Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS3558

Incident date

February 8, 2019

Location

وادي العذيب أو وادي العزيب, Wadi Al Azeeb, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians were killed and others were wounded in an explosion in Wadi Al Azeeb. Sources on the ground reported that “cluster bombs” exploded believed to be remnants of previous shelling  conducted by the Russian- or regime forces. Other sources reported that the explosion was caused by a landmine. According to one local source, the landmine was left by ISIS.

It appears as though the victims were sheep herders of the “Buhsin clan” and were killed while grazing their sheep. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, ISIS

Sources (22) [ collapse]

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

ISIS Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, ISIS

Sources (22) [ collapse]