Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4381

Incident date

January 29, 2020

Location

كفرلاتة, Kafarlata, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to 19 civilians, including at least four children and two women, were killed and more than 20 civilians reported injured after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafar Lata on January 29th, 2020, according to local sources.

The initial death toll was put at five killed civilians by the Syrian Civil Defence, who later updated this to ten killed civilians. SMART News reported that “Russian warplanes launched a four-missile attack on civilian homes, a mosque and a road for the displaced in the village, killing ten civilians, including a child, and wounding 17 others, including two children and three women.”

A Facebook Post from Kafar Lata identified 21 victims killed and listed most of their names: Yazan Imad Azizi, Hamza Ziyad Azizi, Maher Shukri Sahloul, Omar Sahloul, Ibrahim Sahloul, Imad Toofi Al-Akhras, Mustafa Nihad Akhras, Qamar Mukhles Al Aishi, children of Abdul Hadi Akhras (2 Children), Hisham Kawas, Mustafa Farouk Al-Nimr, Walid Farouk Al-Nimr, Omar Ibn Muhammad Al-Manna, Mukhlis (relative of  Manna`s Family from Khan al-Subul), Nihad Akhras, Muhammad Nima Ibn Al-Zankh, Razzouk from outside the village, Ghassan Diab Qali, Ahmed Youssef Qali, and a woman from outside the village.

Step News reported 20 wounded, including people who were in critical condition and people requiring amputations.

Almost all sources blamed the Russian forces for the airstrikes, but Idlib Plus reported that the Syrian regime was responsible. Baladi News identified “high-explosive missiles” as being used in the attack.

On January 31, the Syrian Network for Human Rights updated their initial death toll of 12 casualties to 19 casualties, stating that among them, four children and two women had died. A graphic image posted by @RoaaMediaNews shows the bodies of five men that were allegedly killed during the strikes on Kafar Lata.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yazan Imad Azizi يزن عماد عزيزي
killed
Hamza Ziyad Azizi حمزه زياد عزيزي
killed

Family members (3)

Maher Shukri Sahloul ماهر شكري سحلول
killed
Omar Sahloul عمر سحلول
killed
Ibrahim Sahloul ابراهيم سحلول
killed

Family members (5)

Imad Toofi Al-Akhras عماد صطوفي الاخرس
killed
Mustafa Nihad Akhras مصطفى نهاد اخرس
killed
Child of Abdul Hadi Akhras اطفال عبد الهادي الاخرس
killed
Child of Abdul Hadi Akhras اطفال عبد الهادي الاخرس
killed
Nihad Akhras نهاد اخرس
killed

Family members (2)

Mustafa Farouk Al-Nimr مصطفى فاروق النمر
killed
Walid Farouk Al-Nimr وليد فاروق النمر
killed

Family members (2)

Omar Ibn Muhammad Al-Manna عمر ابن محمد المناع
killed
Mukhlis (relative of Manna`s Family from Khan al-Subul) مخلص (قرايب بيت مناع من خان السبل)
killed

Family members (2)

Ghassan Diab Qali غسان دياب قلي
killed
Ahmed Youssef Qali أحمد يوسف قلي
killed

The victims were named as:

Qamar Mukhles Al Aishi قمر مخلص العيشي
Age unknown killed
Hisham Kawas هشام قواس
Age unknown killed
Muhammad Nima Ibn Al-Zankh محمد نعمة ابن الزنكح
Age unknown killed
Razzouk from outside the village رزووق من خارج القرية
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 21
  • (4 children2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–20
  • 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 (44) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Civilians recovering what seems to be a body after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kafarlata on January 29th, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • Damage after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafarlata on January 29th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Destroyed verhicle after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Kafarlata on January 29th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of some of the victims of strikes on Kafar Lata on January 29, 2020. (Image posted by @RoaaMediaNews)

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
    10 – 21
  • (4 children2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–20
  • 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 (44) [ collapse]