Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3282

Incident date

March 16, 2018

Location

كفر بطنا, Kafr Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.511853, 36.372857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 61 and 80 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Kafr Batna, Damascus governorate. Estimates of injured civilians range from 100 up to 200.

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria documented 61 civilian fatalities. @SiegeWatch put the death toll between 61 and 70, whereas other media such as Shaam News Agency reported more than 80 civilians killed. Multiple sources said that the fatalities were mostly women and children, but the exact numbers remain unclear.

@aboalhodaalhoms tweeted that 77 people were killed, stating most of them were civilians. Several sources, such as DoumaTV, reported that the bodies of victims had been charred. According to Shaam News Agency, “pillars of smoke and flames were rising from [civilian] houses, where many civilians were burned alive.”

The Syrian Civil Defence reported more than a 100 wounded. @SiegeWatch reported more than 200 injured in the attack “with four missiles from a Russian jet containing incendiary material (suspected napalm).” @RaedAlSaleh3 reported “hundreds of injured”.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee wrote that the incident occured in the morning.

According to Shaam News Agency, Syrian Civil Defence teams tried to recover the bodies of killed civilians and to evacuate the wounded to medical points, but there was “great difficulty in transporting the injured to the field hospitals due to continued heavy shelling.”

Several sources reported that residential areas, civilian homes and the popular market place of the city were targeted and suggested that napalm was used. Shaam News Agency mentioned the use of “cluster bombs, phosphorus, napalm, as well as poisonous gases”.

Whereas some sources blamed the Russian forces for the airstrikes, others blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    61 – 80
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100–200
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), 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 belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (48) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Casualties in the aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018. (via Shaam News Network)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Footage showing the aftermath of airstrikes, 16th March 2018. (via Doma RV)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dozens of casualties after airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Al Jazeera).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dozens of casualties after airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Marsad Al Hasaka).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dozens of casualties after airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Marsad Al Hasaka).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dozens of casualties after airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Marsad Al Hasaka).
  • Dozens of casualties after airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Marsad Al Hasaka).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dozens of casualties after airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Marsad Al Hasaka).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dozens of casualties in the aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Marsad Al Hasaka).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via @SiegeWatch).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via @bin_kfit).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via @OrientNews).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via @aboalhodaalhoms).
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via @RaedAlSaleh3).
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via @RaedAlSaleh3).
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Baladi News).
  • Aftermath of the airstrikes on Kafr Batna, March 16th 2018 (via Baladi News).

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
    61 – 80
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100–200
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), 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 belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (48) [ collapse]