Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2848

Incident date

January 5, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Masraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Warplanes struck the residential neighbourhood of Masraba, killing one man and wounding dozens of civilians, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Dozens of civilians were allegedly injured, including two children and three women.

@Halap-today tweeted that the renewed Russian airstrikes hit Masraba, Madera and Irbid. They did not report on civilian harm.

France24 reported that residential were helping to pull victims from the rubble in the aftermath.

There were as many as 20 raids on the vicinity. The Smart News Agency specified that “three Russian military aircraft raids targeted the residential neighbourhoods”

One local source tweeted an image of a child’s shoe covered in blood from the scene of the raid.

Images show the Civil Defence evacuating victims from the scene.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A news bulletin reporting the aftermath of airstrikes in Masraba, 5th January 2018. (via France24)
  • The exact moment airstrikes struck Masraba, 5th January 2018. (via SCD)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ali Shaaban, killed in airstrikes on Masraba, 5th January 2018. (via Douma revolution)
  • Civil Defence help vicitims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Masraba, 5th January 2018. (via SCDrifdimashq)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defence help vicitims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Masraba, 5th January 2018. (via SCDrifdimashq)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In an article published on January 30th 2018 Russia reported: ”crews of the Aerospace Forces of Russia had successfully performed 34,561 sorties. The Minister of Defence pointed out that the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, as well as the Su-24M, Su-34 and Su-35S short-range aircraft had proved to be efficient. The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers delivered 66 strikes by cruise missiles, and each eliminated the assigned target. The Minister of Defence also stated that Russian UAVs provided complete control over the whole Syrian territory. The head of the military department paid attention to the significant contribution to the achievement of the operation made by the Navy. The naval surface forces carried out 171 combat missions. The ships and submarines carried out 100 high-precision attacks with the Kalibr cruise missiles. For the first time, the aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Kuznetsov" participated in combat operations. Due to high professional skills of deck aircraft, 1,252 terrorist objects were eliminated.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]