Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1577

Location

مخيم خان الشيخ, Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.373059, 36.112682
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: November 4, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1434RS1569)

Two men were killed and others were wounded in an airstrike and artillery raids which struck al-Huda Mosque in a refugee camp for displaced Palestinians in Khan al Sheikh, Damascus, according to sources on the ground. Reports were conflicted as to who was to blame for the raids – with some blaming Russian military, and others –  the Syrian regime. 

According to sources, propelled grenade launchers, 20 explosive barrel bombs and thermobaric missiles were all used in the raid. Material damage was significant, and some reports said that the Mosque was rendered inoperable. Additionally, it has been reported that farms in the surrounding vicinity were also struck.

Step News Agency reported the use of barrel bombs, rockets and artillery – as well as warplanes.  

Sources claimed that the wounded were sent to field hospitals; however, no specific numbers were reported.

Step News Agency noted: “The town of Khan al Sheikh has been subject to a siege by regime forces since the beginning of last month, with people suffering from an acute shortage of all materials necessary for life, the most important being bread and milk for children.” The source went on to describe how this included airstrikes on farms, with clashes between rebel factions”.

Victims

Individuals

Hussein Hendi al-Khalidi حسين هندي الخالدي
Adult male imam of the Mosque killed
Mouhammad Muhsen Fallah محمد محسن فلاح
Adult male crier of the Mosque killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
2
2 Men
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Khan al Sheikh (مخيم خان الشيخ), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.373059, 36.112682. 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
Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016. On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (9)