Incident Code

R4403

Location

الطريق بين باب الهوى وسرمدا, Road between Bab Al Hawa and Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.213399, 36.712567
Accuracy: Exact location (via Airwars)

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

Ten civilians were injured in the second incident of a ‘double-tap’ strike on the Sarmada, reportedly carried out by Russian or Syrian regime forces, on October 16th 2021. The strike represents a significant escalation of violence observed in the past month.

Details of the first incident are archived under incident R4402 on the Airwars site.

Syria Civil Defense described the incident: “Less than an hour after the first targeting, the regime forces and Russia bombed the area again, resulting in the injury of 10 civilians, and the outbreak of large fires in industrial facilities in the area”.

The first incident was reported to have killed at least four civilians, including the chief of police, and injuring at least 13 others – with some reported to be in critical conditions.

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 injured
10

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention an industrial building being struck on the road between Bab Al Hawa border checkpoint (باب الهوى) and the city of Sarmada (سرمدا). Based on satellite imagery the coordinates of the exact location are: 36.213399, 36.712567.

Reports of the incident mention an industrial building being struck on the road between Bab Al Hawa border checkpoint (باب الهوى) and the city of Sarmada (سرمدا). Analyzing visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to exact coordinates.

Date taken: September 16, 2020

Imagery: Google

Tagged photo from sources.

Date taken: October 16, 2021

Imagery: Agence France-Presse

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 (7)