdsTvSat)
  • Outside of the Mosque which was rendered inoperable following alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid which struck Khan al Sheikh, 13th November 2016. (via @islamnedaa3)

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”.

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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]