Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3726

Incident date

May 28, 2019

Location

احسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least three children of the same family were killed and several civilians were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ihsem on May 28th, 2019, according to local sources. The death toll was later updated to six civilians.

Many sources reported that three children were killed from the same family in the attack, named by Syrian Network for Human Rights as Mustafa, Ali and Ahmad Ayman Sarhan. Hossam Sarhan wrote on Facebook that the boys were the children of Ayman Sarhan. The discovery of their bodies was documented in a video by Step News Agency.

@MMCSYR2 posted a video of the incident, stating that in addition to those killed, there were “many wounded”. @ShahbaPress also reported an unknown number of injured. The Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searched for victims trapped underneath the rubble.

Ariha Today later stated that “the number of martyrs in the town rose to six after a girl was removed from the rubble, and a mother and daughter could not be found following the repeated bombardment of the town.”

While several sources, such as Ebaa News, blamed Russia for the airstrikes, others, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights, pointed to the Syrian regime. Some sources, such as @so_ria98, blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mustafa Sarhan مصطفى سرحان
Child male son of Ayman Sarhan killed
Ali Sarhan أحمد سرحان
Child male son of Ayman Sarhan killed
Ahmed Sarhan أحمد سرحان
Child male son of Ayman Sarhan killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "Children killed by air bombardment of the Syrian regime and its allies on the town of South of Idlib" (via Step News)
  • Translation: "The Syrian Civil Defense teams are still searching for trapped under the rubble in the town Ehsem in Jabal al-Zawiya as a result of targeting the air force, which killed many martyrs and wounded." (via Idlib Plus)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the airstrike on Ehsem, Idlib, May 28th (via Idlib Plus)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the airstrike on Ehsem, Idlib, May 28th (via Idlib Plus)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the airstrike on Ehsem, Idlib, May 28th (via Idlib Plus)
  • Rescue efforts in the aftermath of the airstrike on Ehsem, Idlib, May 28th (via Idlib Plus)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: “Town of Ihsem little while ago” (via @mosh3oz450).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: “Russian terrorism in the town of Ihsem in Idlib countryside” (via @aboalhodaalhoms). 
  • Translation: “Martyrs, wounded and trapped under the rubble following a raid by Assad's regime, targeting the center of the town” (via @blaas083).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of children injured and killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ihsem, May 28th, 2019 (via @sadroyal1).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of boy, who was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ihsem, May 28th, 2019 (via @sadroyal1).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Severly injured or killed child after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ihsem, May 28th, 2019 (via @sadroyal1).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of boy killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ihsem, May 28th, 2019 (via @sadroyal1).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: “+18 video: A horrific massacre committed by Asaad regime warplanes in Ihsim town, rural Idlib, three children were killed and many civilians wounded” (via @MMCSYR2).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]