Airwars assessment
During the evening of Sunday, 7th January 2024, missile strikes with the use of phosphorus bombs with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by Russian forces and/or Syrian regime and/or Iranian military on residential neighbourhoods in Idlib City, Idlib, injured up to four civilians, including a girl.
Adnan Al-Ashqar posted on Facebook that three civilians were injured and the Syrian Civil Defense reported four injuries, including a child.
Three injured civilians were identified by the Facebook account “Quiet Dawn” as three adult men: 38-year-old Samer Shaban, 19-year-old Hassan Ghoneimi, and 27-year-old Abdulatif Binshi. The identity of the injured girl remains unknown.
Sources reported that explosive missiles and missiles loaded with incendiary phosphorus submunitions fell on civilian homes in a number of residential neighbourhoods, as well as agricultural lands and service facilities in the city of Idlib. Several photos and videos were posted on social media that showed damage and destruction to cars, streets, and buildings, as well as white smoke caused by incendiary phosphorus submunitions.
The Syrian Civil Defense (also known as “White Helmets”) reported that the strikes caused the outbreak of three fires. It reports that two of the fires were caused by missiles loaded with incendiary munitions and the third was caused by an “explosive missile that fell in the kitchen of one of the residential homes and broke out in the household gas cylinder and the refrigerator.” The account @SyriaCivilDefe posted photos on Twitter/X of two men receiving medical treatment, “the White Helmets’” inspecting the damaged areas and missile fragments on agricultural land.
Sources claimed that the civilian harm was caused by explosive missiles and cluster munitions. Facebook user “Quiet Dawn” reported that Samer Shaban sustained a head injury and multiple bruises, Hassan Ghoneimi broke his leg and Abdulatif Binsh injured his hand. Additionally, Twitter/X user @Military_OSTX posted a video of a girl injured with bandages around her head and hands reportedly caused by the missiles loaded with incendiary munitions.
Muhammad Al-Qasim described how his family survived the strikes: “Praise be to God who spared me and my family from the Assad regime’s bombing of the city of Idlib this evening. An incendiary phosphorus shell fell on the building in which I lived, wounding my neighbors. The shell continued its path and settled in the middle of my car parked directly in front of my apartment. Praise be to God who gave us life, and thanks from the heart to those who asked and checked on us.” The post included a video and photos of his car as described in the post.
In addition to civilian harm, user @alshorafa2_k posted on Twitter/X ‘The strongholds of the “Al-Nusra Front” organization in the city of Idlib have just been burning due to Russian air strikes’.
While a majority of sources identified the belligerent as the Syrian regime, a number additionally attribute the strike to the Russian forces, Iranian militia, and Hezbollah.
The incident occured in the evening.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (25) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (40) [ collapse]
-
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe -
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe -
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe -
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe -
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
-
Source: @aboalhodaalhoms
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Muhammad Al-Qasim
-
Source: Thoragee
-
Source: Thoragee
-
Source: Thoragee
-
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
Source: Thoragee -
Source: Creators News
-
Source: Creators News
-
Source: Creators News
-
Source: Adnan Al-Ashqar
-
Source: Ahmed Al-Khattab
-
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.
-
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.
-
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.