Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS399

Incident date

December 2, 2019

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Rifat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.467867, 37.094200 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians – 10 of whom were named – including eight children aged between three and 15, a woman and an elderly man were reported killed, and 12 others – most of them are children – seriously injured in an alleged Turkish artillery attack on Tal Rifaat, in Aleppo governorate, Syria on December 2nd, 2019, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack happened near a primary school and a market  in Tal Rifaat town where a Russian base is established. According to AFP, Maher Mohammed, 35, a vendor in the market, said it was the most frightening bombardment he had witnessed in years. “We ran inside the shops and threw ourselves on the ground,” the father of five told AFP. “They bombarded half the market,” he said.

A nine-year-old who survived the attack with injuries said, “We were playing in our neighborhood. A mortar shell fell near us, a shrapnel piece hit my hand and injured me. I was hospitalised afterwards. We live in Til Rifat, a mortar shell hit our house too.” Mihemed Kêfo, another injured child said that the attack took place when they were playing: “I was in the hospital when I opened my eyes ”.

@Raman_Hassi reported that a mother of one of the victims said, “I was washing dishes. Suddenly our house was filled with shrapnel. I went out and called Arif (my son), but I did not see him. I only saw black smoke. When the smoke faded away, I saw my son on the ground as a martyr.”

A UNICEF statement said: “We are shocked and saddened by reports that eight children were killed and another eight were injured in attacks on Tal Rifaat town, northern Aleppo. All of them were under the age of 15.”

İbrahim Heftaro, one of the executives of Avrîn/Efrin Hospital, where the wounded were being treated, said: “Most of those injuries of the attack are critical. The district is heavily bombed and therefore the number of wounded and martyrs may increase.”

It is believed that most of the victims are IDPs who fled to Tal Rifaat from Afrin and that many of them have already lost family members in the war. Henîf Hemo, one of the injured children was quoted saying: “In Efrîn they bombed us and attacked us. We left our house and came here. They also attacked here. Are we terrorists? What have we done to bomb us? They killed my friends. What do they want from us? ”

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

12 years old male killed
15 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

74 years old male killed
63 or 54 years old male killed
11 years old male killed
10 years old male killed
7 years old male killed
6 years old male killed
9 years old male killed
3 years old male killed
9 years old injured
20 years old male injured
Age unknown injured
21 years old female injured
30 years old female injured
3 years old male injured
10 years old male injured
9 years old male injured
6 years old injured
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (8 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (60) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (59) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat on Dec 2nd, 2019 (via ANHA).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat on Dec 2nd, 2019 (via ANHA).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat on Dec 2nd, 2019 (via ANHA).
  • A civilian injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat on Dec 2nd, 2019 (via ANHA).
  • A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat on Dec 2nd, 2019 (via ANHA).
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    Civilians killed in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat on Dec 2nd, 2019 (via ANHA).
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  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • A child killed in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians killed in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians killed in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • A child injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • Many civilians including children were killed in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
  • Many civilians were killed and injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat. Dec 2nd 2019 (via ANHA)
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    Many children were killed and injured in the alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat (via Politika)
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    Many children were killed and injured in the alleged Turkish attack on Tal Rifaat (via Politika)
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    Via Politika
  • Child Arif Mohammad was reported killed in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat on Dec 2nd, 2019. (via @Raman_Hassi)
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    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
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    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • via SOHR
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    via SOHR
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    via SOHR
  • Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Most of those killed and injured in the alleged Turkish strike on Tal Rifaat, Dec 2nd 2019, are children (via SOHR).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    via SOHR
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    A child injured in the attack (via ANF)
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    via ANF
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    via AFP
  • SDC statement on the attack (via @dersi4m)
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    via NPA
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  • via ANF
  • via Gazetekarinca
  • Gazetekarinca
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  • names of victims. (via @Kendal_Uzun).
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Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports on the incident mention artillery strikes in the city of Tal Rifaat ( تل رفعت). Investigating audio-visual material from sources and conducting shadow analysis, we have narrowed this location down to an area of 100msq. The generic coordinates for the area are: 36.467867, 37.094200. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports on the incident mention artillery strikes in the city of Tal Rifaat ( تل رفعت). Investigating audio-visual material from sources and conducting shadow analysis, we have narrowed this location down to an area of 100msq.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Panoramic stitch of footage from the incident.

    Imagery:
    SOHR

  • Satellite imagery showing the distribution of buildings tagged in the panoramic stitches.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (8 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (60) [ collapse]