Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4380

Incident date

August 26, 2021

Location

طفس, Tafas, Daraa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A major bombardment of the town of Tafas in Daraa caused up to three civilian deaths and up to six more injuries, according to extensive local reporting. Both the Assad regime and to a lesser extend Russia were blamed for the attacks.

Horan Free Media, citing its local correspondent, initially described the death of one young civilian male and six injuries “including critical cases” in the attack. The Syrian Observatory also described the deaths of a man and woman.

All sources were agreed on one fatal victim, 26 year old Hafeza Mar’i al-Rabadawi, a woman. Horan for example noted that “a medical source from Tafas Hospital told the Ahrar Horan Gathering that the woman, Hafeza Mar’i al-Rabadawi, died directly as a result of the bombing, while all 6 injured people were treated in the city hospital.”

Adding some confusion to reporting, a second woman’s death – that of Sabah al-Bardan – was also initially claimed by the outlet, though this was later denied on its own Telegram channel, which reported that Ms al-Bardan was in fact alive. The Syrian Network instead reported the death of Ms al-Bardan, as did several other local sources.

A third fatal victim was named by several sources including Qasioun as Samir Reshan Al-Zoubi, a young man.

The White Helmets, which posted a video showing at least six strikes on the town, declared that “Civilians were killed and wounded in a major military escalation by the regime and Russia forces on the city of Tafas in Daraa governorate.” Halab Today said that more than 30 missiles had targeted the town, while Thiqa News claimed that 50 missiles had struck. It was one of several local sources to report three civilian deaths.

In a separate video, Shaam News showed what it described as “the state of panic and fear among the students, after missile shelling by the Fourth Division militias on the vicinity of a school during work hours in Tafas city.”

The Syrian Network condemned what it said was “the bombing of civilian-populated areas by the Syrian regime which fails to distinguish between populated civilian areas and military targets, resulting in the destruction of homes that threatens and forcibly displaces the residents of those areas.”

Baladi News was alone in suggesting the attack may have been in response to local rebel actions, noting that “The area is witnessing a security alert by regime forces, after a military vehicle was targeted with an explosive device on the Nawa – Sheikh Maskin road, west of Daraa, and the regime’s ranks were killed and wounded.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Hafeza Mar’i al-Rabadawi
26 years old female killed
Sabah al-Bardan
Adult female Reported as either killed or injured injured
Samir Reshan Al-Zoubi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Reported victim of Regime and/ or Russian strikes on Tafas on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
  • Medics attend to a victim of a Russian or Regime strike on Tafas, August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free News)
  • 'The moment the Fourth Division militias bombed Tafas, 26th August 2021' (via Horan Free Media)
  • Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
  • Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
  • Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
  • Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
  • Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
  • Damage caused to Tafas by Regime and/ or Russian shelling on August 26th 2021 (via Horan Free Media)
  • 'Less than two days after the signing of a settlement agreement in #Daraa, direct scenes from the bombing of the Assad militia on the town of #Tafas'
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    '#Daraa: More than thirty treacherous missiles fell on the city of Tafas within minutes. There are a lot of injured'
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Unidentified injured male reportedly harmed in Regime and/ or Russian strikes on Tafas, August 26th 2021 (via @syria7ra)
  • '#Urgent #Daraa The death of a woman and the injury of 6 civilians as Assad's militias targeted residential neighborhoods in the city of Tafas, west of Daraa, with rocket launchers.'
  • '3 martyrs so far and 7 wounded in Tafas city 1- The martyr Samir Tarshan Al-Zoubi (M) 2- The martyr Hafiza Al-Salkhadi (F) 3- The martyr Sabah Halima (F) #Battle of dignity '

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS472

Incident date

August 23, 2021

Location

الدردارة, Al Dardarah , Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.743148, 41.842804 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of al-Dardarah village on August 23, 2021.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a young man and a woman were injured due to Turkish bombardment on al-Dardarah village”.

Nabd News provided the names of the civilians injured: Amena Al Faris (21 years), and Khidr al-Fars (39 years)”.

In addition to the injuries, houses in the village sustained material damage.

Nabd News added that the two civilians were “lightly wounded” and that their health condition was stable following treatment and discharge from the hospital they were being treated at, the Martyr Legarin Hospital in the town of Tel Tamr.

All of the sources attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

39 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Dardarah (الدردارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.743148, 41.842804. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military 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
    2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4378 IRS010

Incident date

August 23, 2021

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one child was injured in alleged Russian or regime or Iranian shelling of Taqad on August 23, 2021.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, a child was injured during artillery shelling of the  village of Taqad. All other sources that reported on civilian harm identified one child as being injured in the shelling as well.

Zaman Al Wasl wrote that the child’s injuries were “slight” and that civilian homes were also extensively damaged in the strikes. Activist Ali Haj Suleiman confirmed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that “a child was wounded by shrapnel in the head and leg as a result of intense artillery shelling.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes, with the majority of sources attributing the strikes to the regime while @Almohrar1 blamed Russia and Al Araby pointed to Iranian militias stationed in the “46th Regiment” as being responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military, Iranian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets search through the rubble following strikes on Taqad on August 23, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military, Iranian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS471

Incident date

August 17, 2021

Location

ابو راسين, Abu Rasin, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.952382, 41.140923 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed and between 10 and 20 others, including two women and two children, were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Zirgan on August 17, 2021.

