On Sunday evening, September 29, 2024, two men of the same family, Abdulrahman Burhan Sheikh Deep and Marwan Sobhi Sheikh Deep, were killed in an artillery shelling allegedly carried out by Syrian regime forces and/or the Iranian military and/or the Russian military, which hit residential neighborhoods and a commercial store in the town of Sarmin, east of Idlib, Syria. The attack caused injuries to at least one other civilian and up to two civilians from the same family, whose identities remained unknown. The victims were reportedly inside their residential neighborhood when the shelling struck.

At 9:49 PM the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) reported the incident on Twitter/X, writing about one death and injuries of a number of civilians. Twitter/X user Abdulkarem_Moh9 posted: “Artillery shelling by regime forces stationed in Saraqib city targeted residential neighborhoods in Sarmin city located east of Idlib city. This shelling led to the martyrdom of two civilians and the injury of several others.”

The family relation of the victims is not clear at the time of writing. In its report on the incident, SCD wrote that all the victims were from the same family and were cousins. However, journalist Jamel Alhasan and Sada News Agency claimed in their Facebook posts that the two casualties were a father (Marwan) and his son (Abdulrahman). Still, some social media posts like the one by Mustafa Marwan stated that they were an uncle and his nephew.

Facebook user Mustafa Marwan shared on the social media platform: “To God belongs what He took and to God belongs what He gave. The owner of the kind heart, my beloved father, the martyr, God willing, Marwan Sobhi Sheikh Deeb, has passed away. May God have mercy on you, my soul. My cousin, the martyr Abdul Rahman Burhan Sheikh Deeb, has passed away as a result of the Assad gangs’ shelling of my city, Sarmin.[…]” The writing was accompanied by a picture that depicted two men standing side by side against a neutral background. Both men appeared middle-aged, with gray beards and solemn expressions. The man on the left is dressed in a light-colored traditional robe. His slightly undone collar and soft smile conveyed a reserved yet approachable presence. The man on the right was wearing a checkered button-down shirt and dark trousers. His arm was draped around the shoulder of the man to his left.

Journalist Jamel Alhasan also filmed a report about the incident in front of the destroyed store and posted it on Facebook, saying the following: “Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of the regime and Hezbollah militia targeting the city of Sarmin, targeting a commercial store. This city is being bombed daily. The residents were able to evacuate one of the bodies two minutes ago. Blood can be seen everywhere, but we did not show it. People headed to the shelters, which are very few.”

Jamel Alhasan also shared a picture taken where he used to film his report. It depicted the aftermath of an explosion or attack in what appeared to be an urban area. A person in a yellow and blue uniform of the Syrian Civil Defense (“White Helmets”) was standing amidst the debris, surveying the scene. The individual was wearing a helmet and gloves, underscoring the emergency nature of the response. The person’s posture suggested they were assessing the damage or preparing to take action. The foreground was strewn with rubble, primarily chunks of broken bricks, concrete, and building materials, indicative of significant structural damage to nearby buildings. A large puddle of blood, surrounded by smaller bloodstains, was visible on the pavement, starkly contrasting against the gray of the ground. The blood trails hinted at the likely presence of casualties in the immediate vicinity.

A storefront or commercial structure in the background had suffered considerable damage. The awning, which previously served as a protective or decorative feature, had collapsed and was hanging precariously, partially obscuring the entrance. The signboard, once vibrant with red and white colors, was bent and torn, further emphasizing the destruction. The shutter of the shop appeared intact but was closed, suggesting it might have been struck while shut or during off-hours. A green gas canister lay on its side amidst the debris, adding a chilling sense of potential secondary hazards, such as the risk of explosion or fire. Nearby, a plastic chair remained upright, oddly untouched by the chaos, adding an eerie sense of normalcy to an otherwise chaotic scene.

Facebook user Araf Watad shared other image taken by Abo Zaher Eyad and relating to the victims of the alleged attack. The photo captured an intense and emotionally charged scene inside a medical facility where a team of healthcare professionals was attempting to resuscitate an injured man. The focal point was the shirtless patient lying on a medical bed, his body marked by visible wounds and bloodstains. His chest was exposed, displaying multiple injuries, while his head rested on a blood-soaked cloth. A heavy flow of blood was evident around his neck and shoulders, emphasizing the severity of his condition.

Another picture shared by the user captured the aftermath of a nighttime attack on a multi-story building, highlighting the extensive structural damage and chaos caused by the impact. The facade of the building showed significant destruction, with large sections of the balcony and exterior walls crumbling away, leaving exposed reinforcement and jagged edges. Windows were shattered, and debris from the upper levels had fallen, creating a chaotic scene on the ground below.

At street level, a once-vibrant storefront now lay in ruins. A large, mangled metal canopy with torn advertisements hung precariously from its supports, twisted and deformed by the force of the attack. The surrounding area was littered with rubble, broken bricks, and pieces of shattered concrete. A green gas cylinder and a white chair lay amidst the debris, adding to the disarray. The ornate arched entrance to the building remained partially intact, though the door was ajar, hinting at the disruption within.

Facebook account “Sarmin we love you” shared additional pictures related to the reported attack in Sarmin. In the first image, an ambulance interior was captured, showing a man in a white patterned T-shirt standing in the foreground. His posture and expression suggested both weariness and determination. Seated behind him was another man, wearing a tan shirt, with a bandage wrapped around his head, indicating he was injured. The black bag on the stretcher dominated the image, a haunting reminder of the fatal consequences of the incident. The second image depicted a somber scene inside a medical facility where a group of men was gathered around a stretcher carrying a dead body covered in a black bag.

When belligerents were identified, sources disagreed on the responsibility for the attack. The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that the attack originated from artillery operated by regime forces. Twitter/X user Abdulkarem_Moh9 and Sada News Agency specified that the shelling was carried out by Syrian regime forces stationed in Saraqib, east of Idlib. Almohrar Post identified Iranian militias as being responsible for the bombing, while @aboalhodaalhoms and Twitter/X user @HadiAlabdallah alleged joint responsibility by Hezbollah militias and Syrian regime forces. Additionally, reports from “Editor moment by moment” highlighted the presence of Russian and Iranian reconnaissance aircraft in the skies during the shelling.

The incident occured in the evening.