Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2243

Incident date

May 16, 2017

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were killed and dozens more were wounded in an air and artillery strike on Hamouriya, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible, with some attributing blame to Russia, while others pointed to the Syrian regime.

According to Qasıoun, a guided missile struck an old Mosque in the town. Footage shows the ruins of the building in the aftermath. It was later declared inoperable by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Multiple sources such as Al Jazeera alleged that as many as three missiles hit the vicinity. 

@akhbar said that the raids were conducted by “Assad forces with short-range land-to-ground missiles”. They are not the only source to make this allegation.

More footage shows children being pulled from the rubble of buildings which were struck in the raid. During the film, another airstrike hits the vicinity causing more panic and chaos.

@SyrianCoalition reported two women and two children were killed in the strikes, whereas other sources report as many as four men. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

10 years old female killed
10 years old female killed
30 years old female killed
21 years old male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Hamouriya (حمورية), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.528464, 36.389472. 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
    6
  • (2 children1–2 women1–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment after an airstrike hit a Mosque and the surrounding area in Hamouriya, 16th May 2017. (via Qasıoun news agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children are pulled from the rubble during rescue operations in the aftermath of an airstrike on Hamouriya, 16th May 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defence in Rural Damascus)
  • Another airstrike hits the vicinity while rescue operations are taking place. 16th May 2017, Hamouriya. (via Syrian Civil Defence in Rural Damascus)

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 May 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
    6
  • (2 children1–2 women1–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]