In what has been described as a “massacre”, as many as 20 civilians were killed – including women and children – and dozens more were wounded – following airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun. Local media reported that Russian warplanes were to blame, though some sources including the Violations Documentation Centre blamed the Syrian regime.

Initial reporting by the @SyrianCoalition tweeted that five civilians were killed including three women. Additionally, they did not attribute blame to any belligerent for the strikes. 

The highest death toll was @ZakariaNassani who alleged that 20 civilians had been killed. They also tweeted a graphic video showing civilian casualties.

Aletihadpress reported that “At least seven people, four of them children, were killed after Russian raids on the city of Khan Sheikhoun”. They added that Civil Defence workers were attempting to search for missing victims under the rubble of two residential buildings which collapsed.

@SyriaCivilDefe alleged that “residential areas were targeted”. Enabbaladi reported that “Russian warplanes targeted the market of the city of Khan Sheikhoun with space rockets”.

Alsouria, who blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia, alleged that there were three strikes. 

One source alleged multiple strikes: “The first attack targeted a number of houses and shops of the city, destroying it completely. The second raid targeted the center of the popular market for the city, which led to a number of casualties and martyrs as a result of air strikes”.

Many graphic images were published showing dead children.