Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2001

Incident date

March 21, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reported killed and potentially another injured – though it is unclear whether it is the same child, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media sources. 

All known sources for this incident attribute responsibility to Russian warplanes.

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria named the child who died in the attack, listing the cause of death as “warplane shelling” from “Russian troops”.

Smart News Agency were the only other source to mention civilian harm; it reported that “a child was wounded following russian raids on Khan Sheikhoun”. It is not clear whether these sources are referring to the same child or not. 

@Mobark1000 tweeted further details of the attack, stating that the Russians attacked with cluster bombs and that there had been six raids in 15 minutes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, Mariam al-Azraq, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike, 21st March 2017. (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 strikes between March 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]