Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3649

Incident date

May 3, 2019

Location

الهبيط, Al Habit, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A male civilian was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 3r, 2019, according to local sources. At least one other man was reportedly wounded.

HalabTodayTV reported that a civilian was killed in airstrikes by a warplane, without identifying the belligerent. Al Arabiya reported five regime airstrikes on the town, in conjunction with intensive rocket shelling.

Mohammed Al Dab’an, reportedly a nephew of the victim, wrote on Facebook: “My uncle Deban Al Dab’an in the custody of God as a result of the criminal shelling of the regime and Russia criminals and their helpers.” According to Hama Now, the victim was displaced from the town of Al Mughayir.

According to the Facebook page Al Habit Green, the young man Ahmed Sleiman Alawad had been injured in the strikes. Mahmed Balabass reported “a number of wounded”.

According to the pro-Iran website Al Alam, Al Nusra equipment and vehicles were targeted.

@alhurranews shared a photo of a Syrian Civil Defence volunteer rescuing a cat from underneath the rubble.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime was to blame, with reports stating that helicopters dropped explosive barrels on the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Sleiman Alawad
Adult male injured
Dibban al-Dabaan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (45) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Moment of shelling by helicopter with explosive barrels on Al Habit town of Idlib countryside" (via Baladi News).
  • Translation: "Al Habit town of Idlib countryside is under the mercy of shelling and explosive barrels" (via Shaam News Network).
  • Translation: "With high-explosive missiles, a warplane unloads its cargo on the town of Al Habit, south of Idlib" (via Step News Agency).
  • Translation: "A man gets killed due to the regime's continuous shelling in Al Habit town of Idlib countryside" (via JisrTV).
  • Translation: "A civilian is killed and others injured in helicopter shelling in Al Habit town south of Idlib - Syria" (via Orient News).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Deban Al Dab’an was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on May 3rd, 2019 (via Mohammed Al Dab’an).
  • Translation: "A member of the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets) carrying a cat rescued from a building destroyed by shells of the Syrian regime and its allies, in the town of Habit in the countryside of Idlib (Omar Qaddour / AFP)” (via @alhurranews).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer rescued a cat from a building that was targeted in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Habit, May 3rd (via @alhurranews).
  • Translation: "A martyr and a number of wounded in Al Habit as a result of targeting the explosive barrel of the helicopters of the regime" (via Mahmed Balabass).

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (45) [ collapse]