Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3969

Incident date

July 28, 2019

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least four men were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ariha, Idlib governorate, on July 28th, 2019, according to local sources. 18 others were reported injured.

Although Ariha Today initially cited three civilians killed, the same source later named four fatalities, all of whom were men. Smart News Agency reported that “the Syrian regime forces killed five civilians, and wounded 18 others, in addition to causing fire and destruction in cars and shops.”

The Syria Civil Defence documented “four martyrs and 18 others wounded as a result of warplanes directly targeting the most populated area in the city of Ariha in the countryside Idlib this morning. For the third day in a row, the city is bombed.”

Multiple sources, including the Syrian Human Rights Committee, identified the victims as Absi Hassan Al BouMahmoud Hasan Al BouMuhammad Muwaffaq Hamami and Haitham Abdul Qadir Qazmouz.

Horrya News wrote that “that four civilians were killed as a result of the MiG-23 warplane targeting residential neighbourhoods in the city with high-explosive missiles.”

Zaman Al Wasl reported that five civilians were killed in the event’s final death toll. El Dorar also put the death toll at five civilians, writing that regime forces targeted the Al Uruba School area and the public square inside the city. According to the correspondent, “the bombing caused the outbreak of several huge fires inside the city, as civil defence teams worked to extinguish them, cool the targeted place, and transport the injured to nearby field hospitals.”

@HadiAlabdallah posted a video of the event, stating that the main market of the city had been targeted.

@aboalhodaalhoms also posted a video on Twitter and captioned it: “Watch the first moments of the Russian warplanes bombing the city of Ariha and residential neighbourhoods, which led to the death of four martyrs and many wounded, and civil defence teams are still searching for people stranded under the rubble.”

Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the strikes.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (29) [ collapse]

  • Image Caption Translation: " at least 5 civilians killed as fixed-wing Syrian regime warplanes fired several missiles on the municipality building in the middle of Ariha city in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on July 28. We point out that the same forces committed a massacre in the city the previous day." (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Photos showing the location of military aircraft targeting residential neighborhoods in the southern city of Ariha Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Photos showing the location of military aircraft targeting residential neighborhoods in the southern city of Ariha Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Photos showing the location of military aircraft targeting residential neighborhoods in the southern city of Ariha Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Photos showing the location of military aircraft targeting residential neighborhoods in the southern city of Ariha Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Photos showing the location of military aircraft targeting residential neighborhoods in the southern city of Ariha Idlib." (via Edlib Media Center)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Four martyrs and wounding 18 others, as a result of the bombing of warplanes targeted directly the most populated area in the city of Jericho in the countryside Idlib this morning, and for the third day in a row the city is bombed by the criminal lion." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Four martyrs and wounding 18 others, as a result of the bombing of warplanes targeted directly the most populated area in the city of Jericho in the countryside Idlib this morning, and for the third day in a row the city is bombed by the criminal lion." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Four martyrs and wounding 18 others, as a result of the bombing of warplanes targeted directly the most populated area in the city of Jericho in the countryside Idlib this morning, and for the third day in a row the city is bombed by the criminal lion." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Four martyrs and wounding 18 others, as a result of the bombing of warplanes targeted directly the most populated area in the city of Jericho in the countryside Idlib this morning, and for the third day in a row the city is bombed by the criminal lion." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image Caption Translation: "Four martyrs and wounding 18 others, as a result of the bombing of warplanes targeted directly the most populated area in the city of Jericho in the countryside Idlib this morning, and for the third day in a row the city is bombed by the criminal lion." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Video Caption Translation: "The first scenes of the air strikes on the city of Jericho, leaving dead and wounded civilians." (via Step News)
  • Destruction after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ariha on July 28th, 2019 (via El Dorar).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ariha on July 28th, 2019 (via El Dorar).
  • Civilians in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ariha on July 28th, 2019 (via El Dorar).
  • Damage after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ariha on July 28th, 2019 (via El Dorar).
  • An ambulance in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Ariha on July 28th, 2019 (via El Dorar).
  • Translation: “Video: Assad warplanes bomb the main market and residential buildings in the city of Ariha in the Idlib countryside, expecting martyrs and wounded 7/28/2019. Five martyrs and dozens of wounded so far” (via @HadiAlabdallah).
  • Translation: “#Ariha today” (via @ala_hacioglu).
  • Translation: “For the third day in a row. Victims of airstrikes on the city of Ariha in Idlib countryside and the initial toll was one dead and a number of wounded. Photography: Bashar Al Sheikh” (via @Sy24ria).
  • A man carrying a killed or injured baby after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ariha, July 28th, 2019 (via @Sy24ria).
  • Civilians in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ariha, July 28th, 2019 (via @Sy24ria).
  • Civilians carrying a victim after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ariha, July 28th, 2019 (via @Sy24ria).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ariha, July 28th, 2019 (via @Sy24ria).
  • Translation: “SY+ Muhammad al-Sheikh correspondent: For the third day, the city of Ariha in Idlib wakes up to a terrible massacre due to an airstrike by the warplanes” (via @SY_plus).
  • Translation: “Breathtaking moments from the Ariha massacre in Idlib... Four dead and a number of injured trapped under the rubble as a preliminary outcome” (via @SY_plus).
  • Translation: “Civilians were martyred and wounded as a result of airstrikes targeting the city of Ariha in Idlib countryside” (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Translation: “Watch the first moments of the Russian warplanes bombing the city of Ariha and residential neighborhoods, which led to the death of four martyrs and many wounded, and civil defense teams are still searching for people stranded under the rubble. #Idlib #Syria” (via @aboalhodaalhoms).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Muhammad Muwaffaq Hamami was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ariha, July 28th, 2019 (via Yousef Mohammed Hamami on Facebook).

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (26) [ collapse]