Incident Code

RS1524

Location

الرستن, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R1391)

Between seven and eight civilians, including as many as six children, were killed and more than 10 others were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Al Rastan, according to local media. Local sources were conflicted in who was to blame for the airstrikes, with the majority of sources – including Eldorar, Ara News and Syria News Network – blaming Syrian regime planes for the massacre. The Local Coordination Committee in Syria, however, attributed the strikes to Russia.

A member of the Rastan civil defence team told Syria News Desk “regime aviation struck two neighbours…with two airstrikes, which led to the deaths of three children and their father and three more children from two other families.”

According to some local sources, the airstrikes were rocket propelled grenades and specifically struck civilian homes.

Many of those injured reportedly had to endure amputations because they were struck when the airstrikes hit their houses.

Images posted by @ahmedab45240253 and videos posted by Qasioun show very graphic scenes of the bodies of the children that were killed by the airstrikes, with many of them appearing to be younger than 10-years-old.

Victims

Family members (4)

Ayman Idris
Adult named by Muslm killed
Fadl Idris
Child named by Muslm killed
Salam Idris
Child named by Muslm killed
Hala Idris
Child named by Muslm killed

Invidivuals

Mohammed Nur al-Ahmad
Child male named by Muslm killed
Abdel Moneim Ammar Adam
Child male named by Muslm 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
6–8
5–6 Children, 1 Man
Civilians reported injured
5–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ar-Rastan (الرستن), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.93, 36.74. 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 November 1st – 30th 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (6)