According to North Press Agency (NPA), at least one civilian was killed and between 10 and 20 others were injured. “Nadwa al-Nifekh, 45, was killed in the Turkish bombing, and more than ten wounded civilians were transferred to the hospitals of al-Derbasiyah, Amuda and Hasakah,” local sources from the town said.

Ahram News identified one of the civilians killed as being a woman while Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a little girl was killed along with five civilians injured, along with two images of young children in bandages in a medical facility but it is unclear if they were killed or injured. In another post, (SOHR) put the number of injured civilians at 20, including women and children, and the number killed at two, including a woman and a child.

Rudaw news also reported that a woman and child were killed along with 11 other civilians injured. Images they posted show at least two women, a child, and a man receiving medical treatment for their wounds following the strikes.

A military source of the SDF also told NPA that the bombing included five villages belonging to the town, which are Bab al-Khair, Bab al-Faraj, Tel al-Ward, al-Rabi’at and Shour. He said that about 50 artillery and mortar shells fell on the town alone, which, in addition to human losses, caused great material damage. Ahram News also reported that the bombing caused widespread panic among civilians and led to multiple families leaving the villages.

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

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

45 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

  • Shelling of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by NPA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, one of the victims of the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, one of the victims of the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • A child receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A woman receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A man receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A woman receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abu Rasin (ابو راسين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.952382, 41.140923. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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

R4371

Incident date

August 11, 2021

Location

كفر نوران, Kafr Nouran, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.079694, 36.8061947 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery and machine gun fire on the village of Kafr Nouran on August 11, 2021.

@spc_fr reported that “a civilian was injured as the #regime forces bombed the village of #Kafr Noran in the western countryside of #Aleppo with heavy machine guns”. Other sources reported that “civilians” were injured but did not specify how many.

Both shelling and machine guns were identified by various sources as being used in the attack.

@syria55s attributed the strikes to Russia and @Tb7FgaFJwxqQlKu pointed out that Russian reconnaissance planes were flying in the area. However, the other sources that reported on this incident blamed the regime for the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Nouran (كفر نوران), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.079694, 36.8061947. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4370

Incident date

August 11, 2021

Location

برزة, Barze, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.727365, 36.226588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Barze on August 11, 2021.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD), “a civilian was killed while he was collecting firewood, in artillery shelling by the Assad regime forces targeting the surrounding mountains of Barzeh”.

The correspondent for Zaman Al Wasl reported that the young man who was killed by the bombing of the regime forces, named Ibrahim Issa Al-Khatib, came from the village of “Sallet Al-Zohour” in the western countryside of Idlib. He was killed “while he was working to collect firewood to sell in the market in return for securing a living for him and his children, in addition to storing some of it for the winter.”

The SCD added that they removes the body of the deceased to a medical point and handed it over to his family.

The majority of sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the regime.  However, Macro Media Center and @IdlibPlus blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia for carrying out the strikes.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense members carry the body of a civilian killed while collecting firewood when strikes targeted Barze on August 11, 2021. (Image posted by @EuphratesPost)
  • Image of Ibrahim Issa Al-Khatib, killed while collecting firewood when strikes targeted Barze on August 11, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Barze (برزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.727365, 36.226588. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4369

Incident date

August 10, 2021

Location

معرزاف, Maarzaf, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in regime and/or Russian shelling in the village of Maarzaf on August 10, 2021, multiple sources reported. Four sources also reported injuries from the incident, but none gave any estimate of how many.

Little information was given on the identity of the person killed. SY-24 reported the victim was a man.

Numerous sources identified the use of Russian Krasnopol shells. Some said these were fired by regime forces, while others specified that the attack included artillery shelling by regime forces and Russian forces firing the Krasnopol shells. @abo_aljod84 reported reconnaissance planes in the air at the time of the attack.

Step reported that several houses were also destroyed as a result of the missiles.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • @hadikhraat
    Translated image caption: Pro-Assad forces target with artillery the village of Maarzaf in Idlib countryside. (Image posted by @hadikhraat)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI064a

Incident date

August 10, 2021

Location

باصل , Bosal, Dohuk , Iraq

Geolocation

37.21093, 42.89497 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was seriously injured in an alleged Turkish artillery strike on Bosal village in Darkar sub-district, Dohuk Province on August 10 th 2021, according to one source.

Christian Peacemakers Teams reported that Abdulrahman Yousif, 55, from the village of Bosal, was severely injured while picking figs in his orchard. The strike occurred at 15:50 and originated from a recently constructed Turkish military base.

The Christian Peacemaker Teams statement regarding the incident was published by local media outlets who did not provide any further details.

The incident occured at 15:50:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdulrahman Yousif عبد الرحمن يوسف
55 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bosal (باصل), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.21093, 42.89497. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]