Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS309

Incident date

December 24, 2015

Location

احرص, Ahras, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4077699, 37.1453087 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven or more civilians including two children were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Ihress.

Al Safira News reported “the death of two children and the injuring of more than 15 others, after more than 15 cars and trucks were bombed with cluster bombs which targeted a convoy of vehicles at a checkpoint between the rebel zones and other areas.”

While most reports only cited one child death, a video issued by Shaam News shows multiple strikes and a second unnamed child victim (pictured.) Halab News placed the death toll as high as 15, which it said included members of the al-Akhras family.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Child female killed
49 years old male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that airstrikes targeted several vehicles between Ahras and Harbul, Syria. After investigating visual material from sources, we narrowed this location down to a stretch of land near a checkpoint just north of Ahras, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4077699, 37.1453087. The strikes targeted at least four locations within this strip of land.

  • The first strike targeted a vehicle located between the two berms or soil barriers (features A and B)

    Imagery:
    Hussien Khatab

  • Note that feature E refers to a mosque south of the town of Harbul, while feature D refers to a dirt staging area for trucks preparing to enter a checkpoint, and feature C refers to the green field between the photographer and the trucks.

    Imagery:
    Hussien Khatab

  • Satellite imagery showing the features in the witness media.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite imagery showing exact locations of vehicles targeted in airstrike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A video to show convoy trucks burning after being targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, Al Safria News Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Batoul Ahmad Hamida, a deceased baby, killed on 24th December 2015 by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • Ahmad Ali Yehya al-Shami, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ibraheem Asi, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of a raids as they fell onto buildings, and graphic images of deceased children almost immediately after. (via, SNN)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]