Incident Code

RS3726

Location

احسم, Ihsem, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R3513)

At least three children of the same family were killed and several civilians were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ihsem on May 28th, 2019, according to local sources. The death toll was later updated to six civilians.

Many sources reported that three children were killed from the same family in the attack, named by Syrian Network for Human Rights as Mustafa, Ali and Ahmad Ayman Sarhan. Hossam Sarhan wrote on Facebook that the boys were the children of Ayman Sarhan. The discovery of their bodies was documented in a video by Step News Agency.

@MMCSYR2 posted a video of the incident, stating that in addition to those killed, there were “many wounded”. @ShahbaPress also reported an unknown number of injured. The Syrian Civil Defence volunteers searched for victims trapped underneath the rubble.

Ariha Today later stated that “the number of martyrs in the town rose to six after a girl was removed from the rubble, and a mother and daughter could not be found following the repeated bombardment of the town.”

While several sources, such as Ebaa News, blamed Russia for the airstrikes, others, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights, pointed to the Syrian regime. Some sources, such as @so_ria98, blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Victims

Family members (3)

Child male son of Ayman Sarhan killed
Child male son of Ayman Sarhan killed
Child male son of Ayman Sarhan killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
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
3–6
3–4 Children, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
5–10

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 (15)