Russian Military in Syria

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
text search
3564 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS1738

Incident date

December 4, 2019

Location

حريتان , Hraitan, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.287032, 37.08332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One girl died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hraitan, according to local media.

Halab Today reported “the martyrdom of the girl Yasmine Shaheen and the injury of five civilians, mostly children, as a result of Russian air strikes on the city of Hreitan in the northern countryside of Aleppo”.

The victim was also named by the VDC (among other sources), who said that she was 13-years-old – and killed by Russian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasmine Shaheen
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3516

Incident date

July 8, 2019

Location

قرب حي طريق السد, Tareeq Al Sad, Dara'a , Syria

Geolocation

32.61119, 36.115947 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians were reportedly killed in the plains surrounding Dara’a Al Balad when the region was hit by seven strikes, allegedly launched from Russian warplanes, on July 8th, 2018, according to local sources. Two others were injured.

Shaam News Agency wrote that “in violation of the cease-fire agreement, a Russian warplane launched seven airstrikes on the plains and farms surrounding Dara’a Al Balad, killing two people and wounding a number of people.”

Smart News Agency reported that “a civilian was killed early Sunday in the plains surrounding the dam road in the city of Dara’a, as the region was hit by seven raids by aircraft likely to be Russian, which also wounded another civilian and his wife.”

Shafea Abazid wrote on Facebook that Muwaffaq Nayef Ali Abazid was killed in the airstrikes.

According to Shaam News, “Russia and the Assad regime have not implemented any of the stipulations agreed upon in Bosra Al Sham. They have not withdrawn from any area in the eastern suburb of Daraa. The Russian and Syrian aerial bombardments have continued and have not stopped yet.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Mowaffaq Nayef Ali Abazid موفق نايف علي ابازيد
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3512

Incident date

July 5, 2019

Location

جسر الشغور , Jisir Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes in the vicinity of the city of Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib governorate, on July 5th, 2018, according to Edlib Media Center.

EMC reported “two civilian casualties as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft around the city of Jisr Al Shughour in the western countryside of Idlib with rockets.”

@rahhalahmad06 tweeted that three Russian airstrikes targeted the vicinity of Jisr Al Shughour, including a cork factory. The source did not mention civilian casualties. Hence, while the strike status is graded as likely by Airwars, the civilian harm status is weak.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R3302

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

بانص, Banss, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Smart News Agency reported that two civilians were wounded in the explosion of remnants of a cluster bomb from a previous Russian forces and Syrian regime bombing in Banss, 55 km south of Aleppo, Syria on July 4th, 2018.

Also @24Aleppo tweeted that “two people were injured due to the explosion of a cluster bombs from the remnants of a previous airstrike on the village of Bans in the southern countryside of Aleppo.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (2) [ 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2170

Incident date

April 26, 2019

Location

بسنقول, Bsanqoul, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.806667, 36.496667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least nine civilians were killed in an airstrike in Bsanqoul, according to local media sources – though it was not clear whether Russia or the Assad regime were responsible.

Al Jazeera, who placed the death toll at nine, attributed responsibility to Russian forces. They reported that the strike killed “leader of the movement Ahrar Sham and his family in the bombing of the explosive barrel”. However, explosive barrels were known to be used by the Assad regime.

A medical facility was also reported to have been put out of service by the strikes, according to Orient News’ Anas Tracy. The civilian casualties, which Orient News placed at 10 dead and a number of others wounded, was reported to have been heavily made up of women and children.

Local activists who spoke to Smart News said that the dead were all from one family, including two women and four children.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented “the death of at least eight citizens of one family – they are a man and three of his children, his brother’s wife and three of her children. They were killed in the raids that were carried out by warplanes believed to be Russian after midnight of yesterday”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Hamid Mostafa al-Nemer
Adult male killed
Ekrima Abd al-Hamid al-Nemer
Child male killed
Mariam Abd al-Hamid al-Nemer
Child female killed
Shahed Abd al-Hamid al-Nemer
Adult female killed
Rihab al-Taha
Adult female killed
Gazal Ahmad al-Nemer
Child female killed
Mohammad Ahmad al-Nemer
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 10
  • (6 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–9
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

  • Some of the civilian casualties from an airstrike in Bsanqoul on 26th April 2017. (Via: Orient News)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike in Bsanqoul on 26th April 2017. (Via: Orient News)
  • The aftermath of an airstrike in Bsanqoul on 26th April 2017. (Via: Orient News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of an airstrike in Bsanqoul on 26th April 2017. (Via: Orient News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 10
  • (6 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–9
  • 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

RS3584

Incident date

March 8, 2019

Location

وادي العزيب أو وادي العذيب,, Wadi al-Azeeb, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between seven and nine civilians died and several others were wounded when remnants from a cluster bomb or landmine allegedly dropped by either Russia or the Assad regime back in 2017 exploded in Wadi al-Azeeb on February 8th 2019.

