Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS895

Incident date

June 12, 2016

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 17 and 40 civilians died including up to 18 children – and up to 100 others were wounded – in airstrikes on one of the largest vegetable markets in Idlib, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this major casualty incident was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

According to the Shaam News Network: “Activists said Russian warplanes targeted a popular vegetable market in Al Furun street near the educational complex in the city of Idlib with several missiles that caused large fires. There were reports of a massacre against unarmed civilians, with body parts scattered across the market”.

It put the initial death toll at 30, with dozens more wounded, adding that most of the bodies were “charred”.

Another report by SNN said that victims were “burnt in cars” and that shops selling fuel were among the buildings bombed “during the rush hour when civilians were making their purchases from the market”.

A very graphic SNN video showed the charred remains of bodies and distressing footage of members of the White Helmets removing victims – with their entrails hanging out – from the scene.

A later SNN report put the death toll as high as 40, while many other reports form other news outlets said that the death count was likely to continue to rise.

However, other sources blamed the regime: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the death toll at 34 (nine children, three women and 22 men).

According to LCCSY, regime “warplanes targeted a vegetables market in the city with two missiles, killing more than 34 civilians and injuring 50 others”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the death of 33 non-combatants in a regime strike, of which 11 were children and one a woman.

Souriat – who was among other sources that didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the event – put the number of wounded as high as 100, adding that 35 civilians died, most of them “burned to death”.

Siryahora tweeted that “18 children were burnt [suggesting they were killed] in a Russian strike” on the market. The tweet included a graphic image of members of the White Helmets holding a charred child victim in the air.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Idlib (إدلب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.93062, 36.63393. 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
    17 – 40
  • (5–18 children1–3 women22 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very graphic video of charred bodies removed from the rubble (Youtube by SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Video shows the destruction caused by several airstrikes by warplanes on areas in Idlib city, one of the airstrikes targeted a popular market area, which killed 34 persons they are 9 children, 3 cictizen women and 22 man" (Facebook Video by SOHR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 40
  • (5–18 children1–3 women22 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–100
  • 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 (62) [ collapse]