Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1504

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1364RS1497)

Two civilians – a father and his son or daughter – died and an unspecified number more were wounded in an airstrike on Maarat al Numan – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “two victims (a child and his father) died when suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on Ma’aret Al Numan city in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, October 23, 2016.”

However, other sources blamed Russia. @ALAMAWI and @HalabTodayTV also put the death toll at two, including a girl.

But according to @RFS_medioffice, a father and his son died – though this source, as with a number of others, didn’t identify the culprit.

Muslm added that “a civilian died of his wounds following a previous bombing of the city of Maarat al-Nu’man”.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
2–3
1 Child, 1 Man
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat al Numan (مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.647038, 36.679174. 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 20th October 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the decisions made aimed towards stabilising the situation in Aleppo. ""Today, strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force are finished at 10:00 (MSK) in the area of Aleppo. Early termination of the airstrikes is essential for holding a “humanitarian pause” on October 20, 2016”, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. According to him, it will allow to guarantee security of civilians leaving the city through 6 humanitarian corridors and to prepare casualty and medical evacuation from the eastern part of Aleppo. “We apply to the leadership of countries influencing on armed formations active in the eastern part of Aleppo with a proposal to convince their leaders to stop warfare and leave the city,” stated the Minister of Defence. According to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, by the start of the “humanitarian pause” the Syrian troops will have been withdrawn to the distance safe for insurgents to leave the city with weapons through two special corridors: one – along the Kastello road, second – in the area of Suk al-Hai market."
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (2)