Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS769

Incident date

April 27, 2016

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major incident, multiple local sources reported that up to 58 civilians died and between 40 and 90 were injured in airstrikes on the MSF Al Quds hospital in Sukkari. Medical staff were among the casualties. Most reports alleged that Russia was responsible, though the White Helmets pointed towards the regime.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially blamed the regime and said that eight civilians died. However, a subsequent SN4HR brief said that “suspected” Russian warplanes were responsible, and put the death toll higher at 25, including eight children and one woman. A further report said that Russia launched two missiles on “on Al Qudus Field Hospital in Al Sukari neighborhood in Aleppo city, causing a massacre and damaging the hospital rendering it inoperable.”

Eyewitness Mujahed Abu Al Joud, a local media activist, told SN4HR: “I headed to the site of the bombing of a AlQuds hospital after approximately 10 minutes of bombardment. The front façade of the hospital is totally destroyed as well as the entrance of the ambulances. Up on this bombardment, I lost my friend doctor Abu Abdul Rahman. There was a targeting of the street located behind the building of the hospital after 5 minutes of being bombed. I saw two completely destroyed buildings, and 6 partially destroyed ones. The Civil Defense teams prevent us from straying in place due to the fear of the repetition of the bombardment because the warplanes had not left the place. The corpse was found under the rubble and the rescue teams tried to save what can be saved, I heard a girl yelling and crying as the corpse of her family are under the rubble.” In total, SN4HR documented 36 deaths including 14 children and eight women, two doctors, a nurse, and two of the medical cadres.

According to Shaam News Network, “At least ten civilians and members of the medical staff, including the only pediatrician in Aleppo were killed by Russian aerial bombing on al Quds hospital in the neighborhood of al Sukkari in Aleppo. Russian aircraft carried out several raids targeting areas in the neighborhood as well as AlQuds hospital where many of the wounded fell along with the martyrs.” A later report by SNN put the death toll still higher, at 30, adding that the whole hospital was destroyed.

The White Helmets said that three consecutive raids on the hospital had left “dozens of dead and injured including doctors and medical staff“, though they did not say who was to blame.

A later statement said that as many as 50 had died with more than 80 injured – most of them women and children. They published a distressing video showing a living baby being removed from the rubble after 24 hours of constant work. In a further report, the White Helmets suggested that strikes on this day were conducted by the regime, adding that the death toll had now spiraled to 53 with more than 90 wounded.

A report by ABC News included a video of a statement by The White House condemning the attack. It said: “At least three children and six medical staff were among the 27 killed after overnight airstrikes hit a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders in the Syrian city of Aleppo, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The city’s last pediatrician was among the dead, the group said.” It continued: “The Syrian military said it did not target the hospital, but the building was destroyed by at least one strike, according to hospital staff on the ground with the humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders”.

On April 28th, the Russian Ministry of Defence refuted claims that it had carried out the strikes: “Within last days, Russian Aerospace Forces have performed no flights near Aleppo.” The Violations Documentation Center named 19 victims, including three children, killed in “regime shelling”. Besides from the identified victims, the VDC also reported about another three unidentified adult male victims (here, here and here)

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
45 years old male

Family members (2)

Maha Raja
Adult female killed
Son of Maha Raja
Child male killed

Family members (5)

Raghad Yousef Ahmad Saeed Al Sheikh
Child female From Darat Azza city killed
Alaa Yousef Ahmad Saeed Al Sheikh
Child female From Darat Azza city killed
Shahed Yousef Ahmad Saeed Al Sheikh
Child female From Darat Azza city killed
Sedra Yousef Ahmad Saeed Al Sheikh
Child female From Darat Azza city killed
Islam Yousef Ahmad Saeed Al Sheikh
Child female From Darat Azza city killed

Family members (12)

Amal Salim
Adult female Wife of Mohammad Tayseer Rajab killed
Abdullah Tayseer Rajab
Child male From Darat Azza city killed
Mulham Mohammad Rajab
Child male From Darat Azza city killed
Jana Mohammad Rajab
Child female From Darat Azza city killed
Anas Mohammad Rajab
Child male From Darat Azza city killed
Maryam Ahmad Rajab
Age unknown female From Darat Azza city killed
Ghada Mohammad Eid Rajab
Age unknown female From Darat Azza city killed
Mohammad Tayseer Rajab
Adult male Husband of Amal Salim, From Darat Azza city killed
Raheeb Rajab
Age unknown female killed
Fat'tum Rajab
Age unknown female killed
Child of Yussef Rajab
Child killed
Child of Yussef Rajab
Child killed

Family members (3)

Wife of Tayseer Saleem’
Adult female killed
Child of Tayseer Saleem’
Child killed
Child of Tayseer Saleem’
Child killed

Family members (3)