Halab Today reported: “According to the correspondent of Halab Today, the explosions killed seven people and a number of sheep”.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed “several landmines”, while other sources mentioned remnants from cluster bombs.

Baladi put the death toll at nine and said that the landmine exploded on” a civilian car”.

Mena-monitor also reported that civilian vehicles were blown up by the munition remnants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • 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 (23) [ 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3593

Incident date

February 28, 2019

Location

خان شيخون,, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named adult male civilian died and several others were wounded in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling on Khan Sheikhoun on February 28th, 2019, local media reported. Most sources blamed regime forces stationed at Qabariya camp, though Smart – citing activists – pointed to Russian forces.

According to Orient News, “Assad militia targeted the city of Khan Sheikhoun with more than 20 artillery and missile shells, killing at least one civilian and injuring two others.”

@FB83a9CJaVKcK9P said the city’s Al Shouhada’ mosque had been bombed and published images showing damage.

Enab Baladi blamed a “rocket and artillery bombardment” for the death of one civilian and injury of several others.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent added that “the shelling targeted eastern neighbourhoods in Khan Sheikhoun, causing extensive damage to homes, as well as human casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Baroud أحمد مخيبر بارود
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Destruction in Khan Sheikhoun, Feb 28th 2019 (via Horrya)
  • Destruction to the city's Al Shouhada’ following the strikes on Feb 28th 2019.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Translation: “Khan Sheikhoun-Idlib-Syria. There is no power but from God. Children and women displaced by the crimes of Assad and the world is silent” (via @hart_leon55).
  • Al Shouhada’ Mosque in Khan Sheikhoun was reportedly targeted in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on February 28th, 2019 (via @FB83a9CJaVKcK9P).
  • Al Shouhada’ Mosque in Khan Sheikhoun was reportedly damaged in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on February 28th, 2019 (via @FB83a9CJaVKcK9P).
  • Inside of Al Shouhada’ Mosque in Khan Sheikhoun, which was reportedly targeted in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on February 28th, 2019 (via @FB83a9CJaVKcK9P).

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
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3592

Incident date

February 24, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian man and a woman died and up to six civilians were wounded in alleged regime or Russian air and artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun on February 24th, 2019, according to sources on the ground.

@abuhuzaifa_ noted “5 days of continuous and daily shelling of my city”, stating that the smell of blood was everywhere.

According to the Smart News Agency, “one person was killed and others wounded by rocket-propelled grenades of the regime and Russia on the city of Khan Sheikhoun south of Idlib.”

Kafar Zeita reported “the martyrdom of “Bashar Ahmad al Taha” in a missile bombardment by the Russian camps on the city of Khan Sheikhoun.”

The White Helmets said that “a young man died and six other civilians were injured in shelling of the residential areas of the city of #Khan_Sheikhoun with high-explosive missiles land-to-land missiles by the regime forces.”

Horrya – also pointing to the regime – was alone in reporting the death of a woman, adding that “five other civilians” were wounded by regime artillery.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Ahmad al-Taha
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "The martyrdom of the young Bashar Ahmad al-Taha and the injury of several people resulting from the barbaric shelling of the city of Khan Sheikhun by the Assad militia God is enough, and yes, the agent.”
  • The White Helmets attend the scene in Khan Sheikhoun following strikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets attend the scene in Khan Sheikhoun following strikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene in Khan Sheikhoun following strikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene in Khan Sheikhoun following strikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via White Helmets)
  • Translation: 'Destruction within the alleys and streets. Everywhere, wherever you walk around the city and behind it the smells of the blood of its owners who have become victims under the rubble ... 15 days of continuous and daily shelling of my city. Khan Sheikhoun'
  • More scenes of destruction in Khan Sheikhoun.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: extremely graphic: the dead body of Bashar Ahmad al-Taha. (via @sakeraldeen - twitter account now suspended, though Airwars has archived the image)
  • Smoke rises above Khan Sheikhoun following airstrikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via Enab Baladi)
  • Smoke rises above Khan Sheikhoun following airstrikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via Enab Baladi)
  • Smoke rises above Khan Sheikhoun following airstrikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via Enab Baladi)
  • Smoke rises above Khan Sheikhoun following airstrikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via Enab Baladi)
  • Smoke rises above Khan Sheikhoun following airstrikes on Feb 24th 2019 (via Enab Baladi)

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 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]