Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS765

Incident date

April 26, 2016

Location

الحيدرية, Haydariya (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2372814, 37.1923256 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians died, among them two young girls, and dozens of other civilians were injured in airstrikes on the Haydariya neighborhood of Aleppo according to local sources. While one report alleged that this was the work of Russia, others blamed the regime.

A local activist told Ara News that “the city of Aleppo saw the fall of a large number of dead and wounded, by aerial bombardment of the eastern neighborhoods of the city, as Syrian regime warplanes bombed the  Alhaidariya district of the city, killing eight civilians and wounding dozens of others in a preliminary toll of the massacre.”  The Syrian Network for Human Rights also attributed the death of two girls to the regime.

The White Helmets published several videos depicting the aftermath of the strikes, including very distressing footage of a young girl being pulled from the rubble during the rescue operation – though did not say who was responsible. It also published images of the aftermath of “several raids by warplanes on several of Aleppo’s neighbourhoods targeting al Ferdos, Al Maghayer, al Shi’ar, Al Haydarya“.

An initial report by Shaam News blamed Russia, reporting that “Activists said the shelling targeted civilian homes, causing the deaths of two girls and wounded five others from the same family, a father, mother and their three children who were rescued by the Civil Defense teams and transported medical hospitals amid continued shelling of the city of Aleppo.RFS News and Al Jazeera Online also blamed Russia.

However, a later report by SNN was not clear whether this was a regime or Russian incident, saying that “Assad’s planes and Russian planes renewed their bombing of civilian homes in the neighborhoods of the city of Aleppo“. It also published two videos: ‘for the fifth day Aleppo drowns in blood and the raids don’t stop‘ and ‘The chaos of death chases the neighborhoods of Aleppo and no one calls for calm‘, but did not specify the neighborhoods.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “11 civilians including 2 children were killed by aerial bombardment targeted the neighborhoods of al-Hedaria, al-Ferdous, and al-Maghaeir“, adding that the death toll was likely to rise due to the severity of injuries. They did not say who the warplanes belonged to.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 11
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • A man carries a young girl in the aftermath of an airstrike on Al Haydariya, Aleppo, on April 26th, 2016 (via RFS news).
  • Video showing the white helmets rescuing mission following the strikes targeting al Haydariya, Aleppo (via the White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting al Haydariya, Aleppo (via Ara News)
  • White helmets members trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the strikes targeting al Haydariya, Aleppo (via the White Helmets)
  • White helmets members trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the strikes targeting al Haydariya, Aleppo (via the White Helmets)
  • Video showing chaotic aftermath following the strikes targeting al Haydariya, Aleppo (via SNN)
  • Video showing chaotic aftermath following the strikes targeting al Haydariya, Aleppo (via SNN)
  • Aftermath of strikes targeting Aleppo on April 26, possibly from al Haydariya (via the White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of strikes targeting Aleppo on April 26, possibly from al Haydariya (via the White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of strikes targeting Aleppo on April 26, possibly from al Haydariya (via the White Helmets)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Kremlin has issued no public accounts of airstrikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 11
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]