(Previous Incident Code: R2583a )

In this incident, described by some as a “massacre”, up to 37 civilians, including children, women, and entire families were killed and dozens were wounded as Russia or the Assad regime carried out aerial shelling of Souh Al Rifa’i camp for displaced people in Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

The local reports differed to a great extent as the death toll spanned from three to as many as 36. However, as understanding of the events unfolded it became clear that the lower end of the death toll was closer to 21, yet 37 fatalities were named by sources.

According to the correspondent of DeirEzzor24; “the warplanes of the Assad forces targeted several missiles at the camp of Suh Rifai for displaced people (…), resulting in more than ten martyrs, including children and women.” Initially, DeirEzzor24 identified eight civilian fatalities by name, including women and children.

However, their correspondent added that the number of fatalities was expected to rise due to the “large number of injured, some of them in critical condition and due to the absence of medical services in the region.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at 21, said that 12 children and three women were among the fatalities.

Two days after the strikes, on November 26th, MadaSyriaMedia reported that the death toll had risen to 22, including 11 members of the Fahmi al-Kassar family and one Woman from al-Murabdeh.

36 civilians were later named by Euphrates Post, yet it remains unclear how many of these were children.

According to this source, “a large number” of civilians were left wounded while Thawra Suria referred to “dozens.”

Though the majority of reports identified Russia as responsible, the incident remains contested as DeirEzzor24 blamed the Syrian regime.