Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2819

Incident date

December 26, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed, including a Civil Defence volunteer, in airstrikes which struck civilian housing and a popular market in Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the strikes. Many didn’t name a culprit but pointed only to “military aircraft” and “helicopters”.

Footage published by the Syrian Civil Defence shows a victim while he was alive, talking about his role in the SCD. A later video published shows his funeral, with footage of friends and family mourning over the much loved man.

@AleppoAMC put the number of other victims wounded as high as eight.

@SyrianCoaltion was the first to report that two civilians had been killed in the raids when “helicopters targeted civilian houses at Al Azizia farm east of Khan Sheikhoun”. Images show children being dragged form the rubble of their homes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Memorial footage showing Bashar al-Dedo before he died in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via Syrian Civil Defence Idlib)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @RaedAlSaleh3)
  • Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @RaedAlSaleh3)
  • Injured children dragged from their homes which were struck by airstrikes in Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @SyrianCoaltion)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via @SyrianCoaltion)
  • Bashar al-Dedo, killed in an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 26th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]