Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2743

Incident date

November 19, 2017

Location

مديرا, Madyara village, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.544613, 36.3861 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians, including four children and one woman, were killed while as many as dozens were wounded, local media reported, following Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes in Madyara village, aastern Ghouta, Damascus.

While the death toll spanned from five to seven, most reported six civilian fatalities.

For example, The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: “Six civilians (four children and their parents) killed as Syrian- Russian alliance warplanes fired missiles on Madyara village in Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus suburbs governorate on November 19 2017.”

Several sources tweeted the names of six victims from the same family, including Violations Documentation Center for Syria (VDC).

The Step News Agency put the death toll at seven, adding that “dozens” more were wounded.

Enabbaladi reported on regime strikes in Eastern Ghouta: “According to statistics published by Al-Gawta Media Center on Saturday (November 18th), 14 children and eight women were killed after the aerial bombardment of the eastern towns and villages of Ghouta.”

Sources were, however, conflicting in terms of culpability, as blame was attributed to both Russia and the Syrian regime across the reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Adult male The father killed
Fadia Shahrour
Adult female The mother
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Child female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Madyara village, Eastern Ghouta (مديرا), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.544613, 36.3861. 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
    5 – 7
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • "Image shows a member of civil defense holding body parts of victim of massacre committed by Syrian-Russian alliance warplanes in Madyara village in Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus suburbs governorate, on November 19, 2017." (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Madyra, Nov 19th (via Al Ain.com)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Madyra, Nov 19th (via Al Ain.com)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Madyra, Nov 19th (via Al Ain.com)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Madyra, Nov 19th (via Al Ain.com)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Madyra, Nov 19th (via Al Ain.com)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of a family's house in Madyara village, aastern Ghouta, November 19th, 2017 (via Abdullah Mustafa)
  • Some of the victims of the contested shelling of a family's house in Madyara village, Eastern Ghouta, November 19th, 2017 (via Abdullah Mustafa)
  • One of the child victims of the contested shelling of a family's house in Madyara village, Eastern Ghouta, November 19th, 2017 (via Abdullah Mustafa)
  • Many parts of eastern Ghouta were subject to aerial shelling on November,19th, 2017, depicted on the footage, possibly from Madyara village (via Sakrr121)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of a family's house in Madyara village, eastern Ghouta, November 19th, 2017 (via @op2065)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of a family's house in Madyara village, eastern Ghouta, November 19th, 2017 (via @op2065)
  • Aftermath of the contested shelling of a family's house in Madyara village, eastern Ghouta, November 19th, 2017 (via @op2065)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

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 November 4th - 20th 2017.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]