Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1938

Incident date

March 4, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what was described as a “massacre”, up to 15 civilians died and as many as 50 more were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime airstrike on the town of Akeirbat in Hama, according to local media.

The warplanes reportedly struck a sheep marked. Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that “suspected warplanes launched raids on a cattle market in the village of Akeirbat, which is under the control of militants (ISIS, ed.) in the eastern Hama countryside, on Saturday [March 4th], killing at least 11 civilians and injuring 45.”

With the exception of AJA_Syria, who reported that just three civilians had been killed, most sources reported about 10-13 fatalities. However, a week after the incident, Oqeirbat.and.the.desert.News reported that the death toll had risen to 15.

Eight male victims were named by Hama Now News and VDC. Hama Now News added that at least another three civilians from al-Jarf Village, not identified by name, had also been killed.

While most sources attributed blame to Russia, two sources (Smo-Sy News and Syrian Network for Human Rights) identified the Syrian regime as the culprit.

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male from the village of Al-Musheirfa killed
Adult male from the village of Al-Musheirfa killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male from the village of Al-Musheirfa killed
Adult male from the village of Suha killed
Adult male from the village of Al Mu'damiyah killed
Adult male from the village of Bead killed
Adult male from the village of Aqirbat killed
Adult male from the village of Dkaile killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 15
  • (8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

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 strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 15
  • (8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]