Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4166

Incident date

November 12, 2019

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafar Sijna, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.526812, 36.589451 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians of the same family were reported killed and three others injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrike on Kafar Sijna, Idlib in Syria on November 12th, 2019.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), three brothers were killed and three others injured due to barrel bombs dropped by helicopters on a sports arena and swimming pool in Kafr Sajna. @mohanadalshikh reported that the brothers were the “the owners of Al-Othman Sports Stadium” and Bawaba idlib added that their father’s name is Yunus Al-Othman.

SMART Agency said that “one of the civilians died as a result of serious injuries after being taken to the nearest medical point.” @ufuk_sy also reported on the number of casualties, identifying “two martyrs and several wounded”.

@abuhuzaifa mentioned the victims names as: Basel Younis Al-Othman, Zakour Younis Al-Othman and Hammadi Younis Al-Othman. A post by KafarSejna Now published the name of one of the civilians injured: Muhammad Yunus Al-Othman.

A tweet from @alhariri58 identified the strikes as “helicopter strikes with barrel bombs on the town this evening”.

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

The incident occured in the evening.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kafar Sijna (كفرسجنة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.526812, 36.589451. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The three brothers reported killed in an alleged Russian or regime forces airstrike on Kafar Sijna in Idlib (via @abuhuzaifa).
  • The three brothers killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces barrel bombs attack on Kafar Sijna in Idlib on November 12th, 2019 (via @abuhuzaifa)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption translation:The death toll increased to three brothers from the town of Kafr Sijnah, south of Idlib Basil Younis Al-Othman Zakour Younis Al-Othman Hammadi Younis Al-Othman (Images posted by @Khaledhamoud904)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption translation:The death toll increased to three brothers from the town of Kafr Sijnah, south of Idlib Basil Younis Al-Othman Zakour Younis Al-Othman Hammadi Younis Al-Othman (Images posted by @Khaledhamoud904)
  • Caption translation: 3 people from one family were killed by helicopters' bombing of barrel bombs on the town of Kafr Sijnah in the southern countryside of Idlib Basil Younis Al-Othman, Zakour Younis Al-Othman, Hammadi Younis Al-Othman (Image posted by @Mustafa_ElHidir )
  • Caption translation: Three brothers were killed in helicopter strikes on the town of Kafr Sijnah, south of Idlib Basil Younis Al-Othman Zakour Younis Al-Othman Hammadi Younis Al-Othman (Images posted by Nedal Sbih via Facebook)

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (33) [ collapse]