Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2784

Incident date

December 5, 2017

Location

الشعفةالشامية , al Shamiya crossing in Al-Sha'fa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were reportedly killed, and others were “seriously” wounded, in air and artillery strikes on the Al-Sha’fa river crossing in Al-Shamiya. Local media was conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes, some blaming Russia, while others blamed the Syrian regime.

Local media described the incident as a massacre.

Euphrates initially reported that there were “three martyrs and a number of wounded in the initial result [due to] the fall of mortar shells on the town of Sha’afa”. It added that the raid occurred in the morning and hit the southern side of the Euphrates River.

Footage was published by @asharqasouri showing the damage and destruction caused to shops in the local vicinity, which were engulfed in flames.

One local news Agency named Alfayha News, reported that a bakery was burned down due to the shelling and rendered out of service. It also blamed Moscow.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Shops burning in the aftermath of the air and artillery strikes which struck the river crossing in Al-Sha'fa, 5th December 2017. (via @asharqasouri)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim in the aftermath of the air and artillery strikes which struck the river crossing in Al-Sha'fa, 5th December 2017. (via @asharqasouri)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim in the aftermath of the air and artillery strikes which struck the river crossing in Al-Sha'fa, 5th December 2017. (via @asharqasouri)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim in the aftermath of the air and artillery strikes which struck the river crossing in Al-Sha'fa, 5th December 2017. (via @asharqasouri)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.

http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154621@egNews
http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154688@egNews
http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154776@egNews
http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154751@egNews

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]