Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS170

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Location

ميدان الغزال, Maydan al Ghazal, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.4716451, 36.40131 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reported killed when missiles were allegedly fired from Russian warships, hitting the village of Maydan Al Ghazal. One eyewitness filmed in the aftermath insists “this was caused by Russian ballistic missiles hitting shepherds and farmers living here. They are not terrorists and they’re not armed.”

The Syrian News Desk cited an FSA spokesman as sayng that the attack “caused the deaths of four civilians and wounding 10 others were taken to the nearby village medical point for treatment, in addition to the destruction of more than three houses.” Others placed the death toll at two.

Al Jazeera also reported that “the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its Caspian Sea fleet ships launched 18 ballistic missile on ‘sites for terrorists’ in Syria, and struck seven targets in the provinces of Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo. But opposition sources confirmed that they had killed and wounded civilians in Hama.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • a video the moment of the alleged Russian ballistic missile strikes on the village of Medan al-Ghazal in Jabal Shshabo in the northern countryside of Hama 20-11-2015 (via Mustafa Aburab)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia reported that “On November 20, the ships of the Caspian flotilla performed launches of 18 cruise missiles against 7 targets in the Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. All the aims were hit… 29 aircraft of long-range and bomber aviation made strikes from the zone of the Caspian Sea.” No mention was made of Hama governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]