Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3316

Incident date

March 20, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian harm incident, at least 53 named civilians, including 14 children and six women, were killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Douma on March 20th, 2018, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least 54 civilians, including 14 children and 6 women, killed in intensive shelling by Syrian regime and Russian forces on Douma city in Eastern Ghouta, east of Damascus suburbs governorate, on March 20, 2018.”

The Syrian Civil Defence and Violations Documentation Centre of Syria (VDC-SY) listed the names of in total 53 killed victims, among which 14 children and six women. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported a death toll of 64. @waelwanne reported “hundreds of wounded”.

Shaam News Agency reported that neighbourhoods of the city were targeted by warplanes and helicopters with rockets and explosive barrels and caused dozens of injuries.

Shaam wrote that Syrian Civil Defence teams worked to recover the bodies of those killed and help wounded to medical points, adding that “activists fear that the number of martyrs will increase due to the seriousness of the injuries of some of the wounded, in light of the continued heavy shelling amidst a shortage of medical materials and cadres due to the siege imposed on Ghouta years ago.”

@M_H_ALmasri reported that his son Hamza Al Masri had been slightly injured in the airstrikes, blaming Russia.

An Orient News correspondent stated that “regime forces targeted residential neighbourhoods in the city of Douma by about 70 airstrikes with guided missiles, in addition to the bombing by barrel bombs by warplanes”. Douma Revolution reported the use of cluster bombs.

@Tawfiq_Suhaib tweeted that the survivors were unable to bury the victims in Douma, due to the ongoing shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (2)

Child male killed
Child female killed

Family members (2)

Family members (4)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Family members (3)

Family members (2)

Family members (2)

Family members (2)

Family members (2)

Family members (3)

Child male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
5 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child female killed
Child male slightly injured injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    53 – 64
  • (14 children6 women33 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–100
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Man carrying the body of a child after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Douma March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Syrian Civil Defence volunteer carrying a killed or severly injured child after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Douma March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of victims after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Douma March 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR).
  • Ghiath Anwar al Mash’out was killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Douma March 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of victims after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Douma March 20th, 2018 (via SCD).
  • Haj Numan Barghouth "Abu Mohammed" was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Douma on March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution).
  • Muhammad 'Az Al Din, one of the victims of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Douma March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution).
  • Mustafa Khayti, "Abu Abada", was killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution).
  • Najeem Arida was killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution),
  • Bashar Mohammed Ali Naji was killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime attacks on Douma on March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution).
  • Tariq Daoud, "Abu Said", one of the victims of alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Douma on March 20th, 2018(via Douma Revolution).
  • A mother reportedly searching for her children among the victims (via SN4HR).
  • Mohammad Al Masri reported that his son Hamza had been slightly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Douma on March 20th, 2020 (via @M_H_ALmasri).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers evacuating an injured young man from a building hit in alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Douma on March 20th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • A father holding his son's shoes, who was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Douma on March 20th, 2018 (via @aboalhodaalhoms).
  • The child Hamza Al Masri had been slightly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Douma on March 20th, 2020. Here pictured with his father Mohammad after the airstrike (via @waelwanne).
  • Al Jazeera report in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Douma, March 20th, 2018 (via Al Jazeera)
  • Najem Arid (5 years old) was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Douma, March 20th, 2018 (via Douma Revolution).
  • The child Ghayath Al Mash'out was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Douma, March 20th, 2018 (via Abo Hassan Hassan).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Man carrying a killed or severely injured child after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Douma, March 20th, 2020 (via Douma Revolution).

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
    53 – 64
  • (14 children6 women33 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–100
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (39) [ collapse]