Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3066

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

الأفتريس, al-Aftis, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51728, 36.40167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, four civilians were killed and up to “dozens” more wounded as Russia, possibly in cooperation with the Assad regime, carried out airstrikes in al-Aftis, Damascus, local media reported.

All sources, who provided a death toll, reported that four civilians were killed.

While some, such as HalabTodayTV, referred to “a number” of wounded, Step News Agency said that the strikes had left “dozens” wounded.

Most reports identified Russia as responsible, including HalabTodayTV and Step News Agency. However, the event remains contested as Orient News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both Russian and Assad warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of al-Aftis (الأفتريس), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.51728, 36.40167. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

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
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]