Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4260

Incident date

December 17, 2019

Location

معرشمشة, Ma’ar Shamsha, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian reportedly died in an alleged regime or Russian airstrike on Ma’ar Shamsha, southern Idlib countryside, around noon on December 17, 2019.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the victim’s name is Mohammad Abdul Razzaq Al Shahhoud.

According to Al Jazeera, the attack had been “carried out by Syrian regime helicopters”. Facebook User Haisam.aldalati.7 reported instead that Sukhoi-24 warplanes conducted the strike. Jisr Press detailed that the strike consisted of two barrel bombs.

Relatives of the victim mourned their loss on social media, among them Al Shahhoud’s daughter, Zahra Shahhoud, who posted on Facebook: “The heart grieves, and we are sad for your separation from us, my father. May Allah accept us, and we are patient, with Allah’s permission. But dad, tears betray the eyes. We belong to God and to Him we shall return”. Al Shahhoud’s cousin (with the Facebook User name “91Zakarya”) also mourned his relative’s death.

Video footage documents the explosion cloud above what seems to be Ma’ar Shamsha. Other video footage by Enab Baladi shows families in distress in the aftermath of the attack, as well as a White Helmet rescue operation on their way to the affected area.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Abdul Razzaq al Shahhoud محمد عبد الرزاق الشحود
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Explosion cloud above Ma’ar Shamsha
  • SCD team on their rescue operation

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]