Incident Code

R4320

Location

ابديتا, Abdita, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

At least two people were killed and three others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes or artillery shelling on Abdita on June 17, 2021. The status of those killed is contested, with the majority of sourced reporting that those killed and injured were civilians whole Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Al Mahjar News reported that they were “members of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham (HTS).

@HalabTodayTV reported that “two civilians were killed and others were injured as the regime forces targeted with heavy artillery”. @defense_syr tweeted that in addition to the civilians killed, three others were injured.

Al Mahjar news reported that “government forces kill two members and injure three members of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham during artillery shelling on the village of Abdita”. A tweet by @HamMrakb also identified two members of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham that were killed, Mujahid Abu Abdo Khan and Abu Malik al-Adlabi, but doesn’t specify if they were killed in Abdita.

Images posted by @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc show the extensive damage to buildings caused by the strikes.

The majority of sources attributed the strikes to the regime. However, @anasanas84 reported “laser-guided artillery shelling by the Russian occupation”.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
0–3

Military Statements

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

Media From Sources (9)