Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4317

Incident date

January 20, 2020

Location

كفر تعال, Kafar Ta'al , Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children were killed in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Ta’al, Aleppo governorate, on January 20th, 2020, according to local sources. Seven civilians, including children, were reportedly wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the killing of three young girls. The Syrian Network for Human Rights wrote that the girls were part of the same family: “Sibling girls Noura and Yusra Mehyou Al Masri and the girl Fatimah Qaddour Al Masri, aged 6, 10 and 6 respectively, were killed as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Kafr Ta’al village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on January 20″. According to the Syrian Civil Defence, the residential home of the children was targeted.

Edlib Media Center, Smart News Agency and @ShahbaPress reported seven wounded civilians. Shehab Agency asserted the injury of seven wounded and injured civilians, alleging that most of the civilians injured were children. Sources stated that the incident occured around dawn.

The Syrian Civil Defence Aleppo published a statement announcing that their teams were on site to rescue the injured civilians and to recover the three al Masri girls killed during the attack.

Baladi news provided information on the nature of the attack asserting that the alleged Russian incident was conducted with vacuum missiles targeting the residential house.

All sources, except the Syrian Coalition twitter account, stated that the attack was carried out by the Russian Armed forces. The Syrian Coalition tweeted: “At least 7 martyrs and more than 10 injuries, so far, among civilians, as a result of the terrorism of the Russian occupation and the Assad regime with their aerial and artillery bombardment on the western countryside of Aleppo”

Shaam News Network wrote that “civilians were killed and others wounded today, Monday, by Russian airstrikes, targeting the towns of the western countryside of Aleppo, in the context of an escalation campaign that has affected the area for nearly a week, amid a large movement of displacement from the area.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

6 years old female sister of Yusra Mehyou al Masri killed
10 years old female sister of Noura Mehyou al Masr killed
6 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer looking at damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer helping a child after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searching for victims underneath the rubble after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers seemingly covering victims after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searching for victims underneath the rubble after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Civilians possibly looking for victims or their belongings after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Civilians possibly looking for victims or their belongings after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Destruction after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Civilians looking at damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searching for victims underneath the rubble after alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafar Ta’al on January 20th, 2020 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Children sort through the rubble at the site of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Ta'al on January 20, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • Rubble at the site of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Ta'al on January 20, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • Children sort through the rubble at the site of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Ta'al on January 20, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • Children sort through the rubble at the site of alleged Russian airstrikes on Kafr Ta'al on January 20, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • "Children cry the ruins of their house destroyed by the Russian killing machine this morning in Kafr Ta’al, west of Aleppo, and are looking for their memories that were destroyed by Russia" (Image posted by @mahmoodtalha22)
  • "Children cry the ruins of their house destroyed by the Russian killing machine this morning in Kafr Ta’al, west of Aleppo, and are looking for their memories that were destroyed by Russia" (Image posted by @mahmoodtalha22)
  • "Children cry the ruins of their house destroyed by the Russian killing machine this morning in Kafr Ta’al, west of Aleppo, and are looking for their memories that were destroyed by Russia" (Image posted by @mahmoodtalha22)
  • "Children cry the ruins of their house destroyed by the Russian killing machine this morning in Kafr Ta’al, west of Aleppo, and are looking for their memories that were destroyed by Russia" (Image posted by @mahmoodtalha22)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on the town of Kafr Taal on January 20, 2020. (Image posted by @SyrianCoalition)
  • A child in the rubble of his home destroyed by alleged Russian strikes on the town of Kafr Taal on January 20, 2020. (Image posted by @anewsarabic)
  • Effects of the bombing of a house in the town of Kafr Taal in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • A child collects what is left of his house furniture after being bombed in the town of Kafr Ta’al in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • A child collects what is left of his house furniture after being bombed in the town of Kafr Ta’al in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • A child collects what is left of his house furniture after being bombed in the town of Kafr Ta’al in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • A man pleads with God after his house was bombed in the town of Kafr Ta’al in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • A family sits in front of their house after it was bombed in the town of Kafr Ta’al in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • A family sits in front of their house after it was bombed in the town of Kafr Ta’al in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • A family sits in front of their house after it was bombed in the town of Kafr Ta’al in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • The Civil Defense assists the children and the family that was bombed in the town of Kafr Taal in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)
  • The Civil Defense assists the children and the family that was bombed in the town of Kafr Taal in the western countryside of Aleppo - January 20, 2020 (Enab Baladi)

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
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]