Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1167

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93130, 36.630222
Accuracy: Nearby landmark

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1053RS1162)

Fifteen named civilians were among those killed in multiple airstrikes on Idlib, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible – though the event was referred to as a “horrific massacre” in several reports. Dozens more civilians were said to have been wounded.

A popular market, “the ball rotor area of the city” and the area near the National Hospital were reportedly struck.

Death counts varied, from 15 (Aa) to 27 civilians (Mada). These sources blamed Russia.

However, Step and Syria News Desk attributed the event to the regime. According to Syria News Desk, “twenty-three civilians died and more than 30 others were wounded – many seriously – in regime military action. There were three raids with rockets and cluster bombs, striking residential buildings near the hospital clinics and other areas”.

Syria Press Center added that many civilian homes were destroyed.

A number of sources didn’t identify the culprit. The highest death toll was given by Zaitonmag, at 28.

Hi Idlib named 12 civilian fatalities, ‘Plus five unknown martyrs’

Victims

Family members (3)

33 years old killed
30 years old killed
3 years old

Individuals

4 years old killed
20 years old killed
60 years old killed
13 years old killed
17 years old killed
33 years old killed
40 years old killed
13 years old killed
20 years old killed
45 years old killed
killed
killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
20–28
5 Children
Civilians reported injured
12–30

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the globe roundabout, the area near the National Hospital and the vegetable market being struck. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates of the roundabout are 35.93130, 36.630222.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
On August 17th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "Russian bombers Su-34 took off from Hamedan airbase (Islamic Republic of Iran) with full fragmentation bomb charge and made an airstrike on ISIS terrorist facilities in the Deir ez-Zor province. As a result, 2 command centres and large ISIS field training camps near the Deir ez-Zor city were destroyed, over 150 militants (with foreign mercenaries among them) were eliminated."
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (14)