A barrel bomb is a type of improvised explosive device used extensively by the Syrian Air Force during the Syrian civil war. They are usually made from a barrel that has been filled with High Explosives, along with shrapnel and/or oil. In Syria, they are typically dropped from a helicopter.[1] Due to the large amount of explosives that can be packed into a barrel the resulting detonation can be devastating.[2][3] The Syrian military often dropped these bombs in civilian areas leading to multiple civilian deaths. The BBC reported that between January 2014 and May 2015, only 1% of those killed by barrel bombs were rebel fighters.[4] By the end of 2017, over 97% of barrel bomb deaths were civilians, and more than 25% were children.[5][6] According to the UK-based Syrian Network for Human Rights, since the start of the war through to December 2017, at least 68,334 barrel bombs have been used.[7]
Key:
= chemical attack involved
2012
In August 2012, report of a barrel bomb being dropped on the Hamidiya neighborhood of Homs.[8]
In August 2012, report of barrel bombs being dropped on Al-Qusayr.[9]
In September 2012, a large number of people were killed and wounded when a barrel bomb was dropped on a residential district in Aleppo.[10]
2013
In late August 2013, barrel bombs were dropped on at least two areas of Aleppo, including over a public park in Bab al-Nairab.[2]
On 8 October 2013, a barrel bomb was dropped on the village of Bizabur, Idlib, just south of Ariha.[11]
On 30 November 2013, a barrel bomb killed at least 26 people in al-Bab, Aleppo.[12][13][14]
On 1 December 2013, a barrel bomb killed at least 20 people in al-Bab, Aleppo.[13][14]
From 15–24 December 2013, barrel bombs killed more than 300 people (and as many as more than 650 according to the Syrian National Council)[15] in several districts of Aleppo.[16][17]
On 26 December 2013, a barrel bomb killed at least 15 people in Azaz.[18]
On 29 December 2013, a barrel bomb killed at least 25 people in Aleppo.[19]
2014
January
On 7 January 2014, barrel bombs killed an unspecified number of civilians in the Damascus suburb of Douma.[20]
On 12 January 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 15 people in Al-Bab, Aleppo.[21]
On 14 January 2014, barrel bombs killed an unspecified number of people in Darayya, Arbin and Zabadani.[22]
On 14 January 2014, a barrel bomb was dropped on the village of Inkhil in Deraa province.[22]
On 18 January 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 60 people in Aleppo.[23]
On 22 January 2014, barrel bombs were dropped in the central Hama province.[24]
On 24 January 2014, barrel bombs were dropped on Darayya.[25]
On 25 January 2014, barrel bombs killed 10 people when dropped on Aleppo's outlying industrial city and the Sheikh Najjar districts.[25]
On 28 January 2014, a barrel bomb killed 22 people in Aleppo.[26]
On 29 January 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 62 people in the Maadi and Salhin districts of south Aleppo.[27]
On 30 January 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people in Darayya.[28]
February
From 1–5 February 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 246 people in Aleppo.[29]
On 8 February 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 20 people in Aleppo,[30] and an unspecified number of people in Darayya.[30]
On 9 February 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people in Aleppo.[31]
On 11 February 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 10 people in Aleppo.[32]
On 12 February 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 38 people in Aleppo, while 31 people were killed in Daraa - mostly by barrel bombs.[33]
On 17 February 2014, a barrel bomb was dropped on Masaken Hanano, Aleppo.[35]
On 18 February 2014, barrel bombs were dropped in several parts of Syria, while a barrel bomb killed at least 18 people when dropped on the Palestinian refugee camp in Deraa.[36]
On 23 February 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 12 people in Aleppo.[37]
March
On 4 March 2014, barrel bombs were dropped on Yabroud.[38]
On 5 March 2014, barrel bombs killed a number of people in Aleppo, Yabroud and Daraya.[39]
On 6 March 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 13 people after being dropped on Aleppo and Yabroud.[40][41]
On 7 March 2014, barrel bombs killed a number of people in Yabroud.[42]
On 8 March 2014, barrel bombs destroyed many buildings including a mosque in Aleppo.[43]
On 9 March 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 8 people, including a Canadian freelance photographer, after being dropped on Aleppo.[44]
On 15 March 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 6 people after being dropped on Ras al-Maara and Yabroud.[45][46]
