Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4351

Incident date

January 23, 2020

Location

قرب سراقب, near Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children were killed alongside two adults in alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib, Idlib governorate, on January 23rd, 2020, according to local sources. Up to fifteen people, including children and women, were injured.

According to Step News Agency correspondent Hassan Al Muhammed, “the Russian aviation inflicted a massacre on the displaced people on a farm they were taking refuge in, near the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib. This resulted in the death of 5 people and the injury of 10 others from the same family, including children and women.”

Local sources tweeted that the following civilians were killed: Fatima Izz Al Din (50), Musab Khatoun (26), Murhaf Musab Khatoun (1), Basil Khatoun (1), Radwan Khatoun, (11).

Muhammed Al Ali, an activist, told Jeron that the Russian aircraft conducted several airstrikes, killing five civilians and wounded another five, including two children. He noted that the family fled their village of Al Hamra in the eastern countryside of Hama two years earlier after the regime took control over the village.

SMART reported that there were three children and one woman among the wounded. A correspondent for Baladi News reported that “Russian warplanes targeted a farm located about five km away from the city of Saraqib, sheltering IDPs from the countryside of Idlib, with rockets, killing five of them and wounding 15 others with varying injuries.”

Although most sources reported that the airstrike targeted a farm or a “house on farmland”, Edlib Media Center gave conflicting reports. EMC first stated the attack hit a petrol station in which the displaced family had sought refuge, but wrote in a later report that the family had been residing in tents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

50 years old female displaced from Al Hamra killed
26 years old male displaced from Al Hamra killed
1 years old male displaced from Al Hamra killed
1 years old male displaced from Al Hamra killed
Radwan Khatouun
11 years old male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–15
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Man standing at the site after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Damaged house after alleged Russian airstrikes near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people on January 23rd, 2020 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian airstrikes near Saraqib January 23rd, 2020 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian airstrikes near Saraqib January 23rd, 2020 (via Shaam News Network).
  • Footage of the aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via @abuhuzaifa_).
  • The site after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Inside a damaged building after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Damage after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The site after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Edlib Media Center).
  • The site after alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via Edlib Media Center).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The children Basil and Murhaf Musab Khatoon were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on a farm housing displaced people near Saraqib on January 23rd, 2020 (via @SyrianCoalition).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Three civilians, including two young children, Murhaf Musab Khatun and Basil Samer Khatoun, both aged one, were killed allegedly by a Russian airstrike in Saraqib on January 23rd 2020 (Image via @allaith12345 / Twitter)
  • Basil Samer Khatoun and Murhaf Musab Khatun, both aged one, were among five allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Saraqib on January 23rd 2020 (Image via Abo Wardan / Facebook)
  • Basil Samer Khatoun and Murhaf Musab Khatun, both aged one, were among five allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Saraqib on January 23rd 2020 (Image via Abo Wardan / Facebook)
  • Basil Samer Khatoun and Murhaf Musab Khatun, both aged one, were among five allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Saraqib on January 23rd 2020 (Image via Abo Wardan / Facebook)
  • Basil Samer Khatoun and Murhaf Musab Khatun, both aged one, were among five allegedly killed by a Russian airstrike in Saraqib on January 23rd 2020 (Image via Abo Wardan / 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
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–15
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]