Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2087

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

حيش, Heesh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.549065, 36.644537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 16 civilians were killed and six others wounded following an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, according to local media sources – though it is not clear who was responsible for the event. Whilst most sources attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes, some mentioned Assad’s regime and others didn’t positively identify a belligerent.

Smart News, who placed the death toll at 16, blamed Russia for the attack, reporting: “Sixteen civilians, including children and women, were killed and wounded Friday [April 7th] when a Russian air force bombed the town of Heesh, 55 km south of Idlib, north Syria”.

Idlib Media Centre, however, had a more conservative figure and placed the death toll at nine civilian casualties. It also attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes who had used vacuum missiles.

The only health centre that provides free care in the town was struck in the raid, according to a correspondent for RFS Media, who also attributed responsibility for the event to Assad’s regime.

Anatolia News Agency were quoted in many of our sources saying that many of those killed and injured in this attack were displaced from other towns in Idlib and Hama.

The Civil Defence reported that of the six wounded in the attack, there were two women and one child.

There was some confusion over the time of the attack. Of the sources that suggested a time of day, those who placed responsibility for the event with Russia reported that it happened at dawn, whilst those who said that it was Assad’s regime reported that it was a night-time attack. It was therefore not clear whether these were two separate incidents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Adult female Wife of Basil Nasser killed
Adult female killed
Adult female Wife of Hamdu Abu Abu killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • (2 children5 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7 April 2017 (Via: Smo-sy)
  • The aftermath of a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7th April 2017. (Via: Shaam News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: The Syrian Civil Defense in Heesh, Idlib rescued the children from the rubble of their homes.
  • Translation: A warplane commits a massacre in the town of Heesh in Idlib
  • Jisr TV.
  • The aftermath of an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017 (Via: All4Syria)
  • Up to 16 civilians were killed in a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib, 7th April 2017. (Via:All4Syria)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The destruction in Heesh, Idlib following an airstrike on 7th April 2017 (Via: Maara-now)
  • The rescue operations after a contested airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017 (Via: SyrianPC)
  • The damage from an airstrike in Heesh, Idlib. 7th April 2017. (Via: RFS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Al-Assad and Putin planes kill more civilians, killing 9 civilians, including children, in the town of Heesh
  • Translation: A renewed Russian shelling on the countryside of Idlib - signs of a massacre in Heesh

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 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
    9 – 16
  • (2 children5 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]