Incident Code

RS714

Location

أبو الظهور, Abu al Duhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738466, 37.0479584
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R627)

Between 15 and 23 civilians died and up to 132 were injured in airstrikes on Abu al Duhur, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible. There were claims of a ‘double tap’ strike – with aircraft returning to attack rescuers.

In a series of Tweets, AEJKhalil reported that 20 civilians died when Russian warplanes allegedly carried out airstrikes “on a mini gas shop” in Abu al Duhur. Tweets included graphic images of charred bodies.

Videos posted by Khairo Al-Hamwi and Abu Al-Duhur also said Russia was responsible. According to Orient News, 17 civilians died in “three air strikes from warplanes, followed by barrel bombs from helicopters” – suggesting a possible joint Russia-regime action.

However, the Shaam Network reported that regime warplanes carried out several raids: “Activists said warplanes launched three air strikes targeted rocket houses the town center resulted in the ignition large fires and destruction solution, followed by the bombing of apartment buildings with explosive barrel bombs carried out by a helicopter on the same site.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed the regime, putting the death toll at at least 19 including three women.

AlAan TV too blamed the regime and reported: “The number of people killed in these raids has reached 15 dead and more than 132 wounded. We got these figures from the medical staff in the countryside of east Idlib.  [Jet] fighter and two explosive barrels targeted the city center and the fuel station and a fire broke out. There are also unidentified bodies, and the injured and wounded were deformed and couldn’t be identified“.

Victims

Family members (7)

Mohammad Nawaf al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Ahmad Mohammad al-Jasem
27 years old male killed
Hsain al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
47 years old male killed
Ahmad Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
27 years old male killed
Husam Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
Adult male killed
Hsain Mohammad al-Sagheer al-Jasem
15 years old male killed

Invidivuals

Mahmoud al Ali
Age unknown male From Rasm al A’abed, Aleppo killed
Faisal al Dannash
Age unknown male From Baya’iat al Dannash, Aleppo killed
Khaled al Ahmad
Age unknown male From Umm Jreen, Aleppo killed
Husam Mohammad al-Ali
18 years old male 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
15–23
1 Child, 3 Women, 11 Men
Civilians reported injured
30–132

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abu al Duhur (أبو الظهور), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.738466, 37.0479584. 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
Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 30th.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (7)