Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1643

Incident date

November 20, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians, including a family of six with four children, were reportedly killed by aerial shelling containing chlorine gas in al-Sakhour, Aleppo, local sources reported. It clear as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

Sources reported that explosive barrels containing chlorine gas were fired from helicopters during the night between November 19 and 20, and the family of six, four children and their parents, were killed by suffocation.

While the majority of the sources put the death toll at six, other sources mentioned as many as ten to 15 died.

A doctor who was treating the civilians following the attack told Smart News that as many as 30 civilians were left wounded.

Most sources attributed the incident to the Syrian regime. However, one source, SPM News, reported that both the Syrian regime and Russia were to blame.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 15
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victims, reportedly killed in the bombardment with chlorine gas in the neighborhood of al-Sakhour, Aleppo on November 20, 2016 (via SDC Aleppo)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four siblings were reportedly killed by chlorine gasses dropped from either Russian or Assad warplanes as they hit al Sakhour, Aleppo on November 20, 2016 (via @revo_spring)

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
    6 – 15
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]