Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS4414

Incident date

February 5, 2020

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a child, were reported killed and four civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured as a result of alleged Russian and/or Syrian airstrikes on the town of Taftanaz in the northeastern countryside of Idlib on February 5, 2020. The majority of sources reported that during the attack barrel bombs were dropped out of helicopters.

Regarding civilian harm, Ayham Steif and thawrat111 tweeted that the attack on Taftanaz resulted in multiple deaths. However, most sources reported only one civilian casualty, a girl, that the Syrian Network for Human Rights identified as Aalaa Alaa Rahhal.

Reporting on wounded civilians varied. A number of sources, including Al Jisr TV, said that several civilians sustained injuries, most of them children. According to Smart News, three children and a woman got wounded, while @FdzPWRe6ruGFPd tweeted that four children were injured. Three sources reported that the attack on Taftanaz resulted in four civilian injuries without any further specifications.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the airstrikes on Taftanaz. @EyadHoms20 attributed the attack to the Syrian Armed Forces stating that “[h]elicopters of the regime [targeted] with barrel bombs the city of Taftanaz in the northern Idlib countryside”, while others referred to Russia as having carried out the strikes. According to Nafeza Media, both Russia and the Regime were involved.  It stated that “Russian occupation aircraft and helicopters of the Assad militia launched dozens of missiles and barrel bombs on the town.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female killed

Summary

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

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photographs of children injured and killed after Syrian and/or Russian armed forces allegedly bombed the city of Taftanaz with barrel bombs. (Posted by ala_hacioglu via Twitter)
  • A man carrying a child stands in line to receive first aid after alleged airstrikes of Syrian and/or Russian forces on the town of Taftanaz on February 5, 2020 resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. (Image posted by Ahmad Ghazal on Facebook)
  • Ahmad Ghazal uploaded photographs of the destruction that resulted from alleged Syrian and.or Russian airstrikes on the city of Taftanaz on February 5, 2020. (Image via Facebook)
  • Ahmad Ghazal uploaded photographs of the destruction that resulted from alleged Syrian and.or Russian airstrikes on the city of Taftanaz on February 5, 2020. (Image via Facebook)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (20) [ collapse]