Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3588

Incident date

February 16, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A continuation of artillery shelling on the residential neighbourhood of Khan Sheikhoun meant that between two and 16 civilians were killed, and six or more were wounded, following another “massacre” on the 15th of February.

Sources were conflicted as too who was to blame. Most attributed blame the Syrian regime, however, some also blamed Russia.

Smart News reported the lowest death toll of two civilians, they also attributed blame to Russian warplanes. LCCSY later reported that the death toll had risen to six. The highest death toll was reported by Alaray who claimed there were 16 civilian deaths including eight children.

JisirTV reported that cluster bombs were used in the artillery strikes. Local media also reported that up tp 25 rockets, and three cluster bombs were used in the raids, causing much material damage. Syrian Civil Defence reported that the vicinity was struck with “30 rocket-propelled grenades”.

Shells marked “made with Egypt” were once again discovered in the vicinity in the aftermath of the raid.

One source reported that in both Khan Sheikhoun and Maara al-Nu’man, “A new massacre today in the countryside of Idlib killed 10 martyrs, four women, three children and two men, and 33 injured, 11 children and four women and 19 men”.

White Helmets worked to rescue the injured, recover the bodies of the dead, and inspect the target sites and secure them. Some of the wounded had to be amputated due to the severity of the artillery injures.

According to France24, 18 civilians were killed in the 48 hour period.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 16
  • (3–8 children4–7 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–17
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmad Adnan al Muhsen, killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SN4HR)
  • Children injured in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SN4HR)
  • Iyad al-Mulhim, killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via Hamah Now)
  • Bakri Ahmad Al Sarmini, killed in an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_ )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_ )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child is buried in tehe aftermath of an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @abuhuzaifa_)
  • An artillery bombardement on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via Lens khan Sheikhoun)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the female victims of the artillery bombardement on Khan Sheikhoun (possibly Lina Khaled Al Sirmani), 16th February 2019. (via Lens khan Sheikhoun)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SyriaCivilDefense)
  • Remnants of a shell fired onto Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. Writing reads, "made in Egypt". (via Al Sharq News)
  • An injured woman in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)
  • An injured woman in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)
  • An injured woman in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via @ThePrincess_99)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via YeniSafakArabic)
  • Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via YeniSafakArabic)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescue operations in the aftermath of an artillery strike on Khan Sheikhoun, 16th February 2019. (via SN4HR)
  • Translation: "#Khan_Sheikhoun" (via @mahmoudalbakor1).
  • Children were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on Khan Sheikhoun on February 15th, 2019 (via @mahmoudalbakor1).

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 16
  • (3–8 children4–7 women2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–17
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]