Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4015

Incident date

August 13, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib governorate, on August 13th, 2019, according to local sources. Eight others were injured. Two of the injured victims, including a child, passed away on August 18th due to the injuries they sustained in the strikes.

Step Agency reported that “Russian warplanes targeted the city of Khan Sheikhoun, south of Idlib, with several airstrikes that killed three civilians – one man and two women – and wounded several.” Halab Today stated that “two men and a woman were killed, and five others were wounded, due to Russian warplane shelling in Khan Sheikhoun city of Idlib countryside.”

Justice Organisation named those killed as Faten Abdul Haseeb Al Kirawan, Ahmed Mohammed Al Safar and Omran Shaaban. Several sources, including @Step_Agency, reported that among the fatalities, there were two women and one man, whereas others reported that two men and one woman had been killed. The reported names of the victims imply that one woman and two men were killed.

A correspondent for Al Jazeera reported that “three civilians were killed and others were injured as a result of Russian airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, the largest city in the southern countryside of Idlib, at dawn today. The Syrian Response Coordinators organization said that about forty towns and villages in Idlib and Hama countryside were completely destroyed.” According to Justice Organisation, the strikes took place around 3 AM.

Mohammad Abd Al Rahim abou Sallou’ posted the names of seven injured civilians in addition to those killed in the strikes. On August 18th, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Ahmad Jehad al Qadah and the child Haitham Abdul Qader Najm died on August 18, 2019, due to wounds sustained five days ago as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate.” Khan Sheikhoun 2014 already reported that the child Haitham Abdul Qader Najm had died due to his injuries on August 17th.

While most sources attributed the attack to Russian forces, a few sources named both the Syrian regime and Russia or the Syrian regime in reports of the incident.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Adult male died of his injuries on August 18th, 2019 killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male injured
Child male died of his injuries on August 17th, 2019 killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Mohammed Al Safar was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun on August 13th, 2019 (via Yusuf Al Safer).
  • Ahmed Mohammed Al Safar was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun on August 13th, 2019 (via Yusuf Al Safer).
  • Haitham Abdel Qader Najim died on August 18th, 2019 of his injuries sustained in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun on August 13th, 2019 (via Khan Sheikhoun 2014 on Facebook).
  • The body of Ahmed Mohammed Al Safar, who died on August 18th of his injuries sustained in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun on August 13th, 2019 (via Abd Al Kareem Al Mathbouh).
  • Ahmed Mohammed Al Safar died on August 18th of his injuries sustained in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun on August 13th, 2019 (via Abd Al Kareem Al Mathbouh).
  • Photo caption: "Ahmad Jehad al Qadah and the child Haitham Abdul Qader Najm died on August 18, 2019, due to wounds sustained five days ago as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate" (via SNHR).

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
    5
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]