Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1514

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1375RS1508)

Eight named civilians died and up to 30 more were injured in air and artillery strikes on Douma, according to sources on the ground. Reports blamed both Russian airstrikes and artillery/ mortar shelling by Syrian regime forces. Some reports also pointed to regime warplanes. Among targets hit was a primary school, prompting the Directorate of Education in the city of Douma to suspend schools for at least three days.

According to LCCSY, “10 civilians were martyred and dozens injured due to Russian airstrikes that coincided with Assad’s forces shelling with surface-to-surface missiles, artillery and mortar shells on the neighborhoods in Douma city. Vital facilities such as schools and mosques were targeted”.

Al Jazeera also pointed to both Russia and the regime, reporting that “nine people, including children, were killed and scores more were injured in Russian raids and artillery shelling of the perimeter of a primary school. The school was hit as students left it – and this came just hours after a similar shelling of a school in Idlib, which killed 35 people [incident RS1506]”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “government missile launchers and artillery” for the death of at least eight civilians, while the Shaam News Network reported that “six farmers were killed in Douma when their car was targeted with a missile by Assad’s forces”.

According to the Step News Agency, “regime aircraft targeted a primary school in Douma in the afternoon [of Oct 27th], killing two people, one of whom was a cleaner and the other a child who happened to be on the nearby road at the time. But there were no victims in the school because students had left before the bombing.”

The White Helmets put the death toll at eight, of which seven were men and one was a child.

Victims

Individuals

Khalil Sheikh al Najjar
killed
Akram Sa’ab
killed
Tarek Zare’
killed
Adnan al Hamouri
killed
Abd al Nasser Al Kteifani
killed
Mohammad al Masri
killed
Mohammad Oyoun
killed
Ibrahim al Nabulsi
killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
8–10
1 Child, 7 Men
Civilians reported injured
12–30

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Douma (دوما), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.5714804, 36.4033699. 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 (8)