Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS420

Incident date

January 19, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal Islah neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 18 civilians including two children were killed – and 15 others injured – in airstrikes on Al Buliyal, according to local sources. Most sources alleged that Russian forces carried out the strikes, though an initial report by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said that regime warplanes were responsible – but subsequent reports by this source then went on to blame Russian aviation. However, a report by Syria2011 appeared to attribute the incident to the Assad regime.

The Shaam News Network reported on “violent clashes between elements of the state regulation and the forces of Assad on the western and southern fronts of the city of Deir ez-Zor“, and the “unprecedented movement of Russian aviation” in the region in support of Assad’s forces.

Activists told SNN that Russian warplanes “committed a horrible massacre…against dozens of civilians in the village of Albuliyal“, with several raids using cluster bombs targeting houses in the city centre.

According to an initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “suspected Russian warplanes” killed 11 non-combatants, including two children.

However, a subsequent report by SN4HR put the death toll lower, at six, with 15 others wounded.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently initially said that regime warplanes carried out the raids, killing six people. But further reports all blamed Russian cluster bombs. They added that there was also a raid on a repair shop in Al Buliyal, resulting in several deaths and more injuries.

Smo-sy blamed Russia, and said that according to activists the airstrikes were on “the perimeter of theAl-Nour mosque and the Islah neighbourhood  in the village of Albulayll,” leading to 18 deaths.

But Syria2011 appeared to blame the Assad regime: “sixteen martyrs and dozens wounded as the result of Assad’s military aviation targeting the vicinity of ALNOUR mosque and elSalah“.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmed Sweid
Age unknown male named by Free Syria TV killed
Ahmed’s brother, Sweid
Age unknown male named by Free Syria TV killed

Family members (2)

Hamdan Tayeh
Adult male named by Free Syria TV killed
Son of Hamdan Tayeh
Child male named by Free Syria TV killed

The victims were named as:

The son of Fathi Al-Ramadan elKhodor
Child male named by Free Syria TV killed
Hassan Alzayb
Age unknown male named by Free Syria TV killed
Uladhassan Alzeib
Age unknown amputated leg, named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
"Children" of Khalfan Albgdad
Child named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
"Children" of Ahmed Albesas
Child named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
Debrak el Damen
Age unknown named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured
Three martyrs of Alshaiytat
Age unknown named by Free Syria TV as severely injured injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 18
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Deir ez-Zor governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.” It added: “Near al-Baghiliyah (Deir ez-Zor province), where the ISIS militants performed a massive execution of about 300 civilians in order to frighten citizens a day ago, a Russian Su-34 bomber made a strike on terrorists’ strong points. Direct hits caused elimination of 3 heavy vehicles with ZU-23 systems, 2 off-roaders with heavy weapons and more than 60 terrorists.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 18
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]