Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS155

Incident date

October 29, 2022

Location

مخيم كويت الرحمة, Kuwait Al Rahma camp, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.481828, 36.908128 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 29th, 2022, after midnight, one civilian, a woman, was reportedly killed, and two others injured, a man and a child, as a result of an alleged SDF or Syrian regime missile strike on their house in Kuwait Al-Rahman IDP camp, in Afrin countryside, in Aleppo governorate.

Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) identified the woman killed as 30-years-old Samira Mohammad al-Hussein Kerzak. One local source added that she was displaced, and originally from Damascus. Sources described the victims as part of the same family, and the injured as Samira Mohammad al-Hussein Kerzak’s husband and her child. Syria Civil Defense (SCD) reported that two children from the same family also suffered from ‘psychological trauma’ as they saw their mother killed by the strike. Masar Press News indicated that the child injured was a young girl, while @77Mikiy claimed that it was a 6-months infant. The injured were reportedly transported by SCD workers to Afrin hospital to receive first aid. However, according to Abdul Hadi Abu Muhammad, director of Kuwait Al-Rahma camp, interviewed by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the infant was transfered to Turkey due to critical injuries.

Some sources claimed that the strike was conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) while others said Syrian regime forces were responsible for the bombing. SCD reported that the bombing came from areas under the control of both the Syrian regime, Russian forces and the SDF. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that a rocket launcher was used in the attack. Abdul Hadi Abu Muhammad, director of Kuwait Al-Rahma” camp, interviewed by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed stated that “at two o’clock after midnight on Friday, two missiles landed inside the camp”.Afrin Post claimed that 6 rockets, fired from al-Shahba area, hit Al-Rahman camp.

Following the strike, SCD observed the displacement of a large number of families and described a ‘state of panic’ inside the camp.

The same source claimed that during the month of October, Kuwait Al-Rahman IDP camp and nearby Wadi Al-Hamam camp were bombed 5 times.

The incident occured at 02:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Samira Mohammad al-Hussein Kerzak سميرة محمد الحسين كزكاز
30 years old female killed
Samira Mohammad al-Hussein Kerzak's husband
Adult male injured
Samira Mohammad al-Hussein Kerzak's baby daughter
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense workers examining two children following a strike in Kuwait Al Rahma camp, on October 29th 2022. Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • A Syrian Civil Defense worker following a strike in Kuwait Al Rahma camp on October 29th, 2022. Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • A Syrian Civil Defense worker inside a medical structure following a strike in Kuwait Al Rahman camp on October 29th, 2022. Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • The residential building after being hit by a strike in Kuwait Al Rahma IDP camp on October 29th, 2022. Source: SOHR
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Kuwait Al Rahma camp (مخيم كويت الرحمة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.481828, 36.908128. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime

Sources (29) [ collapse]