Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2497

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

خان السبل, Khan al Subul, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.753927, 36.770468 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four civilians and five alleged members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – a militant Islamist group – were killed and seven other civilians and four members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Khan al Subul in southeast Idlib. All sources attributed the blame to Russian missiles.

According to Smart News Agency, the airstrikes struck Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s headquarters in Khan al Subul.

Aleppo Eyewitness later added that four displaced civilians were killed whilst sheltering in a school due to Russian warplanes. Zaiton Magazine also added that “Four martyrs as an initial death toll and others under the rubble following the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft on a school, housing a large number of displaced people in the town of #Khan_AlSabal”.

One source reported that “four gunmen were killed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and others were injured”, suggesting militants were killed by militants.

It is unclear whether these attacks were different or separate, however the date and vicinity are the same.

The incident occured around midnight.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Khan al Subul (خان السبل), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.753927, 36.770468. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Education
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Education
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]