Incident Code

RS2819

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R2636)

Two civilians were killed, including a Civil Defence volunteer, in airstrikes which struck civilian housing and a popular market in Khan Sheikhoun, according to local media. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the strikes. Many didn’t name a culprit but pointed only to “military aircraft” and “helicopters”.

Footage published by the Syrian Civil Defence shows a victim while he was alive, talking about his role in the SCD. A later video published shows his funeral, with footage of friends and family mourning over the much loved man.

@AleppoAMC put the number of other victims wounded as high as eight.

@SyrianCoaltion was the first to report that two civilians had been killed in the raids when “helicopters targeted civilian houses at Al Azizia farm east of Khan Sheikhoun”. Images show children being dragged form the rubble of their homes.

Victims

Invidivuals

Adult male 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
2
1 Man
Civilians reported injured
5–8

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Khan Sheikhoun (خان شيخون), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.440813, 36.6493607. 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
The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (7)