Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS459

Incident date

January 25, 2016

Location

ترمانين, Termanin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.228263, 36.816857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

12 civilians including four to five children and five women were killed – and 20 others injured – in airstrikes on Termanin, according to multiple sources. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said that the target of the strike, a military commander of an Islamic battalion, was a 13th victim.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published an initial report in which they said that the strike was carried out by regime warplanes. They put the death toll at at least 12 including five women and four children.

But according to a later report by SN4HR, Russian aircraft were responsible, killing 13 people including three women and five children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Russia, reporting that “the commander of al-Mujahedeen battalion in the Islamic movement of Ahrar al-Sham” died along with 12 members of his family, including five women and five children, when Russian warplanes targeted his house and other homes in Termanin.

The Shaam News Network also put the civilian death toll at 12, with more than 20 wounded. They published images of injured children, and said that an aerial bombardment by Russian planes targeted non-combatants’ homes, resulting in “a terrible massacre against civilians and destruction of residential buildings.“ Activists told SNN that three houses were completely destroyed.

A video posted by the White Helmets depicts the aftermath of an “air raid on the town of Tarmanin“, but did not say who was responsible. They put the number killed at six civilians, with 20 more injured – “most of them in a critical condition.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Termanin (ترمانين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.228263, 36.816857. 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
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child is placed in an ambulance after an alleged Russian airstrike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via SNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A injured child following an alleged Russian strike on Termanin, January 25th 2016. (via, SNN)
  • Civilians are dug out of the rubble by the White Helmets in the immediate aftermath of the incident in Termanin. (via, The White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child receives medical treatment at a hospital in Termanin. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

In its military report published on 1st February 2016, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last week, the Russian aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 468 combat sorties engaging 1354 terrorists’ infrastructural facilities in the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Raqqah, Daraa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. Among them – 24 ones were carried out by Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the Russian territory,” but makes no mention of strikes in Idlib.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4–5 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]