Airwars assessment
On August 22, 2023, at least four civilians were killed—and up to seven others were injured—in a series of alleged Russian airstrikes between the towns of Sheikh Baher and Maaret Misrin in Idlib, Syria.
Sources conflict about the precise number of civilians killed and injured by these strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three members of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham were killed and seven other militants were injured, in addition to the injury of five civilians, including two women. Shaam News put the number of militants killed at five, and added that there were “casualties among civilians, including women and children” without specifying how many. @alkhabour21 and @Mohab_Nasser2 were the only source that mentioned the death of civilians, with @alkhabour21 reporting that four civilians were killed and others were injured while @Mohab_Nasser2 reported that five civilians were killed and others were injured. Al Araby gave the highest report of civilian injuries, reporting that seven civilians were injured. Sources provided various other tolls for the militants killed, including Athr Press which identified six militants killed and four militants wounded while @MohamadDaba9966 identified five militants killed and nine others wounded.
According to Shaam News, the bombing struck several poultry farms that allegedly housed a Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham military installation. Athr Press added that the building was a headquarters which contained military and logistical equipment, including drones, and that the building was completely destroyed.
Sources allege that between three and six fighters affiliated with an Islamic fundamentalist organization were also killed. Independent Journalist Mohamad Dabaa identified three militants: Ahmed Mustafa Ghazal Abu Setif; Abdul Hamid Khalouf; Ibrahim Marwan Kharfan; and two foreign Turkic combatants.
According to Syrian journalist Jamil al-Hasan, the airstrikes displaced tent residents of Sheikh Bahr, with Syria TV specifying that the casualties from the strikes occurred in “Bir al-Tayyib” camp.
All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the airstrikes to Russian forces, with @mzmgr941 specifying that vacuum missiles were used in the attack.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (19) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]
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Ahmed Mustafa Ghazal Abu Setif, reportedly a militant killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @mzmgr941)
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Ahmed Mustafa Ghazal Abu Setif, reportedly a militant killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @MohamadDaba9966)
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Militants killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @MohamadDaba9966)
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Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
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Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
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Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)
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Alleged Russian airstrikes on August 22, 2023. (Image posted by @idleb_online)