Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS875

Incident date

June 8, 2016

Location

حي الشعار, Al Bayan hospital, Al Shia'ar (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2085139, 37.1855771 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and 18 civilians died and dozens more were injured when strikes hit the Al Shia’ar neighborhood in Aleppo, including Al Bayan hospital – with doctors, patients and members of the White Helmets among the casualties. The incident looks to have been carried out by the Syrian regime – with the majority of the sources blaming barrel bombs – but some other reports alleged that Russia was responsible.

The title of a video posted by LLC media said that Russia was to blame.

LCCSY initially reported that “warplanes” had carried out strikes on Al Bayan hospital, though they didn’t identify the planes.

However, in a second report LCCSY said that Russian warplanes were responsible for strikes on the Al Shia’ar neighborhood and published a number of images showing the aftermath.

A further report did not say who was to blame, but that “warplanes and helicopters targeted the street of Bayan Hospital in Shaar street in Aleppo with more than 8 barrel bombs in addition to airstrikes“, killing eight civilians and wounding others.

Both the Syrian Network for Human Rights and the Shaam News Network said that they regime was responsible, blaming barrel bombs for putting the hospital out of service.

A later report by SNN blamed the regime again, this time putting the death toll as high as 15 with “scores more” wounded including children, women and members of the White Helmets.

Footage showing the first moments of the “massacre” was published by the White Helmets, who later attributed the incident to Assad.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t say who carried out the attack, but like SN4HR blamed helicopters and put the death toll at ten.

In a report on hospitals hit in an Aleppo strike, the BBC said: “One of the strikes hit near the Bayan hospital in the eastern Shaar district, activists and a monitoring group said.

Video footage, purportedly of the aftermath, showed bodies being pulled from burning and destroyed buildings.

It was not clear who was responsible, but government forces are seeking to regain control of the divided city.”

It was cited in the White Helmets report that the hospital was hit by two barrel bombs.

A number of other sources published video footage showing destruction to the hospital and neighborhood but didn’t identify who was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 18
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets come to the aid of a wounded woman following a raid with barrel bombs on the Al Shia'ar neighborhood of Aleppo, June 8th (via White Helmets)
  • "the first moment of the massacre committed in al Shi’ar neighbourhood on the third day of the holy month of Ramadan 8/6/2016" (Youtube by Aleppo White Helmets)
  • "A massacre in Al-Shia’ar. Tens of martyrs and wounded in shelling with missiles and explosive barrels. Doctors and patients and members of the civil defense were among casualties. The attack was on Al-Bayan hospital" (Youtube by Hadi Abdullah)
  • "The massacre in Al-Shia’ar neighbourhood" (Youtube by Buraq Media)
  • "The massacre in Al-Shia’ar which left 10 martyrs and dozens on wounded" (Youtube by Ammar Alhalabi)
  • "Two explosive barrels on Al-bayan hospital...More than half the wounded are civil defense and patients" (Youtube by AMC)
  • The aftermath of shelling on Al-bayan hospital (Youtube by Baladi)
  • "the massacre in Al-Shia’ar after shelling" (Youtube by Thiqa News Agency)
  • Destruction caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on al Shiar neighbourhood (via LCCSY)
  • Building crumbles following suspected Russian airstrikes on al Shiar neighbourhood (via LCCSY)
  • Destruction caused by suspected Russian airstrikes on al Shiar neighbourhood (via LCCSY)
  • Victims of alleged Russian strikes (via LCCSY)
  • SNN publish photos of destruction and allege Assad responsible (via SNN Facebook)
  • SNN publish photographs of the destruction and allege Assad responsible (via SNN Facebook)
  • "Al Shia’ar neighbourhood targeted by Russian raids" (Youtube via LCC Media)
  • The White Helmets extinguish fire following airstrikes on the al Shi'ar neighbourhood (Via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • Bodies removed from the site of alleged airstrikes (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • A building alight following suspected airstrikes, the White Helmets blamed the Regime (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • A woman is rescued in the Al Shi'ar neighbourhood following airstrikes (via Aleppo White Helmets)
  • "when al Bayan hospital was targeted in al Shi’ar neighbourhood in Aleppo leaving more than ten killed and dozens injured. [voice off camera asks ‘what kind of hit was this’ and another one says ‘it’s a barrel..a barrel’]" (Video via SNN facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

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
    8 – 18
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]