Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3247

Incident date

March 13, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to eight civilians were killed and others were wounded in a suspected napalm attack on the Grand Mosque in Arbeen, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to Russian and Syrian regime raids.

Sources reported that helicopters threw as many as 15 explosive barrels on the residential neighbourhood, leaving civilians both dead and wounded.

Syria Noor reported that “The warplanes targeted the Grand Mosque – in the city of Arbeen in the countryside of Damascus – with several air raids, which led to the burning and causing massive destruction in the construction.The information office in Arbeen said that air raids targeted the mosque with several rockets loaded with Napalm incendiary material, which was banned internationally, which led to the damage to a large extent and the outbreak of fire in the area.

They also added that the entire mosque was burned down and its roof and walls were destroyed.

ZamanAlwasl said that “15 barrels of explosives” were dropped, while Step added that “phosphorus and cluster bombs” were also used.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rightsm “warplanes launched 17 raids on areas in the city of Arbeen, in conjunction with helicopters dropping at least 15 barrels of explosives”.

Sources published extremely graphic images of charred bodies.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Zaghloul
Adult male killed
Anas Al Shahrour
Adult male killed
Abdel Aziz Sheikh Qweider
Adult male killed
Omar al-Khatib
Age unknown male killed
Sobhi al-Margali
Adult female killed
Abdul Rahman Al-Qallash
Age unknown male killed
Samir Zaghloul
Age unknown male killed
Hani Salem
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Arbeen (عربين), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.538143, 36.364331. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (1 woman4–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via Shohada`a Arbeen al Ahrar)
  • A victim of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via Shohada`a Arbeen al Ahrar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via Shohada`a Arbeen al Ahrar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via Shohada`a Arbeen al Ahrar)
  • A mosque in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via @haifaa_ahmad1)
  • A mosque in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via @haifaa_ahmad1)
  • A mosque in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via @haifaa_ahmad1)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The charred limb of a victim in he aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The charred limb of a victim in he aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The charred limb of a victim in he aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • An injured child in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th March 2018. (via @SiegeWatch)
  • An injured child in the aftermath of airstrikes on Arbeen, 13th 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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (1 woman4–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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]