Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS627

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including up to five children were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sakhour, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially attributed the incident to the Assad regime by posting an image of a child whom they said was wounded when regime warplanes fired on the neighborhood. However, it then changed position and reported that at least two children died in an attack by “suspected Russian warplanes“.

But Shaam News Network said Russia was to blame and that five civilians had died. According to the White Helmets, a raid by a “warplane” (they did not say who it belonged to) “led to the death of an entire family made up of 5 people.” The White Helmets posted a graphic video showing three children and their mother being removed from the rubble. The caption of a second video read: “An entire family made up of 4 people was killed and the civil defence manage to rescue two people from under the rubble.” AMC put the death toll higher, at five children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very graphic video showing deceased children killed in the alleged raid. (via, AMC)
  • White Helmets trying to rescue people at the scene of the attack (deleted from Facebook)
  • The aftermath of the alleged strikes (via Orient)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of two children supposed killed in the attack. (via, Dmagoooo)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man saves a wounded child. (via, SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets attempt to rescue trapped civilians. (via, The WHite Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video showing deceased children killed in the alleged raid. (via, AMC)

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
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]