Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS483

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians have been named as victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar-Rastan, January 27th 2016. One woman was reportedly from Jawala – other sources have claimed that the victims were all displaced peoples.

The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes “launched dozens of air raids targeted several areas of the northern countryside of Homs leaving many dead and wounded“. Activists told SNN that the planes targeted the cities of Talbissa and Al Rastan, killing one civilian and injuring a number of others. And the local Rastan media office reported that the strikes “resulted in one unidentified woman being martyred and the wounding of approximately ten, including children and women.” Syrian News Desk later reported than there were up to 40 injured civilians.

Multiple sources claimed that Russian warplanes used barrel bombs on the vicinity causing huge destruction to the infrastructure.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samer Abdul Bari Harba
38 years old named by Homs Media Centre killed
Fahimah Ibrahim Youssef
50 years old named by Homs Media Centre killed
Amal Ahmed Alsayedali
13 years old female named by Homs Media Centre killed
Mohamed Mahmoud Younis
6 years old male named by Homs Media Centre killed
Alaa Ibrahim Riad
32 years old named by Homs Media Centre killed
Umm Hassan A’armoush
Age unknown named by Homs Media Centre, displaced from Homs killed
Jasem al-Khidr
Age unknown named by VDC killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ar-Rastan (الرستن‬), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.93, 36.74. 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
    7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–40
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The exact moments the alleged Russian raid hit Ar Rastan on 27th January 2016. (via, Ar Rastan Media Office)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured child awaits medical treatment following an alleged Russian raid in Ar Rastan. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More injured children following an alleged Russian raid in Ar Rastan. (via, Homs Media Centre)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A deceased man following an alleged Russian raid in Ar Rastan. (via, Homs Media Centre)

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…In the Vadi Kaddahat plain (Homs province), after the UAV confirmation of the data received from the Syrian governmental troops concerning a terrorists’ strong point, the object was engaged. Objective monitoring data registered destruction of two automobile vehicles with large-caliber machine guns and elimination of 10 militants.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–40
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]