Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3176

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 23 civilians were killed and dozens more were wounded in a reported chloride attack on Hamouriya, local media reported. Media blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the strikes which reportedly included cluster and barrel bombs, and surface-surface missiles.

Twenty civilians were named, however, three additional victims were named as unidentified adult males. Sources reported as many as 30 cases of suffocation, with “dozens of martyrs, wounded and trapped under the rubble.”

Sources reported not only chloride gas, but the use of cluster munitions, barrel bombs and surface-surface missiles.

@SiegeWatch reported that there was a “chemical attack today after UN aid convoy left #EasternGhouta. A barrel bomb hit a residential area of Hamouriya & started emitting a chlorine-like gas. Several families rushed to a medical centre.”

@SiegeWatch added that there had been “Devastation today [March 5th] in Hamouriya , where an estimated 23 civilians were killed in Syrian government and Russian attacks using cluster munitions, barrel bombs, surface-surface missiles, and airstrikes”.

Syria Noor said the attack happened “in the middle of the night, [when] the regime targeted a town of Hamouriya with toxic gases believed to be chlorine gas, causing dozens of civilians to suffer suffocation.”

According to Syria Noor – who blamed the regime – the attack came “in the middle of the night”.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Muayyed Kharban
Age unknown killed
Haneen Ali Sursq
Age unknown killed
Abdel Salam El Masry
Age unknown killed
Bilal Badra
Age unknown killed
Yeheya Bakir
Adult male killed
Yahya Mohammed Shaho
Age unknown killed
Ghaieth Bakir
Adult male killed
Ali al-Aghawani
Adult male killed
Diyab Aghawani
Adult male killed
Talal
Adult male killed
Rateb al-Erbeni
Adult male killed
Sariya Issa
Adult male killed
Ahmad Issa
Adult male killed
Abdelrahman Issa
Adult male killed
Tareiq Hamdou
Adult male killed
Fayez al-Tereh Omar
Adult male killed
Muhammed Ekhshou
Adult male killed
Ammar Al-Masri
Age unknown killed
Samer Badra
Age unknown killed
Yahya Bakr
Age unknown killed
Majed Iyass
Age unknown killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Hamouriya (حمورية), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.528464, 36.389472. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 23
  • (12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the chemical attack on Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @mohamed1aldaher)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the chemical attack on Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @aboalhodaalhom)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • A child who suffocated in the aftermath of airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims suffer from the chemical attack on Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via @Omar_Madaniah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tariq Hamdou Abu Ziad, killed in airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via Shaker Alhusayni )
  • Tariq Hamdou Abu Ziad, killed in airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via Shaker Alhusayni )
  • Fayez Omar Al-Tarah, killed in airstrikes in Hamouriya, 5th March 2018. (via Maher Assar)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 23
  • (12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]