Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3276

Incident date

March 15, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian harm incident, up to 21 civilians died and as many as 70 more were wounded in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Zamalka. Many sources said that this was a chemical attack by the regime, though there were also multiple allegations against Russia.

The Violations Documentation Centre named “18 victims killed in warplane shelling by Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

@Mo7ameDAl_shami and other sources noted reports of “toxic gases”.

According to Micro Syria, the town was bombarded with barrel bombs dropped by the regime and warplane raids by Russa, along with artillery fire. The source said the bombardment had “hysterically targeted places crowded with civilians. It recorded:

30 Russian warplanes

24 barrel bombs

25 heavy artillery shells”

The White Helmets reported  “Twenty-one martyrs, including three women and two children, with more than 70 others injured”. It added that residential neighbourhoods had been targeted with “16 air strikes, 18 barrel bombs, more than 60 rockets, rocket launchers and heavy artillery, along with incendiary Napalm bombs”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

  • Fahed Zain al-Deen Adult male killed
  • Hasan Zain al-Deen Adult male killed
  • Yazan Zain al-Dee Adult male killed
  • Haneen Zain al-Deen Adult female killed

Family members (2)

  • Ragad al-Malla Child female killed
  • Qamar al-Malla Child female killed
  • Yasin Diae al-Shaikh Adult male killed
  • Mahmoud al-Helo Adult male killed
  • Iman al-Dabbas Adult female killed
  • Salwa al-Dahla Adult female killed
  • Abo Ali Shaikho Adult male killed
  • Haytham Shaebia Adult male killed
  • Khaled Wakkaf Adult male killed
  • Husam Karkour Adult male killed
  • Abdo Saedoun Adult male killed
  • Mahmoud Laila Adult male killed
  • Waleed al-Sadat Adult male killed
  • Alae Faeour Adult male killed
  • Zia Sheikh Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 21
  • (2 children2–3 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child following a strike on Zamalka, March 15th 2018.

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
    18 – 21
  • (2 children2–3 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]