Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3702

Incident date

May 19–20, 2019

Location

كفرنبل , Kafar Nubul, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to numerous sources, a series of consecutive overnight strikes devastated a neighbourhood of Kafar Nubul from May 19th to 20th, killing 10 to 15 civilians, while injuring two to 20. While the majority of sources held Russia accountable for the bombardment, a minority did not positively attribute blame.

Women and children were named by many sources as the highest proportion of those killed and injured, with multiple sources reporting the death of seven children.

Young brothers Suleiman and Ibrahim al Ismail were reportedly killed alongside their pregnant mother, according to numerous sources. The sources named ten victims only.

While Edlib Media Center initially alleged four fatalities, the same source later stated that the figure had risen to 10, as understanding of the event unfolded. Multiple other sources claimed that there were at least 10 fatalities as a result of the bombardment. SyriaCivilDefense posted “The number of victims of the massacre of  Kafar Nubul rose to nine martyrs to the moment, after 10 air raids with high-explosive missiles on the residential neighborhoods of the city.”

Substantial damage to civilian infrastructure is documented by many sources, with Step News claiming that the strikes deliberately “targeted infrastructure and hospitals”, and Jisr TV stating that 15 homes were destroyed. Many sources reported that Mariam Maternity Hospital in southern Idlib was out of service as a result of the raid, while Step News alleged the “destruction of the hospital”. Documenting the rescue mission, Syria Civil Defense poignantly reported “the destruction of a number of homes above the heads of the residents.”

In spite of the Russian-Turkish agreement, stipulating the cessation of shelling in the region, Step News reported that “Idlib and the northern city of Hama are under frequent air, artillery and missile attacks by the Regime and Russia, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries, and tens of thousands of displaced persons.”

One resident of the neighbourhood, speaking in a video released by Edlib Media Centre, stated; “my uncle was killed, and my cousin was injured. There are another seven to eight killed, and around 10 injured. There are no military bases here. There’s nothing … it’s all civilian.”

According to Syrianmosaic, the Russian ministry of defense stated that they attacked with raids terrorists in Kafr Nubul in the evening of the day when the incident took place.

The ministry said: “Al-Nusra Front terrorists tried to launch an attack on the Russian Hmeimim base by rocket launchers, and at eight o’clock yesterday evening, Idlib terrorists fired six shells.” “Russian reconnaissance means were able to locate this missile launcher on the western outskirts of the village of Kafr Nabl in Idlib Governorate, and the Russian Air Force destroyed this terrorist point with a specific strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Suleiman al Ismail سليمان الإسماعيل
Child male killed
Hiba Shahine هبة الشاهين
Adult female pregnant Wife of Husam Al Ismaeil and The mother of those children killed

Family members (4)

The victims were named as:

Adult female wife of Muhammad Ahmad Al-Hanbat killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (3–7 children2–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (59) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (48) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the May 19th/20th airstrike on Kafar Nabil (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the May 19th/20th airstrike on Kafar Nabil (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the May 19th/20th airstrike on Kafar Nabil (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • The devastation of residential structures following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The devastation of civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following the alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The devastation of residential structures following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Edlib Media Center)
  • The devastation of residential structures following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The devastation of residential structures following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The devastation of residential structures following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The devastation of civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Structural devastation following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Structural devastation following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Translation: "Idlib, Southern countryside: the evacuation of civilian victims from the rubble of houses in the city of Kafr Nabel, south of Idlib, after the Russian shelling of the area on 20/05/2019"
  • A short video documenting the air raids (via Anas Marawi)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shahba Press)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shahba Press)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shahba Press)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shaam News)
  • The devastation of civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shaam News)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shaam News)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shaam News)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shaam News)
  • The devastation of residential structures and civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shaam News)
  • The devastation of civilian infrastructure following alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Nabil May 19th/20th (via Shaam News)
  • A video depicting the aftermath of the airstrikes. Translation: "at night after evening prayer, Russian planes started hitting the village including the neighbourhood. They hit with more than ten raids. Among the victims were my uncle and cousin and six others from the neighbourhood and there are around ten injured. “
  • A child sitting amid destruction caused by alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on May 19th, 2019. (via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on May 19th, 2019. (via MMC)
  • A child sitting amid of destruction caused by alleged Russian forces airstrikes on Kafr Nubul on May 19th, 2019. (via MMC)
  • One of the victims of an airstrike on Kafr Nubul on May 19th, 2019. (via Abu Ibrahim Ta`ata`a)
  • One of the victims of an airstrike on Kafr Nubul on May 19th, 2019. (via Abu Ibrahim Ta`ata`a)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (3–7 children2–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (59) [ collapse]