Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4325

Incident date

January 21, 2020

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One to two children were reported killed and up to four other civilians, including one to two children and one or two women, were reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Taqad in Aleppo, Syria on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources. Syrian Civil Defense said the two women believed to be injured are IDPs from another part of the country.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “the child Jum’ah al Rashid, aged 10, was killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Taqad village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on January 21.”

Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported the death of the child and “the injury of the Ahmed Al-Araj’s daughter, 7 years old, and the injury of a woman.” @fawaz_jwaid tweeted about the “death of a 7-year-old girl, Bint Ahmed Al-Araj“, indicating that Ahmed’s daughter died from her injuries. Zeitoun Newspaper also put the death toll at two civilians.

SMART Agency quoted Syrian Civil Defense saying ” A child was killed and four others were wounded, including a woman, as a result of missile strikes from Russian warplanes on Taqad village, which is located in the city of Darat Azza in the western countryside of Aleppo.” Images posted by @aymanalahmadd show two young girls being treated for injuries from the airstrikes and Syria TV mentions that those injured were family members of the civilian killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights expected the death toll to rise as there are many injuries including some in critical conditions.

@RamahKasem added that civilian property was destroyed from the airstrikes.

@ShahbaPress, Macro Media Center, SMART Agency, Local Coordination Committees of Syria and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed Russia for this incident, while Syrian Civil Defense blamed the Syrian Regime, while Nors for Studies blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime. @fawaz_jwaid referred to vacuum missiles as being used in the attack.

The incident occured at 11:20:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

10 years old male killed
7 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • SCD volunteers in the aftermath of an airstrike on Taqad in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Taqad in Aleppo, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • SCD responding to airstrikes on Taqad in Aleppo, Syria on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Rubble of buildings caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @aymanalahmadd)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @aymanalahmadd)

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 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (24) [ collapse]