Shortly before 7:28 PM on Monday, September 23, 2024, Professor Mohamad Hamdo Al-Attouk (Abu Hamid), an elderly man, was among the five civilians killed, among them between one and two women. Up to thirteen civilians, including three women and eight children, were also injured in an artillery strike on the town of Kafriya, in particular, on Al-Hikma School, and its outskirts, located in the northern countryside of Idlib by Syrian regime forces and/or the Iranian military and/or the Russian military. According to the sources, all the victims of the strike were displaced people.

The Syrian Civil Defense (also known as “White Helmets”) reported the incident on its Twitter/X account at 7:28 PM and described the incident as “a devastating strike that killed four civilians, including an elderly man and a woman, and injured 11 others.”

The reported number of civilians killed ranged between four and five. Sources such as the Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) consistently reported that four civilians were killed, including an elderly man and a woman. Al Sharq Post corroborated this figure, stating that at least four civilians lost their lives in the attack. Similarly, Ibraheem Post confirmed that the shelling resulted in four fatalities, highlighting that the victims included an elderly man and a woman. However, other reports suggested a higher death toll. In a separate post, the Syrian Civil Defense noted that five civilians had been killed, including two women. Abd Post also claimed that five individuals died in the attack, attributing responsibility to Iranian militias and Hezbollah.

The number of civilians injured ranged from seven to thirteen. A post from Ahmed Al-Shibli stated that seven civilians sustained injuries during the shelling, which it attributed to Hezbollah militias. A post from Hussein similarly reported seven injuries, including two children and one woman. On the other hand, several sources indicated a higher injury count. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that thirteen civilians were injured, including seven children and three women, some of whom were critically wounded. Ibraheem Post also placed the total number of injured at thirteen, emphasizing that the majority of the victims were children and women. A post from Anwar Alnahar supported this figure, stating that thirteen people were injured in the attack, many of them children under the age of ten.

A Facebook post by Jalal Abu Hudhaifa contained the images of two handwritten notes with the names of the killed and wounded in the attack. These notes helped Airwars’ reseachers to identify the names of five people killed and 10 people injury, creating our minimum range.

The killed civilians, apart from Mohamad Hamdo Al-Attouk, were named as Alaa Ahmad al-Mahmoud (female, age unavailable), 50-year-old Najah Ali Mokdad (gender unknown), Suhail al-Turkistanim (gender and age unavailable), and Khaled Abdel Salam al-Hussein (male, age unavailable).

According to the Facebook post by Aaref Watad, the late Professor Mohamad Hamdo Al-Attouk (Abu Hamid) was displaced, originally coming from the city of Mork. He shared his image – an elderly man in his 70s or 80s with a wrinkled face, a thick white beard wearing a long white Islamic shirt and a kufiya. He was pictured sitting on the chair outdoors and talking. According to the Facebook post by Abdulrahman Al Khani, the late Mohamad was killed while he was returning from the prayer.

Among the identified civilians who sustained injuries, there were seven children, including five young girls: 10-year-old Malak Abdulrahman Attouk, five-year-old Sama Ahmad Attouk, six-year-old Bisan Hafez Swedan, five-year-old  Muna Mohamad Abu Kisha, and five-year-old Aisha Mustafa Abed; two young boys: 10-year-old Turki Abdullah Al Hamid and five-year-old Mohammad Abu Kisha; a 50-year-old woman Somia Mohammad Abu Kasheh; and two men: 40-year-old Turki Abdo Al-Hammoud, and 38-year-old Hussam Khaled Al Sinno, along with other civilians. Some injuries were described as severe.

Among the injured was also a little girl named Amana featured in the video by SCD, but her last name is unknown.  X/Twitter user Anwar Alnahar tweeted about a young girl, Amana, who was crying in pain after being injured in shelling. He described the attack as “terrorizing families, leaving children in unimaginable distress.” The video filmed by the SCD shows a little girl of four-five years of age lying on a hospital bed in a wine-colored T-shirt with the rosy butterfly imprinted on it. Her left hand was bandaged, and her neck was still carrying traces of blood. The girl was crying from distress and pain.

The correspondent of Khabar news agency Ali Alulu filmed a video report from the place of the incident. He said the following: “Five civilians were killed, including two women, and more than ten residents were injured as a result of the regime’s shelling of residential areas in the Kafriah neighborhood. The shells fell on the homes in this neighborhood.” Behind him a burnt truck in a garage and a large hole in the ground can be seen. According to a post from Abd, the shelling was conducted by Iranian militias and Lebanese Hezbollah, hitting residential areas and civilian homes: “the indiscriminate shelling by Hezbollah militias left families terrified and displaced.”

Ibraheem corroborated this, reporting “the toll included 4 deaths and 13 injuries, as shelling by Iranian and Russian forces devastated civilian homes.” A further post from Waleed implicated Russian and Iranian occupation forces, emphasizing the coordinated nature of the attack on densely populated areas in Kafriya.

The attack also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including Al-Hikma School, which was hit during the shelling. The Syrian Civil Defense highlighted this as the 10th school attack in Idlib that year.

