Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3953

Incident date

July 25, 2019

Location

كفروما, Kafarouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians, including at least one child, were reported killed and 10 others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on civilian homes in the town of Kafarouma, Idlib governorate, on July 25th, 2019, according to local sources.

Edlib Media Center reported that “three people were killed and several wounded when military aircraft targeted the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib with rockets.”

Meanwhile, Ariha Today reported “the martyrdom of a woman and a child, and 10 wounded people, including four children, and people trapped under the rubble of a military airstrike targeting houses of civilians in the town of Kafarouma west of Ma’arat Al Nu’man.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that “at least two civilians, a woman and a child, from the same family, were killed as warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Kafarouma village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on July 25, 2019.”

In two later posts, the source blamed Syrian regime helicopters that “dropped several barrel bombs on Ibn Hayyan Elementary School” and another “several barrel bombs near al Kabir Mosque” in Kafarouma village.

@thiqanewsagency tweeted that “two martyrs have risen and more than seven wounded, as a preliminary result among civilians, as a result of targeting the town of Kafarouma in the countryside of Idlib by Russian warplanes.” HalabTodayTV cited that three civilians, including a child, were killed in the strikes. Edlib Media Center and Shaam News Network also reported three killed civilians.

@amaraldeek identified the victims as Samir Muhammad Turki Al Deek and Reham Walid Al Deek. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fatal victims were a mother and her child.

The Kafarouma Media Center identified eight of the injured civilians, among which four members of the Al Deek family and three members of the Aqdi family. The eight injured victim was named as Alaa Rahmon.

@alhasanbe tweeted a photo of a child killed in the strikes, presumably Samir Muhammad Turki Al Deek. The source added that “his two brothers are wounded”. Baladi News wrote that two children were killed.

The Syrian Civil Defence wrote on Facebook that their teams had been able to save “a young man who was under the ruins of his destroyed house, after an airstrike that targeted civilian houses in the town of Kafarouma in the countryside of Idlib this morning.”

@IdlibPlus posted a photo of an unexploded barrel bomb which was dropped by a helicopter on the town, writing that “it fell in the middle of a house whose owners are still inside, but by the grace of God it did not explode, and everyone inside the house survived.”

Al Dorar Al Shamiya posted a video of the aftermath of the strikes, writing that in addition to casualties, the strikes led to “major destruction of infrastructure”.

Edlib Media Center cited the use of “explosive barrels” in the attack.

Sources predominantly attributed the attack to Russian forces, while a number named the Syrian regime as the belligerent responsible for the attack.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Age unknown male injured
Age unknown injured
Age unknown female injured
Age unknown male injured

Family members (3)

Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown female injured

The victims were named as:

Age unknown female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (28) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption Translation: "Two martyrs and a number of wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes targeted the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib by air strike." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Two martyrs and a number of wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes targeted the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib by air strike." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption Translation: "Two martyrs and a number of wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes targeted the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib by air strike." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Two martyrs and a number of wounded as a result of the Russian warplanes targeted the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib by air strike." (via @IdlibPlus)
  • Image caption translation: "Russian warplanes target the town of Kafarouma in the southern countryside of Idlib." (via Kafar Zeita post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a child and a woman as a result of Russian air raids targeting civilian houses in the center of the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib." (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a child and a woman as a result of Russian air raids targeting civilian houses in the center of the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib." (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a child and a woman as a result of Russian air raids targeting civilian houses in the center of the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib." (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a child and a woman as a result of Russian air raids targeting civilian houses in the center of the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib." (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a child and a woman as a result of Russian air raids targeting civilian houses in the center of the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib." (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "The martyrdom of a child and a woman as a result of Russian air raids targeting civilian houses in the center of the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib." (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image Caption: "Russian forces killed 2 civilians in Kafarouma village in Idlib, on July 25 SNHR: at least two civilians, a woman and a child, from the same family killed as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Kafrooma village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on July 25, 2019." (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Syrian regime helicopters dropped several barrel bombs on Ibn Hayyan Elementary School in Kafrooma village on July 25th (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).
  • Translation: “This barrel bomb was dropped by a helicopter today on the town of Kafarouma, and it fell in the middle of a house whose owners are still inside, but by the grace of God it did not explode, and everyone inside the house survived” (via @IdlibPlus).
  • An alleged unexploded barrel bomb in a civilian home after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma, Idlib governorate on July 25th, 2019 (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Translation: “Kafrouma a little while ago” (via @binnish_revolu).
  • Translation: “A child and a woman were killed as a result of Russian air strikes targeting civilian homes in the center of Kafr Rumah, south of Idlib” (via @abdalazezketaz).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians trying to rescue a young man stuck between rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma on July 25th, 2019 (via @abdalazezketaz).
  • A young man stuck between rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma on July 25th, 2019 (via @abdalazezketaz).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma on July 25th, 2019 (via @abdalazezketaz).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians trying to rescue a young man stuck between rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma on July 25th, 2019 (via @abdalazezketaz).
  • Translation: “The moment the helicopters of the Assad gangs bombed the town of Kafrouma, south of Idlib” (via @thawrat111).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: “This male child is a martyr, and his two brothers are wounded” (via @alhasanbe).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma on July 25th, 2019 (via @alhasanbe).
  • Child reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafarouma on July 25th, 2019 (via @alhasanbe).
  • Translation: “The wounded were pulled out from under the rubble in the town of Kafrouma, as a result of the bombing of the Russian warplanes” (via @abds02747).
  • Translation: “Field Coverage: The effects of destruction as a result of the regime's helicopter gunships targeting the town of Kafarouma in Idlib countryside, which caused a number of casualties among the people and a major destruction of the infrastructure” (via Al Dorar Al Shamiya).
  • Translation: “Killed and wounded in the Russian bombing of the village of Kafarouma, Idlib” (via Smart News Agency).

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]