Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS700

Incident date

March 1, 2016

Location

الزعينية, Al Zou’ainiyah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8410948, 36.2248957 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four people died and at least 10 were injured when a ballistic missile hit Al Zou’ainiyah – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russian warships or the Assad regime.

Alaraby reported that Russian warships stationed in the Mediterranean launched ballistic missiles on Al Zou’ainiyah, resulting in three deaths. A Syrian Civil Defense video also claimed that Russia launched long range ballistic missiles “on the fourth day of the truce March 1st 2016” which fell on civilian homes. According to Baladi News, three civilians died and 13 more were injured in an alleged Russian attack with a ballistic missile. Syrian News also blamed the Russian ships and put the death toll higher at four – with many wounded – explaining that a missile “hit the roads between the villages of the countryside Jisr al-Shughur”. Shaam News Network also attributed the incident to Russia: “Russian warships targeted Al Zou’ainiyah village in the countryside of Jisr al shoughour with ballistic missiles which led to the fall of four martyrs and many wounded.”

However, other sources said the regime was responsible. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least three victims died when regime forces launched surface to surface missiles. The Syrian Press Center also appeared to blame the regime, reporting that a “ballistic missile from ground to ground type also fell on the town in the countryside of Al-Za’aeiniyeh bridge, killing and injuring a number of civilians in addition to the destruction of houses and public facilities.” Syrian News Desk said at least 10 civilians were injured when a regime missile landed “near a workshop for the maintenance of vehicles“. It added that some were critically wounded, and that there had been “great destruction of residential buildings and other property“. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported deaths when “a missile believed to be ground-to-ground landed on area in al-Z’eyniyyeh village“, though did not specify who fired it.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Imad Musa
Adult male killed
Muhammad Qutaish
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–2 women2–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Video published by the Syrian Civil Defense titled 'Targeting of Za’aeiniyeh with long range ballistic missiles on the fourth day of the truce'. The video blames Russia for the incident.
  • Video published by the Syrian Civil Defense titled 'Civil Defense in Douma documenting the bombing of Za’aeiniyeh village with ballistic missiles shortly before'. The video reportedly shows the house of one of the affected civilians.
  • SN4HR video titled 'Idlib - Al-Za’aeiniyeh: Civil Defense collects remnants of long-range missile targeted the village'
  • Victim of the strike in Al Zou’ainiyah (via Syrian Press Centre)
  • Victim of the strike in Al Zou’ainiyah (via Syrian Press Centre)
  • Victim of the strike in Al Zou’ainiyah (via Syrian Press Centre)
  • Victim of the strike in Al Zou’ainiyah (via Syrian Press Centre)
  • The aftermath of the strike in Al Zou’ainiyah (via Baladi News)
  • The aftermath of the strike in Al Zou’ainiyah (via Syrian News Desk)

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 for March 1st to March 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–2 women2–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]