Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1665

Incident date

November 22, 2016

Location

اللطامنة, Al Latamneh, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as nine civilians were killed – and up to 10 or more were wounded – in alleged airstrikes which struck Al Latamneh. According to sources the initial death toll was six, however this rose throughout the day. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the raids. Some sources attributed blame to the Syrian regime, and others to Russian warplanes. 

According to reports, the target was a construction site, meaning many bodies were trapped under the rubble. It was named the “Sabun Patun workshop” by Enabbaladi News. Additionally, there were serious injuries with civilians being transported to a field hospital.

Parts of the surrounding residential neighbourhood including residential housing and other public facilities were also destroyed in the missile strike. However, according to Enabbalaidi, rocket-propelled grenades were also used by the Syrian regime.

Video footage shows the burial of the victims in the aftermath of the airstrike.

Additional reports suggest that Al Latamneh is a town occupied by members of the Free Syrian Army, which could explain why it repeatedly becomes a target for the Syrian regime.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

27 years old male killed
24 years old male killed
Mohammed Mahmud Al-Shamali, Eid,
30 years old male killed
20 years old male killed
31 years old male killed
35 years old male killed
32 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 8
  • (7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Victims of the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Latamneh, 22nd November 2016. (via @jamelalsaleh0)
  • Rafiq Ahamad Al Hamroush, killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Latamneh, 22nd November 2016. (via @Fayyadsattouff)
  • Bara’a Ahmad Al Hoyo, killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Latamneh, 22nd November 2016. (via @Fayyadsattouff)
  • Ahmad abd alkareem al abbas, killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Latamneh, 22nd November 2016. (via @Fayyadsattouff)
  • Khalif Mohammad al khalif, killed in the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Latamneh, 22nd November 2016. (via @Fayyadsattouff)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The burial of victims killed in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Latamneh, 22nd November 2016. (via Mahmoud Al Hamwi)

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
    5 – 8
  • (7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]