Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4331

Incident date

January 21, 2020

Location

أرحاب, Irhab, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was killed and others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Irhab, Aleppo governorate, on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources.

Activists told SMART News Agency that the child was killed in bombing by Russian warplanes that targeted the village. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria identified the victim of the air raid, which reportedly occurred at 11:27 AM, as Mariam Abdel Qader Abu Ras, displaced from the village of Al Habit in Idlib governorate. SNHR reported the child was 5 years old. The majority of other sources, including Al Jazeera, also reported that a young girl was killed.

A Facebook post from Loreta Saqipi pointed out that the death of the young girl Maryam was the result of airstrikes against the homes of IDPs in the countryside of Aleppo and FSLA.Ovecs identified Maryam as being from the town of Al Habit in Idlib. Syrian Human Rights Committee added that “others” were injured in the airstrikes but did not specify how many.

These raids took place only days after an announced ceasefire, and many of the strikes took place in a so-called “de-escalation zone”. Russian war helicopters continue to drop bombs and use missile strikes upon purely civilian areas without any military significance, according to The Syrian Civil Defense Organization. This same humanitarian organization released images of destroyed homes and crushed apartment complexes surrounded by burned out cars.  The actions of the Russian military disregarded a brief cease-fire and continued their policy of slaughtering civilians within the outskirts of Aleppo.

Multiple sources detailed the presence of Russian warplanes conducting the raids in support of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The incident occured at approximately 11:27 am local time.

The victims were named as:

5 years old female displaced from the town of Al Habit killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on the village of Irhab on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by Jesr Press)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian strikes on the village of Irhab on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by Jesr Press)
  • Five-year-old Mariam Abdul Qader Abu Ras, killed in alleged Russian strikes on Irhab on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by Loreta.saqipi via Facebook)
  • Five-year-old Mariam Abdul Qader Abu Ras, killed in alleged Russian strikes on Irhab on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @miladahmdfadel via Facebook)
  • Five-year-old Mariam Abdul Qader Abu Ras, killed in alleged Russian strikes on Irhab on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by Essa.jaloul via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]