(Previous Incident Codes: S391R1707RS1827)

Between 10 and 25 fighters of the militant group Fatah al Sham were killed – as well as a civilian policeman – and as many as six other people were injured, following an alleged airstrike in Saraqib. It is not clear whether or not the injured were civilians or members of Fatah al Sham. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame, with many blaming the US led Coalition, and a few others blaming Russian warplanes. Some sources do not identify the aircraft.

Two cars and three bikes were the target of this raid, on a motorway leading out of Saraqib. One source named the vicinity as Jobas Junction. Another source reported that it was near a bridge.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “explosions were heard in the Saraqeb area east of Idlib, which sources said resulted from targeting by unidentified aircraft of SUVs, carrying members of a jihadi” group believed to be Fatah al Sham [formerly al Nusra], during which at least five people were killed and injured.”

LCCSY said the cars were targeted near the motorway, while Syria News Desk said seven militants were killed and two injured when two vehicles were destroyed. Step News named two militant leaders killed as Abu Anas al Masri and Abu A’krama al Tunisi. Three of the group were allegedly bothers.

Syria News reported there were two main raids, the first targeting of a pick-up vehicle belonging to Fath Al Sham Militia, near the Abu al-Thuhur bridge east of the town of Sarqib. This allegedly left five victims. The second was said to have targeted a car south of the city of Sarqib on the international highway.

Another source however claims that there were six strikes within an hour. According to Idlib Media Centre, the police officer was killed in a strike when he went to investigate the first three strikes. 

AleppoAMC called it a high impact missile attack.

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.