Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2469

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

قرية التح, Al Tah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.539525, 36.725383 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians including two women died while working at an obstetrics hospital in Al Tah as alleged Russian and Syrian warplanes bombarded the countryside of southern Idlib, local sources reported.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported one death; it stated: “Suspected Russian warplanes fired a missile on the al Rahman Charity Hospital – an obstetrics hospital – northwest of al Tah village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, killing a member of medical personnel and partially damaging it [the hospital], burning the eastern sector of it rendering it inoperable on September 19, 2017.”

Alternative sources on the ground said three were killed at Rahman Charity Hospital, including a nurse and a cleaner. Shahed Alep reported the death of three nurses.

The hospital’s deputy director, Taleb al-Ali, told the Smart News Agency that one of the nurses was killed immediately, and babies in incubators were wounded. Another nurse was also seriously wounded, while the hospital’s administrative director was injured – and one of his legs was amputated.

However Orient News only reported injuries: “Two nurses and several other civilians were injured today [Sept 19th], following the bombing of Al-Assad and Russia warplanes with surface-to-surface rockets aimed at the obstetric hospital in the town of Tah in countryside of Idlib”.

While most sources attributed the destruction to Russian warplanes, Orient News reported the additional involvement of the Syrian regime. Syrian Press Centre said it was an “unprecedented escalation” of violence.

The hospital was placed out of service due to the bombing and subsequent fire, Enab Baladi reported.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male Administrative director of the hospital injured
Adult female A nurse at the hospital killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • The obstetric hospital was attacked with rockets, reportedly killing two nurses (via Enab Baladi )
  • More than 40 air strikes, allegedly hit villages and towns of southern Idlib on the morning of Sept 19th 2017 (via Syrianpc)
  • "Childrens' caskets turned into coffins," tweeted Omar Madaniah
  • Clouds of smoke billow fron Al Tah's obstetrics hospital following an airstrike on Sept 19th 2017 (via Syrian-coalition)
  • Translation: 'Russian warplanes destroy hospital # Tah in Idlib and injures its medical staff and children who are inside'
  • Translatrion: 'The moment Russian aviation bombed an obstetric hospital in the village of Tah South Idlib'

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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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]