Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2942

Incident date

January 29, 2018

Location

مشفى سراقب, Saraqeb Hospital, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a second round of strikes on the 29th, a charity hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was reportedly  hit in an aerial attack by alleged Russian warplanes, killing as many as five civilians and wounding others. Sources all attributed the blame to Moscow.

Wounded civilians from a raid on the potato market (see incident R2744) were being treated in Owdai hospital when it was struck.

According to a report published by Médecins Sans Frontières, “At around 10:20 am on 29 January, Owdai hospital (also known as Al Ihsan hospital) in Saraqab City in Idlib Governorate was damaged by two airstrikes, which destroyed part of the hospital building. Other medical staff said a first strike hit the hospital waiting room and a second hit an area in front of the hospital, destroying an ambulance parked there. The facility receives donations of medicines and supplies for its emergency department from MSF.

The attack occurred while the hospital was receiving injured people from an airstrike that occurred about an hour earlier hitting Saraqab´s main market, killing eleven people, according to the hospital manager. He said the attack on the hospital itself resulted in at least five deaths, including a child, and injuries to at least six people including three medical staff.

Owdai hospital has now been closed indefinitely.

The 18-bed Owdai hospital is the only public hospital in Saraqab District in the eastern Idlib countryside serving a population of 50,000. Prior to the attack, the hospital had an emergency room and outpatient department, and provided general and trauma surgery. The hospital performed an average of 3,800 consultations a month.”

Local media reported that a doctor broke his leg in the strike, a police officer was injured, as were three journalists.

Footage published shows civilians being dug from the rubble in the aftermath of the raid.

The incident occured at 10:20:00 local time.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Saraqeb Hospital (مشفى سراقب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.859101, 36.797731. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Healthcare
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of an airstrike on a hospital in Saraqeb, 29th Jan 2018. (via Hadi Al Abdullah)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on a hospital in Saraqeb, 29th Jan 2018. (via Edlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Baladi News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Ebaa News Agency)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Ebaa News Agency)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Ebaa News Agency)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Ebaa News Agency)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via Radio Al Kul)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via @waleedayoub344)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via @SyrianCoalition)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Saraqeb hospital, 29th Jan 2018. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Healthcare
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]