Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS4864

Location

قباسين, village of Al-Kandarliya, north of Al-Massa camp, city of Qabaseen area, eastern countryside of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Code: R4628)

Shortly before 4:37 PM  on Saturday, November 18, 2023, one child was killed and three children were injured, two of them seriously, from a Shoabo 0.5 cluster bomb explosion that had been left over from a previous bombing allegedly perpetrated by the Russian military and/or Syrian regime forces to the north of Al-Massa camp in the Qabaseen area, eastern countryside of Aleppo, Syria. Al-Bab Countryside News added that the incident happened in the village of Al-Kandarliya.

The Syrian Civil Defense first reported the incident at 4:37 PM, informing about the civilian casualties. According to SCD, the three injured kids were taken to the Al-Bab City Hospital. Two of them were in serious condition and were receiving treatment, according to the medical sources at Qabasin Hospital. The deceased child’s body was transported too and the area was inspected, and no other injured people were found.

The Syrian Civil Defense also posted a video and images on Twitter/X showing how the injured kids were taken to an ambulance. Among the kids was a boy who was wearing printed jeans, and a blue t-shirt under green with a yellow sweatshirt. His face was blurred in the video, but he was collocated on a stretcher, receiving first aid while unconscious. The boy didn’t seem to respond to his treatment.

An injured boy with black hair was wearing blood-stained jeans, a white sweatshirt, and a sleeveless black jacket while sitting next to the stretcher. Another boy of short height and dark hair was wearing gray pants and a blue jacket while being carried by one of the white helmets inside the ambulance.

The Syrian Civil Defense claimed that the bomb was a Shoabo 0.5 cluster bomb. The Npasyria news outlet posted a photo of the remnant, a cylindrical metal piece lying on the ground.

Multiple sources identified the belligerents as the Syrian regime forces and/or the Russian military. Therefore, Airwars has graded both Strike Status and Civilian Harm status as Contested.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Civilians reported killed
1
1 Child
Civilians reported injured
3
3 Children

Military Statements

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

Media From Sources (6)