Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3050

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

As Russian or Assad-waged warplanes struck Mesraba, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, up to seven civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and “dozens” left injured, local media reported.

As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on Tuesday, February 20th, the death toll in Mesraba rose to at least four and up to seven, according to local reports.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), who put the toll at four, said that one child and one woman were among the fatalities. Other sources reported seven killed, such as Masrawy News, who quoted a civil defence member in the area.

The number of wounded spanned from “several” to as many as dozens, the highest reported by Masrawy News.

While most sources, including al-Jazeera and Masrawy News, identified the Syrian regime as responsible, Russian culpability cannot be ruled out as SN4HR pointed to shared Russian/Assad responsibility.

It should be noted that the incident possibly occurred on February 19th – or somewhere between the 19th and 20th – as HalabTodayTV posted a video, reportedly from the shelling in Mesraba, dated February 19th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil defence members evacuating a child and a woman following the contested shelling, Mesraba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Hadi al-Abdullah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded and killed civilians found in the rubble following the contested shelling, Mesraba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via HalabTodayTV)
  • Civil defence members evacuating wounded civilians following the contested shelling, Mesraba, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via Moaz al-Shamy)

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]