Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS4145

Location

بلدة السحارة, Sahara town, western Aleppo countryside, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.185988, 36.847777
Accuracy: Exact location (other)

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R3906RS4137)

As many as eight civilians, including children and women, died and up to 29 more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on civilian homes and adjacent locations in Sahara town, western Aleppo countryside at noon on November 6, 2019, according to sources on the ground.

The New York Times later geolocated the event.

The lowest death count was give as two by @thiqanewsagency. However, other sources said that six or seven civilians perished.

The Smart News Agency reported that local activists told them “six civilians were killed and more than 15 others wounded as a result of warplanes bombarding a religious institute, residential houses and a random camp, all of them next to each other”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the six killed included a girl and her mother. Other sources said two women and two children died.

The White Helmets published a distressing video showing one of its members collapsing when he viewed the scene. The caption said: “Volunteer Omar Al-Homoud collpased when the body of another child who was martyred was found dead in the town of Al-Sahara this afternoon [Nov 6th]. Omar returned to the scene after learning of a missing child in the rubble and remembered his family, who died in a similar bombing.”

The White Helmets added that “seven people died, 25 were injured, and five houses were destroyed”, while @ShahbaPress said that the death toll included two children and a woman from the same family.

The White Helmets published named of the victims.The civilians killed: Issa Albaik, the daughter of Mohammed Khaled Hilal, and Dipo Sha’r. The civilians injured: Ahmad Amin 33 years old, Abd Al Rahmman sha’r  30, Mohammed Tarra 40, Abdallah Khudur 42, Ahmed Abdulrahman Bakro 30 years old, Siham Taha is 60 years old, Hamdo Wahiba 27 years old, Abdul Rahman Mustafa 33 years old, Ahmed Abdel Hamid, 28 years old, Raja’ Taha is 50 years old, Abdul Rahman Ali Jourieh 43 years old, Issa Hilal, Omar Traissa.

Syrian Human Rights Committee also added named of civilians killed: Ahmed Khaled Hilal, wife of Muhammad Khaled Hilal, Omar Rahmo Omar, Muhammad Omar Al-Beik, the girl Asma Yusef (2 years). 

A post by Edu Aleppo posted about one of their teachers that was killed: “the Directorate of Education in Aleppo mourns the teacher Ahmed Khaled Hilal, who was martyred by the brutal bombing by the Russian air force.”

Images and stories were also posted of Muhammad Khaled Hilal, who was mourning after his daughter and his wife were killed in the airstrikes.

A tweet from @mohmad_rasheed included a video that showed a baby being rescued from the rubble – it is unclear the extent of the injuries the baby suffered.

A video posted by Syria media forum reported “thirty-six martyrs and wounded as a result of air strikes by Russian warplanes targeting residential neighborhoods in the town of Sahara.”

Multiple sources published numerous images documenting the extent of destruction.

The vast majority of sources attributed the strikes to Russia. However, @thiqanewsagency blamed the regime for the strikes.

Victims

Family members (4)

male killed
Issa Hilal
male injured
The daughter of Mohammed Khaled Hilal
female killed
The wife of Muhammad Khaled Hilal
Adult female killed

Individuals

Ahmed Amin
33 years old male injured
Abd Al Rahmman sha’r
40 years old male injured
Mohamed Tarra
40 years old male injured
Abdallah Khudur
42 years old male injured
Ahmed Abdulrahman Bakro
30 years old male injured
Siham Taha
60 years old injured
Hamdo Wahiba
27 years old male injured
Abdul Rahman Mustafa
33 years old male injured
Ahmed Abdel Hamid,
28 years old male injured
Raja’ Taha
50 years old male injured
Abdul Rahman Ali Jourieh
43 years old injured
Omar Traissa
male injured
Issa Albaik
male killed
Dipo Sha’r
male killed
Omar Rahmo Omar
male killed
Muhammad Omar Al-Beik
male killed
Asma Yusef
2 years old female killed

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
2–8
1–2 Children, 1–2 Women, 5 Men
Civilians reported injured
12–29
11 Men

Geolocation Notes

Via New York Times: exact geolocation based on moment of impact footage: 36.185988, 36.847777.

Military Statements

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

Media From Sources (29)

Sources (48)

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