Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS661

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81374, 36.60964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 8 and 15 civilians including one woman and one to two children died – and dozens more were injured – in airstrikes on a market in Ariha, according to multiple local sources. Reports are conflicted as to whether the attacks were carried out by Russia or the Assad regime, with one source saying that both parties were responsible.

In an initial report, Shaam News Network said the regime was to blame. It put the death toll at 12 with dozens more wounded. The Syrian Network for Human Rights also attributed the incident to the regime, although said seven died including a woman and a child.

However, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – which published a video showing destruction on Ariha and 19 images – suspected Russian warplanes were responsible. It put the death toll at seven including two children and one woman.

A subsequent Syrian Observatory report put the death toll higher at eight, adding that it was likely to rise because 30 people were injured, some in critical condition. It also said that “some information reported 2 other casualties“.

In a later report, Shaam News Network appeared to change position and blame Moscow: “Russian aircraft raided on the city of Ariha causing the fall of 10 martyrs and several wounded after being targeted for market popular downtown.”

Orient News instead blamed the regime for shelling a market, and put the death toll at eight including one woman. According to Akhbar Alaan, “The Syria regime used a MiG-23 plane to carry out three air strikes on Ariha”. They said that “nearly ten” died, including women and children and 25 others were injured, some critically, adding that there had been widespread destruction and damage to the shops in the market.  Muslim2day put the death toll as high as 15 with up to 50 wounded.

Sin also said eight died – and that the regime was responsible – and put the number of wounded at 24. It named several victims, including a woman and a child who could not be identified.

SHRC – who blamed Russia – named an additional victim.

But according to Chamtime, both Russia and the regime were responsible: “nine were killed and tens were wounded in three raids by warplanes in Ariha. The first two were Russian and the third was regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Abdulkarim Najjar
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Mahmood Badawi
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Mohammed Ahmad Naddaf
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Khaled Subhi Tamer
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Ahmad Abdul Karim Al-Beik
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Ahmad Mohammed Kheir Sa’ado
Age unknown male Named by Sinnews killed
Age unknown male Named by SHRC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (1–2 children1 woman0–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (54) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the incident
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Idlibchannel)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via Idlib Reservation Channel)
  • More footage of the aftermath. (via SNN)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid in Ariha. (via, SOHR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (1–2 children1 woman0–7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (54) [ collapse]