On 26 March 2014, barrel bombs killed 20 people and wounded 40 others in the Anadan region of Aleppo.[49]
On 27 March 2014, barrel bombs were dropped on Observatory 45, as well as Flitah, near the Lebanon border, where it killed 8 rebels.[50][51]
On 31 March 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 31 people after being dropped on the Aleppo town of Maaret al-Artiq.[52]
April
On 2 April 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 15 people after being dropped across the province of Aleppo and Deraa.[53][54]
On 4 April 2014, barrel bombs killed about 50 people after being dropped on the Dalati Mosque and Dar al-Shifa Hospital of the Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo during peak times.[55]
On 6 April 2014, barrel bombs caused much destruction in the Andana district of Aleppo.[56]
On 10 April 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 88 people in the northern neighborhood of Aleppo.[57]
On 12 April 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people in the Anadan and Hrytan region of Aleppo.[59][60]
On 20 April 2014, barrel bombs killed 59 people in Aleppo Province.[61]
On 22 April 2014, 38 barrel bombs were dropped on rebel-controlled east Aleppo neighborhoods.[62]
On 24 April 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 24 people when dropped on a vegetable market in Atareb, Aleppo.[63]
On 26 April 2014, a barrel bomb killed at least 6 people in the town of Sarmeen, Idlib,[64] and at least 10 people in Lataminah, Hama.[65]
On 30 April 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 25 children, after being dropped on an elementary school in Aleppo.[66]
May
On 1 May 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 40 people in a busy market in Aleppo[67] and a barrel bomb killed 1 Syrian refugee and wounded four others in the remote border village of Tfail in east Lebanon.[68]
On 10 May 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 46 people in eastern areas of Aleppo city.[69]
On 11 May 2014, opposition forces accused the government of contaminating a water supply in Aleppo after a barrel bomb struck a pumping station, one of two in the city.[70]
On 21 May, barrel bombs destroyed many houses and claimed many lives in the town of Maaret al-Artik, Aleppo.[71]
On 22 May, the Army had finally broken the siege of Aleppo prison[72][73][74] after more than 100 barrel bombs were dropped during the final push to reach the prison.[75]
On 27 May 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 43 people in Aleppo.[76]
On 29 May 2014, barrel bombs claimed many lives in Darat Izza, Aleppo province.[77]
On 30 May 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 20 people in Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood.[78]
June
On 2 June 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 22 people in Aleppo.[79]
On 4 June 2014, barrel bombs targeted Aleppo, the town of Khan al-Shih, south of Damascus, several areas of Idlib province, and Morek, in Hama province.[81]
On 5 June 2014, a mosque was hit by a barrel bomb at Qadi Askar district in Aleppo.[82]
On 8 June 2014, a barrel bomb killed at least 7 people in the neighborhood of Tariq al-Bab, Aleppo.[83]
On 14 June 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 8 people in Mayadin, Aleppo,[84] 13 people in Anadan, Aleppo province,[85] and destroyed a mosque in Aleppo.[86]
On 16 June 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 37 and up to 68 people in the Sukkari and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo, and at least 3 people in a number of rural areas of Deraa province.[87][88]
On 18 June 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 20 and injured at least 80 people, many seriously, in the refugee camp in the village of Shajra, 2 km (1 mile) from the Jordanian border.[89]
On 21 June 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people near the Ghouta district of Damascus.[90]
On 22 June 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 9 people in the neighborhoods of Halak and Bab al-Nasr in Aleppo.[91]
On 26 June 2014, barrel bombs killed as many as 49 people in areas in Aleppo and Hama province.[92]
July
On 6 July 2014, barrel bombs killed 8 members of a single family in Da'el, Deraa province.[93]
On 6 July 2014, barrel bombs on the al-Shaar neighborhood on July 9 killed approximately 20 civilians.[88]
On 11 July 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 20 people in Aleppo.[94]
On 16 and 17 July 2014, barrel bombs were dropped on the central town of Morek.[95]
On 21 July 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 10 people in Al-Ansari neighborhood of Aleppo.[96]
On 28 July 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 9 people in the Shaar district of Aleppo.[97]
