Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1479

Location

عويجل, Oweijal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.179537, 36.952987
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1344RS1475)

In what multiple sources described as a “massacre”, between 40 and 55 civilians – many of them reportedly children and women – died and up to 70 more were wounded in airstrikes on the village of Oweijal. The strikes resulted in widespread destruction to civilian homes – and, according to several reports – the destruction of an entire neighbourhood. @ALAMWI, for example, reported that “ten houses were completely destroyed”.

The majority of sources blamed Russia for the event, though there were two allegations against the Assad regime.

Most sources put the death toll between 25 and 30 civilians. Several said that this was a double-tip strike, with warplanes returning a second time to target those involved in the rescue operation. Orient News reported that victims included ” members of the civil defence, paramedics and media personnel”.

According to the Shaam News Network, “activists said that the Russian warplane targeted a residential area in the town of Oweijal with several missiles, which resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians. The area was targeted for a second time as ambulance teams gathered to aid the victims of the first strike”.

The highest death count was given by @watannews2015 at 55 civilians, “half of them women and children”.

Alsouria pointed directly to “the planes of Bashar al-Assad’s regime”, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights – who put the initial death toll at 14 – blamed “government warplanes and its allies”.

Halab News reported that Russia hit the village with “four bunker-busting missiles” and listed the following civilians as killed “following Russian raids” on the town. 14 named and 26 were left unidentified. Al Jazeera also put the death toll at 40.

@spm_syria reported the “disappearance of the young media Zain Ali” and published his photo.

According to Defence_arab, “A Russian warplane fired a concussion at the village of Oweijal, killing 32 people and injuring sixty others. A residential area of ​​about 10 buildings was destroyed.”

Victims

Family members (2)

Taha al Hamdo
Adult male killed
Wife of Taha al Hamdo
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Taha Ahmad al Hussein
killed
Hassoun Hussein
killed

Individuals

Hussein abd al Razzaq
male killed
Nouri Mohammad al Nouriyawi
killed
Abdo Ahmad al Nouri
killed
Abd al Salam al Moun
killed
Abdel Qader al Hadidi
killed
Mahmoud al Kibish
killed
Mahmoud Abdo al Nouri
killed
Mahmoud Hussein al Taha
killed
Abd al Hamid Mohammad Hamdo
killed
Hanaa Ahmad Mahmoud
Child killed
Abdallah al Milhem
male media reporters injured
Abdul Razzaq Shakurdi
male media reporters injured

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
40–55
1 Man
Civilians reported injured
6–70

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Oweijal (عويجل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.179537, 36.952987. 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 October 1st – 19th 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (15)