Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3077

Incident date

February 23, 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 six civilians, hereof three to five children, were killed and “dozens” left wounded as Russian and/or Assad-waged airstrikes struck Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

As the heavy shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on February 23rd, Baladi News reported that 22 civilians had been killed in Kafar Batna within the past 72 hours.

Specifically for the 23rd, sources reported between three and six civilian deaths. Numerous media, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), reported a total of three fatalities, all of them children. Step News Agency, who put the death toll at six, reported that five of the victims were children.

In addition to the fatalities, Euphrates Post reported that “dozens” 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, as reported by SN4HR and LCCSY.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Kafar Batna on February 23rd, 2018 after being subject to heavy shelling for several days (via Abdulrahman)

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
    3 – 6
  • (3–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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]