Incident Code

RS4190

Location

معرة النعمان, Maarat Numan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R3952)

Three civilians, including two children, were reported killed and a number of others were wounded by a mortar or a cluster bomb from the remnants of previous strikes by Russian Forces or the Syrian regime forces on Ma’arat Al Numan in Idlib, on November 21st, 2019, according to local sources.

A tweet from @oulaalassaad named three of the people killed: Alaa Karkas 14, Muhammad Karkas 12, Mustafa Karkas 25.

@alhariri58 added that in addition to the three people killed, a number of other civilians were injured in the explosion and @Nabel_othman023 referred to “many” injured without specifying how many.

While Macro Media Center (MMC) blamed the Syrian regime by saying the casulaties were caused “after a mortar shell from the remnants of the previous shelling of al-Assad forces exploded in Maaret al-Nu’man city south of Idlib”, ShahbaPress pointed to the Russian forces saying civilians were killed “when a cluster bomb exploded from the remnants of Russian raids on the city of Maarat al-Numan in rural area Idlib”.

Victims

Family members (3)

Alaa Karkas
14 years old killed
Muhammad Karkas
12 years old killed
Mustafa Karkas
25 years old killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
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
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Civilians reported killed
3
2 Children, 1 Man
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 (3)