Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS990

Incident date

July 11, 2016

Location

Turmanin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.22833333, 36.81527778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian warplanes struck an oil market on the road between Termanin and Darat Ezza causing huge fires, chaos and destruction on July 11th 2016 and killing up to 20 civilians, according to sources on the ground. Reports referred to the attack as a “massacre” due to the level of destruction and high death toll.

None of the reports mentioned the Syrian regime. Local sources such as Zaman Alwasl News reported sighting Russian warplanes. Al Jazeera, Syrian Network for Human Rights and LCCSY also suspected Russian warplanes for the  attack on the oil tanks.

According to the Halab News Network, “Russian warplanes launched more than six raids on the town of Turmanin. It was targeted with rockets on the outskirts of the town on the side near Dara Aza. It also targeted a public road between the two towns [A road dedicated to crossing vehicles and holding diesel tanks].”

The Shaam News Network said that Russian warplanes also targeted Altahmana – the outskirts of the Southern countryside of Idlib – with no documented injures.

Different sources claimed varying numbers of killed and wounded. Smart News put the numbers as high as 20 killed, whereas, Ana News reported the death of nine civilians. Halab News Network said that eight people were killed and several others wounded, “in addition to the burning of about 30 trucks to transport fuel oil, as a result of air strikes on the town of Turmanin”.

Smart News said that more than 20 were injured, the majority civil defence members left in critical conditions. It added that the critically injured were transferred to a hospital in Turkey. Ara News claimed that three members of the civil defence team who were injured were from Killi and Darat Ezza centres.

Quaison News put the numbers slightly lower, at 15 injured, but also reported that the death toll was likely to rise due to the seriousness of the injures.

Syrian Network for human rights use of cluster bombs have proved with photographic evidence that cluster bombs were used in Turmanin.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Mohamed Omar
37/38 years old male from Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Correspondent for Al Jazeera Direct killed
Haitham Abd Alelah Al Hasan
31/32 years old male from Kelli town, Civil Defence member in Kelli, Idlib killed
Hasan Abdul Raheem Barade’i
24/25 years old male from Kelli town, Civil Defence member in Kelli, Idlib killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Turmanin, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.22833333, 36.81527778. 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
    6 – 20
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (35) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defence members mourn their friends who were killed by Russian warplanes in Turmanin on 11th July 2016.
  • Image of cluster ammunition remnants fired by suspected Russian warplanes on Termanein town, July 11th 2016.
  • Suspected warplane shelling at the oil market between Termanin and Darat Ezza (Youtube by Baladi)
  • Further scenes of alleged shelling in Termanin - The White Helmets extinguish the fires (Youtube by Baladi)
  • Plumes of smoke rise from the oil market between Termanin and Darat Ezza - the aftermath of alleged Russian shelling (via Sin)
  • Local people at the aftermath of an alleged Russian shelling on the oil market near Termanin (via Ana news)
  • A large cloud of smoke rises from the oil market between Termanin and Darat Ezza - the result of alleged Russian strikes (via Syrian_newsdesk)
  • The scene at the oil market between Termanin and Darat Ezza - following alleged Russian shelling (via Zamanalwasl)
  • The White Helmets attempt to put out the blaze following an alleged attack on the oil market (via Aljazeera)
  • A photograph of smoke rising from where alleged Russian warplanes targeted the oil market (via Syrianpc)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians flee the site of destruction following alleged Russian shelling (via Qasioun)
  • The journalist Ibrahim Al Umar from aljazeera was killed by suspected Russian warplanes (via Enab baladi news)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of the wounded paramendics and civil defense team (Tweet by @AhmadRashed1986)
  • Destruction at the oil market due to alleged Russian shelling (Tweet by @ShehabAgency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The civil defense team arrive at the scene to rescue the wounded - contains graphic footage. (Youtube by The White Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The civil defense team arrive at the scene to rescue the wounded - contains graphic footage. (Youtube by The White Helmets)
  • Suspected evidence of warplane shelling at the oil market (Tweet by @Hasan_khaleil) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • A destroyed oil truck, allegedly struck by Russian warplanes (Tweet by @Hasan_khaleil) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • Charred ground at the oil market following alleged Russian strikes (Tweet by @Hasan_khaleil) [Page no longer available - accessed via Airwars archive]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photographs of the wounded following alleged Russian raids on the oil market (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man is treated in a clinic for injuries sustained during an alleged attack by Russian warplanes (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic photographs of the wounded following alleged Russian raids on the oil market (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two civilians are treated in a clinic after sustaining injuries caused by alleged Russian attacks (via Smart)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian is treated by a medic after sustaining injuries in alleged Russian airstrikes (via Smart)
  • Hassan Baradi’ - killed in alleged an Russian warplane attack on the oil market (Tweet by @SN4HR)
  • Burnt out vehicles on the Mazut road - where suspected Russian planes targeted an oil market (Tweet by @taha_alhlo)
  • Numerous photographs of burnt out trucks at the oil market (Tweet by @alhadathnews)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The journalist, Ibrahim Al Umar, from Aljazeera was killed in the alleged Russian attacks (Tweet by @mohamad_msry)
  • Haitham Al-Hassan, a member of the civil defense, was killed in Turmanin due to alleged Russian warplanes shelling (Tweet by @ZakariaNassani)
  • Footage of the suspected Russian warplanes shelling in Termanin (Youtube by Smart)
  • A cluster incubator, suspected Russian, at Termanin (via SN4HR)
  • Footage by The White Helmets of fires and smoke following alleged Russian attacks on the oil market near Termanin (Youtube by The White Helmets)
  • Cluster bombs and missiles allegedly Russian targeted the oil market (Video by Halab Today TV Facebook)
  • The Yearly report by SN4HR includes details about the Aljazeera journalist, Ibrahim Mohammad Omar, killed in the alleged Russain attacks on the oil market (PDF by SN4HR) [English]

  • The Yearly report by SN4HR includes details about the Aljazeera journalist, Ibrahim Mohammad Omar, killed in the alleged Russain attacks on the oil market (PDF by SN4HR) [Arabic]

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 20
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown

Sources (49) [ collapse]