Incident Code

RS617

Location

حر بنفسه, Harbnafsa, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

34.9371883, 36.6221952
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R543)

Two or three civilians were killed in airstrikes on Harbnafsa according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime.

Shaam News Network said that  Russian warplanes launched “intensive air raids on the town” in the morning. Activists documented eight strikes, leading to two non-combatant deaths with several more wounded, including displaced people from the town of Kafr Laha.

Syria811 also blamed Russia, putting  the death toll at three non-combatants, with several more wounded. However, according to Ara News, two civilians died in strikes by the regime. Salamalsore reported that there had been bombing “on the road to Harbenfsh“, though they didn’t say who was responsible.

Masyafnow named a victim as Hassan Fahed Alakari, reporting that he died as a result of injuries in the attack. However another source claimed that Hasan Fahid Al-Akari was an Assad regime irregular.

 

Victims

Invidivuals

Hassan Fahed Alakari
Adult male Possibly Assad regime irregular killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
2–3
0–1 Men
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Harbnafsa (حر بنفسه), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.9371883, 36.6221952. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
From February 10th – February 16th, Russia reported: “On February 10-16, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 444 combat sorties engaging 1593 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.”
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed