Incident Code

CS424

Location

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.18553, 36.72231
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S377)

Targeted air or drone strikes – most likely unilateral US actions – reportedly killed two high ranking militants along with a number of fighters. However sources also claimed there were civilian casualties.

There were two reported evening attacks. In the first, a car was destroyed on the Sarmada-Bab al Hawa road, killing four people inside. Altihad reported that the attack also “wounded people who were present.” And Orient News referenced “the martyrdom of a number of civilians.”

In the second strike “another drone targeted another car near Sarmada roundabout and killed more of the Al Nusra Front, and people were scared and evacuated their cars immediately” according to Altihad. Three fighters reportedly died.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “At least two leaders of the Al-Nusra Front were killed and three of Fatah Al-Sham [Al-Nusra Front’s previous name] were killed on the road between Sarmada and Bab Al-Hawa. One was among the top four leaders of the Islamic Turkistani Jihadi party, and is one of the 10 most jihadists in Syria. A leader of Al-Qaeda was also in the same car between Sarmada and Bab Al-Hawa. It’s not known whether the warplanes belongs to the Coalition or Russia.”

In April 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible, noting: “After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

Victims

Invidivuals

Abu Omar al-Turkistani
Adult male named by Ahlul Bayt killed
Khatab al-Qahtani
Adult male named by Ahlul Bayt killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Civilians reported killed
2
2 Men
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sarmada (سرمدا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.18553, 36.72231. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
Reason for non-credible assessment
Other
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Sarmada, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SBA951069
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For January 1st-2nd the Coalition publicly reported no airstrikes in Idlib governorate. However, US airstrikes against al Nusra are unilateral and are not declared by the Coalition.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2019-04-25
Original Source
Jan. 1, 2017, near Sarmada, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Media From Sources (2)