Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2248

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

العرضي, Al A'radi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3352757, 40.1499438 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 30 civilians, including two to four women and two to five children, were killed and between 20 and 30 others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes against the Al A’radi neighborhood of Deir Ezzor city, local media reported.

At the time of reporting seven civilian deaths, Deir Ezzor News acknowledged that the number of those dead was subject to increase due to many civilians in critical condition. Euphrates Post also reported that in addition to the eight civilians they stated were killed, 10 others among the wounded were in critical condition.

There were conflicting reports given as to who was responsible for carrying out the airstrikes. The majority of sources, including Syria News Desk and Violations Documentation Center, blamed regime planes for the casualties caused by the airstrikes. However, other sources, including Syrian-Mirror and @HalabTodayTV, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

According to local sources, at least six airstrikes were carried out and struck five residential buildings on Hanano Street near the Harwil mosque in the center of the neighborhood. In addition to air fire from aviation, Smart News reported that artillery fire also struck the town. The raids resulted in the complete destruction of two floors of three buildings, damage to three other buildings, a few shops and their products, and a number of civilian cars.

The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities and civil defense teams were still removing victims from the rubble and clearing the streets well into the night. Included in those killed was the wife of Tha’er Al Fallah and two of her children and the husband, wife, and three of the daughters of the al Arwa family. At the time of the airstrikes, it was alleged that the area was under the control of ISIS and multiple local sources reported that members of ISIS were also killed in the airstrikes.

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult male Displaced from Palmyra killed
Adult female Displaced from Palmyra killed
Child female Displaced from Palmyra killed
Child female Displaced from Palmyra killed
Child female Displaced from Palmyra injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 30
  • (2–5 children2–4 women2–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 30
  • (2–5 children2–4 women2–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]