Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4268

Incident date

December 18, 2019

Location

الغدفة, Ghadafa, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One man was reportedly injured and died as a result of his injuries in the aftermath of an alleged regime or Russian airstrike on Ghadafa, southeastern Idlib, on December 18, 2019, during daytime.

The man was identified by several sources as Abdel Qader Al Khaled. He was injured during the airstrike and was first transferred to the hospital, where he died several days after the incident. Al Khaled’s family is allegedly affiliated to the rebels and had been displaced from Abu Al-Zuhur, according to Facebook user Rabia Abdul.

Some sources, among them @iA6TWquU3yvk2RK, claimed that the raid was conducted by the regime’s Sukhoi-22 warplanes. @oulaalassaad reported instead that regime helicopters targeted the outskirts of the town with barrel bombs. According to @Hani_Alymani, however, Russian warplanes attacked the town with vacuum missiles.

The attack reportedly caused great damage to civilian property.

The victim’s brother Al Tayeb Abu Ali Medani posted on Facebook: “Dear friends in Al-Muharrir, God has honored us with the death of my brother Abdul Qadir, and because of the harsh circumstances, we ask you not perform the duty of condolence.”

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Abdel Qader Al Khaled عبد القادر الخالد
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rising in the aftermath of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Ghadafa, December 18, 2019 (via @khaleedalkhteb)
  • The victim Abdel Qader Al Khaled in the aftermath of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Ghadafa, December 18, 2019 (via Rabiâ Abdul).
  • The victim Abdel Qader Al Khaled in the aftermath of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Ghadafa, December 18, 2019 (via GMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

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 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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 (12) [ collapse]