On 30 November 2014, barrel bombs killed at least 12 people in Jasim, Daraa Governorate.[131]
December
Notably, on 28 November 2014, a huge explosion occurred at the Syrian military airbase outside Hama. This was attributed to the complete destruction of the entire barrel-bomb making building on the airfield.[132]
From 21–26 December 2014, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Syrian government dropped 193 barrel bombs across Syria.[134]
On 25 December 2014, barrel bombs killed about 40 people in al-Bab and Qabaseen, near Aleppo.[135]
2015
January
In late January, the Syrian air force stepped up its daily airstrikes, including hundreds of barrel bombs,[136] after poor weather conditions earlier in the month restricted its movements.[137]
On 14 January 2015, barrel bombs killed 2 people and wounded 10 others in Kafr Zita.[138]
On 20 January 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 65 people and wounded 150 others in a market in Al-Hasakah.[139][140]
On 21 January 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 13 people in Houla.[141]
On 23 January 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 42 people in the village of Hamoriyah, eastern Ghouta, and at least 4 people in Houla, when residents started to leave the mosques after Friday prayers.[137][143]
On 29 January 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 6 children and wounded 15 others, along with killing more than 100 animals, when dropped on the tents of Bedouins in Hama.[145]
On 5 February 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 47 people in a crowded square in the Baidin neighborhood of Aleppo.[149]
From 9–10 February 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 18 people in Douma, Syria.[150]
On 21 February 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 8 people in Aleppo,[151] while it was reported that a barrel bomb containing a noxious gas had been dropped on Hayan, northwest of Aleppo, severely injuring 3 people who inhaled the gas.[152]
March
On 5 March 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 22 people in a public square in the Qadi Askar neighborhood of Aleppo.[153]
On 9 March 2015, barrel bombs, including ones alleged to contain chlorine gas, killed at least 7 people in the village of Mzeireb, Daraa Governorate.[154]
On 10 March 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 8 people near Homs.[155]
On 16 March 2015, chlorine-filled barrel bombs killed at least 6 people and hospitalised about 70 more in the town of Sarmin.[157][158]
On 23 March 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least killed 5 children from the same family in Tafas.[159]
On 24 March 2015, chlorine-filled barrel bombs wounded about 30 people in the village of Binnish.[160]
On 26 March 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 22 people, with many of the wounded in critical condition, in Deraa al-Balad, in the city of Daraa.[161]
On 3 April 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 10 people in the Firdous neighborhood of Aleppo.[163]
From 4—8 April 2015, more than 30 barrel bombs have been dropped on the Palestinian refugee Yarmouk Camp, including on the only functioning hospital inside Yarmouk.[164]
On 6 April 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 7 people in Bosra.[165]
On 12 April 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 9 people in Aleppo.[166]
On 14 April 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 12 people at a shelter in Saraqeb and 10 people in Daraa Governorate.[167]
On 16 April 2015, 4 chemical barrel bombs were dropped near Sarmin and Korin villages, Idlib Governorate, suffocating 20 people, who were then taken to field hospitals for treatment.[168]
On 8 June 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 4 people in Tell Rifaat.[187]
On 9 June 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 20 people and injured around 40 more in Aleppo.[188]
On 17 June 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 36 people in Douma.[189]
On 19 June 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 5 people and injured 15 others in the Maadi neighbourhood of Aleppo.[190]
On 21 June 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 14 people and injured 20 others in two neighborhoods of Aleppo, in an increase in such attacks since the beginning of Ramadan.[191]
On 22 June 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 10 people in a mosque during evening prayers in the district of Ansari, Aleppo.[192]
On 27 June 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 13 people, including a family of nine, and injured dozens in Daraa.[194]
On 28 June 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 7 people in Aleppo.[195]
