Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2831

Incident date

December 31, 2017

Location

الهلبة, al-Halba, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.567506, 36.782958 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians, reportedly both children, were killed and several other non-combatants were left wounded following aerial shelling of al-Halba, Idlib, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime, local media reported.

While most sources reported one fatality, a few sources reported the death of two civilians, such as the Violations Documentation Center Syria (VDC), who said that the two victims were brothers and identified them as the sons of an Awad Ballan. The Facebook account Hibatu Allah identified one of the brothers by his first name. However, that source did not mention the death of the second brother.

Sources were conflicted in terms of culpability. Some attributed blame to the Syrian regime. For example, Fresh News reported that  “Al-Assad military aircraft carried out several air raids at noon today [Dec 31st]” , while the Violations Documentation Centre  apportioned blame to “the Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Meanwhile, several sources, including Masar Press, Zaiton Mag and @AJArabic identified Russia as responsible.

The White Helmets added that a “fire broke out” as a result of a “huge raid” on the village.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child male killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Halba, Idlib, December 31st, 2017, that inflicted great damage upon the city (via Step News Agency)
  • The aftermath of the contested airstrikes in al-Halba, Idlib, December 31st, 2017, that inflicted great damage upon the city (via @aalbrhawy)
  • The Civil Defence trying to extinguish the fire caused by the contested airstrikes striking in al-Halba, Idlib, December 31st, 2017, (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]