Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS3527

Incident date

July 21, 2018

Location

الشجرة, Al Shajara, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.774176, 35.88212 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Al Shajara, Dara’a governorate, on July 21st, 2018, according to local sources.

An officer with the Dara’a Martyrs Documentation Office told Smart News that “one civilian was killed in Al Shajara village, which is controlled by the Islamic State.” The officer blamed both Russian and Syrian regime warplanes for the airstrikes but added that military observatories reported that most airstrikes on the area had been Russian.

@okpazobany reported that Russian warplanes targeted the village with concussion and vacuum missiles. According to @samersamer694, a barrel bomb fell on the village but did not explode.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3289

Incident date

March 16, 2018

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, all male, were killed in air and/or artillery strikes on residential areas of Hamouriya, Damascus countryside, according to the Violations Documentation Center in Syria.

One of the victims was identified as Nour Al Rihani, who was allegedly killed in artillery shelling, according to “The National Assembly of the veterans of the revolution” on Facebook. The others were reportedly killed in shelling with explosive barrels.

The Violations Documentation Centre listed the “Syrian government and affiliated militias” as the belligerent, whereas Shaam News pointed to the Russians as the responsible actor.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3319

Incident date

March 20, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCCSY) reported that one civilian was killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces in the village of Msraba, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus governorate, on March 20th, 2018.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3330

Incident date

March 23, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 10 civilians were reported killed and an unknown number of others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Douma, Damascus governorate, on March 23rd, 2018, according to local sources.

Enab Baladi reported that an alleged Russian warplane “targeted the residential neighbourhoods of the city with 30 strikes, loaded with incendiary phosphorous and cluster bombs, from midnight to Thursday morning, Thursday, March 23, killing 10 people.” Smart News Agency also documented the death of 10 civilians.

In addition, Step News Agency reported that an unspecified number of civilians were wounded.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported the names of three civilian fatalities, all men. Bashir Nasrullah reported on Facebook Majed Aref Nasrallah was also killed in the airstrikes, posting a photo of the body of the victim.

@aboalhodaalhoms tweeted that the civilian homes were targeted with rockets loaded with phosphorus by Russian and Syrian regime forces during the night. @SiegeWatch reported that Douma “has been bombed with at least 27 airstrikes containing incendiary munitions (both napalm and phosphorus suspected).” Siege Watch said there had been 30 strikes.

While some sources pointed to Russia as the belligerent, others blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Majed Aref Nasrallah was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Douma on March 23rd, 2018 (via Bashir Nasrullah on Facebook).
  • Fire after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Douma in the night of March 23rd, 2018 (via @SiegeWatch).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Douma in the night of March 23rd, 2018 (via @SiegeWatch).
  • Fire after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Douma in the night of March 23rd, 2018 (via @SiegeWatch).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Douma in the night of March 23rd, 2018 (via @SiegeWatch).

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3450

Incident date

June 24, 2018

Location

الحراك, Al Harak, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman and a young man were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak, Dara’a governorate, on June 24th, 2018. At least one other man was injured, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least two civilians were killed as Syrian/Russian regime warplanes fired missiles on al Harak city in Dara’a governorate’s northeastern suburbs, on June 24, 2018.”

In another post, the SN4HR wrote that “Syrian/Russian regime warplanes fired missiles on al Hrak Makeshift Hospital in al Harak city (…), severely damaging its building and equipment, on June 24, 2018.” According to Al Arabia, the strike led to the hospital being out of service.

Khadija Al Khairat wrote on Facebook that Aisha Issa Al Khairat, also known as “Umm Maan”, was killed in the airstrikes, and that her husband Ibrahim Al Qaddah had been injured.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that Murad Sulaiman Al Hariri had also died in the airstrikes on Al Harak, while multiple other sources stated that the man died in airstrikes on Al Soura on the same date. Multiple sources did report that a civilian male died in addition to a woman in the airstrikes on Al Harak, but the identity of te second victim remains unclear.

Al Harak City reported “many injured”, whereas other sources made no mention of injured civilians besides Ibrahim Al Qaddah.

The eastern countryside of Dara’a was heavily targeted on June 24th, 2018, with reports of strikes on Al Soura, Eastern Maliha, Al Harak, Alma, Nahhath and Basr Al Harir, according to Aswat News, blaming Russia for the airstrikes.

Whereas some sources pointed to Russia as the belligerent for the airstrikes on Al Harak, others blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female mother of Maan Al Kaddah killed
Adult male husband of Aisha Issa Al Khairat injured

The victims were named as:

Adult male other sources stated the man died in airstrikes on Al Soura killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Explosions after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak or Al Soura on June 24th, 2018 (via Dara'a Now).
  • Explosions after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak or Al Soura on June 24th, 2018 (via Dara'a Now).
  • Ibrahim Al Qaddah was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Harak on June 24th, 2020. His wife Aisha Issa Al Khairat was killed in the airstrikes (via Mohammad Al Qaddah).

