Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2789

Incident date

December 8, 2017

Location

الزرزور, Al-Zarzoor village in the vicinity of Alkhwain village in the Idlib countryside, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.95475, 36.340756 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as nine civilians were killed and three others were wounded in airstrikes on Al-Zarzoor, according to local media. All sources blamed Moscow except for Barada News who attributed blame to the Syrian regime. One source reported that Russia bombed the vicinity four times.

Initial reporting suggested that only five civilians had been killed – including two women and three children – however later sources put the death toll as high as nine.

The incident has been described by local media as a massacre, which “targeted civilian homes”. One source reported that eight of the victims were from one family.

Rocket-propelled grenades reportedly left many civilians trapped under the rubble; most of them were women and children. Wounded were “were transferred to the hospital Maarrat Noman for treatment”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (4 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment alleged Russian warplanes struck Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via Qasioun News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via Dowlani)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victims of the airstrikes which struck Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via Shaam)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the Civil Defence digging a child out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via Syrian civil defense center in idlib)
  • Child victim being dug out of the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes which struck Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via @SyrianCoalition)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victim trapped under the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes which struck Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via @l014g)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victims of the airstrikes which struck Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via @apdalrhmah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victim being dug out of the rubble in the aftermath of airstrikes which struck Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via @apdalrhmah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the Civil Defence digging a child out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the Civil Defence digging a child out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Zarzoor, 8th December 2017. (via Step News Agency)

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.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (4 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]