Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS422

Incident date

January 20, 2016

Location

الحسينية, Hussainiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.35905, 40.15113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians including one to two children were killed and dozens more injured in alleged Russian strikes on the village of Hussainiya, according to multiple sources.

Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that four non-combatants died when Russian aviation struck the village with cluster bombs. They said that the warplanes targeted “the house of Talal Al Ghazim and the surroundings area killing the daughter of Talal as well as Ahmad and Ayham Al Shaher and his daughter and there are more than ten seriously wounded.

Activist told the Shaam News Network that “Russian aviation targeted dozens of villages surrounding the city of Deir al-Zour in response to the advance of IS in the area of Brigade 137 and the military airport front.

They said that the targeting of Talal Al Ghazim’s home resulted in the death of five people, including two children and the injury of ten others, “with wounds ranging from average to critical.

The White Helmets said that seven died when “warplanes” targeted the village, but they did not say who the planes belonged to.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the number killed by suspected Russian warplanes in Deir Ezzor Rose to 13, of which four (two of them children) died in the bombing of Hussainiya.

SMO reported that activist had informed them that Russia had carried out seven strikes with “cluster missiles” on the village, leading to five deaths with dozens more wounded, including women and children.

ANA Press also mentioned Russian strikes on the location, while LCCSY documented four deaths from the same family: “Ahamd al-Shaher, little girl Alma al-Shaher, and Ayham al-Shaher” as the result of an alleged Russian raid.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1–2 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • 'The child Alma Ayham Al Shaher and her father who were killed by the treacherous Russian planes.' (via Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Ayham Dahham al-Shaher, killed by alleged Russian raids on 20th January 2016. (via, DC)
  • Alma Ayham al-Shaher, killed by alleged Russian raids on 20th January 2016. (via, DC)

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 20 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Deir ez-Zor governorate: “In the course of the last day, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 16 combat sorties engaging 57 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1–2 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]