Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3522

Incident date

July 17, 2018

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that more than 19 people including women and children were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on Nawa in Dara’a governorate on July 17th, 2018. Local sources reported that the attacks on Nawa happened with dozens of raids with explosive barrels, cluster bombs and rocket attacks.

For Southern Syria on Facebook identified eight of the victims as follows: Mo’ammar Qassim al Shawli, the wife of Colonel Fawaz al-Tayasneh, Nibal Montaser Droubi Al Suwaidani, Ahmed Jihad Al-Mutheeb, Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb, Wife of Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb, daughter of Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb. Another name mentioned is Qasim Abu Al Zein Sharaf, but Step Agency referred to him as the leader of Martyr Jameel Abu Al Zein Brigade which might mean he was not a civilian.

@Omar_Madaniah reported the deaths of 18 martyrs, including two children and three women, adding that among the killed civilians are six family members from the town of Al Nuaimiya.

Shaam Network reported: “The fall of more than 19 martyrs, including two children and three women and a number of those who fled to the town, in addition, there are unidentified martyrs, dozens of wounded people, including some in very serious conditions, what might raise the number of martyrs, especially with the targeting of the only field hospital by the helicopters that put it out of service completely.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime saying “Syrian/ Russian regime forces killed several civilians in Nawa city in Daraa suburbs on July 17th. At least 13 civilians, including two children and three women, killed due to continuous air and land bombing by Syrian/ Russian regime forces on Nawa city in Daraa governorate northwestern suburbs, in the evening of July 17th, 2018.”

According to Dara’a Martyrs Documentation Office, the airstrikes led to “a massacre of eighteen martyrs, including seven women, one of whom is pregnant and four children. Among the martyrs were nine martyrs due to missile strikes and nine martyrs due to warplane strikes.”

Shaam Network blamed the Syrian regime saying that “Activists confirmed that the Assad forces stationed in Tal al-Mahs and the artillery battalion in the town of Al-Shulaileh targeted the town of Nawa with more than 300 shells in just ten minutes, while the shelling continues.” Step Agency blamed the Syrian regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “the regime forces targeted by more than 350 missiles and more than 40 explosive barrels and airstrikes, areas in Nawa city and its vicinity as well as the area of Tell Al Jabiyyah and Tal Al Jumou.”

According to Nasr Al Hariri, head of the opposition negotiating body, more than 50 civilians were killed. Al Hariri blamed Russia for the airstrikes. @Bosracoord also reported “50 martyrs and dozens of wounded people on the streets of the city and under the rubble and complete failure to assist the martyrs and those injured.”

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (2 children3–7 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Rubble after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Rubble after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mo’ammar Qassim al Shawli was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Nawa on July 17th, 2018 (via Omar Al Res on Facebook).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Nawa on July 17th, 2018 (via Sarot Nawa on Facebook).

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (2 children3–7 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]