Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2322

Incident date

July 5, 2017

Location

مراط, Mrat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.31407, 40.23865 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians, including one or two children, were killed and several were wounded following airstrikes launched by either Russia or the Syrian regime in Mrat, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

Step News Agency reported that the Russian airforce  launched surface-to-surface missiles in multiple locations in Deir Ezzor, including Mrat.

According to Free Deir Ezzor, the strike hit the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque, totally destroying it, killing one girl and wounding her father Mohammad al-Obaid and another civilian.

Many sources echoed Free Deir Ezzor’s reports, reporting the death of two girls. Only one source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that only one girl had been killed and another wounded.

Euphrates Post was the only source to claim that a male civilian had died; he was  identified by name. It was, however, not clear whether if this was associated with the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque incident or with another strike in Mrat on the same day, July 5th (RS2323).

The large majority of the sources attributed blame to Russia. The event, however, remains contested as the Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the Syrian regime as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male injured
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (11) [ 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 June 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
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]