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3840

Incident date

June 22, 2019

Location

اللطامنة, Al Latamina, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was allegedly wounded by Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on the town of Al Latamina in Hama from the camp of South Halfaya.

Halab Today TV reported: “A child was injured by artillery shelling from the Russian camp on the city of Al-Lataminah in the northern Hama countryside.” The source added in a different post that both Russian and the Syrian regime conducted airstrikes in the area.

Mahmod Haway accused the Syrian regime of condcuting the shelling: “Artillery shelling from the checkpoints of the regime’s militia on the agricultural lands located between the city of Al-Latamina and the village of Latmine.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3456

Incident date

June 25, 2018

Location

الصورة, Al Soura, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a woman, were killed and 10 others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Soura on June 25th, 2018, according to local sources.

The LLMA wrote on Facebook that “Russian warplanes launched six airstrikes so far on the town of Al Soura in Dara’a countryside, as a result of which three civilians, including a woman, were killed and ten others, most of them children and women, were wounded, in addition to extensive destruction in civilian homes.”

Qasim Samara, the head of the local council of the town, told Smart News Agency that “a man and a woman were killed and others were wounded by bombing warplanes targeted residential neighbourhoods, schools and infrastructure in the town.”

The LLMA identified one of the victims as Hajj Muhammad Mahmoud Al Sayah Al Haraki. Abu Hussam Al Hiraki wrote on Facebook that the man’s last name was Al Shawamreh. The other victims were identified as Ahlam Abdul-Fattah Al Shawamreh and Raed Mahmoud Al Shawamreh.

Bassam Wasim Bassam wrote on Facebook that “the terrorist Raed Mahmoud Al Shawamreh” had been killed, whereas all other sources listed the man as a civilian.

Whereas most sources blamed Russia for the airstrike, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported the Syrian regime had been responsible.

Dara’a governorate was heavily targeted on June 25th, with Aswat News reporting additional intensive Russian raids on the towns of Eastern Maliha, Alamah, Nahhath and Basr Al Harir.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hajj Muhammad Mahmoud Al Sayah Al Haraki Al Shawamreh was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Soura, June 25th 2018 (via Abu Hussam Al Hiraki on Facebook).

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3553

Incident date

September 9, 2018

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and others including his brother injured in Kafar Zeita in Hama on September 9th, 2018 after Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes targeted the town with several barrel bombs, according to local sources.

@SyriaCivilDefe identified the victim as Aref al-Hamada and tweeted “The body of the young man Aref al-Hamada was recovered, and his injured brother was rescued as a result of intense shelling by Russian aviation and helicopter flights, as well as artillery and missile shelling of the town of Kafar Zeita, from morning until now.”

Kafar Zita TV said that Aref’s brother, Uday al-Hamada was injured as a result of the raid and that his leg had to be amputated.

Step Agency reported “One person was killed as a result of wounds he sustained after a helicopter bombarded with explosive barrels the town of Kafar Zaita in the northern countryside of Hama.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said “Aref Mohammad al Hamada was killed as Syrian regime helicopters dropped a barrel bomb on a main street in Kafr Zita city in Hama governorate northern suburbs, on September 9th, 2018.”

@SyriaCivilDefe said that Russia and the Syrian regime are both responsible for this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male Leg amputation injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Arif Mohammed Hamada, killed in airstrikes on Kafar Zeita, 9th Set 2018. (via Kafar Zita TV)
  • Uday Hamada, injured in airstrikes on Kafar Zeita, 9th Set 2018. (via Kafar Zita TV)
  • Arif Mohammed Hamada, killed in airstrikes on Kafar Zeita, 9th Set 2018. (via SN4HR)
  • SCD volunteer pulling out body of Aref Hamada who was killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Civil Defence)
  • SCD volunteer pulling out body of Aref Hamada who was killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Civil Defence)
  • SCD volunteer pulling out body of Aref Hamada who was killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Civil Defence)
  • Image of the targeting of the city of Kafar Zaita and its surroundings by helicopters with several explosive barrels. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Aref Mohammad al Hamada killed as Syrian regime helicopters dropped a barrel bomb on a main street in Kafr Zita city in Hama governorate northern suburbs, on September 9th, 2018. (via SNHR)
  • Aref Al-Hamada was killed as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on September 9th,, 2018. (via Firas Al Bakkour).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aref Al Hamada killed as a result of airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Abo Al Hareth).

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]