Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2165

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

Local sources reported that as many as 15 civilians were killed, and between five and ten were wounded, following an airstrike in the mountainous vicinity of Kafr Tkharim, al Duweila mountain. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for this strike.

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 RS2164 for a full report on the other strike. 

Smart News, as well as other sources, reported that “Russian warplanes launched three raids with rockets and two cluster bombs, on the nearby Mountain Duwaila, killing 15 people”.

An elderly man and a woman were reported to have been killed.

Smart did however also report that it was believed 14 of the people killed were fighters. They were the only source to claim 14 of the dead were fighters. It is unclear whether or not this was correct.

What was clear was that those who were wounded had serious injures, and the death toll was expected to rise.

The wounded were transferred to a hospital, which was later bombed by alleged Russian warplanes at 2.00am. (RS2164)

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kafr Tkharim (كفر تخاريم), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.1169382, 36.5147781. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 15
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (8) [ 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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 15
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]