Incident Code

RS1231

Location

معردبسي, Meir Debsie, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.779211, 36.770897
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R1122)

Eight civilians including three children died and up to 20 others were wounded in shelling of Maer Debsie. Most sources attributed the event to the Syrian regime, though one blamed Russia.

According to Zaman Alwasl, six died when the regime shelled “civilians’ residential houses from the side of motorway”.

Enab Baladi, also blaming the regime, put the death toll at eight with 22 more wounded – most of them reportedly in a critical condition.

However, one source, LCCSY, alleged Russia was responsible. It put the death toll at six with 10 wounded.

Victims

Family members (3)

Mohammed Ahmad Haj Yehya
Age unknown male killed
Abdul-Rahim Haj Yehya
Age unknown male killed
Nawaf Ahmad Haj Yehya
Age unknown killed

Family members (3)

Ali Mohammed Isma’il
Child male killed
Rawda Mohammed Isma’il
Child killed
Aysha Mohammed Isma’i
Child killed

Invidivuals

Ali Matar Jum’a
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Hussein Sheikh Saleh
Age unknown male 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
8
3 Children, 4 Men
Civilians reported injured
10–20

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Meir Debsie (معردبسي), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.779211, 36.770897. 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
Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (3)