Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS406

Incident date

January 11, 2020

Location

باشمرة, Bashmara, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.310464, 36.976003 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was reportedly injured in Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Bashmara, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020, according to ANF News. Two soldiers of the Syrian regime were killed.

North Press Agency Syria reported that “the Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition groups bombed with about 15 shells on Saturday morning the village of Bashmara of Sherawa district, in Afrin countryside”, adding that the shelling killed two members of the Syrian forces.

NPA Syria identified the injured civilian as the woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada, who was transferred to a medical point of the Kurdish Red Crescent.

Hawar News interviewed the 55-year-old woman, who stated: “When I heard the sound of shells, I moved my son, who was quadriplegic, into the house in order to protect him. When I went out again, the shell fell to the meters next to me and I was hit by shrapnel and then they took me to the hospital.”

Her son, Saeed Hamada, told Hawar News his experience of the attack: “In the afternoon hours, while I was sitting in my shop, I heard the sounds of shells falling on the village, and as a result, I entered the store to avoid the shells that fall in the village. (…) While I was sitting in the shop sheltering from the shelling, I heard the sound of another shell that fell in the village and when I wanted to know where it happened? I saw smoke billowing from the house where my mother resides, and I went straight to the house to see what happened”.

Saeed Hamada rushed to his mother’s house: “When I got home, I saw my mother lying on the ground, unable to move, because she had shrapnel in her foot and the blood was flowing from the foot. Immediately, I carried her and transferred her in a vehicle to a point of the Kurdish Red Crescent in the village of Burj Al-Qas, and from that point, we went to Avrin Hospital in Fafin district.”

The son of the injured woman added: “We demand human rights organisations to stand up to mercenary practices and not allow them to continue with these violations that affect civilians.” According to the family, “mercenaries are seeking to empty their areas of their inhabitants”.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

55 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada was injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via ANF News).
  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada after being injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via North Press Agency Syria).
  • Site of the incident, Bashandra village, Afrin governorate, January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Photo of Saeed Hamada, who found his mother injured after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Bashandra village, Afrin governorate, January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada back in her home after receiving medical help after being injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Photo of damaged wall after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Damaged three after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada back in her home after receiving medical help after being injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Interview with the woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada and her son Said after she was injured in alleged Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Bashandra on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).

Geolocation notes (5) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention artillery strikes in the village of Bashamra (باشمرة). Investigating audio-visual material from sources and conducting shadow analysis, we have narrowed it down to an exact location, for which the coordinates are: 36.310464, 36.976003

  • Reports of the incident mention artillery strikes in the village of Bashamra (باشمرة). Investigating audio-visual material from sources and conducting shadow analysis, we have narrowed it down to an exact location, for which the coordinates are: 36.310464, 36.976003

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Panoramic stitch of footage from the incident.

    Imagery:
    ANHA

  • Panoramic stitch of footage from the incident.

    Imagery:
    ANHA

  • Panoramic stitch of footage from the incident.

    Imagery:
    ANHA

  • 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]