Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2565

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

حارم, Harem, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.212564, 36.519736 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A multitude of civilians were killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the village of Harem, close to the Turkish border in Idlib Province, according to local sources.

The number of deaths reported varied between sources, ranging from three to 11. All sources reported the killing of a woman and her five children.

The White Helmets reported “six violent air raids targeting residential areas in the city of Harem, rural Idlib, resulting in the deaths of three people – two women and a child – and the injury of five others”.

Nedaa Syria published a video in which a White Helmets reporter says: “Today after Friday prayers, Russian and Syrian warplanes targeted Harem with six raids. The worst raids totally destroyed three floors of a building, leaving dozens of people are under the rubble. We pulled out seven killed people and worked for 48 hours to remove all others”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ola Gadab
Adult female killed
Hasan Rifaat Gadab
Child male killed

Family members (5)

Adnan Qahfazan
Adult male killed
Mohammad Qahfazan
Adult male killed
From Qahfazan family 1
Child male killed
From Qahfazan family 2
Child male killed
From Qahfazan family 3
Adult female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Harem (حارم), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.212564, 36.519736. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 13
  • (1–5 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • A picture of four of the five children allegedly killed in a Russian airstrike on Harem on September 29th (via Twitter: @7UFCmSxd0lUBffH)
  • Civil defense teams working to save trapped civilians from under the rubble left behind by the alleged Russian airstrike on Harem on September 29th (via Smart News Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "Martyrs and wounded from one family in the city of Harem countryside # Idlib as a result of the targeting of Russian warplane to residential neighborhoods in seven successive raids."
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "Russian terrorism in Harem in Idlib a little while ago"
  • Translation: "Russian criminal bombardment is now on Harem"
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike on Harem, Sept 29th 2017.
  • The aftermath of the strikes.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is pulled from the rubble.
  • More footage of the aftermath of the strikes.

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 13
  • (1–5 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]