Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS2801

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R2620RS2803)

As many as 17 civilians were killed – including ten who were named – as well as 6 or more wounded, in internationally banned Napalm and Phosphorous airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the “air and artillery strikes” which were conducted in the vicinity. Madardaily was the only source to report that “military aircraft” bombed the vicinity, all others attributed blame.

The event was described by local media as a “massacre” which “targeted” a market and civilian homes causing huge fires and many casualties. Madardaily added that there were as many as ten airstrikes on the vicinity.

Sources reported that the victims were mostly an entire family. As many as seven of them were women and four were children.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “The martyrs are a woman and her child from one family, six others from another family; they are a woman and two of her children and two sisters and another woman, in addition to a child -whether he belongs to one of the two families is not yet known. The death toll is expected to increase due to several of the injured being in a serious condition”.

“Heavy artillery” strikes were also reported on the residential area.

very graphic photographic evidence shows civilians who were burned until their bodies were unrecognisable.

The wounded were taken to nearby “health centres” by members of the Civil Defence. The death toll was expected to rise.

Victims

Individuals

Walae Riad al-Sermani
Adult female killed
Fatima Riad al-Sermani
Adult female killed
Hala Ziad Idrees
Adult female killed
Tala Ganem al-Najem
Child female killed
Nada Mohammad al-Sermani
Child female killed
Yazan Mohammad al-Sermani
Child male killed
Ola Gadban al-Sermani
Adult female killed
Fatima Najeeb Qatini
Adult female killed
Shahed Mohammad Rida Qatini
Child female killed
Safae al-Neser
Adult female killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
10–17
2–4 Children, 6–7 Women
Civilians reported injured
6

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Khan Sheikhoun (خان شيخون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.440813, 36.6493607. 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
The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media from Sources (12)