Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1734

Incident date

December 4, 2016

Location

معرة النعمان , Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty event, up to 38 civilians including as many as 11 children died and dozens more were wounded when alleged Russian or Assad regime warplanes struck a major vegetable market in the town of Maarat al Numan. Sources said that the strike occurred at 2.45pm, when the market – which also sold “motorcycles, spare parts and car accessories” – was at its busiest.

Multiple sources published images depicting widespread destruction, which reportedly resulted in severe damage to as many as 40 shops.

Many sources blamed the Assad regime. According to the Smart News Agency, “25 civilians were killed and about 50 others were injured on Sunday night [Dec 4th] following an aerial bombardment of the vegetable market in the town of Ma’arat al-Nu’man, a southern suburb of Idlib. Aircraft of the regime launched a raid on the market, with rockets, killing and wounding about 75 civilians, including five children and three women in the initial death toll”.

Syrian Human Rights Committee, also pointing to the regime, put the death toll at 35 with dozens more injured. The Syrian Network for Human Rights, the White Helmets and Syrian Press Center also attributed the event to Assad.

However, Alarabita, Homs News24 and Zaitonmag said that Russia was responsible, as did the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who reported that there were “38 civilians confirmed dead including five children and six persons from the same family including a woman”.

There was some confused reporting from the Step News Agency, who initially pointed to Russia but then to the regime.

Aljazeera and the Shaam News Network reported that both Russian and Syrian aircraft were the culprits.

The incident occured at 14:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Ahmed Abdul Muti Harami
male killed
Hassan Abdul Muti Harami
male killed
Hussein Abdul Muti Harami
male killed
Hamza Yousef Al - Harami
male killed
Abdullah Mohammed Yousif Al Harami
male killed
Mariya Abdul Muti Harami
female killed

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Shahoud al-Hip
Age unknown female killed
Ahmed Son of Khaled Al-Ahmar (from the village of Maarata)
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Samer Siraqi
Age unknown male killed
Ismail Habbou
Age unknown killed
Amjad son of Omar Al Saeed
Age unknown male killed
Hamada Al-Dan
Child killed
Hamad Mohammed Fawaz Al Ibrahim
Age unknown from Manat village killed
Hamid Hammado Al - Bassa
Age unknown killed
Rawan Alden
Child female displaced from Aleppo killed
Samer Kushit
Age unknown killed
Ismail Yasser Qayat
Age unknown male killed
Abdullah Mahmoud Al-Karwan
Child male killed
Azzam Qaroucheh
Age unknown killed
Aziz Ibrahim Hamidi
Age unknown killed
Ali Mahmoud Khashan
Age unknown killed
Omar Taha Al Saeed
Age unknown male killed
Omar Nawaf Al Ibrahim
Age unknown male from the village of Mantif killed
Mohammed Abdul Hamid Al Ali
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Abdul Hamid Al Ali
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Katlaty
Age unknown male killed
Mohamed Nawaf Al Ibrahim
Age unknown male from the village of Manatif killed
Mahmoud Imad Makhzoum
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Mohamed Al-Mandil
Age unknown male killed
Mostafa Mohamed El Abd
Age unknown male killed
Muhannad Hamo
Age unknown male killed
Nayef Alzad
Age unknown displaced from Tirean killed
Issam
Child killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat al Numan (معرة النعمان ), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.647038, 36.679174. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33 – 38
  • (5–11 children1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (53) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: 'The massacre in the market of Ma'arat al-Nu'man was carried out by the warplanes.'
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    White Helmets footage showing the aftermath of the strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th.
  • Translation: 'Today's martyr Issam child from # Maarrah_Naman in Idlib governorate Oh Allah, clean his grave with your light'
  • Translation: 'A picture showing two children injured by the bombing of government warplanes by missiles at the vegetable market in the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man in Idlib, causing a massacre on December 4'
  • Translation: 'The bombing of the government warplanes by rockets The vegetable market in the city of Ma'arat al-Nu'man in Idlib caused the massacre of an additional number of shops on 4 December'
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: '# Massacre committed by Russian aircraft and the Assad regime against civilians, children and women in one of the markets of the city of Mara'a al-Nu'man.'
  • The aftermath of a strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Al Jazeera)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Maara)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Blood on the ground following alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SHRC)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via Smart)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SNN)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SNN)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SNN)
  • Destruction following an alleged Russian or Assad regime strike on Maarat al Numan, Dec 4th (via SNN)

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 December 1st – 31st 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
    33 – 38
  • (5–11 children1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]