Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3191

Incident date

March 7, 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 seven and 60 civilians were killed and dozens more were wounded in a suspected chemical weapon attack followed by bombing on Hamouriya, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The initial bombing from the air was blamed on Russia; however, sources said that this was followed by a chemical attack with “chlorine gas” by the regime. According to the Smart News Agency, “After the bombing by warplanes [believed to be Russia], the town was bombed by the Syrian regime forces with missiles with internationally banned phosphorus, which led to the burning of dozens of fires, according to the civil defense. This came in conjunction with the helicopter flying two barrels of explosives in residential neighbourhoods.”

The lowest death count was given as seven by Local Coordination Committees of Syria. Only one source, @MOAZALSHAMY, reported that as many as 60 civilians were killed, adding that “30 bodies were stuck under the rubble”. @Damaskiagency reported that 124 civilians were injured, while the Violations Documentation Centre, who blamed the “Syrian government and affiliated militias” listed 27 unidentified civilian males as killed. Other sources also out the death toll at 27.

@SiegeWatch tweeted that “the doctor has treated 29 people so far, more than half children.”

There were dozens of fires on the residential vicinity and full families were trapped in the cellars of destroyed homes.

The strikes reportedly occurred during the evening.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Maimouna Rashed, sister of Malek Rashed
Child female injured

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 60
  • (1 child27 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–124
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Burning bodies of victims in the aftermath of the chemical gas attack on Hamouriya, 7th March 2018. (via Euphrates)
  • Malik Rashid was killed and his sister (Maimouna Rashed) was seriously injured in the chemical gas attack on Hamouriya, 7th March 2018. (via Suzan Hajjar)
  • The aftermath of a chemical gas attack on Hamouriya, 7th March 2018. (via @Omar_Madaniah)
  • The aftermath of a chemical gas attack on Hamouriya, 7th March 2018. (via @apdalrhmah)
  • The aftermath of a chemical gas attack on Hamouriya, 7th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • The aftermath of a chemical gas attack on Hamouriya, 7th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 60
  • (1 child27 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–124
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]