| 2015 Douma market air strikes | |
|---|---|
| Part of Syrian Civil War | |
| Location | Douma, Syria |
| Coordinates | 33°34′20.15″N 36°24′06.52″E / 33.5722639°N 36.4018111°E |
| Date | 16 August 2015 |
| Target | Civilians[1][2][3] |
Attack type | Airstrike |
| Weapons | Missles, Barrel bombs[4] |
| Deaths | 96+[1] |
Non-fatal injuries | 200+[1][2][4] |
| Perpetrators | Government of Syria[1][2] |
On August 16, 2015, the Syrian Air Force[5] launched strikes on the town of Douma, northeast of Damascus, killing at least 96 people and injuring at least 200 others.[1][6][7] The attack is one of the deadliest in the four-year history of the Syrian Civil War.[2] According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, four separate missiles were fired in the strikes, which struck the main market in the town during rush hour.[2]
Reactions[]
Rami Abdurrahman's Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the air strikes as "an official massacre that was carried out deliberately."[2] A Syrian military source told Reuters that the country's air force had carried out strikes in Douma and Harasta that targeted the headquarters of the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam.[3]
The Turkey-based Syrian political opposition group, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, said the attack aimed at inflicting as many civilian casualties as possible.[1]
Stephen O'Brien, the United Nations' most senior humanitarian official, said he was horrified by the attacks and reiterated that “attacks on civilians are unlawful, unacceptable and must stop”.[8] The attacks were also condemned by the State Department of the United States, which issued a press release stating that the attacks "demonstrate the [Assad] regime’s disregard for human life."[9]
See also[]
- Aerial bombardment and international law
- List of massacres during the Syrian Civil War
- List of Syrian Civil War barrel bomb attacks
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Death toll in Syria air strike nears 100: activists". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/17/us-mideast-crisis-syria-attack-idUSKCN0QM0RZ20150817.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 AP (16 August 2015). "An "official massacre" of civilians alleged in Syria". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/official-massacre-civilians-alleged-douma-syria/. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hubbard, Ben (17 August 2015). "Government Airstrikes on Syrian Market Kill More Than 80". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/17/world/middleeast/government-airstrikes-on-syrian-market-kill-more-than-80.html. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Massacre as Syrian Barrel Bombs Kill at Least 82 - Middle East - News - Arutz Sheva". Arutz Sheva. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199523#.VdG6HCyqqko.
- ↑ "Syrian air force hits crowded market near Damascus, kills and injures hundreds". ARA News. http://aranews.net/2015/08/syrian-air-force-hits-crowded-market-near-damascus-kills-and-injures-hundreds/.
- ↑ Cassandra Vinograd. "Syria's Civil War: Douma Airstrike Toll Nears 100". NBC News. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/syrian-airstrikes-douma-leave-nearly-100-dead-n410881.
- ↑ Associated Press (16 August 2015). "Syrian government air strikes on market kill at least 82 people". The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/16/syrian-government-air-strikes-market-kill-many-douma. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ Chulov, Martin (17 August 2015). "UN condemns Syria market attack as witnesses tell of 'corpses everywhere'". The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/un-condemns-syria-market-attack-douma-air-strike. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ↑ "Market Bombing in Douma, Syria". State Department. 17 August 2015. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/08/246155.htm. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
The original article can be found at 2015 Douma market massacre and the edit history here.