Incident Code

RS3134

Location

كفربطنا, Kafr Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R2929)

Three civilians, including a young girl, were killed and dozens were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the town of Kafr Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

@saqbani1972adam, who reported that the strikes hit residential areas, said that three were killed and “dozens” were left wounded.

The three victims were identified by name by several sources. Among the victims was a young girl who was killed along with her father.

Additionally, a judge from eastern Ghouta was also killed by the strikes. Smart News Agency cited The Revolutionary Judicial Council in Damascus who on Friday, March 2nd, stated that one of its judges was killed in the bombing.

Four days after the strike, on March 4th, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported a fourth victim, as a man named Zaher Kharboutli, an activist in the relief field, who died on March 4th due to the wounds he sustained by the strikes on March 1st.

However, as his name is rather similar to the judge victim, Maher Kharbatli, it cannot be excluded that the reports are talking about the same victim. However, as of now, they will be counted as two separate victims.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. The Violations Documentation Center attributed blame to the Syrian regime “and its affiliates” while Smart News Agency identified Russia as responsible.

Meanwhile, both Qasioun News and SN4HR attributed blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Victims

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Child female killed

Invidivuals

Adult male nicknamed Abu Adnan killed
Age unknown male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
3–4
1 Child, 2–3 Men
Civilians reported injured
2–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kafr Batna (كفربطنا), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.514529, 36.374577. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
Russia has not reported any strikes between March 1st - 31st 2018.

Media From Sources (3)