Incident Code

RS3997

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R3777)

Three civilian men were reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib governorate, on August 8th, 2019, according to local sources. An unknown number of others were injured.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “a civilian was killed, and others were injured, due to aerial bombardment by Russian planes on Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

Other sources cited the death of “two civilians”  and a “number injured.”

Baladi News stated that “three civilians were martyred on Thursday, due to a joint airstrike by Russian warplanes and another to the Assad regime, targeting the city of “Khan Sheikhoun” in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

According to this source, “two civilians were killed in intensive Russian raids on residential neighbourhoods in the city of Khan Sheikhoun. A displaced person from the northern countryside of Hama was also martyred due to the bombardment of the city with barrel bombs by the regime’s helicopters.”

Similarly, Shaam News Network reported that “activists said Assad’s warplanes, helicopters and Russian warplanes stepped up from the airstrikes on the city of Khan Sheikhoun, focusing on residential neighbourhoods and farms near the city, leaving three martyrs and a number of wounded among civilians, in addition to the destruction of residential buildings.”

Several sources, including @abuhuzaifa_, identified the victims as Wissam Abdel Hamid Al Nisr, Khaled Fakhri Al Najm and Hussein Al Nassif.

According to a SyriaTV correspondent, Wissam Abdul Hamid Al Nisr and Khaled Fakhry Al Najm died today in Russian airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, while Hussein Nassif from the city of Al Latamina was killed in strikes by regime helicopters on agricultural land between the cities of Morek and Khan Sheikhoun. Because sources disagree on whether the third victim was killed in this same event or other alleged Syrian regime strikes, the death toll for this event is put at 2 to 3 civilians.

Zaitun Mag wrote that, according to the Syrian Civil Defence, “Russian warplanes targeted the city of Khan Sheikhoun with 15 raids and Assad’s air force with 35 raids, in addition to 5 barrels and 7 artillery shells that hit residential areas, which led to great damage to residential homes.”

Many sources named only Russian forces in reporting the incident, however, a number of sources stated that both Russian forces and the Syrian regime were responsible for the attack.

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
2–3 Men
Civilians reported injured
2

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 (4)