Incident Code

RS3620

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R3411)

Shelling on residential neighbourhoods in Khan Sheikhoun killed nine named civilians and wounded as many as dozens more on April 23rd, 2019, local media reported. Up to 64 rocket and artillery shells were used in the raid, according to the Syrian Civil Defense.

While @abuhuzaifa_ reported an initial toll of five civilian fatalities but in a later post reported that the number had gone up to seven fatalities – and 12 wounded.

@ShahbaPress claimed that among the victims were at least three children and two women. Eldorar put the number of children killed as high as five.

According to Baladi, “the forces of the regime and the militias supporting it stationed in the Russian camp in the village of Kabariya in the countryside of Hama, targeted the city of Khan Sheikun, south of Idlib, with intense rocket and artillery shells. The preliminary death toll from the shelling that targeted residential areas inside the city amounted to six civilians, including three children and two women, and dozens more were wounded.”

The Syrian Civil Defense teams that inspected the target site and assisted the victims reported seven fatalities, including a total of four children and two women. The source added that 12 others were indeed wounded.

The Syrian Civil Defense teams and the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed Syrian regime force, while @abuhuzaifa_ blamed “Iranian guard militias and gangs of Assad with Russian support”.

@Abuhuzaifa_ added that “The Al Issawi Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the city, was destroyed by the Assad gangs and Iranian criminal militias.”

Victims

Invidivuals

7 years old male killed
8 years old male killed
9 years old female killed
Age unknown female injured
Child female killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown male Described as a "young man" killed
Child female Described as "young girl" killed
Age unknown injured
Age unknown injured
Age unknown injured
Age unknown injured
Age unknown male injured
70 years old female injured
30 years old injured
50 years old male injured
30 years old male injured
Adult male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
9
3–5 Children, 2 Women
Civilians reported injured
12–24

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (21)