Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3675

Incident date

May 7, 2019

Location

رأس العين, Ras Al A’in, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that airstrikes struck a popular market in Ras al Ein village east of the city of Abu-Thabet in Idlib. According to Step News, shelling was carried out by “Russian airliners and helicopters”. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Syrian regime instead. The sources said that the market was attacked with four highly-explosive vacuum missiles. Other sourced said that airstrikes targeted civilians houses.

Most sources reported that four civilians were killed and others raised the toll to seven including women and children. Smart News claimed that among the victims were two children, while Step News and the Local Coordination Committee of Syria claimed three children were killed. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, all four fatalities were children.

The  Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) forces that were present at the scene initially reported that three civilians were killed and eight wounded, while in a later post claimed that the death toll had risen to seven civilians, including three children. It added that the number of wounded had gone up from eight to 20 civilians. The SCD reported that it searched for hours under the rubble and Orient news reported that a family of six members was stuck under the rubble.

Smart News posted several photographs and a video. Links to the these reports on the website of Smart News are included in this assessment.

Images and reported tell that the airstrikes caused huge destruction to the infrastructure.

 

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (2–4 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (39) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Syrian Civil Defense forces carrying one of the victims of a missile strike on the market square of of Ras al Ein village on May 7th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Syrian Civil Defense teams searching through the rubble after a missile strike struck the market square of Ras al-Ayn on May 7th (via Syrian Civil Defense).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Man wounded by missile strike on the market square of Ras al-Ayn on May 7th (via Syrian Civil Defense).
  • Aftermath of a missile strike on a market square in Ras al-Ain on May 7th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Aftermath of a missile strike on a market square in Ras al-Ain on May 7th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Aftermath of a missile strike on a market square in Ras al-Ain on May 7th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Aftermath of a missile strike on a market square in Ras al-Ain on May 7th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Aftermath of a missile strike on a market square in Ras al-Ain on May 7th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteer putting out a fire after a missile strike on a market square in Ras al-Ain on May 7th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Aftermath of a missile strike on a market square in Ras al-Ain on May 7th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes in Ras al-A'in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via El dorar).
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes in Ras al-A'in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via El dorar).
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes in Ras al-A'in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via El dorar).
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes in Ras al-A'in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via El dorar).
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes in Ras al-A'in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via El dorar).
  • Aftermath of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Horrya press)
  • Civilians gathering in the aftermath of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Horrya press)
  • Destruction caused by Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Horrya press)
  • Aftermath of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Horrya press)
  • Aftermath of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Horrya press)
  • A civilian checking the destruction caused by Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Horrya press)
  • Aftermath of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Horrya press)
  • Aftermath of Russian airstrikes on Ras Al A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Via @ShehabAgency).
  • Aftermath of Russian airstrikes on Ras Al A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Via @ShehabAgency).
  • Aftermath of Russian airstrikes on Ras Al A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Via @ShehabAgency).
  • Aftermath of Russian airstrikes on Ras Al A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Via @ShehabAgency).
  • "Casualties reported as a result of an attack by the Assad regime and Russia who bombed the popular market in the village of Ras al-Ein in Idlib with 4 rockets." Via @SyrianCoalition
  • A child injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).
  • A child injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).
  • SCD volunteers in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).
  • SCD volunteers rescuing civilians in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).
  • Civilians injured as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ras Al-A'in in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (Copyright SMART, published in the public interest).

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (2–4 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (39) [ collapse]