In a major civilian casualty incident, consecutive strikes were reported by local sources across the city of Idlib, targeting the National Hospital and other locations. Up to 60 civilians – including women and children – were reported killed and 200 more injured.
Multiple sources attributed the incident to Russia, though there was some initial confusion in reporting by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Russia responded to the allegations by categorically denying responsibility for the attacks.
Raqqa Post said that according to activists, “a flock of Russian planes launched raids on the residential neighborhoods and the national hospital in the city of Idlib“.
The Shaam News Network reported eight consecutive Russian strikes from six warplanes flying at the same time over the city center of Idlib, targeting “the National Hospital, al Jalaa Garden, Saad Mosque and other areas”. It added that it had received reports of more than 150 wounded civilians and a “massacre at the National Hospital”, along with strikes on other locations including Al Kestna Park, a mosque and a kindergarten. A further SNN report said that while there were no accurate figures for the number of dead, the initial toll was 20 with more than 200 wounded and 16 people missing. SNN went on to report that Russia had denied responsibility for the attack, issuing a statement in which it insisted that none of its planes had launched strikes on Idlib.
In another report, the US said that the culprit should be punished, however, it had not yet been able to determine the identity of the aircraft. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Russia had killed more than 60 non-combatants in attacks on the hospital and a mosque.
LCCSY listed some of the areas that were struck: “the National Hospital, Ibin Sina Hospital, the industrial city, Mutanabi roundabout and the outskirts of Abrar Mosque in addition to the neighborhoods of Qusou and Thawra“. They reported 10 deaths at the hospital and named
Safwan Daaboul, a member of “Molham Volunteer Team“ and Hamad Youseef Aoun as victims.
They later reported that the number of dead had risen to 50, including 10 children, with dozens more civilians injured.
The White Helmets published videos showing a man, a woman and a child being rescued from the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes.
However, in a series of news briefs, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime. It named “Safwan Daboul, head of food security at Banfsaj Organization” and “a volunteer in Mulham Voluntary Team” as victims. As well as the National Hospital, it said that the Sham Emergency System Office was struck, putting it out of service and destroying four ambulances.
But the Network later changed its position and attributed the incident to Russia, reporting that its warplanes carried out eight strikes on several areas of the city, killing 29 civilians. Muslim Al Sayeed Eissa, a media activist gave SN4HR the following testimony:
“I was one of the first to get to the vicinity area of the national hospital after it was targeted with two missiles. One of the missiles fell in the main street between the residential buildings while the other fell near Al Ashqar where Al Ashqar pharmacy is located. the building was destroyed completely. Medical teams pulled out 12 victims and more than 20 others who were wounded including very well-known figures such as a lawyer from the family of Izzdin and a female Pharmacist and a female doctor from Al Ashqar family. The bombing was Russian, it didn’t break the sound barrier and the bombing was carried out from a very high altitude.”
Twenty three civilian deaths including seven children and a number of women were documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It also blamed Russia.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