On 30 June 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 15 people in the neighborhood of Salihin, Aleppo,[196] at least 10 people in the Jabal al-Zawiya area, and at least 10 people in Douma. Overall, at least 80 people were injured.[197]
July
On 1 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 15 people and injured at least 25 in al-Salihiya district of Aleppo,[198] and killed 5 people in Tafas.[199]
On 8 July 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 15 people, during iftar, in the neighbourhood of Karam al-Beik, Aleppo.[200]
On 11 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 28 people in Aleppo and 7 people from one family, during iftar, in Al-Harra.[201]
On 13 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 35 people and injured at least 50 in Al-Bab.[202]
On 15 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 5 people in the village of Taduf, northeast Aleppo Governorate.[203]
On 16 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people in Al-Bab.[204]
On 17 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people and injured 20 others in Urum al-Jawz.[205]
On 18 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 5 people in Aysheh village, near Al-Bab, and 28 barrel bombs were dropped in the Zabadani area.[206]
On 20 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 3 people and injured 35 in the Arbil district of Damascus.[207]
On 22 July 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 18 people in Al-Bureij, near Al-Bab.[208]
On 22 August 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 50 people and injured at least 100 in Douma.[214]
On 24 August 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 9 people in Douma and 14 in al-Bara, with dozens more injured.[215]
September
On 6 September 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 3 people and injured dozens in Ariha.[216]
On 16 September 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 45 people in the al-Mashhad neighborhood of Aleppo.[217]
On 17 September 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 21 people in Bosra.[218]
On 26 September 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 5 people in Taftanaz.[219]
October
On 2 October 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 100 people in Aleppo.[220]
On 4 and 6 October 2015, barrel bombs were dropped on a school run by the UNRWA for Palestinian refugees, as well as other areas, in Yarmouk Camp.[221]
On 19 October 2015, barrel bombs injured at least 5 people in Moadamiyeh, near Damascus.[222]
On 27 October 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 1 woman in Darayya.[223]
November
On 9 November 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 1 person in Darayya.[224]
On 19 November 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 25 farmers in Al-Shaykh Maskin.[225]
On 28 November 2015, barrel bombs killed at least 7 people and injured 47 in a hospital in Zafarana, a town in northern Homs.[226]
On 29 November 2015, 50 barrel bombs were dropped on Darayya alone.[227]
December
On 23 December 2015, more than 40 barrel bombs were dropped on the town of Muadamiyat al-Sham and its surrounding areas, including ones containing an unidentified toxic gas, killing at least 5 people.[228][229]
On 29 December 2015, a barrel bomb killed at least 20 people in Al-Ghantu.[230]
2016
January
On 12 January 2016, 26 barrel bombs were dropped on Darayya.[231]
During January, 1,428 barrel bombs were dropped—1,123 of them were dropped in rural areas of Damascus.[232]
February
On 4 February 2016, barrel bombs were dropped on a hospital in Al-Ghariya al-Gharbiya, a town ten kilometers northeast of Daraa.[233]
From 24–25 February 2016, over a 24-hour period, at least 50 barrel bombs were dropped on Darayya;[235] on 26 February 2016, dozens more barrel bombs were dropped on Darayya.[236]
On 28 February 2016, 5 barrel bombs were dropped on the village of Najiya and an unspecified number dropped on the nearby village of Kinda, Idlib province.[237][238]
On 19 May 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people in Houla.[243]
On 20 May 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 7 people and injured 32 in Khan al-Asal and Anadan.[244]
On 27 May 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 4 people in an eastern district of Aleppo.[245]
June
On 5 June 2016, a barrel bomb killed at least 9 people in the Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo.[246]
On 8 June 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 15 people and injured 20 when dropped on an area containing a hospital and marketplace in the Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo.[247]
On 17 June 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 15 people and injured dozens when dropped on the Katirci and Tarik el-Bab neighbourhoods of Aleppo.[248]
