Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3036

Incident date

February 19, 2018

Location

اوتايا, Otaia, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.524241, 36.455908 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, a family of up to seven members, including as many as five children, were killed and several others were left wounded by air and artillery strikes in Otaia, Damascus, carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime.

Sources reported that multiple towns of eastern Ghouta were subject to aerial and artillery shelling on February 19th, 2019, including the town of Otaia. The Civil Defence tweeted that in Otaia, a residential house had been subject to “double targeting”.

While Free Deir Ezzor Radio reported four fatalities, the majority of sources reported that between six and seven civilians were killed, all from the same family. Barada News and Mohamemd Aldaher both published a graphic image of the victims, noting that five of the seven victims were children.

The Civil Defence, as the only one, reported that the shelling also caused several wounded, including women. Many were taken to medical points.

Arab48 and the Civil Defence reported both the occurrence of aerial as well as artillery shelling.

Sources were unclear in terms of culpability. While some, such as Orient News pointed to the Syrian regime, Mohamemd Aldaher and al-Hasaka Arabea blamed Russia. And finally, Free Deir Ezzor Radio, pointed to shared culpability between Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A family of at least six was reportedly killed by the contested strikes in Otaia, Damascus on February 19th, 2018 (via Barada News)
  • The immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Otaia, Damascus, February 19th, 2018, where the Civil Defence is trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble (via The Civil Defence)
  • Wounded civilians being transferred to a medical point following the contested strikes in Otaia, Damascus, February 19th, 2018 (via The Civil Defence)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (9) [ collapse]