Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3543

Incident date

September 7, 2018

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strike on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018, while extinguishing a fire after the first air raid, according to local sources.

@SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that “two volunteers were injured (Anas Al DiabMuhammad Al Sah) and the rest of the team survived after the #Civil Defense team was bombarded with cluster rockets, while working to inspect the targeted places and put out the fires, after airstrikes targeted the area of the city of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern countryside of Idlib this afternoon.”

Hamid Kutini wrote on Facebook that “Muhammad Al Sah, the driver of the fire truck, was one of the survivors after we were targeted by the first missile during the process of putting out a fire north of Khan Sheikhoun.” According to the source, Al Sah tried to find shelter in a less dangerous place, but a missile hit him.

@HalabTodayTV reported that Russian warplanes had carried out an airstrike in the vicinity of the city.  @IdlibPlus and @kefranbil also blamed Russia. According to Smart News Agency, however, the victims were injured in a Syrian regime rocket-propelled grenade attack, following a Russian airstrike. Edlib Media Center also reported regime forces as the belligerent.

Anas Al Diab, one of the victims, wrote on Facebook: “I extend my sincere thanks to all the colleagues and friends who were reassured about my condition after my injury yesterday afternoon, and, God willing, we will be on the covenant we made for the sake of communicating the word of truth and exposing criminals.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Syrian Civil Defence volunteer injured
Adult male Syrian Civil Defence volunteer injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the aftermath of airstrikes, 7th Sept 2018. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Translaton: "Two volunteers were injured (Anas Al-Diab - Muhammad Al-Sah) and the rest of the team survived, after the #Civil Defense team was bombarded with cluster rockets, while working to inspect the targeted places and put out the fires, after air strikes targeted the area of the city of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern countryside of Idlib this afternoon" (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the town of Khan Sheikhoun on Septemer 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • A SCD volunteer extinguishing a fire after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the city of Khan Sheikhoun on Septemer 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • SCD volunteers extinguishing a fire after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the town of Khan Sheikhoun on Septemer 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, was injured while performing his duties on September 7th, 2018, in the town of Khan Sheikhoun (via Shareef Alesmaili on Facebook).
  • Muhammad Al Sah, a volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, in the hospital after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun on September 7th, 2018 (via Hamid Kutini on Facebook).
  • Muhammad Al Sah, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, was injured while performing his duties on September 7th, 2018, in the town of Khan Sheikhoun (via Hamid Kutini on Facebook).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, in the hospital after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun on September 7th, 2018 (via Mohammad Khattab on Facebook).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, was injured while performing his duties on September 7th, 2018, in the city of Khan Sheikhoun (via Mohammad Khattab on Facebook).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, in the hospital after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun on September 7th, 2018 (via Mohammad Khattab on Facebook).
  • Statement by the Syrian Civil Defence Idlib. Translation: "The civil defense family in the Idlib governorate wishes the speedy recovery of the media volunteers Anas Al-Diab and the volunteer Mohammed Al-Sah who were injured due to the bombing of cluster bombs while they were working in the area of Khan Sheikhoun city" (via SCD Idlib).

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]