Incident Code

RS348

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385
Accuracy: Neighbourhood/area

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 18, 2025

(Previous Incident Code: R296)

Up to 12 civilians including three to four children and two women were killed and dozens more injured in alleged airstrikes and an artillery bombardment on Zamalka, according to multiple sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russian or Assad regime forces were responsible for the deaths.

Shaam News initially reported that four non-combatants were killed and 20 injured – mostly women and children – in an alleged Russian airstrike. They said the aircraft targeted different district of Zamalka with vacuum missiles, leading to widespread destruction of civilian property, and added that the aerial bombardment was followed by heavy artillery shelling. A subsequent report stated that the number killed had risen to more than seven.

The White Helmets put the initial number killed at seven (but said it was likely to rise) including two children with dozens wounded. They did not say who was responsible, referring to “air raids by warplanes and artillery, heavy mortars and field artillery land – surface missiles in conjunction with the surveillance planes circling the skies.” The White Helmets added that two ambulances were hit following the bombing and that two of their own members were injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four children and two women were killed – with tens of other injured (again, mostly women and children). It produced two reports. The first blamed the regime for the “aerial bombardment and shelling”, but the second said Russian warplanes killed six, including three children, and wounded dozens more.

But the Syrian Network for Human Rights said Assad regime warplanes had fired several missiles near two White Helmets ambulances.

 

Victims

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Invidivuals

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male was killed after the Russians targeted an ambulance on the road linking Hazza and Zamalka killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Mohammad Muhiye Al Deen
Adult male the White Helmets reported that two people died one week later from injuries sustained in the strike killed
A’isha Al Baka’i
Age unknown the White Helmets reported that two people died one week later from injuries sustained in the strike killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
12–13
3–4 Children, 1–2 Women, 9 Men
Civilians reported injured
24

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Damascus governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (10)