Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2164

Incident date

April 24, 2017

Location

كفر تخاريم, Kafr Tkharim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.1169382, 36.5147781 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 12 civilians were killed – and four were wounded – in an airstrike on Kafr Takharim hospital, local media reported. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid. 

It must be noted there were two separate airstrikes on Kafr Tkharim on the 24th April 2017. One occurred in the mountainous region of al Duweila, and the other on Kafr Takharim hospital. See incident RS2165 for a full report on the other strike. 

It is unclear whether the victimns of the airstrike on Kafr Takharim hospital were in fact wounded civilians from the previous strike on the region of al Duweila or not. EdlibNN tweetted that 15 were killed as a result of Russian aviation on both Kafr Takharim hospital and al Duweila. 

Additionally, the Syrian Civil Defence reported that “Russian warplanes launched several air raids on the town of Duweila, killing 15 people, including a woman. The wounded and wounded were taken to Kafr Takharim surgical hospital.The Russian warplanes returned, targeting the hospital with two airstrikes, wounding the injured again and some of the hospital staff, destroying the hospital and its equipment.” This suggests the warplanes followed the wounded to the hospital following the first strike. Ana press however, claimed that the strikes happened simultaneously and that the wounded from the Duweila strike, only escalated the situation occurring in Kafr Takharim hospital.

Al Jazeera reported that 12 people killed in the airstrike on the hospital were allegedly “gunmen”. They are the only source to claim this.

Syria news desk however, put the number of civilians killed as low as two.

The hospital was reportedly rendered out of use. Smart news agency reported that the wounded were transferred from the hospital to a nearby field due to the nature of the damage to the hospital.

Two ambulances were struck and destroyed in the raid.

Four members of staff – including a doctor – were wounded.

The incident occured at 02:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via Akhbar)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via Akhbar)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via Akhbar)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via Akhbar)
  • The exact moments after an airstrike on Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via Syria civil defence)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the airstrike which on Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via Akbar Allan)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via Idlib civil defence)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via HNN)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike which targeted Kafr Takharim hospital, 24th April 2017. (via HNN)

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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]