Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2599

Incident date

October 5, 2017

Location

محكان, Mahkan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.974444, 40.485556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least ten and as many as 21 (possibly more) civilians, hereof up to seven children and four women, were killed, and another “dozens” were left wounded as alleged Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes in Mahkan, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

Euphrates Post reported that six air raids had hit the town of Mahkan, more precisely near the Euphrates River.

Arab48 reported that the raids struck civilians “as they tried to cross the Euphrates River on ferries in the village of Mahkan”. @AlSharqia24 added that the alleged Russian warplanes hit “the house of Nasser al-Muhamed al-Tarsh in a camp that resulted in the martyrdom of a family.”

The death toll varied from reports about “at least ten” (@raassaf77) while most sources, such as Baladi News, reported more than 15 victims, most being from same families.

As many as 21 victims were identified by name, hereof five children and four women. However, there was some disagreement over the numbers.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, for example, said that there had been “at least seven child victims”, while Arab48 put the number of children killed at three.

It should also be noted, that one victim “Hamza”, only identified by his first name, could possibly be the same as the victim identified as “Hamze Abdul Ali al-Hayyawi”.

@aboud_alsalih reported that “dozens” were left wounded.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Adult male killed

Family members (5)

Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child female killed

Family members (4)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male Son of Hamza killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male Displaced killed
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Mahkan (محكان), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.974444, 40.485556. 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
    10 – 21
  • (3–7 children4 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 21
  • (3–7 children4 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]