Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3800

Incident date

June 14, 2019

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A local source reported that civilians were injured in alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zeita on June 14th, 2019. Other sources did not report civilian harm but did report alleged Russian and Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city on that same day.

Step News wrote that “Russian and Syrian regime aircraft, with more than 15 airstrikes, targeted the cities of Al Latamina, Kafar Zeita, and the outskirts of Al Zakat, north of Hama, and wounded civilians, while the regime forces bombed heavy artillery from the Russian camp south of Halfaya, targeting the city of Kafar Zeita in the northern Hama countryside.” The source does not specify if and how many civilians were injured in Kafar Zeita specifically.

Other sources did report the strikes but did not mention civilian casualties. MEO specifically wrote that there were no civilian casualties in the airstrikes on several cities on June 14th, including the city of Kafar Zeita.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), “fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles near the medical point in Kafr Zita city in Hama governorate northern suburbs, partially damaging its building and equipment”. In a later post, the source added that Russian forces also fired a missile near Al Reefiya School.

@shabablatamni reported that the city was targeted with rocket shelling from Russian bases in the town of Maardis. @HalabTodayTV also reported artillery shelling but blamed the Syrian regime.

Other sources reported that the city was targeted with airstrikes. @Step_Agency, for example, tweeted: “Russian warplanes launched several airstrikes targeting the cities of Al-Lataminah and Kafr Zita in the northern Hama countryside.

@MahmodHamway posted a video of the bombing, writing that “more than ten airstrikes launched by the Russian aggression today on the perimeter of a mosque in the city of Kafar Zeita.” The source added that “this mosque is rubble, but this minaret is standing tall and steadfast.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “More than ten air strikes launched by Russian aggression today on the perimeter of a mosque in the city of Kafr Zita, Hama, as this mosque is rubble and rubble, but this minaret is standing tall and steadfast, God willing, defying all forms of occupation and aggression” (via @MahmodHamway).

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (16) [ collapse]