Incident Code

RS1246

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.933456, 36.633803
Accuracy: Nearby landmark

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R1135)

In a major civilian casualty incident, up to 65 civilians (of which 52 were named) including at least 10 children and 11 women from multiple families died and as many as 100 more were injured in airstrikes on Idlib city, which reportedly centred on a popular vegetable market in the city. The majority of reports blamed Russia, though there were allegations against the Syrian regime – with other sources stating that it was unclear whether the Syrian regime or Moscow were responsible.

Sources published disturbing images of the aftermath of the attack, which led to widespread destruction. There were numerous reports of body parts having been dispersed in the location of the strike, along with references to multiple “body bags”.

The lowest death count was given at 48 civilians by Insaan Rights Watch. According to Sky News Arabic “Russian warplanes shelled in a market in Idlib killing dozens and wounding dozens more. Medical sources say they have counted 25 bodies including women and children ”

Enab Baladi at some more details, reporting that “nine teams of the civil defense were called to Idlib, in addition to the Red Cross. They were able to count 65 bodies along with12 bags of body parts. The teams continued to attempt to rescue people trapped under the rubble.”

Syrian Press Center was among sources that said people had limbs amputated and were “severely burned” in the fire caused by the warplanes.

Other sources blaming Russia included Orient, Jisrtv, Islam Memo and LCCSY.

According to the Shaam News Network, “Russian warplanes targeted the vegetable market during peak hours when hundreds of civilians had gathered to make their purchases ahead of Eid. Missiles targeted civilian homes and shops, resulting in massive destruction to buildings and shops and cars in the market.”

According to the source, the death toll from the massacre reached 63 martyrs, including 16 children and 14 women, plus 12 missing people, including eight children who are considered dead. Additionally, some 70 civilians were wounded, filling hospitals in the city and its countryside”.

However, the source KWdeirwaza – who put the death toll at 60 including 22 children – attributed the event to regime jets. A number of other sources didn’t apportion blame.

Omar_madaniah, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “Rami Abdur-Rahman, the director of the Syrian observatory, says the warplanes could not be identified in order to keep Russia away from being accused.”

Jabal ALzaweya listed the following civilian fatalities and names of some of the missing. In addition the source reported six other unidentified bodies found, including three children, twelve body bags of body-parts and 100 wounded.

Victims

Family members (2)

Amer Naf’e Ghafir
Age unknown killed
Noor Aldeen Abdul-Kader Ghafir
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Hisham Ali Wahob
Age unknown killed
Adnan Mohammed Wahob
Age unknown killed

Family members (4)

Sidra A’afara
Child female killed
Abdulkarim A’afara
Child killed
Mohammed A’afara
Child male killed
Sahar Wahid A’afara
Adult female killed

Family members (4)

Hasan Mish’hel Hawwa
Age unknown male killed
Su’ad Hawwa (wife of Hasan Mish’hel Hawwa)
Age unknown female killed
Mish’hel Hawwa
Age unknown female killed
Musa Hawwa
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Samer Hamdoon
Age unknown From Binnish killed
Mother of Samer Hamdoon
Adult female From Binnish killed

Family members (2)

Ahmad Mahmood Aswad (Shikh Yousef)
Age unknown male killed
Hamdi Reyad Aswad
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Samer Subhi Hamdoun
Child killed
Sabhi Hamdoun
killed

Family members (2)

Khaled Bitar
Age unknown missing
Mahmood Bitar
Age unknown male missing

Family members (3)

Shaza Abid
Child female missing
Mohammed Kadro Abid
Child missing
Zizik Abid
Child missing

Invidivuals

Ahmad Malnadi
Age unknown male killed
Raed Ahmad Ghassan Abed
Age unknown killed
Thuraya Ibrahim Aswad
Child female killed
Hussam Khaled Shikhouni
Age unknown killed
Kamal Mohammed Shameya
Age unknown male killed
Mustafa Abdul-Kader Hijazi
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Khaled Haser
Child male killed
Ali Mo’adal
Age unknown male killed
Mufid Sawwan
Age unknown killed
Abdul-Karim Zidani
Age unknown male killed
Sana’a Malani
Child female killed
Ahmad Ali Men
Age unknown male killed
Huda Salim
Child female killed
Mustafa Mukahal
Age unknown male killed
U’la Jbara
Age unknown female killed
Khulud Haj Sattuf
Age unknown female killed
Samar Al-Basha
Age unknown female killed
Ghalya Zidani
Age unknown killed
Alya’a Saleem
Age unknown female killed
Abdullah Shamiya
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Saleem
Age unknown male killed
Qamar Abdullah Hamrosh
Age unknown female killed
Bassam Ghumeid
Child killed
Hayfa’a Malandi
Age unknown female killed
Fatin Hallak
Age unknown female killed
Mayada Hallak
Age unknown killed
Hala Akdah, daughter of Fatin
Age unknown female killed
Ibrahim Khasara
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Raji Zidani
Age unknown male killed
Rajaa Najjar
Age unknown killed
Abdo Mukahal
Child missing
Noor Hajjar
Child missing
Wasim Ghafir
Child missing
Zahra Zahra
Child female missing
Mohammed Ayman Aswad
Age unknown male missing
Mohammed Fawzi Bzara
Age unknown male missing
Raghda Mohammed Salim
Child missing

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
52–65
10–22 Children, 11–14 Women, 14–16 Men
Civilians reported injured
24–100

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the Idlib market (ادلب، سوق الخضار), within the city of Idlib (إدلب), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.933456, 36.633803. 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 (18)