Incident Code

RS1125

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R1016)

Between five and six civilians – four from the same family – were killed and at least two others were wounded by more than two airstrikes on the city of Khan Sheikhoun, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to whether the planes belonged to Russia or the regime. Most of those injured were reportedly in critical condition.

The majority of sources, including RadioAlKul and Smart News, attributed the strikes to regime forces while other sources, including Al Jazeera and the Shaam News Network blamed Russian forces.

Activists reported that the air raids targeted civilian home and resulted in the destruction of large buildings.

Victims

Family members (4)

Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Age unknown named by VDC killed
Age unknown male named by VDC killed
Age unknown male named by VDC killed

Invidivuals

Age unknown named by VDC killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Khan Shaykhun (خان شيخون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.44208, 36.65095. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
On August 11th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strikes with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping located to the south-east, north, and north-west regions from the Raqqah city. A large weaponry, ammunition and POL storage located near the Raqqah city, a plant producing chemical munitions located in the north-western suburbs of the city, and a large ISIS terrorists’ training camp have been destroyed by the aviation strike." Further to this they added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (3)