Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3065

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

كفربطنا , Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians were killed and several left wounded as Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was subject to Russian and/or Assad-waged air and artillery shelling, local media reported.

As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, Baladi News reported how a total of 22 civilians had been killed in Kafar Batna the past 72 hours.

While most reported the launch of aerial missiles, al-Etihad Press added that the town had also been struck with artillery.

The death toll spanned from one to five, according to local reports. Most reported the death of one named civilian man, Mu’adh Rahma, who was the brother of a well-known Maamoun Rahma, preacher of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

Step News Agency and the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that at least five civilians were killed in the strikes, while HalabTodayTV, added that several also were left wounded.

Sources were not clear in terms of culpability, as blame was appointed to either the Syrian regime, Russia, or both across the reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

43 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Mu'adh Rahma, reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Horrya News)
  • Large parts of Kafar Batna were left in rubble following the contested shelling on February 22nd, 2018 (via Ghouta Media Center)
  • Mu'adh Rahma (right) was reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018. He was the brother of the Umayyad mosque preacher, Mamoun Rahmeh (left) (via al-Etihad Press)
  • Mu'adh Rahma, reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Orient News)
  • The immediate aftermath in Kafar Batna after being subject to the contested shelling on February 22nd, 2018 (via HalabTodayTV)

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
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]