Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2544

Incident date

September 26, 2017

Location

دوما , Douma, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes on Douma reportedly hit civilian homes and a centre for people with special needs. The centre was destroyed, and local media reported that up to five civilians were killed. Up to a further 20 civilian were said to have been wounded. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

Syrian Voice reported: “Russian warplanes targeted a centre that specialised in the rehabilitation and care of the victims of war on Tuesday [Sept 26th] in the city of Douma in the countryside of Damascus, killing two residents of the center and a member of medical staff. There were also a number of injured people, and the centre was rendered out of service”.

According to Zamanalwasl, “Russian warplanes carried out three air strikes loaded with high-explosive missiles targeting residential areas in the city of Douma. Medical sources in the city revealed that the number of wounded exceeded 20, and while there were no confirmed deaths [at the time of reporting], the civil defence teams continued to aid the wounded and inspect the places of shelling.”

However, a number of other sources attributed the strike to the regime. For example, @Ammar_alhasan tweeted: “Assad militias bombed a centre for the rehabilitation of disabled people with special needs in the city of Douma. Two people were killed and a large number were wounded”.

The Step News Agency named Khalil Miassa Abu Mahmoud, who worked at the centre, as one of four fatalities. It referred to him as “one of the best of people – everyone loved him”, adding that “his son Abdul Rahman Abu Ali was martyred about nine months ago”.

According to the Facebook page of the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a civil defence volunteer was one of the victims, though the source wasn’t clear whether he was killed or wounded. Moaaz alhamza also noted that the “many casualties” included civil defence volunteers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets said: "Even the center for people with special needs was not saved from bombing by the Syrian regime". Warning: distressing footage showing people being rescued from the centre following a strike.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the strike on the centre for people with special needs, Douma, Sept 26th.
  • Translation: "Assad militias bombed a center for the rehabilitation of disabled people with special needs in the city of #Douma. there were two martyrs in the center and a large number of wounded".
  • Images of vicitms of the strike.
  • More footage of the aftermath of a strike on civilian homes in Douma, Sept 26th.
  • Images of the aftermath of strikes on residential areas in Douma, Sept 26th.
  • Khalil Mayasa, killed in a strike on a centre for people with special needs in Douma, Sept 26th. Sources said that he worked at the centre. (via Moafak Aladnan)
  • Bloodied clothes following a strike on Douma, Sept 26th (via Moaaz alhamza)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]