Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1746

Location

Idlib city, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1595RS1740)

On December 5, 2016, at least 16 civilians were killed and between 15 and 24 were wounded in an aerial bombardment which struck Idlib city. It is unclear who was to blame, with most sources attributing blame to Russia, and some sources blaming the Syrian regime.

Smart News reported that according to two activists, the bombing of the warplanes struck “Al-Arbaeen Street and al-Madinah roundabout”.

According to sources, as many as seven children, one man and up to three women were killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that four of the children were from the same family, and two of the children were from another familyAdditionally, it was reported that the death toll was expected to rise due to the severity of the injuries.

LCCSY and Edlib Media Center identified the names of X victims who had been killed in the incident, many from the Ramadan and Hassino families. Four girls from the same family Suhaila Ramadan, Hasna Ramadan, 11-year-old Aya Ramadan and Nadia Ramadan, whose age is unknown, were killed in the incident. LCCSY also reported the death of an unidentified male child from the Ramadan family.

A girl and boy from the same family, 3-year-old Sham Fahed Hasseino and 4-year-old Omar Fahed Hasseino were also identified as killed alongside another female family member called Shaima Hasseino.

Wafaa Hassan Mohammed Al-Hassan, whose age is unknown, was killed alongside 38-year-old Hassan Mohammed Hassan. A 24-year-old woman named Shadia Al-Omar was also identified as killed in this incident.

3-year-old Mohammed Himsi was reportedly killed alongside his relative 7-year-old Aya Ramadan Al-Himsi.

SN4HR shared an image on their Facebook page of a child injured in the incident.

Sources reported that many civilians were trapped under the rubble due to the extensive material damage.

One source reported that missiles were used in the raid. There were as many as 18 raids on the city.

Victims

Individuals

Wafaa Hassan Mohamamd Al Hassan
killed
Sham Fahed Hsseino
3 years old female killed
Hassan Mohammad Hassan
38 years old male killed
Aya Ramadan al Himsi
7 years old killed
Omar Fahed Hsseino
4 years old male killed
Aya Ramadan
11 years old female killed
Nadia Ramadan
killed
Shadia al Omar
24 years old female from Maar Shoureen killed
Mohammad Himsi
3 years old male killed
Suheila Ramadan
Child female killed
Hasna Ramadan
Child female killed
Shaima Hussaino
Child female killed
A child from the Ramadan family
Child male killed
Hassan Ahmed El Hassan
male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
16
9–12 Children, 1–3 Women, 1–2 Men
Civilians reported injured
15–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Idlib city (ادلب المدينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9266201, 36.6180588. 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 specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016. On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (7)