Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1792

Incident date

December 24, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1375975, 36.8284035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and eleven civilians – six reportedly from the same family – were killed in an aerial bombardment which struck a residential neighbourhood in Al Atarib, Aleppo, local media reported. Dozens were also said to have been wounded in the strikes.

Two men, two women and five named children were reported as killed by the Violations Documentation Center, despite most other reports being as low as five.

Most sources blamed Russia for the alleged airstrikes, however ,some also pointed to the Syrian regime. One source alleged that both belligerents were to blame. 

According to Tribearab, the bombs struck a shelter for displaced people. It was additionally reported by another source that it was a residential area.

A video published by Civil Defence Centre, shows many wounded civilians being dragged from the rubble. Defence workers are seen to be digging through the rubble for injured civilians or survivors. Towards the end of the footage, a dead child is pulled from the rubble with chunks of its body missing.

Must be noted the two children from the Zgeer family are also mentioned in RS1793, an airstrike on Al A’kola al Sharqiya, Aleppo. It is unclear where they died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

male killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Son of Tasnim Said Al Shun
Child male killed
Happy Yaman Al Shun
Age unknown killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Adult female killed
Child female Must be noted the two children from the Zgeer family are also mentioned in RS1793, an airstrike on Al A'kola al Sharqiya, Aleppo. It is unclear where they died.
Child female Must be noted the two children from the Zgeer family are also mentioned in RS1793, an airstrike on Al A'kola al Sharqiya, Aleppo. It is unclear where they died.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • (2–5 children1–2 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    News bulletin on the alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. The body of a dead child is recovered from the rubble. (via Step)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. The body of a dead child is recovered from the rubble. Civilians are dragged from the rubble. (via Civil Defence centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child with part of its head missing in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, Aleppo, 24th December 2016. (via @shbabRevolution)
  • Digging in the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via TRTalarabiya)
  • Digging in the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via TRTalarabiya)
  • Digging in the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via TRTalarabiya)
  • Digging in the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via TRTalarabiya)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Bodies of the dead in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via Plespost)
  • Digging in the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via Plespost)
  • Digging in the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via Plespost)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via Plespost)
  • Hassan Said al-Shun, killed in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via Saadmer3e)
  • Digging in the rubble in the aftermath of alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Al Atarib, 24th December 2016. (via Civil defence)

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.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • (2–5 children1–2 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]