X/Twitter user @SyriaCivilDefe shared a picture related to the alleged event. The image showed a young girl lying on a black medical examination table in a clinical setting. She appeared to be severely injured, with visible trauma across her body. Her face was smeared with blood, with a prominent wound visible on her forehead. Blood covered much of her face and neck, creating a stark contrast against her pale complexion. Her pink T-shirt, which featured a faint design, was torn and heavily stained with blood, particularly around her abdomen, where an injury was evident. Her jeans, though mostly intact, were also soiled, further emphasizing the distressing state she was in. Her body was positioned with her legs bent, one crossed over the other, and her arms rested limply by her sides. Her right arm showed signs of distress, while her left arm was being tended to by a medical professional wearing gloves. The professional appeared focused on cleaning or treating her wounds, holding medical instruments and supplies. The girl’s expression conveyed pain or unconsciousness, as her eyes were partially closed and her face lacked visible emotion. The stretcher beneath her was stained with blood and debris, likely from her injuries. The area was scattered with medical supplies, including syringes, gauze, and what appeared to be remnants of medical treatments. In the background, a tall blue oxygen cylinder was visible, suggesting the presence of emergency medical equipment. The sterile tile walls of the room further underscored the clinical nature of the environment.

Facebook user Jalal Abu Hudhaifa shared pictures of two victims of the alleged attack. One image showed a man lying face down on the floor in what appeared to be a marketplace or a storage area. He was dressed in a light gray sweatshirt and dark blue tracksuit pants with a blue stripe, paired with brown shoes. His body was surrounded by traces of blood pooling beneath his head, indicating a severe and likely fatal injury. The blood extended outward from his position, staining the tiled floor. To his left, crates filled with peaches or similar fruits were visible, adding a stark contrast between the vibrant colors of the produce and the grim scene. The surroundings suggested he may have been near a stall or an area used for fruit storage. The atmosphere was one of devastation, further emphasized by scattered debris and a lack of movement, capturing the immediacy and aftermath of a violent incident.

Another image showed an elderly man, Mohamad Hamdo Attouk, lying face down on a gravelly surface, dressed in a traditional, light-colored robe. His face bore severe injuries, with significant trauma to the head, particularly on the right side, where his eye and part of his face appeared to be missing or heavily mutilated. Blood pooled extensively beneath his head, forming a dark, thick stain that underscored the gravity of the wounds. His face was turned slightly to the side, exposing the graphic extent of the injury. The position of his body, slumped forward, suggested a sudden collapse, possibly as a result of the fatal blow or attack. His hands appeared to be outstretched, with one faintly gripping an object or perhaps resting on the ground. The gravel surrounding him was scattered with debris, including small rocks and dirt.

X/Twitter user @sneslfe shared another picture related to the reported event. The image collage depicted the aftermath of a violent attack, focusing on several children who appeared to have sustained severe injuries.

The top-left section showed a child lying on a medical bed with their leg heavily bandaged and elevated. The child’s bare abdomen was exposed, revealing additional medical attention was being administered. Bloodstains were visible on the lower leg and foot, underscoring the severity of the injuries.

In the top-right section, another child lay on a black medical table, looking directly at the camera with a pained and distant expression. The child appeared disoriented, their thin frame emphasizing their vulnerability. Nearby medical supplies suggested the scene took place in a clinical setting.

The lower-left portion depicted a close-up of a leg injury, with a foot heavily stained in blood. The extent of the injury was emphasized by the presence of blurred graphic details, likely done to shield the most disturbing elements.

Finally, the bottom-right section focused on a young girl lying on a medical table. She wore a brightly colored shirt heavily stained with blood. Her head was wrapped in gauze, and her face showed visible injuries, including swelling and bruising. Medical professionals tended to her wounds, as indicated by gloved hands in the frame.

The image collectively conveyed the tragic consequences of the violence, with all sections emphasizing the physical trauma suffered by the children. The overlaid text and date, “23/9/2024,” framed the incident as an act of aggression, reportedly carried out by militias targeting civilians.

X/Twitter user @SyriaCivilDefe shared pictures of the infrastructural damage of the alleged attack, notably of al-Hikma school. The image depicted the facade of a building, its yellowish walls riddled with multiple impact marks, indicative of recent damage. The bullet or shrapnel holes were scattered across the surface, disrupting the smooth exterior and leaving evidence of violent force. The red borders around the windows and structural beams remained mostly intact, though they showed minor chips and wear, likely from the same assault.

When belligerents were identified, sources disagreed on the responsibility for the attack. The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) and Al Sharq Post both attributed the attack to Syrian regime forces. Twitter/X users @aboalhodaalhoms and @Anwar_Alnahar alleged that Lebanese Hezbollah militias were responsible for the shelling. Abd Post and Hussein Post, however, emphasized the role of Iranian militias, with Hussein Post also mentioning the involvement of reconnaissance aircraft linked to both Iranian and Russian forces. Ibraheem Post supported this attribution, alleging that Syrian regime forces coordinated the attack with Iranian and Russian support.

The incident occured at approximately 7:28 pm local time.