Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2060

Incident date

April 3, 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

Between two and four civilians were killed and up to 15 more were injured following an alleged Russia or Assad regime missile strike on Khan Sheikhoun.

Syria News Desk said that up to 20 people were killed and wounded, specifying that three civilians were killed, meaning as many as 17 were likely injured in the raid.

Aljazeera put the death toll at four civilians.

Additional reporting suggested that many civilians were trapped under the rubble and sustained serious injures. Syria News Desk added that the death toll was likely to rise due to serious injures, such as amputations. Furthermore, the hospital asked for a blood donation through “wireless observatories” from members of the public.

According to Smart News, there were more than four rocket attacks in various locations within Khan Sheikhoun city. Idlib Media Centre added that C5 missiles were used in the raid. 

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to Russia, though Ahmad Sheiko blamed “Al-Sukhoi warplanes of the regime for launching an airstrike on residential neighbourhoods of Khan Sheikhoun”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–17
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment a missile hit Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The exact moment a missile hit Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The exact moment a missile hit Khan Sheikhoun, 3rd April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • Translation: 'The moment warplanes with S8 missiles struck the western neighborhood of the city of Khan Sheikun in the southern Idlib countryside.'

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 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
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–17
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]