On 19 June 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 10 people and injured 35 when dropped on Raqqa.[249]
July
On 11 July 2016, a barrel bomb killed 1 person in Al-Jalloum neighbourhood of Aleppo.[250]
On 23 July 2016, barrel bombs killed 2 people in northern Aleppo city.[251]
On 25 July 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 24 people in Al-Mashhad neighbourhood of Aleppo,[252] and dozens were dropped on Douma.[253]
On 26 July 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 6 people in Aleppo.[254]
August
On 1 August 2016, barrel bombs containing chlorine gas asphyxiated at least 33 people in Saraqib.[255]
On 10 August 2016, barrel bombs containing a gas, likely chlorine, killed at least 4 people and injured 55 in the Seif al Dawla and Zubdiya neighbourhoods of Aleppo.[256]
On 19 August 2016, barrel bombs destroyed the only hospital in Darayya.[257]
On 20 August 2016, a barrel bomb killed a mother and her 6 children in al-Jaloum district of Aleppo.[258]
On 25 August 2016, a barrel bomb killed at least 15 people from the same family and injured 18 in Bab al-Nairab, Aleppo.[259]
On 27 August 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 25 people when hitting a funeral procession (for victims of the 25 August barrel bomb attacks) and the rescue workers that followed in Bab al-Nairab.[260]
September
On 4 September 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 3 people and injured 20 in Aleppo.[261]
On 6 September 2016, a barrel bomb containing chlorine gas killed at least 2 people and injured at least 120 in the al-Sukkari district of Aleppo.[262]
On 7 September 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 20 people in the al-Sukkari district of Aleppo.[262]
On 10 September 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 10 people in Aleppo.[263]
On 18 September 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 10 people and injured many in Da'el.[264][265]
On 21 September 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 4 people and injured 11 in the Al-Sukkari neighborhood Aleppo.[266]
On 25 September 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 6 children in Aleppo.[267]
October
On 1 October 2016, barrel bombs struck the largest hospital in rebel-held Aleppo.[268]
Between 4–9 October 2016, more than 50 barrel bombs struck in and around the outskirts of the Palestinian refugee camp Khan al-Shih.[269]
On 25 October 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 2 and wounded 5 opposition fighters in a village near Akhtarin.[271]
November
On 14 November 2016, over 15 barrel bombs containing chlorine gas targeted Khan al-Shih refugee camp.[272]
On 15 November 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 1 person and wounded 5 in Aleppo.[273]
On 16 November 2016, barrel bombs damaged the children's hospital and the only blood bank in besieged eastern Aleppo.[274]
On 17 November 2016, a barrel bomb damaged the Bab al-Nairab water plant.[275]
On 20 November 2016, a barrel bomb laced with chlorine gas suffocated to death a family of 4 children and their parents in the Sakhour district of Aleppo.[276]
On 24 November 2016, a barrel bomb killed at least 1 person in Bab al-Nairab.[277]
On 29 November 2016, a barrel bomb killed at least 25 people in Aleppo.[278]
December
On 4 December 2016, a barrel bomb killed at least 6 members of the same family, including 4 children, in Al-Tamanah.[279][280]
On 9 December 2016, a barrel bomb killed at least 4 members of one family in Aleppo.[283]
On 26 December 2016, barrel bombs killed at least 14 people and injured dozens in Wadi Barada, a town northwest of Damascus.[284]
2017
January
On 5 January 2017, a barrel bomb suffocated some civilians in Wadi Barada, northwest of Damascus.[285]
February
On 16 February 2017, barrel bombs killed a woman and three of her children and severely wounded 7 others in Hbit.[286][287]
March
On 25 March 2017, barrel bombs containing a chemical agent dropped on a surgical hospital killed one of the hospital's doctors and another person in Al-Lataminah.[288]
April
Between 7–11 April 2017, 125 barrel bombs were dropped in Daraa, 23 in Hama, four in Idlib and five apiece in Aleppo and Homs.[289]
On 30 April 2017, barrel bombs killed at least 11 people in Daraa.[290]
May
On 6 May 2017, at least 10 barrel bombs were dropped on Al-Lataminah and its surroundings.[291]
On 24 May 2017, at least 9 barrel bombs were dropped on Daraa.[292]
June
On 4 June 2017, at least 37 barrel bombs were dropped on Daraa.[293]
On 15 June 2017, a barrel bomb killed at least 1 person and injured 11 in Daraa.[294]
On 20 June 2017, at least 38 barrel bombs were dropped on Daraa.[295]
