Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

R4562

Incident date

October 3, 2023

Location

سرمين, Outskirts of Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On October 3rd, 2023, a man and a woman, Mohammed Sadek and Asoum Nahbhan were injured by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian artillery shelling in the outskirts of Sarmin in the eastern countryside of Idlib. Asoum Nahbahn was reportedly moderately injured in the flank while Mohammed Sadek’s injury was described as slight.

The belligerent’s identity is contested, with some sources naming the Syrian regime forces, other sources the Russian military, and some naming both jointly. One Twitter/X post said the artillery shellings came from Assad’s forces “stationed at the surrounding checkpoints”.

Artillery shells reportedly touched the vicinity of the “Hussein Haj Aboud” primary school during official teaching hours. Baladi news reported that teachers had to end classes immediately after the incident for safety reasons and that the artillery shelling “created a great state of terror among the students and families.” The news correspondent claimed that while civilians at the school hadn’t been physically impacted, the external walls were damaged.

Several images taken by the Syrian Civil Defence show civilian homes affected by the attack, with some parts being demolished. Photos also show a tractor which allegedly caught on fire due to the artillery shells. Moreover, a gas station and a car dealership office were reportedly damaged by the incident.

Syrian Civil Defence intervened on the same day. According to two Twitter/X posts, the two injured were transferred to a hospital in Idlib.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Sadek محمد صادق
Age unknown male injured
Asoum Nahbhan أسوم نبهان
Age unknown female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, School
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Impact
    Education,Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • Source: @AlTareek22
  • Source: @A_H_M_A_D50
  • Source: @A_H_M_A_D50
  • Source: @A_H_M_A_D50
  • Source: @A_H_M_A_D50
  • Source: @Ahmad_1alshble
  • Source: @Najdat567
  • Source: @Najdat567
  • Source: @Najdat567
  • Source: @Najdat567
  • Source: @creativenewssy
  • Source: @creativenewssy
  • Source: @creativenewssy
  • Source: @VedengAgency1
  • Source: @VedengAgency1
  • Source: @VedengAgency1
  • Source: @VedengAgency1
  • Source: @nbraas_08
  • Source: @syrianewsag
  • Source: @OrientNews
  • Source: Baladi news
  • Source: @aljazeeramubashe news
  • Source: Sarmin
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture, School
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Impact
    Education,Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]