Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4183

Incident date

November 20, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Maarat Nu’man, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were killed in reported Russian airstrikes in the town of Maarat al Numan in southern Idlib on the evening of November 20th 2019. Multiple sources alleged that at least five casualties were members of the same family, including four children and their mother. The strikes occurred on “World Children’s Day”.

Between 11 and 24 people were also injured in the strikes, with sources reporting that at least three of those injured were children.

Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said shortly after the event that he expected the death toll to rise given the severity of injuries sustained in the attack. As reported in news outlet Zaman Alwasi, “The Observatory added that more than one Russian warplane took turns bombing the targeted place with double raids, with the aim of killing the largest number of civilians and civil defense crews and rescue teams.

The Observatory confirmed an initial outcome of 6 dead, mostly children, a young man and a woman, and the injury of more than 16 others, most of them children. Civil defense teams are still trying to rescue and retrieve civilians who are still stuck under the rubble, noting that Russian warplanes are still flying over the region, escorted by a Russian reconnaissance plane.”

At least two sources shared reports from an AFP photographer, who “saw a paramedic pull the dusty corpse of a little girl out of the rubble and put [her] in an ambulance”. (France24).

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohamed Abdul Karim Basas
Child male killed
Khadijah Basas
Child female killed
Bilal Basas
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Amina Qtiesh
Adult female killed
Mohammed Khader Qtiesh
Child male Named by MMC as Mohammed Khader Al-Homoud killed

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim al Hammoud
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (53) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al-Numan, Nov 20th.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian victim of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via Justice Organisation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child victim of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via Justice Organisation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child victim of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via Justice Organisation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via MCC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two children killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via MCC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via MCC)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via MCC)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via MCC)
  • Smoke rises over Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th, following an alleged Russian airstrike (via MMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A dead child following an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via MMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A dead child following an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via MMC)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, Nov 20th (via White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "An indefinite toll as a result of Russian warplanes"; the face of a child killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, November 20th 2019 (via @EyadHoms20)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of a child killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, November 20th 2019 (via @EyadHoms20)
  • "On the #InternationalChildren'sDay, the world is interested in calling for the promotion of children's rights and the advancement of their reality, but children in #Syria daily lose their most important right, which is the right to life" - A white helmet volunteer runs through the rubble of an alleged Russian airstrike in the city of Maarat al Numan on 20th November 2019 carrying a young child. Image via @EuroMedHRAr
  • Smoke rises over a residential area, reported via Facebook by Almaaralover to have been the result of alleged Russian airstrikes in Maarat al Numan on November 20th 2019.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (53) [ collapse]