On the morning of Monday, December 2, 2024, a devastating airstrike with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military hit the residential Al-Thawra neighborhood of Idlib city, Syria, reportedly killing between five and six civilians and injuring at least thirty more. Among the wounded were 11 children and nine women, according to the Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe), which described the event as “a horrific massacre” with “people trapped under the rubble” in what was described as an incomplete casualty toll.

Al-Kul TV correspondent reported the airstrike and the deaths and injuries resulting from it at 8:35 AM on Twitter/X. Syrian Civil Defense reported the death of five civilians, writing a post on Twitter/X at 10:26 AM. White Helmets added that there were still civilians under the rubble. Later, the SCD News channel reported that six civilians were killed in the strike.

X/Twitter user @SyriaCivilDefe also shared a picture related to the event on the social media platform. This powerful and tragic image captured the moment two members of the Syrian Civil Defence carried the body of a deceased child from a bombed site. The child, wrapped in a white cloth, was barefoot, their legs visible beneath the shroud. The responders, wearing helmets and blue-yellow uniforms marked with the Civil Defence insignia, carefully carried the child’s body on a piece of cloth or a rescue stretcher. Their expressions were solemn and focused, suggesting the emotional gravity of the recovery.

Behind them, the ruins of a residential building were still smoking. The structure’s facade was nearly obliterated: windows blown out, balconies collapsed, and debris spilling onto the street. Additional Civil Defence members and civilians gathered around the site, some assisting with search operations while others stood in shocked silence. The combination of heavy damage, rescue activity, and the retrieval of a small civilian victim confirmed the location as a high-casualty civilian area recently struck by a suspected airstrike or artillery shelling. The image testified not only to the physical devastation but also to the profound human toll.

Eyewitness footage and reporting from @faisal_alaswad reinforced the accusation, stating: “Assad regime and Russian aircraft are still bombing civilians in Idlib city,” alongside video showing destruction in Al-Thawra shortly after the attack. Media outlet Radio and TV Al-Kul (@AlkulTV) also confirmed that “civilian deaths and injuries” occurred following airstrikes by regime aircraft on the neighborhood.

Facebook user Syrian Revolution Coordination in Idlib City shared a picture of the aftermath from a distance, with a dense vertical column of smoke rising sharply above a multi-story residential area. The time appeared to be early morning or late afternoon, as the sun shone low in the sky to the left, casting long shadows and illuminating the smoke with harsh contrast. The buildings in the foreground were well-preserved, with visible balconies, windows, and rooftop solar panels—indicative of civilian housing. No military or industrial infrastructure was visible in this frame.

Facebook user Armanaz koom shared a photograph related to the event on social media. This photograph captured a wide-angle view of a densely populated residential area severely damaged by what appeared to be a high-intensity airstrike or artillery bombardment. Entire building facades had collapsed, with the left side of the street showing a multi-story residential block engulfed in flames and emitting thick black smoke from at least two upper-floor apartments. The structural integrity of the building appeared compromised, with exposed rebar, shattered balconies, and blown-out windows. On the right, another multi-level concrete structure was partially leveled, with upper floors reduced to rubble. The force of the explosion had clearly displaced vast amounts of debris, scattering concrete slabs, twisted metal, and vehicle parts across the road. Civilians and emergency responders—most likely from the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets)—could be seen moving through the debris. One rescuer in dark clothing pointed forward, potentially coordinating search-and-rescue efforts. Several vehicles along the street were incinerated or crushed, one with its doors blown open and roof warped.

When belligerents were identified, responsibility for the strike was contested. The Syrian Civil Defense attributed the strike to Syrian regime warplanes, while other local reports, such as Armanaz koom, explicitly blamed Russian aircraft. @faisal_alaswad attributed responsibility to both the Syrian regime and the Russian military.

The incident occured in the morning.