Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS3902

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Ma'arat al-Numan, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.649361
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: October 31, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R3682RS3898)

Around dawn, a “rocket-propelled grenade attack” struck a cave on a farm near the town of Khan Sheikhoun, killing up to ten displaced civilians from Al Latamina whilst they were asleep.

@SyrianCoalition blamed the Syrian regime for what it described as a massacre and claimed that two families were murdered, including two men, two women and four children.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the victims were from two separate families; a man, his wife and two children were killed in addition to another man, his wife and his two children. The families left Al Latamina town after it was struck by earlier airstrike and were seeking shelter in the cave.

The Syrian Civil Defense forces, who were at the scene, reported that a total of ten people were killed, including six children.

Local sources identified the victims, but was a bit unclear which children belong to which families.

Assessment Updates

13 August 2025
Geolocation added. Incident had not been geolocated when originally published.

Victims

Family members (5)

Adult female Wife of Ahmed Hussein Al Sayed killed
Child female killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
8–10
4–6 Children, 2 Women, 2 Men
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Khan Sheikhoun (خان شيخون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.440813, 36.649361. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media from Sources (13)

Sources (41)