Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3138

Incident date

March 2, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this incident, as many as 14 civilians, including two women, were killed and up to dozens were wounded, as airstrikes allegedly carried out by Russia, the Syrian regime, or both, struck Douma in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, reported local media.

Step News Agency reported that “in the morning hours, the military and helicopter gunships launched a number of air strikes targeting the city of Douma”.

The airstrikes, that hit residential neighbourhoods, killed at least two but as many as 14 civilians, local reports said.

Violations Documentation Center, for example, reported 13 fatalities, ten identified by name and counted two women. The Syrian Network for Human Rights, who reported 14 fatalities, also mentioned the death of two women.

The number of wounded spanned from two to as many as “dozens” as reported by Douma revolution.  Al-Jazeera’s correspondent said that among the wounded was a number of civil defence members while other sources also mentioned that children were among the injured.

While most sources reported about aerial shelling, others mentioned artillery shelling as well. For example, Douma revolution reported that the assault had included  “17 air strikes, ten explosive barrels, three surface-to-surface missiles and a number of rocket-propelled grenades.”

Sources were, however, unclear in terms of culpability. While some, including @MasarPressNet and @alaraby_ar blamed the Syrian regime, others, such as Smart News Agency identified Russia as responsible.

Finally, a handful of reports, including Douma revolution and Syrian Network for Human Rights, blamed both belligerents.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Douma (دوما), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.5714804, 36.4033699. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 14
  • (2 women8 men)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The Syrian Civil Defense team on the scene in the immediate aftermath of the contested airstrike in Douma, eastern Ghouta on March 2nd, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Some of the victims of the contested strikes in Douma, Damascus, March 2nd, 2018 (via Douma Revolution)

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 March 1st - 31st 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
    2 – 14
  • (2 women8 men)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]