Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4516

Incident date

May 30, 2023

Location

بزابور, Bzabor, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 15 year old boy was injured by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Bzabor in Idlib on May 30, 2023.

Local sources from the countryside of Idlib governorate told Zaman Al Wasl that 15-year-old Muhammad Malik Ahmed Haj Musa was wounded by Russian airstrikes on Bzabor village. The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) tweeted that a boy was injured by shrapnel from an airstrike which struck a home.

A tweet from @idleb_online referred to the site of the airstrike as belonging to a terrorist without providing any information on casualties while @​​ShaamNetwork tweets that the location is a “civilian house and agricultural land.”

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the victim was driving his motorbike by the home at the time of the airstrikes, and he was taken to the hospital for treatment for his injuries. A video posted by @anasanas84 allegedly taken by a Russian reconnaissance plane shows the motorcycle driving by a house at the exact time that an airstrike hit the building.

Abdul Karim, a volunteer with the White Helmets, described the home that was destroyed: “The family members who live in this house survived while they were working to harvest the mahaleb crop on their nearby farm, but they lost their memories of the haven that used to bring them together after the earthquake, and the walls that withstood that day, today they did not withstand the missiles, and the raids of the Russian warplanes destroyed it.”

Aljazeera (@ajmubasher) quoted the Syrian opposition air traffic tracking observatory as reporting that a Russian plane took off Tuesday at noon from Hmeimim base in Lattakia governorate and bombed the village of Bzabour in the Idlib countryside. North Press Agency identified high-explosive missiles as being used in the airstrikes. All other sources also attributed the airstrikes to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Muhammad Malik Ahmed Haj Musa 15 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • "Civilians were wounded by Russian air strikes on the village of Bzabour in Idlib countryside."
  • A house was not affected by the earthquake, but Russian warplanes destroyed it today, Tuesday, May 30, with an air strike on the village of Bzabour, south of Idlib, so that the war writes a new line in the narrative of oppressing the Syrians.
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • A victim of alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • A Russian reconnaissance plane documents the moment of the Russian raids today on the vicinity of the village of Bazabur in the southern countryside of Idlib At the time of the raid, a motorcycle was also shown, with a young man on board, who was slightly injured Also, mahaleb fruits appear on the roof of the targeted house
  • #Urgent The moment the air raids were carried out by the Russian occupation on the outskirts of the town of Bazabour, south of Idlib, and the planes are still in the air. 📌 Civilian injury as a preliminary outcome as a result of the raids, be careful
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @​​ShaamNetwork)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @​​ShaamNetwork)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @​​ShaamNetwork)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @​​ShaamNetwork)
  • A civilian was wounded in the initial outcome of the Russian raids on the town of Bazabour, south of Idlib
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @ajmubasher)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @ajmubasher)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @ajmubasher)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @ajmubasher)
  • A victim of alleged Russian airstrikes on Bzabor on May 30, 2023. (Image posted by @sawarqi47568)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Published

May 2023

Written by

Airwars Staff

Annual report 2022

Airwars annual report for May 2022-May 2023.

The report outlines key highlights from the organisation’s research, investigations and advocacy departments over the time period, as well as strategic objectives and basic financial details.

It includes a foreword by Airwars’ director Emily Tripp, who took over at the beginning of the time period, and is designed to provide an overview of the how the different parts of the organisation overlap to achieve shared goals.

Annual report 2022

Incident Code

TS596

Incident date

May 18, 2023

Location

قرية الخاروفية, Al-Kharofiya village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

An elderly man was killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Al-Kharofiya village on May 18, 2023.

A local source told a North Press Agency correspondent that a civilian was killed when a vehicle close to him on the road was struck by a drone. The source also provided the name of the civilian killed: Abd al-Wahhab al-Muhammad al-Haj Hamidi (70 years old) from Al-Kharofiya village.

The Syrian Democratic Forces Press Center published a statement with similar details, adding that the drone strike on a civilian car occurred at exactly 6:30pm and despite medical intervention, Abd died from his injuries. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the Turkish drone executed two strikes on a military car of the woman’s protection units, and the civilian was injured (and later died of his injuries) by shrapnel when he was trying to help those injured in the vehicle. The earlier strike left two military members injured, according to SOHR.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the drone strikes to Turkey.

The incident occured at 18:30:00 local time.

  • Abd al-Wahhab al-Muhammad al-Haj Hamidi 70 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Car struck by alleged Turkish drones on May 18, 2023. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS594

Incident date

May 17, 2023

Location

قرية جديدة, Jadeda village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including at least one child, were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Jadeda village on May 17, 2023.

Rohani TV reported that Turkish forces bombarded Jadeda village, resulting in the injury of three civilians: Muhammad Fawaz Al-Waqqa, his brother Mahmoud Fawaz Al-Waqqa, and Muhammad Salem Kamal. The director of the National Hospital in the city of Raqqa, Ibrahim al-Omar, told Rohani TV that their condition is stable.

North Press Agency also reported 3 civilians injured, and provided the age of two of the  victims : 17 year old Mahmoud Fawaz Al-Waqqa and 32 year old Kamal Mahmoud al-Wagaa (unclear if this is Muhammad Fawaz Al-Waqqa or Muhammad Salem Kamal listed above). According to a medical source at the Emergency Department at the Raqqa National Hospital, both Mahmoud and Kamal were immediately admitted into the operating room and were in critical condition. A cousin of the third victim told North Press that he and his cousin were grazing their sheep when they were struck by Turkish artillery.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights referred to those injured in Jadeda village as two “tunnel workers” and a 13 year old boy.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Muhammad Salem Kamal Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS595

Incident date

May 17, 2023

Location

Ain Issa camp, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023.

Hawar News reported that during the second incident in Ain Issa district on May 17th, two civilians were injured when Turkish forces bombarded Ain Issa camp. Correspondents for Hawar added that the shelling caused an outbreak of fire in the camp, and firefighting teams could not reach the scene to put out the fire due to continuous shelling. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that both civilians injured were taken to the hospital to receive treatment, and an image posted by Hawar News shows two men being treated for injuries.

Ronahi TV provided the names of the injured: Muhammad Al-Balikh and Mahmoud Al-Jassem.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Muhammad Al-Balikh Age unknown male injured
  • Mahmoud Al-Jassem Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Strike target
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]