Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS607

Incident date

February 14, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.20003, 37.1858 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 10 civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Qaterji, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported that “swarms of Russian aircraft” continued to fly over the city of Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. Activists told SNN that Russian warplanes targeted several areas including the Al Qaterji neighborhood, where more than 10 people were killed and many more wounded – some of them still trapped under the rubble.

The White Helmets posted images showing the aftermath of a strike which they said led to the collapse of a five-storey building. They reported it had been carried out by a “warplane” using a vacuum missile, though did not say who the plane belonged to – addingthat a “little girl” had been rescued from under the rubble and that two families were still trapped.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights posted similar images, but like the White Helmets only referred to “warplanes”.

However, according to an initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Assad regime carried out the attacks. It put the death toll at five. But in a later report, SN4HR appeared to change position and attribute the incident to Russia: “alleged Russian warplanes shelled a residential building next to the Katerji roundabout  in Aleppo which killed 6 individuals [photo of children’s bodies]  including 4 children and a woman“.

The citizen journalist Bahaa Al-Halabi talked to the rescue team leader, who said that Russian warplanes dropped a vacuum bomb which destroyed a three storey building. He added that some of the people were saved but a family – a mother, father and their four children –  was still under the rubble, and that he hoped they would be rescued while they were still alive.

Syrian Press Center also blamed Russia and out the death toll at ten, with dozens more wounded. It said two residential buildings were destroyed and that within the last few days Russian warplanes had launched hundreds of raids on Aleppo.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Al Qaterji, Feb 14th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Al Qaterji, Feb 14th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Al Qaterji, Feb 14th (via White Helmets)
  • Interviews with local civilians in the aftermath of the incidnet. (via, Halabi citizen journalist)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • Civilians rest in the aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The inside of a damaged civilian home. (via, SOHR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    To deceased babies following an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]