Incident Code

RS3992

Location

مزرعة كفرطاب خان شيخون, Kafar Tab farm, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R3772)

Up to eight civilians most if them from the same family were reported killed and further three to four others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian airstrikes or artillery shelling on their farm in Khan Sheikoun, Idlib, in the afternoon of August 6th 2019. The victims were pistachio workers as local sources said.

The Syrian Civil Defense said on that day that “the city Khan Sheikhon received the largest share of attacks [Russia and regime], and was exposed to 44 air strikes, in addition to 12 barrels of explosives and 33 artillery shells.” SMART News agency said that vacuum missiles were used in the attack.

Shaam News stated that “Russian warplanes targeted Kafar tab farm in Khan Sheikhoun in several raids which hit the house of a family of eight people. […] Activists reported four martyred civilians, with missing family members still being searched for amongst the rubble.” The house was destructed on its residents.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the death of “four citizens, and the injury of three, in a bombing by Russian warplanes on Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern side of Idlib countryside.” According to this source, “the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in a critical situation.”

Baladi News alleged that “three civilians from one family were killed, while four others were injured, as a result of airstrikes by Russian warplanes targeting their house on the western farms of the city of Khan Sheikhoun.”

@aboalhodaalhoms tweeted: “The death toll of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern countryside of Idlib increased to 8 martyrs, and many were wounded in a Russian terrorist airstrike”. However,

Sources predominantly attributed the attack to Russia, but the Syrian regime was also named by a number of sources in reports of the incident.

Victims

Family members (5)

Adult male killed
Adult male Nickname: Abu Saker killed
Age unknown male Nickname: Abu Omran injured

Family members (2)

Age unknown male Head Injury injured
Age unknown male Chest Injury injured

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
4–8
3–4 Men
Civilians reported injured
3–4

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 (7)

Sources (43)