Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4074

Incident date

August 25–26, 2019

Location

بسقلا, Bsaqla, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.600962, 36.579151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that at least three civilians including a woman and a girl were killed and many were wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bsaqla on the morning of August 25, 2019.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least three civilians, including a girl and her mother, were killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Bsaqla village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on August 26.” Other sources referred to “at least three civilians” being killed or just “three civilians” killed, and @ahmadalatrasha reported “3 civilian martyrs as a preliminary outcome.”

A tweet by @AJA_Syria reported that according to an Al Jazeera correspondent, ” 4 civilians, including two children, were killed as a result of Russian raids.”

The names of those killed in the strikes: Subhi Rajab Rahmoun, Nahida Hussein Al-Aboud, Daughter of Nahida Al-Aboud (child).

A tweet by @mahmoudalbakor1 only identified the number of wounded as “many” while other sources only referred to “others” wounded. @syrian191124 reported that five other civilians were injured.

An image posted by @z0UdP8TRY3EZAix shows an image of a baby covered in dust but it is unclear whether the child was killed or injured.

The center of Bsaqla was identified as the location that was bombed by the airstrikes, according to a tweet by @z0UdP8TRY3EZAix, and @AJA_Syria referred to the location as a residential neighborhood. The account @ufuk_sy seemed to indicate that those killed and/or injured were trapped under the rubble. Xber24 referred to the civilians killed as “loyal to Turkey.”

The majority of sources attributed the airstrikes to Russian forces. However, a tweet by @HadiAlabdallah only identified the strikes as part of a bombing campaign by “Assad and Russia” and a tweet by @SyrianCoalition referenced the regime as carrying out the airstrikes.

The number of raids that was carried out against the town of Bsaqla was referred to as “several” and Xber24 identified the strikes as “high-explosive missiles.”

 

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female killed
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male Young man killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (44) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Bsaqla, Aug 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Bsaqla, Aug 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • "SNHR: at least three civilians, including a girl and her mother, were killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Bsaqla village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on August 26." (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Bsaqla, Aug 25th (White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Bsaqla, Aug 25th (White Helmets)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike on Bsaqla, Aug 25th (White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (44) [ collapse]