Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS714

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Location

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738466, 37.0479584 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15 and 23 civilians died and up to 132 were injured in airstrikes on Abu al Duhur, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. There were claims of a ‘double tap’ strike – with aircraft returning to attack rescuers.

In a series of Tweets, AEJKhalil reported that 20 civilians died when Russian warplanes allegedly carried out airstrikes “on a mini gas shop” in Abu al Duhur. Tweets included graphic images of charred bodies.

Videos posted by Khairo Al-Hamwi and Abu Al-Duhur also said Russia was responsible. According to Orient News, 17 civilians died in “three air strikes from warplanes, followed by barrel bombs from helicopters” – suggesting a possible joint Russia-regime action.

However, the Shaam Network reported that regime warplanes carried out several raids: “Activists said warplanes launched three air strikes targeted rocket houses the town center resulted in the ignition large fires and destruction solution, followed by the bombing of apartment buildings with explosive barrel bombs carried out by a helicopter on the same site.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed the regime, putting the death toll at at least 19 including three women.

AlAan TV too blamed the regime and reported: “The number of people killed in these raids has reached 15 dead and more than 132 wounded. We got these figures from the medical staff in the countryside of east Idlib.  [Jet] fighter and two explosive barrels targeted the city center and the fuel station and a fire broke out. There are also unidentified bodies, and the injured and wounded were deformed and couldn’t be identified“.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Mohammad Nawaf al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mohammad al-Jasem
27 years old male killed
Hsain al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
47 years old male killed
Ahmad Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
27 years old male killed
Husam Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Hsain Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
15 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud al Ali
Age unknown male From Rasm al A’abed, Aleppo killed
Faisal al Dannash
Age unknown male From Baya’iat al Dannash, Aleppo killed
Khaled al Ahmad
Age unknown male From Umm Jreen, Aleppo killed
Husam Mohammad al-Ali
18 years old male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abu al Duhur (أبو الظهور), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.738466, 37.0479584. 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
    15 – 23
  • (1 child3 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–132
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Images of air strikes on Abu al-Duhur (via AEJKhalil tweet)
  • The aftermath of the strikes on Abu al-Duhur (via AEJKhalil twitter)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    GRAPHIC. Victims of the strikes on Abu al-Duhur (AEJKhalil twitter)
  • Al-Aan TV reportedthat the number of people killed in these raids has reached 15 dead and more than 132 wounded. Numbers reportedly attained from the medical staff in the countryside of east Idlib. It was reported that one [Jet] fighter and two explosive barrels targeted the city center and the fuel station and a fire broke out. There are also unidentified bodies.
  • Strikes on Abu al-Duhur, which the news site attributes to the Syrian regime (via All45Syria)
  • Strikes on Abu al-Duhur, which the news site attributes to the Syrian regime (via All4Syria)
  • Image of what according to The Syrian Reporter is a Russian airstrike on Abu al-Duhur (via The Syrian Reporter)

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
    15 – 23
  • (1 child3 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–132
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]