Wife of Mohammed Za’rour Saleem
Adult female killed
Child of Mohammed Za’rour Saleem
Child killed
Child of Mohammed Za’rour Saleem
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Abu Abdul Rahman
Adult male Doctor killed
Bashar Mohammed Khojeh
Adult male killed
Bashar Mohammed Khojeh
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
21 years old male killed
30 years old male killed
36 years old male killed
11 years old male killed
Adult male killed
4 years old male killed
17 years old male killed
Adult male killed
Maha Ahmad Saeed Al Sheikh
Age unknown female from Darat Azza city killed
Ahmad Salmo Fares
30 years old male killed
Yasser Aref Ajouz
35 years old male killed
 Waed Qasem Masto
33 years old male killed
Khaled Ahmad Qadah
25 years old male killed
Amira Ahmad Rajab
Age unknown female from Darat Azza city killed
Abo Yazan Al Shami
Age unknown male killed
Mervat Darwish
Age unknown male killed
Abdo Khuder Falaha
16 years old male killed
Hala Jalal Al Homsi
Age unknown female From Darat Azza city killed
Fadya Sa’eed
Age unknown female killed
Sawsan Majid Kheyro
Age unknown female killed
Dr. Ahmad Al-Mohammed
Adult male Dentist killed
Dr. Hasan Al-A’arj
Adult male heart disease doctor killed
Dr. Wasim Mo’az
Adult male children pediatrician killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    58
  • (18 children4–10 women24–26 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–90
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (34) [ collapse]

  • The remains of the MSF hospital in Sukkari following a strike on April 27th (via White Helmets)
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    Video shows a baby who was rescued after after being buried under the rubble for 24 hours (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Mohammad Waseem Mouaz, pediatrician and victim of the massacre in al Quds Hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via SN4HR)
  • Ahmad Al Mohammad, dentist and victim of the massacre in al Quds Hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via SN4HR)
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    Video showing the rescuing mission of survivors of the massive aerial bombardement at al Quds Hospital, al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Dr. Ahmad Al-Mohammed, dentist, Dr. Hasan Al-A’arj, heart disease doctors and Dr. Wasim Mo’az, children's doctor, all reportedly victims of the massive shelling at al-Quds Hospital (via Koannews)
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    Allegedly child victim of the massive aerial shelling at al-Quds
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    Allegedly child victim of the massive aerial shelling at al-Quds
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    Victims of the massive aerial shelling at al-Quds Hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via Almo3tasem Twitter)
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    Allegedly a child victim of the aerial strikes at al-Quds Hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo
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    Allegedly a victim of the aerial strikes at al-Quds Hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo
  • Civilians in the aftermath of the aerial strikes at al-Quds Hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo
  • Civilians mourning in the aftermath of the aerial strikes at al-Quds Hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo
  • Medical crew of al-Quds Hospital. Most of them were killed or injured due to the aerial shelling (via Dalaaaalmoufti Twitter)
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    Baby Ahmad Al Rajab recovered from under the rubble after intense warplanes shelling on Al Sukkari neighborhood, Aleppo (via SN4HR)
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    Baby Ahmad Al Rajab recovered from under the rubble after intense warplanes shelling on Al Sukkari neighborhood, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
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    Baby Ahmad Al Rajab recovered from under the rubble after intense warplanes shelling on Al Sukkari neighborhood, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The civil defence working to rescue people from under the rubble after the aerial shelling of Al Quds hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The civil defence working to rescue people from under the rubble after the aerial shelling of Al Quds hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the aerial shelling of Al Quds hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the aerial shelling of Al Quds hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Remnants of Al Quds hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo after intense aerial shelling.
  • The White Helmet released a statement saying the regime was behind the strikes and that death toll has risen to 50 and more than 80 injuries (via White Helmets)
  • The civil defence teams trying to rescue victims that are still under the rubble three days after the strikes in al Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • The civil defence teams trying to rescue victims that are still under the rubble after the strikes in al Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Aftermath of the aerial shelling of Al Quds hospital in al-Sukkari, Aleppo (via Aleppo White Helmets)
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    Child victims as a consequence of the the intense shelling of alQuds hospital in al-Sakkari Aleppo (via majdi_aboryan Twitter)
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    Victims of the intense shelling of al Quds hospital in al-Sakkari Aleppo (via SNN)
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    Victim of the intense shelling of al Quds hospital in al-Sakkari Aleppo (via Majid Aboryan Twitter)
  • Aftermath of the intense shelling of al Quds hospital in al-Sakkari Aleppo (via Zama al-Wasl)
  • Aftermath of the intense shelling of al Quds hospital in al-Sakkari Aleppo (via Baladi News)
  • Aftermath of the intense shelling of al Quds hospital in al-Sakkari Aleppo (via Baladi News)
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    Doctor Mohammed Wasim Mo'az, victim of the strikes of al-Quds hospital, al- Sukkari, Aleppo (via ahraralsham7 Twitter)
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    Pictures showing the destructions following the strikes of al-Quds Hospital and doctor Mohammed Wasim Mo'az, victim of the strikes (via hasanalzaher4 Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Kremlin makes no public mention of carrying out strikes in Syria from April 1st – 30th. However Russia later refuted claims they had carried out the strikes: “Russian Ministry of Defence refutes report of Western media about strike against a ‘hospital’ in Aleppo carried out by Russian Aerospace Forces. Within last days, Russian Aerospace Forces have performed no flights near Aleppo.According to our data, an aircraft of so-called anti-ISIS coalition member-state was performing tasks in the air space over Aleppo in the evening of April 27 for the first time after a long interval. Leading Western media had spread information with reference to representatives of ‘Médecins Sans Frontières’ about alleged strike against a ‘hospital’ in Aleppo carried out by Russian Aerospace Forces, which had caused death of civilians.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    58
  • (18 children4–10 women24–26 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–90
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]