Incident Code

RS150

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R133)

News media reported that three or four children were killed – and more than 20 injured in Russian warplanes allegedly struck the Abu Alaa Al Ma’ari Elementary School for Boys in Ma’art Al-Nu’man. One video appears to show Russian aircraft over the city that day.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the warplanes struck during school hours in the morning, when hundreds of pupils were present. Both SN4HR and The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at three. The Observatory also reported that no less than 15 non-combatants were injured and that the death toll was predicted to rise.

SN4HR put the number of injured even higher at least 20 and said many were students. One witness told Baladi News: “We’re at a school here. Russian planes came and bombed. Three kids in 10th grade were killed, and there are many cases of severed limbs.  Putin, Bashar what have these kids done to you?“

The VDC named three victims.

Victims

Invidivuals

Qosai Mahmoud Fatouh
Child male aged 12 years killed
Tahseen Yehya al-Sabouh
Child male aged 15 years killed
Tahseen Yehya al-Sabouh
Child male aged 14 years killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Civilians reported killed
3–4
3–4 Children
Civilians reported injured
20

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat al Numan (مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.647038, 36.679174. 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 published no details of its Syria airstrikes for the period November 13th-16th 2015 inclusive.

Media From Sources (7)