Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS119

Incident date

November 2, 2021

Location

قرف مغار, Qerf Maghar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.682222, 38.0525 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two girls were killed and three to four children were injured in alleged SDF shelling or unknown unexploded ordinances in the village of Qerf Maghar on November 2, 2021.

Zaman Al Wasl reported that two girls were killed and four other children were seriously injured in an unknown explosion in the village of “Qerf Maghar”. Their correspondent added that most of the children affected were from the same family and that the explosion could be the result of unexploded remnants, while other sources identified all of the children as being from the same family.

@Step_Agency tweeted that in addition to the two girls killed, three civilians were wounded and that the explosion was caused by a mortar shell launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces. However, @feryal222kakhi reported that the girls were killed by a hand grenade that they were playing with.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the location of the explosion as near the house of the village’s mayor.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the explosion was caused by shelling from SDF forces or an unexploded ordinance/landmine.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A White Helmet volunteer finds a shoe at the site of an explosion that killed two children and injured four others in the countryside of Jarabulus on November 2, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qarf Maghar (قرف مغار), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.682222, 38.0525. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (19) [ collapse]