Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2402

Incident date

August 22, 2017

Location

رويضة, Ruweida, Akeirabat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what has been described by local media as a “massacre”, 50 – 70 civilians were killed, following airstrikes which reportedly struck an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ruweida, Akeirabat in Hama. Sources were conflicted as to whom was to blame. Some sourced blamed the Syrian regime for the raids, while most blamed Russian warplanes.

The number of wounded was not specified, but was reportedly “dozens”. Women and children were included in both the dead and the wounded tolls.

Cluster bombs were reportedly used in the raid.

Additionally, according to Shaam News Network, while civilians were burying their dead, another airstrike hit the vicinity, causing more deaths.

According to the Step News Agency, victims were “buried in a mass grave in the village of Abu Kahf in the Akirbat district in the eastern Hama countryside.”

There are no more specific details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ruweida, Akeirabat (رويضة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.0412099, 37.464692. 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
    50 – 70
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A news bulletin reporting on the massacre on Ruweida, Akeirabat, August 22nd 2017. (via Zakaria Nassani)

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 July 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
    50 – 70
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]