Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4148

Incident date

November 8, 2019

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians, including four children, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Jisr Al Shughour on November 8th, 2019, according to local sources.

Smart News Agency reported that “activists said four civilians from the same family, including three children, were wounded in an airstrike by Russian planes on the town of Jisr Al Shughour”.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported that a woman was injured, stating that Syrian regime planes fired four rockets on a residential community of the city, including Zakaria Akta school. @IdlibPlus put the number of injured at six and @brocarpress reported “four wounded, including three children.”

According to @ShahbaPress, a church was also targeted. @IdlibPlus furthermore reported damage to a charity sewing workshop.

Jisr Media Center reported the names of one male injured civilian and three children.

Human Rights Watch mentioned that the airstrike also targeted a church. “On November 8, 2019, at 2 p.m., an attack damaged St. George’s church, a Greek Orthodox church in Jisr al-Shughour. Human Rights Watch reviewed two photographs sent by local journalist Mustafa al-Ahmad and two videos posted on YouTube on November 10 and November 12 which show damage to the church’s walls. This damage is also visible in satellite imagery which shows two distinct impacts in the area surrounding the church. The explosion wounded six people, including four children, and partially destroyed at least one residential building in the area, according to another local journalist. Satellite imagery also confirmed the damage to the residential building.”

A tweet from @RaedAlSaleh3 also reported that regime forces launched “4 missiles at once on a residential compound for civilians that includes the Zakaria Aktaa school.”

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime was responsible.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Age unknown male injured
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @mohmad_rasheed).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @mohmad_rasheed).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @mohmad_rasheed).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @mohmad_rasheed).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Photo of the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via @IdlibPlus).
  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via JMC).
  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the city of Jisr Al Shughur on November 8th 2019 (via JMC).
  • © 2019 Mustafa al-Ahmad. Satellite imagery from November 13, 2019 © 2020 Maxar Technologies. Source: EUSI. (Via HRW)
  • Caption translation: Russian and Nusayri occupation aviation. Destroys a church in the city of Jisr Al-Shughour in the free Idlib. (Image posted by @Olfmcw1gkRnbhoQ)
  • Caption translation:: Air strikes on the city of Jisr Al-Shughour in the western countryside of Idlib (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • Caption translation:: Air strikes on the city of Jisr Al-Shughour in the western countryside of Idlib (Image posted by @anasanas84)
  • On November 8, 2019, at 2 p.m., an attack damaged St. George’s church, a Greek Orthodox church in Jisr al-Shughour.[417] Human Rights Watch reviewed two photographs sent by local journalist Mustafa al-Ahmad and two videos posted on YouTube on November 10 and November 12 which show damage to the church’s walls.[418] This damage is also visible in satellite imagery which shows two distinct impacts in the area surrounding the church. The explosion wounded six people, including four children, and partially destroyed at least one residential building in the area, according to another local journalist.[419] Satellite imagery also confirmed the damage to the residential building. There were no signs of military weapons, equipment, or personnel in the imagery reviewed. (Image posted by Human Rights Watch)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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

Sources (29) [ collapse]