Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS436

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Saif al Dawla, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seventeen civilians including eight children and five women died in airstrikes on the Saif al Dawla area of Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

RBSS initially referred to raids by “warplanes” and did not identify them, however, in a later post they said that Russia was responsible for bombing a number of locations, including Saif al Dawla, in Raqqa.

The Syrian Observatory said 10 civilians died, but did not say who was responsible.

Other sources, including Raqqa Post and the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed Russia. The latter put the death toll at 17, including eight children and five women.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Family members (5)

Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Saif al Dawla, Raqqa (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.949949, 39.007363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (8 children5 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad al-Kheder al-Sahow, killed by alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raids. (via, VDC)
  • Destruction to residential buildings in Saif al Dawla following a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Local shops destroyed by the contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Destruction to residential buildings in Saif al Dawla following a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • The streets in the aftermath of the incident on 21st January 2016. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • An image showing the extend of the the damage on civilian homes following a contested Russian and Syrian Regime airstrike. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • A car, totally unrecognisable due to the nature of the airstirke. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Civilians in an attempt to clear the destruction. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • More damaged cars and infrastructure. (via, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

No Russian reports were published for January 21st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (8 children5 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]