Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS3984

Location

كفرزيبا, Kafar Zeiba, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Code: R3764)

Two children were killed and up to seven civilians, including at least one woman, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kafar Zeiba, Idlib governorate, on July 31st, 2019, according to local sources.

Al Araby wrote: “The bombing of the village of Kafar Zeiba, near the city of Ariha, resulted in the killing of two children and the injury of a woman, as a result of an airstrike by a warplane with explosive rockets thrown at one time on civilian homes, according to what civil defence teams reported.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the children as the girl Noor Muhsen Al Yousef and the baby Mohammad Fadi Al Yousef. Justice Organization reported that the baby was no more than nine months old. According to @NagiNajjar, the girl was four years old and the baby seven months old.

A correspondent for @jisrtv reported that “two children were killed and others were wounded”, implying that there were multiple injured civilians. @abonorx1 also reported that several civilians were wounded.

7al reported seven injured civilians: “The Civil Defence Directorate stated that this morning, warplanes bombed the village of Kafar Zeiba, near the city of Ariha, south of Idlib, with missiles, killing two children and wounding about seven civilians with various injuries.”

The Syrian Civil Defence reported their teams were present at the site, writing: “Two children were killed and one woman was injured by a military airstrike targeting civilian houses in the town of Kafar Zeiba near the city of Ariha in the village of Idlib this morning. Our teams were there with the civilians.”

While nearly all sources blamed the Syrian regime for the strikes, Justice Organization pointed to Russia. Enab Baladi reported both Russia and the Syrian regime as the belligerents of the strikes.

Victims

Family members (2)

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
2
2 Children
Civilians reported injured
1–7
1 Woman

Military Statements

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

Media from Sources (6)