Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3433

Incident date

May 15, 2018

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81374, 36.60964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children and a woman were killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Ariha, Idlib governorate, on May 15th 2018, according to local sources. An unknown number of civilians was wounded.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported that the children Bara’ah Haj Ali (aged 6) and Rayan Haj Ali (aged 12) were killed in alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on residential neighbourhoods in Ariha. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the two girls were siblings.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria wrote that a woman had also died in the airstrikes, also blaming the Syrian regime.

According to Ariha Today however, Russian warplanes targeted the town at exactly 10:16 AM, destroying a residential house completely. Hashtag Revolution stated that the alleged Russian airstrikes occurred in the eastern part of the town.

Idlib Media Center and Orient News reported that an unknown number of civilians had been injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that some of the injured remained in a critical condition.

Sources mentioned the use of rockets and missiles.

Photos of the incident showed Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searching the rubble to rescue the wounded and recover the bodies of those killed.

The incident occured at approximately 10:16 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Ariha, 10th May 2018. (via Orient News)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Orient News)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Orient News)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Orient News)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Twitter: @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Twitter: @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Twitter: @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Picture of Syria Civil Defense teams working on removing bodies and survivors from under the rubble in Ariha, after the alleged airstrike on residential areas in the town (via Twitter: @2011Hrs)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Idleb Media Center: Muhannad Al Yamani)
  • Pictures of Civil Defense Teams rescuing survivors from underneath the rubble after the alleged airstrike on Ariha on May 15th 2018 (via Idleb Media Center: Muhannad Al Yamani)
  • Picture showing the targeting of Ariha, taken during the alleged airstrike on the town on May 15th 2018 (via Facebook: Ariha Today)
  • Pictures of Syria Civil Defense teams working on removing bodies and survivors from under the rubble in Ariha, after the alleged airstrike on residential areas in the town (via Facebook: Ariha Today)
  • Pictures of Syria Civil Defense teams working on removing bodies and survivors from under the rubble in Ariha, after the alleged airstrike on residential areas in the town (via Facebook: Ariha Today)
  • Pictures of Syria Civil Defense teams working on removing bodies and survivors from under the rubble in Ariha, after the alleged airstrike on residential areas in the town (via Facebook: Ariha Today)
  • Translation: "The death of two children, Bara’ah Haj Ali aged 6, and Rayan Haj Ali aged 12 (girls) as a result of an airstrike by an Assad warplane that targeted residential neighborhoods in the city of Ariha in Idlib's southern countryside.

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
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (11) [ collapse]