Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2973

Incident date

February 4, 2018

Location

ادلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russian airstrike, described as a “massacre”, hit a five-story building in Idlib, killing up to 12 civilians, including children and women, most from the same family and wounded as many as 25, local media reported.

Euphrates Post described how “raids by Russian warplanes targeted the city by several air strikes, which led to the collapse of a five-story building and four families were left under the rubble.” Several sources mentioned that four entire families were buried under the rubble.

The exact name of the area was, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), the Wadi al Nasim area.

The initial death toll was, according to Step News Agency, at four. However, SN4HR and Al Latamna youth group later reported that a total of 12 civilians were killed, including five to six children and four to five women.

The number of wounded spanned from 21 to 25, including four children and four women as reported by Al Latamna youth group.

All known sources identified Russia as the culprit. Even though Step News Agency, initially described how both “Syrian and Russian warplanes” were striking in Idlib on Sunday the 4th of February,  the media later specified that it was Russian warplanes struck the residential complex.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Adult male correspondent of the Edleb Media Center injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 12
  • (5–6 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–25
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Several families, including their children, were among the victims of the alleged Russian strike in Idlib, February 4th, 2018 (via Wesal TV) NB: The third image was also published by Orient News in association with a strike in Saraqeb, Idlib, also on February 4th why it is unclear which incidents it belongs to.
  • The Civil Defence trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the alleged Russian strikes in Idlib, February 4th, 2018 (via Smart News Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Many of the victims of the alleged Russian strike in Idlib, February 4th, were children. However, it should be noted that this image was also published by Orient News in association with a strike in Saraqeb, Idlib, also on February 4th and it is unclear which incidents it belongs to (via Al Latamna youth group)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Many of the victims of the alleged Russian strike in Idlib, February 4th, were children. However, it should be noted that this image was also published by Orient News in association with a strike in Saraqeb, Idlib, also on February 4th and it is unclear which incidents it belongs to (via Al Latamna youth group)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Many of the victims of the alleged Russian strike in Idlib, February 4th, were children. However, it should be noted that this image was also published by Orient News in association with a strike in Saraqeb, Idlib, also on February 4th and it is unclear which incidents it belongs to (via Al Latamna youth group)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Many of the victims of the alleged Russian strike in Idlib, February 4th, were children. This photo was also published by SN4HR who reported the child was wounded in Wadi al Naseem area, Idlib. However, it should be noted that this image was also published by Orient News in association with a strike in Saraqeb, Idlib, also on February 4th and it is unclear which incidents it belongs to (via Al Latamna youth group)
  • The Civil Defence trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the alleged Russian strike on a residential building in Idlib, February 4th, 2018 (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The Civil Defence trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the alleged Russian strike on a residential building in Idlib, February 4th, 2018 (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The Civil Defence trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the alleged Russian strike on a residential building in Idlib, February 4th, 2018 (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The Civil Defence trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the alleged Russian strike on a residential building in Idlib, February 4th, 2018 (via Edlib Media Center)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.


Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 12
  • (5–6 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–25
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]