Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1649

Incident date

November 20, 2016

Location

النشابية, Al Nashabia, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514157, 36.487656 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and five children were killed and up to 20 were wounded – including 15 students and four teachers – following an artillery bombardment and airstrikes which struck Al Nashabiya School in Damascus, also named by another source as “Al Karma” Primary, according to local media. Most sources have either not attributed any blame or have blamed Russian warplanes for the alleged air and artillery strikes.

One source claimed that the missiles which struck the school caused huge amounts of material damage. Images published supported this claim. According to Syrian-Reporter, “The missile targeted the construction of the fourth row near the administrative guidance room, which caused great damage to the building, and led the school to being completely out of service.” Another source reported that rockets struck the area.

The doctor, “Anas”, working in the hospital, a statement to Smart News, suggested that “the unidentified aircraft, struck the Al Karma primary school in the town of Nashabiya, killing a student and wounding more than 15 other students and teachers. There are no military headquarters around the school.” The doctor also reported that “among the wounded are serious cases, which suggests the number of victims will increase.”

Video footage shows the extent of damage to the school, which was apparently struck on Sunday during school hours. Blood covers the floor and the classrooms are rendered out of use. Other photographs and video footage show seriously wounded children received medical treatment in a field hospital in the aftermath of the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Cidra Bustani
Child killed
Huda Spinati
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strike on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. Footage also shows civilian casualties. (via Yasser Alfawwal)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via Eldorar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty in the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @tayserturban)
  • A girl crying while she is treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strike on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via Baladi news network)
  • A child's textbook following a Russian attack on a school. (via @malik_Al_kal)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strike on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. Footage also shows civilian casualties. (via Alfares)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives treatment in the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @YasserAl_Ahmed)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty in the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @YasserAl_Ahmed)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @YasserAl_Ahmed)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @shbabRevolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives treatment in the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @shbabRevolution)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives treatment in the aftermath of the alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on a school in Al Nashabia, 20th November 2016. (via @shbabRevolution)

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.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]