Airwars assessment
One woman and two children were killed, and at least ten and up to 12 civilians, including five children and two women, were injured as a result of missile strikes carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian military and/or Iranian military on residential neighbourhoods, the market area, and the Abdo Salama School (outside working hours) in the city of Sarmin located east of Idlib, Syria, shortly before 4 PM on Monday, April 1, 2024, during the month of Ramadan.
At 4:08 PM Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) was the first to report the incident on Twitter/X, sharing a photo of the wounded person lying on a stretcher accompanied by SCD volunteers. Initial reports from SCD said that nine civilians were injured in the strike, but this number was later raised to 10, among them, five children and two women. The Nahfat University of Idlib, which also confirmed that 10 civilians were injured, posted a photo of wounded children being placed in the back of a truck. A post from Sarmin-based journalist Muawiya Hassan Agha claimed the number of those injured was 12.
Three people are confirmed to have been killed in the strike – a mother, Sanna Qaq, and two children, young girls Farida Salim Hemami and Nihal Muhammad Hemami who were cousins.
Sanna Qaq died when the strike hit her home, according to a Facebook post from Abdullah Satifan. She was a mother and a wife to Muhammad Bakri Talib. A video accompanying the post allegedly showed the aftermath of the strike on her home, which had been completely destroyed – all that remained was rubble and a few small fires that had yet to be put out.
“In a humble house, a housewife prepares breakfast for her children and her family,” said the caption, before announcing that Qaq was killed in the strike. Two civilians bearing Sana’s last name were also injured in the strike.
One of the children killed in the strike was a little girl named Farida, according to the Syria Civil Defence, who added that she “did not know that she would not be sharing their Ramadan Iftar with her family today, nor that she would lose the joy of the awaited Eid.” She is pictured wearing a floral headscarf and a bright pink sweater, and is remembered for having “dreams of school and hope for a safe future in a homeland that was […] filled with war throughout the short years of her life.”
Facebook user Muawiya Hassan Agha and Twitter/X user @AZAM_1989 shared graphic images of the dead body of Farida lying on a hospital bed while a doctor was checking her pulse.
Farida’s cousin, a little girl called Nihal, died on April 6, 2024, after days of fighting injuries she sustained in the strike. The Syria Civil Defence said Nihal died “without realizing her dreams of safety and education.” In a photo accompanying the announcement of her death, Nihal is pictured wearing a denim vest adorned with letters and a flower. Her death was also announced by the Syrian Press Agency and Syria News who confirmed that her death was a result of injuries suffered during the bombing.
The injured were named in the Facebook post by Jamil Abo Ahmed as Fatima Ahmad Hasan, Hasan Yazaci/Hussein Yazji, Hussein Dibo Qaq, Mustafa Qaq, Nasma Ibrahim, Mus’ab Khabir, and Saja Sheikh Dib.
Hussein Yazji, a young boy who was injured in the strike stood “stunned… searching for safety,” in a picture shared by the SCD where he holds his hand to his face, covered by blood that has streamed down. “Syria Net” Facebook account posted graphic images of other civilians injured in the strike – a young girl with a head injury, with blood on her forehead, a young boy, and two men lying on hospital beds and being treated by the medical personnel. Nahfat University of Idlib shared a picture where two injured or killed children can be seen.
The attack was described as a missile strike that involved missile or rocket launchers, resulting in ‘bombing’ and/or ‘bombardment’ on Sarmin. A set of photos and footage posted by Syria Civil Defence showed small bomb craters outside of the Abdo Salama School in Sarmin – noted as the seventh attack on a school by Syrian regime forces in 2024. Other photos posted to social media showed plumes of smoke in the air, with six being seen from a distance in one photo.
Whether this attack was perpetrated by Syrian, Russian, or Iranian forces is unknown as no belligerent has claimed responsibility. However, outlets who reported on the event attributed it to either the Syrian regime [sources: Syria Net, Al Hola News, Civil Observatory], the Russian military [Al Mohrar News, Syria Civil Defence], or Iranian military/militias [Al Mohrar News, Idlib Countryside News], or all three. Therefore, Airwars has graded both the Strike Status and Civilian Harm Status of this incident as Contested.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (2)
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (28) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (34) [ collapse]
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Source: @SyriaCivilDefe -
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Source: @SyriaCivilDefe -
Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
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Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
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Source: Civil Observatory
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Source: Civil Observatory
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Source: Civil Observatory -
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Source: Civil Observatory -
Source: Jamil abo ahmed
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Source: Syria Net -
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Source: Syria Net -
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Source: Syria Net -
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Source: Syria Net -
Source: Idlib countryside news, moment by moment
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Source: Nahfat University of Idlib -
Source: Sarmin
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Source: Sarmin
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Source: Sarmin
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Source: Sarmin
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Source: General Media Center
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Source: General Media Center -
Source: General Media Center
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Source: General Media Center
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Source: General Media Center
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Source: General Media Center
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Source: @Alaaeddindiab
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Source: @Alaaeddindiab
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