Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3399

Incident date

April 9, 2018

Location

وادي النسيم, Wadi Al Nasim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.916719, 36.641455 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Geolocation accuracy

Neighbourhood/area

Airwars assessment

An unidentified explosion rocked the neighbourhood of Wadi Al Nasim in the city of Idlib, killing at least 10 civilians and injuring up to 150, local sources said.

Zeiton News said 12 women and seven children were among 29 killed by a long-range ballistic missile launched from Russian battleships. Additional sources, including a military observatory in the region, also reported the use of ballistic missiles by Russian forces.

However, alternative sources said the cause of the explosion could not be identified. Both airstrikes and ballistic missiles from warships in the Mediterranean Sea were reported, while Syria HR raised the possibility of a “booby trapped vehicle explosion.”

The Syrian Civil Defense said the explosion collapsed four residential buildings, including a seven storey building. The headquarters of the Caucasus Army, formerly the Nasra Front, was also damaged. The group belongs to al-Qaeda, according to the Associated Press.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 29
  • (1–7 children12–13 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–154
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Armed Forces

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

  • Explosion shakes Idlib, leaving 13 dead and 120 injured, Orient TV (April 2018)
  • Dozens dead and wounded in an unknown explosion in the city of Idlib, Smart News (April 2018)
  • The first moments following the explosion in Wadi Naseem, Ebba News (April 2018)
  • The first moments following the explosion in Wadi Naseem, Ebba News (April 2018)
  • The first moments following the explosion in Wadi Naseem, Ebba News (April 2018)
  • The explosion destroyed four residential buildings, Syrian Noor (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Wounded children in Wadi Al Nasim after an explosion, Idlib Plus (April 2018)
  • Civil defense teams pulled casualties from the rubble, Syrian Civil Defense (April 2018)
  • Civil defense teams pulled casualties from the rubble, Syrian Civil Defense (April 2018)
  • Civil defense teams pulled casualties from the rubble, Syrian Civil Defense (April 2018)
  • Civilians were among the dead, Maamoun al-Khatib (April 2018)
  • Civilians were among the dead, Maamoun al-Khatib (April 2018)
  • There were more than 150 injuries in initial toll, Euphrates Post (April 2018)
  • There were more than 150 injuries in initial toll, Euphrates Post (April 2018)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The first causalities following the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The destruction of civilian homes caused by the explosion, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense ends the search for civilians under the rubble, Idlib Media Center (April 2018)
  • Sources said they could not identify the type of the explosion or the perpetrator, SN4HR (April 2018)

Russian Armed Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Armed Forces
  • Russian Armed Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 29
  • (1–7 children12–13 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–154
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Armed Forces

Sources (28) [ collapse]