Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2404

Incident date

August 22, 2017

Location

الشميطة, Shumita, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.4710166, 39.9351239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed and several other civilians were left wounded, following airstrikes carried out in Shumita, Deir Ezzor, local media reported, though it was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame.

Besides three victims, hereof two children, identified by name, many sources reported the death of one woman.

According to the Step News Agency, “Russian aviation launched several raids (…) with cluster bombs in the western countryside of Deir al-Zour, killing one woman and injuring others in the village of Shmitiya.”

Deir Free reported that a total of four strikes had been launched while DeirEzoor24 added that the strikes had “destroyed more than 11 houses in full”.

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to Russia. However, one source, JFLngo, reported that the warplanes were likely to belong to the Syrian regime and “its allies”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male son of Hajj Mohsen killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The child Ala Bashar Bakr al-Thiab was reportedly killed during the contested airstrikes in Shumita, Deir Ezzor, August 22nd, 2017 (via Ahmad Shbli)
  • One minute in, the news reporter reports about the contested airstrikes in Shumita, Deir Ezzor, August 22nd, 2017 (via Jsirtv)

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 August 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
    1 – 4
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]