Naif Hamouda Alaiwi was reportedly killed in an alleged “international coalition” drone strike near Sarmada in the Idlib countryside on 15 January, 2025. The strike – one of several – killed Alaiwi after it hit a motorcycle carrying Ibrahim Mohammad al-Thiba. It is unclear whether Alaiwi was also on the motorcycle or whether he was, as reported by Facebook user Rajo, simply “at the targeted site.” While some sources referenced the men as “civilians,” multiple sources reported that al-Thiba was a member of the Islamic State and the target of the strike. It appears the motorcycle was travelling to the al-Qalaa IDP camp.

Twitter/X user Rojo and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Alaiwi was “a school student.” Syria 25 reported that, out of the two people impacted, “one of them was killed and the other was seriously injured.” It appears Alaiwi died some hours after the strike from wounds sustained. He was from the village of al-Ankawi in the countryside near Hama.

SOHR reported that al-Thiba had worked with “the ‘organization’ [ISIS]” and subsequently with Jund Al-Aqsa – a Salafist jihadist group active during Syria’s civil war – “before retiring from military work.” Facebook user Kalna shrkaa reported that al-Thiba had “worked with ISIS in Raqqa 7 years ago.” He had had his leg amputated during this time. He was then “affiliated” with Jund Al-Aqsa “before the faction was dissolved.”

Some sources alleged that the strike led to the “death of two people and the injury of another [Alaiwi].” No further information has been found regarding a third person impacted.

Photographs taken after the strike showed scorch marks on the road, and the apparent remains of two munitions.

Where sources identified a responsibly military, all sources attributed the strike to the International Coalition.