Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3251

Incident date

March 13, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians were killed and “a large number” more were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Harasta, according to local media. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

@Wesal_TV and @HalabTodayTV  and other sources put the death toll at three. However, the Violations Documentation Centre listed five adult male fatalities. It said the victims has been killed by “Syrian government and affiliated militias” who had used “cluster munitions”. @millitry_report mentioned the use of “elephant rockets”, while @hamadaalhr noted “shelling with all types of weapons, including prohibited ammunition”.

There were reportedly as many as six raids which struck the residential vicinity, which included dozens of ground-to-ground missiles targeting civilians homes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Known as 'Abo Abdo' killed
Adult male Known as 'Abo Abdo' killed
Adult male Known as 'Abo Fahed' killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Harasta (حرستا), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.55869, 36.36515. 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
    3 – 5
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 (17) [ collapse]

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
    3 – 5
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 (17) [ collapse]