Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1153

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1039RS1148)

Between three and nine civilians including up to three children died and as many as 20 more were wounded in airstrikes in Idlib city, said sources on the ground. The majority of reports attributed the event to Russia, though one said that regime helicopters also participated in the assault. Some others sources didn’t identify the culprit.

Syrian Press Centre – who blamed unidentified “warplanes” – reported that more than four strikes occurred, which hit “a medical point near the perimeter of agriculture and industry area and the perimeter of Alknsroh”. This resulted in the outbreak of fires.

The Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the death of one child. All4Syria put the death toll at five with “dozens” more wounded, adding that “Hai al-Sinaa and several neighbourhoods in the city were targeted by Russian raids”.

Smart, also pointing towards Moscow, put the death toll at six including two children with 18 more civilians wounded.

The highest death toll was given by Alsoura, at nine civilians with 20 more injured “”across the province”. The source blamed both “Russian warplanes and regime helicopters”.

Victims

Individuals

Mohammed Samir Zaarour
male named by VDC killed
Mohammad Jihad Recep
male named by VDC killed
Renad Jamal
named by VDC

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
3–9
1–3 Children
Civilians reported injured
2–20

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Idlib (إدلب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.93062, 36.63393. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
On August 14th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strike with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping in the regions located to the south-west, east, and north-east from Deir ez-Zor. Two command and control centers, six large storages with ammunition and armament, two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, seven off-roaders with large-caliber weaponry, and a lot of insurgents have been eliminated by the aviation strike." They also added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed