(Previous Incident Codes: R876RS974)

Twenty six named civilians including a child and eight women died and up to 70 more were wounded in an airstrike on a residential neighbourhood and popular market in Darkoush, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. The strike reportedly took place at midday on July 8th.

Sources disputed claims over the aircraft used in this attack. Alan TV and Syrian PC reported that Russian warships and missiles were used. Ara News claims that missiles were fired from warships and warplanes followed with shelling. Both DW News and BBC Arabic reported shelling by warplanes.

Syrian Network for Human rights claimed that both Russian and Assad regime warplanes were responsible for the damage, whereas Syrian Newsdesk blamed only Russia.

Halab Today reported sighting the use of “long ranging missiles”.

Numerous sources reported the names of the dead which included a list compiled by Darkoush Hospital where the majority of the casualties and wounded civilians went.

A further 35-70 people were wounded in the airstrike. Syrian Newsdesk reported that the numbers of wounded were so high that “medical points in neighbouring areas asked people to donate blood”.

According to Shaam News Network, Assad regime warplanes did not only target Darkoush, but on the same day “targeted Kfrcharim city in the north-west of Idlib, which resulted in the fall of martyrs and wounded a number of civilians.”

Sambo1982ksa put the death toll as high as 30, and also blamed Russia.