Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS627

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

الصاخور, Al Sakhour (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2179122, 37.1892357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including up to five children were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Sakhour, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights initially attributed the incident to the Assad regime by posting an image of a child whom they said was wounded when regime warplanes fired on the neighborhood. However, it then changed position and reported that at least two children died in an attack by “suspected Russian warplanes“.

But Shaam News Network said Russia was to blame and that five civilians had died. According to the White Helmets, a raid by a “warplane” (they did not say who it belonged to) “led to the death of an entire family made up of 5 people.” The White Helmets posted a graphic video showing three children and their mother being removed from the rubble. The caption of a second video read: “An entire family made up of 4 people was killed and the civil defence manage to rescue two people from under the rubble.” AMC put the death toll higher, at five children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A very graphic video showing deceased children killed in the alleged raid. (via, AMC)
  • White Helmets trying to rescue people at the scene of the attack (deleted from Facebook)
  • The aftermath of the alleged strikes (via Orient)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of two children supposed killed in the attack. (via, Dmagoooo)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man saves a wounded child. (via, SN4HR)
  • The White Helmets attempt to rescue trapped civilians. (via, The WHite Helmets)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video showing deceased children killed in the alleged raid. (via, AMC)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS628

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586273, 37.04739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, from Sheikh Miskeen in Dara’a, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

Syria Martrys also named the victim and blamed Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Omar Abdulhameed Shbat, killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.” Additionally, it also later published a rebuttal relating to reports of casualties at Azaz and elsewhere.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS625

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and between 12 and 20 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Palmyra, according to local sources.

VDC named the victims, as did Syria Martrys who blamed a Russian strike. According to M_alhameeed one non-combatant died and 20 more were injured in Russian raids on the city.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC, died from his wounds killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Adnan Abdulrahman al Qayem, supposedly killed in the attack. (via, Palmyra News)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS626

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.252649, 37.079115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One 40-year-old male civilian, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafr Hamra.

The victim was named by the VDC, Syria Martrys and Mediakafrhamra – all of whom attributed the incident to Russia.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

40 years old male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS618

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738466, 37.0479584 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians including three children were killed and several other civilians injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Abu al Duhur, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network put the number killed at four and said the victims were all from the same family. But other sources – also blaming Russia – put the death toll at seven. According to Zamanmasdar this included three children and a woman.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any airstrikes in Idlib for February 10th – February 16th though published a detailed response to civilian casualty allegations in the governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS616

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

كلجبرين‎, Kaljabreen, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5365019, 37.1176958 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten civilians including three to four children and one woman were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kaljabreen, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes targeted a school for sheltering displaced people in Kaljabreen, “causing a horrific massacre“. According to an initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least six civilians including four children and a woman died when “suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Kaljabrein village“.

But a later SN4HR report put the death toll higher at 10 including three children and a woman, reporting that they were killed when Russian planes launched missiles next toOmar Bin Khattab mosque on the road between Kaljibreen town and Maree’ city in Aleppo“.

One victim 18-year-old male was named by the Violations Documentation Center  but it is not clear where in Aleppo he died. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also named him, and said he died following a Russian strike that targeted him in the northern Aleppo countryside on February 15th. He was also named for the incident on February 15th in Azaz (see above), so further research is required to ascertain which incident he died in.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC, from Raqqa killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A seriously graphic image of two deceased children. (via, SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS614

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

حزرما, Hazrama, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51718, 36.48874 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Shaam News Network reported that one civilian was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Hazrama as part of “dozens of raids on the towns of eastern Ghouta”.

The VDC listed one adult male, as killed in “warplane shelling” in Hazrama. The victim was also listed by Syrian Martyrs, who said he was killed in a Russian strike. RP Syria reported one death in the village from a Russian raid.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia makes no public mention of having carried out strikes in Damascus from February 10th – February 16th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS607

Incident date

February 14, 2016

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.20003, 37.1858 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 10 civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Qaterji, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported that “swarms of Russian aircraft” continued to fly over the city of Aleppo and its surrounding countryside. Activists told SNN that Russian warplanes targeted several areas including the Al Qaterji neighborhood, where more than 10 people were killed and many more wounded – some of them still trapped under the rubble.

The White Helmets posted images showing the aftermath of a strike which they said led to the collapse of a five-storey building. They reported it had been carried out by a “warplane” using a vacuum missile, though did not say who the plane belonged to – addingthat a “little girl” had been rescued from under the rubble and that two families were still trapped.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights posted similar images, but like the White Helmets only referred to “warplanes”.

However, according to an initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Assad regime carried out the attacks. It put the death toll at five. But in a later report, SN4HR appeared to change position and attribute the incident to Russia: “alleged Russian warplanes shelled a residential building next to the Katerji roundabout  in Aleppo which killed 6 individuals [photo of children’s bodies]  including 4 children and a woman“.

The citizen journalist Bahaa Al-Halabi talked to the rescue team leader, who said that Russian warplanes dropped a vacuum bomb which destroyed a three storey building. He added that some of the people were saved but a family – a mother, father and their four children –  was still under the rubble, and that he hoped they would be rescued while they were still alive.

Syrian Press Center also blamed Russia and out the death toll at ten, with dozens more wounded. It said two residential buildings were destroyed and that within the last few days Russian warplanes had launched hundreds of raids on Aleppo.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Al Qaterji, Feb 14th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Al Qaterji, Feb 14th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of a strike in Al Qaterji, Feb 14th (via White Helmets)
  • Interviews with local civilians in the aftermath of the incidnet. (via, Halabi citizen journalist)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • Civilians rest in the aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The aftermath of the incident. (via, SOHR)
  • The inside of a damaged civilian home. (via, SOHR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    To deceased babies following an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]