Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS254

Incident date

December 10, 2015

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.37425, 36.6033 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three adult males were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Zita.

The victims were named by the VDC.

While most described the trio as civilians, one tweet said they were rebel fighters with the group Ajnad al Sham.

Reporting remains confused, with multiple alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Zita between December 9th and 12th which resulted in a likely total of six civilian deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Mohammad al-Aboud
Adult male killed
Mustafa Emad al-Aboud
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Ahmad al-Aboud
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kafr Zita (كفر زيتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.37425, 36.6033. 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
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Video with sound footage of airstrikes falling on Kafr Zita. (via, Revolutionary Command Counter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Deceased body of Ahmad Mohammad Al A’bboud, following an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, The Syrian revolution in the town of Kafr Zita)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of three adult males. This tweet suggests that the deceased are Islamist Militants. The tweet states that "Ajnad al Sham" announces the death, which is the name of an Islamist Militant Group. (via, Husain)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]