Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS100

Incident date

February 17, 2021

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 13 civilians including women and children were injured in an alleged Grad rocket attack by YPG on residential areas in Afrin on February 17th, 2021.Local sources said that between four and six rockets fell on Villat street in Afrin in the evening.

However, some sources like the Syrian Civil Defence said that the rockets were launched from areas controlled by the Syrian regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces, and didn’t blame a certain belligerent. Many sources said the attack came from areas of Nubul and Al-Zahra’a which are controlled by what Nors for Studies descried as militias affiliated with Iran. Anadolu Agency said the attack came from Tal Rifa’at south of Afrin.

The source said “13 civilians were injured, including six children and three women, this evening, Wednesday, February 17th, after missile strikes targeted residential neighborhoods in Afrin city. The source of the attack is areas under the control of the regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces.”

At first, Shahba Press said that six civilians were injured, then EdlibEmc1 reported ten injuries as a result of the attack. The highest toll was reported by the Syrian Civil Defence at 13.

Some sources didn’t blame any party, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rockets came from regime controlled areas.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Child male injured
Child female injured
Child female injured

Family members (5)

Hassan Houria حسن حورية
male injured
Fatima Houria فاطمة حورية
Child female
Salah Houria صلاح حورية
Child male
Khadija Houria خديجة حورية
Asia Mohamed Houria آسيا محمد حورية

The victims were named as:

Age unknown female injured
33 years old male injured
51 years old male injured
20 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (24) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Nine wounded civilians in Afrin city, in the countryside of Aleppo, as a result of the artillery shelling that it was subject to a short while ago.
  • Civilians moved with an ambulance after reported injured as a result of a mortar attack on Afrin, Aleppo on February 17th, 2021. (via SCD)
  • Injuries among civilians and material damage due to mortar shelling allegedly by YPG in Afrin in Aleppo on Feb 17th, 2021. (via Shahba Press).
  • Remnants of a rocket used in an attack on Afrin on Feb 17th, 2021. (via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights).
  • Remnants of a rocket used in an attack on Afrin on Feb 17th, 2021. (via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights).
  • A rocket attack allegedly by YPG on residential areas in Afrin on Feb 17th, 2021. (via the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights).
  • A rocket attack allegedly by YPG on residential areas in Afrin on Feb 17th, 2021 led to injuries among civilians. (via the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights).
  • Translation: A little while ago, 9 civilians were wounded as a result of the bombing. The missiles that targeted the city of Afrin in the countryside of Aleppo came from the vicinity of Nubl and Zahraa.
  • An injured civilian as a result of alleged YPG rocket attack on Afrin in Aleppo on Feb 17th. (via @Hani_Alymani).
  • An injured civilian as a result of alleged YPG rocket attack on Afrin in Aleppo on Feb 17th. (via @Hani_Alymani).
  • Translation: Breaking: Urgent || The shelling of the rocket launchers targets the center of Afrin, north of Aleppo, from the vicinity of Nubl and Zahraa
  • Translation: Six civilians were seriously wounded by the missile strikes that targeted the city of Afrin, north of Aleppo, a short while ago.
  • Caption translation: The hearing of the sound of an explosion now in the city of Afrin. More than five missiles fell on Villas Street in the city of Afrin.
  • Translation: 9 civilians, including children, were wounded as a result of the missile strikes that targeted the city of Afrin a short while ago.
  • Damage to a civilian building as a result of alleged YPG shelling with rockets on Afrin on Feb 17th, 2021. (via @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Translation: Six civilian casualties as a result of the bombing that targeted the city of Afrin, north of Aleppo, a short while ago The terrorism of the PKK is no less than that of the Assad gangs
  • Translation: 9 wounded, including children, in the bombing of Afrin from areas in the vicinity of Nubl and Zahraa, which are controlled by militias affiliated with Iran.
  • Translation: The effects of destruction in residential neighborhoods as a result of missile strikes by "SDF militia" on the city of Afrin in the northern countryside of Aleppo.
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG shelling on residential areas in Afrin on February 17th, 2021. (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG shelling on residential areas in Afrin on February 17th, 2021. (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG shelling on residential areas in Afrin on February 17th, 2021. (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG shelling on residential areas in Afrin on February 17th, 2021. (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Translation: 10 civilians, including 6 children, were wounded in a rocket attack carried out by the YPG / PKK terrorist organization targeting the city of Afrin, which was purified from terrorism by Operation Olive Branch.
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG shelling with rockets on Afrin on February 17th, 2021. (via DailySabah).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime 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
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (33) [ collapse]