(Previous Incident Codes: R4249RS4490)

At least four civilians, including up to four women and a child, were reported to have been killed and others were wounded by alleged Russian or regime air strikes in the village of Shalakh on February 27th, 2020.

A tweet from @almo3tasem91 stated that five “martyrs, including four women and a child” were killed in the village of Shalakh.  A tweet from @zaitunagency noted that three women and a child were killed by a bombing raid from Assad forces planes. Al-Jisr Tv correspondent reported that three women and a child were killed. A tweet from @EyadHoms20 noted “a number of wounded” along with the four civilians who were killed. Edlib News did report that five people were killed, including four women and a child, but Idlib TV reported that the death toll was four, with three women and a child. The majority of posts, from Ssyrian2011, Bsklaa16 and Ali Albd detailed the deaths of four civilians. The four names were later identified as Mrs. Maryam Shaaban Dweik, Mrs. Aisha Mustafa Shaaban Dweik, the wife of Safwan Shaaban Dweik and the daughter of Maryam Shaaban Dweik, with no ages given. A post from Rahmoo123 described four civilians killed through an air raid, while Freedom Press noted “five martyrs” along with “many wounded”.   A report from Alaraby News reported a series of bombing raids from Russian planes targeting civilian areas, with five people killed in Shalakh.  This number contrasted with the number reported to be killed. Shaam News reported that Syrian Defense Forces removed the bodies of four women and a girl from rubble in Shalakh.

The area of Shalakh was an area with a significant civilian population.

Smart News cited the Directorate of the Civil Defense in Idlib Governorate, Firas Khalifa, stated that Russian warplanes conducted the deadly raid while other sources attributed the strikes to the regime.