Incident Code

RS3953

Location

كفروما, Kafarouma, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R3736)

Up to three civilians, including at least one child, were reported killed and 10 others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on civilian homes in the town of Kafarouma, Idlib governorate, on July 25th, 2019, according to local sources.

Edlib Media Center reported that “three people were killed and several wounded when military aircraft targeted the town of Kafarouma south of Idlib with rockets.”

Meanwhile, Ariha Today reported “the martyrdom of a woman and a child, and 10 wounded people, including four children, and people trapped under the rubble of a military airstrike targeting houses of civilians in the town of Kafarouma west of Ma’arat Al Nu’man.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that “at least two civilians, a woman and a child, from the same family, were killed as warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Kafarouma village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on July 25, 2019.”

In two later posts, the source blamed Syrian regime helicopters that “dropped several barrel bombs on Ibn Hayyan Elementary School” and another “several barrel bombs near al Kabir Mosque” in Kafarouma village.

@thiqanewsagency tweeted that “two martyrs have risen and more than seven wounded, as a preliminary result among civilians, as a result of targeting the town of Kafarouma in the countryside of Idlib by Russian warplanes.” HalabTodayTV cited that three civilians, including a child, were killed in the strikes. Edlib Media Center and Shaam News Network also reported three killed civilians.

@amaraldeek identified the victims as Samir Muhammad Turki Al Deek and Reham Walid Al Deek. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fatal victims were a mother and her child.

The Kafarouma Media Center identified eight of the injured civilians, among which four members of the Al Deek family and three members of the Aqdi family. The eight injured victim was named as Alaa Rahmon.

@alhasanbe tweeted a photo of a child killed in the strikes, presumably Samir Muhammad Turki Al Deek. The source added that “his two brothers are wounded”. Baladi News wrote that two children were killed.

The Syrian Civil Defence wrote on Facebook that their teams had been able to save “a young man who was under the ruins of his destroyed house, after an airstrike that targeted civilian houses in the town of Kafarouma in the countryside of Idlib this morning.”

@IdlibPlus posted a photo of an unexploded barrel bomb which was dropped by a helicopter on the town, writing that “it fell in the middle of a house whose owners are still inside, but by the grace of God it did not explode, and everyone inside the house survived.”

Al Dorar Al Shamiya posted a video of the aftermath of the strikes, writing that in addition to casualties, the strikes led to “major destruction of infrastructure”.

Edlib Media Center cited the use of “explosive barrels” in the attack.

Sources predominantly attributed the attack to Russian forces, while a number named the Syrian regime as the belligerent responsible for the attack.

Victims

Family members (3)

Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown female injured

Invidivuals

Age unknown female injured

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
2–3
1–2 Children, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
8–10
4 Children

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 (28)

Sources (37)