Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS426

Incident date

April 1, 2020

Location

ربيعات, Rabiaat, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.820000, 40.333333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were injured in artillery strikes on the village of Rabiaat, near Abu Rasin/Zarkan area on April 1st, 2020. Local sources blamed Turkish forces and/or Turkish-backed factions.

Hawar News reported that “the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries returned to shelling Zarkan area and its countryside with missiles and rockets intensively this evening”, resulting in four injured civilians.

Hawar added that the names of the victims are Muhammed Khader Sayeil (40), Haitham Yousef Wazou (25), Jaziya Ali (30) and Yassin Ramadan (25).

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “a family of four was injured as a result of shelling by Turkish forces and proxy factions on the village of Rabia’at in rural Abu Rassin”, but other sources to do not mention a possible family band between the victims, nor do the reported victims share surnames.

According to Kurdistan24, “Turkish-backed radical groups hit the town of Zirgan [Zarkan], also known as Abu Rasin, about 20 kilometres east of Serekaniye, by mortar shells, which wounded several civilians and destroyed dozens of houses.”

A civilian from Zarkan area, Abu Mohammed, told Kurdistan24: “Amid the curfew imposed to stop any spread of coronavirus, we are suffering from shelling by Turkish forces and their allied Syrian militant groups, so where shall we go?”

Sources reported the victims were treated in the hospital of Tal Tamr.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

40 years old male injured
25 years old male injured
30 years old female injured
25 years old male injured

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention the village of Rabiaat (ربيعات) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.820000, 40.333333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Man receiving medical help in a hospital after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via @vdcnsy).
  • One of the injured men in the hospital after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via @vdcnsy).
  • Woman receiving medical help in a hospital after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via @vdcnsy).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via @vdcnsy).
  • Injured arm of a civilian after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • One of the victims receiving medical help after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • One of the injured in the hospital after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Injured chest and arm of a civilian after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Injuries of a civilian after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Injured knee of a civilian after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • One of the witnesses of narrating the event after alleged Turkish or Turkish-back artillery strikes on the town of Rabia'at, near Abu Rasin, on April 2nd, 2020 (via @HishamArafatt s).

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
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]