Incident Code

RS974

Location

دركوش, Darkoush, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9916361, 36.3938856
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R876)

Twenty six named civilians including a child and eight women died and up to 70 more were wounded in an airstrike on a residential neighbourhood and popular market in Darkoush, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Syrian regime were to blame. The strike reportedly took place at midday on July 8th.

Sources disputed claims over the aircraft used in this attack. Alan TV and Syrian PC reported that Russian warships and missiles were used. Ara News claims that missiles were fired from warships and warplanes followed with shelling. Both DW News and BBC Arabic reported shelling by warplanes.

Syrian Network for Human rights claimed that both Russian and Assad regime warplanes were responsible for the damage, whereas Syrian Newsdesk blamed only Russia.

Halab Today reported sighting the use of “long ranging missiles”.

Numerous sources reported the names of the dead which included a list compiled by Darkoush Hospital where the majority of the casualties and wounded civilians went.

A further 35-70 people were wounded in the airstrike. Syrian Newsdesk reported that the numbers of wounded were so high that “medical points in neighbouring areas asked people to donate blood”.

According to Shaam News Network, Assad regime warplanes did not only target Darkoush, but on the same day “targeted Kfrcharim city in the north-west of Idlib, which resulted in the fall of martyrs and wounded a number of civilians.”

Sambo1982ksa put the death toll as high as 30, and also blamed Russia.

Victims

Family members (2)

Hasna’a Shikh Mohammed
Age unknown female from Armanaz killed
Mahmood Khudro Mohammed
Age unknown male from Armanaz killed

Family members (2)

Asama’a Zanbakli
Age unknown female from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed
Afra’a Zanbakli
Age unknown female from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed

Family members (3)

Ahmad ABdullah Sha’rawi
Age unknown male from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed
Mohammed Sha’rawi
Age unknown male from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed
Ibrahim Sha’rawi
Age unknown male from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed

Invidivuals

Ameen Umran
Age unknown male from Darkoush killed
Abdullah Hashmo
Age unknown male from Ariha killed
Youssef Jamal Al-Deen
Age unknown male from Darkoush killed
Salwa Al-Sharawi
Age unknown female from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed
Maram Milshoo
Age unknown female from Maarat Al-Nu'man killed
Adeela Ma’tooq
Age unknown female from Ariha killed
Manal Sha’ar
Age unknown female from Idlib killed
Ali Al-Ali Al-Mutalak
Age unknown male from Aleppo, Al-Ees killed
Ahmad Al-shkih Taha
Age unknown male from Idlib killed
Khaled Basha
Age unknown male from Idlib killed
Mohammed Hassan
Age unknown male from Kafr Nabilm killed
Abdullah Ibrahim Fayez Safureya
Age unknown male from Darkoush killed
Qamar Al-Basha
Age unknown female from Idlib killed
Abdul-Aziz Bushnaq
Age unknown male from Hraytan killed
Abdullah Fayez Mohammed
Age unknown male killed
Fawzy Haitham Al-Kurdi
Age unknown male from Maarat Al Nu'man killed
Abdul-Salam Dawood
Age unknown male killed
Fatima Abdallah Sha’arawi
Age unknown female killed
Lina Milsho
3 months years old female 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
26–30
1 Child, 8 Women, 15 Men
Civilians reported injured
35–70

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Darkoush (دركوش), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9916361, 36.3938856. 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 not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (24)

Sources (36)

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