Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1782

Incident date

December 10, 2016

Location

بِنِّش, Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.953725, 36.711248 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this major event, local sources reported that alleged Russian airstrikes killed between zero and 15 civilians, including three children, and wounded up to 24, as they struck the city of Binnish, Idlib.

While Qasioun News said that there were no reports of casualties, the remaining sources reported up to 15 fatalities, including children. Eight victims were identified by name.

There is doubt as to whether one of the victims, Mustafa Haj Kadour, was a civilian or an opposition fighter. The Violations Documentation Center classifies him as a civilian while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Firas Al Ahmad refer to him as a “fighter” or “rebel militant”.

According to Qasioun News’ correspondent, alleged Russian warplanes dropped cluster bombs. LCCSY added that Russian forces had used vacuum missiles in the strikes.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Russia struck the “Mustafa Amouri School in the city of Binsh in the countryside Idlib, which led to the partial destruction of the building and exit from service on 10 December.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Binnish (بِنِّش), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.953725,36.711248. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (3 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the immediate chaotic aftermath in Binnish, Idlib, after being struck by the alleged Russian airstrikes on 10 December, 2016 (via Ahmed Fallaha)
  • Footage of the immediate chaotic aftermath in Binnish, Idlib, after being struck by the alleged Russian airstrikes on 10 December, 2016 (via Mouaz Al Shami News)
  • The alleged Russian strikes on Binnish, Idlib, reportedly destroyed the Mustafa Amouri School (via SN4HR)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via @Maaramc13)
  • Mustafa Haj Kadour was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Firas Al Ahmad Facebook)
  • Mustafa Haj Kadour was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Firas Al Ahmad Facebook)
  • Ahmed Amouri Al Assaad was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Coordinators of the-revolution in the city of Binnish)
  • Ahmad Omar Fayyad was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Almasjedalkabeer Facebook)
  • Ahmad Muhammad Haj Talib was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via Coordinators of the-revolution in the city of Binnish)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via Idlib Media Centre Facebook)
  • Destruction caused by the alleged Russian strikes targeting Binnish Idlib on 10 December 2016 (via Idlib Media Centre Facebook)
  • Abd al-Lateef Mostafa al-Omer was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via VDC)
  • Amer Hasan al-Saeid was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via VDC)
  • Ahmad Abd al-Lateef Qara Ali was reportedly killed by the alleged Russian airstrikes targeting Binnish, Idlib, on 10 December, 2016 (via VDC)

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.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (3 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]