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)

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Incident Code

RS4300

Incident date

January 11, 2020

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to 10 civilians, including four children, were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Sarmin, Idlib governorate, on January 11th, 2020, according to local sources.

Initial local sources reported many wounded civilians but no deaths. There were no names of the wounded immediately released and the numbers of wounded fluctuated. Syria-24 News reported ten wounded civilians, while Civil Defense reported seven wounded. A correspondent for Baladi noted seven wounded civilians, with four children among those who were injured.

Only one name, six-year-old Kinana Yassin, was released. The young girl was wounded along with all of her family members and @OM9gIkeG2us5IXi added that she was an IDP from the village of Atshan in the Hama countryside.

Local sources tweeted and posted images of the destruction of Sarmin City and stated that Russian warplanes had launched five consecutive strikes upon the heavily civilian area.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported that there were “thirty seconds of panic and death today in Sarmin city in Idlib, after regime’s warplanes attacked it with five airstrikes. Seven people were injured in the attack”.

Sources give conflicting reports on the belligerent of the airstrikes, blaming both Russian and Syrian regime forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Kinana Yassin
6 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Kinana Yassin, injured in airstrikes on Sarmin on January 11, 2020. (Image posted by Melhem.abusaleh via Facebook)
  • Civilians were wounded in 5 consecutive raids targeting Sarmin on January 11, 2020. (Image posted by @QasiounAr)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Kinana Yassin, injured in airstrikes on Sarmin on January 11, 2020. (Image posted by @OM9gIkeG2us5IXi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Kinana Yassin, injured in airstrikes on Sarmin on January 11, 2020. (Image posted by @11turkmgz)
  • Image of Kinana Yassin, injured in airstrikes on Sarmin on January 11, 2020. (Image posted by @11turkmgz)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4325

Incident date

January 21, 2020

Location

تقاد, Taqad, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One to two children were reported killed and up to four other civilians, including one to two children and one or two women, were reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Taqad in Aleppo, Syria on January 21st, 2020, according to local sources. Syrian Civil Defense said the two women believed to be injured are IDPs from another part of the country.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “the child Jum’ah al Rashid, aged 10, was killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Taqad village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on January 21.”

Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported the death of the child and “the injury of the Ahmed Al-Araj’s daughter, 7 years old, and the injury of a woman.” @fawaz_jwaid tweeted about the “death of a 7-year-old girl, Bint Ahmed Al-Araj“, indicating that Ahmed’s daughter died from her injuries. Zeitoun Newspaper also put the death toll at two civilians.

SMART Agency quoted Syrian Civil Defense saying ” A child was killed and four others were wounded, including a woman, as a result of missile strikes from Russian warplanes on Taqad village, which is located in the city of Darat Azza in the western countryside of Aleppo.” Images posted by @aymanalahmadd show two young girls being treated for injuries from the airstrikes and Syria TV mentions that those injured were family members of the civilian killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights expected the death toll to rise as there are many injuries including some in critical conditions.

@RamahKasem added that civilian property was destroyed from the airstrikes.

@ShahbaPress, Macro Media Center, SMART Agency, Local Coordination Committees of Syria and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed Russia for this incident, while Syrian Civil Defense blamed the Syrian Regime, while Nors for Studies blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime. @fawaz_jwaid referred to vacuum missiles as being used in the attack.

The incident occured at 11:20:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Jum’ah al Rashid
10 years old male killed
Bint Ahmed Al-Araj
7 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • SCD volunteers in the aftermath of an airstrike on Taqad in Aleppo on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo)
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Taqad in Aleppo, on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • SCD responding to airstrikes on Taqad in Aleppo, Syria on January 21st, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @Sy24ria, taken by Ramy El Sayed)
  • Rubble of buildings caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)
  • Damage to civilian property caused by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @RamahKasem)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @aymanalahmadd)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured by strikes on Taqad on January 21, 2020. (Image posted by @aymanalahmadd)

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 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4127

Incident date

January 28, 2020

Location

سرج,, Sarja, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source, Syrialiveua, reported that four civilians were killed in “raids” on Sarja.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4397

Incident date

February 2, 2020

Location

المسطومة, Al Mastouma, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were reported killed and between two and three civilians were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian airstrike or artillery shelling on the outskirts of the town of Al Mastouma in the southern countryside of Idlib on February 2nd, 2020.

More specifically, Step News Agency and an Al-Jisr correspondent stated that armed forces attacked the road between Al Mastouma town and the city of Idlib. Multiple sources mentioned that cluster munition was used during the attack on Al Mastouma. According to Edlib Media Center and a tweet from @our_syria, “Two rockets carrying cluster bombs landed in the town of [Al Mastouma].” FN Agency reported that warplanes of the Assad militia targeted the road between Idlib and Al Mastouma with cluster missiles.

Regarding civilian harm, most sources reported the death of one civilian. However, Shaam News Network said that the attack on Al Mastouma took the lives of two civilians. @anastracey identified the victims as Bashar Abdel-Karim Taha and Ahmed Abdel-Karim Taha. Reports on injuries vary. @anastracey made mention of two wounded civilians. The Step News Agency initially said that a number of civilians were injured without giving an exact number, though they later revised their estimate to three.

Al Araby mentioned that the attack on Al Mastouma was part of wider air and missile bombardments by Russian and Regime forces on the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo. They cited the Syrian Response Coordinators team that had observed massive displacement in the southern and western countryside of Aleppo and the southern and eastern Idlib countryside since January 16th, 2020 as a result of these military campaigns.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strike, with Nedaa Post attributing the strike to Russian armed forces while FN Agency referred to regime forces as having carried out the strike. Step News Agency initially reported that Russian warplanes bombed the outskirts of Al Mastouma with cluster bombs. However, later on it claimed that Syrian regime forces were responsible for the attack. Shaam News Network attributed the attack on Al Mastouma to both Russia and the Regime, but they consolidated the report into a larger report of strikes across the Idlib governorate.

The incident occured at 16:34:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Bashar Abdel-Karim Taha بشار عبد الكريم طه
killed
Ahmed Abdel-Karim Taha احمد عبد الكريم طه
killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

Sources (13) [ 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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4434

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Shaam Network reported that “The Assad and Russian aviation launched intensive and violent airstrikes targeting the areas of clashes and civilian homes in Idlib on February 11th, 2020, which led to many civilians wounded in the cities, towns and villages of Kafr Nabl, Benish and Sarmin, the two bridges, Sheikh Dames, Kafr Sijnah, Marabaya, Hass, and Armnaya.”

Airwars has no other information about how many civilians were injured in these various incidents. Due to limitations in sources, it is possible that the casualties have been reflected in other assessments.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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

RS4466

Incident date

February 19, 2020

Location

بيدر شمسو, Baidar Shamsu, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian was reported injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Baidar Shamsu, Idlib governorate, on February 19th, 2020, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria.

The LCCSy reported that a “Russian raid targeting the outskirts of Baidar Shamsu village resulted in an injury”. The incident occurred at 5:56 PM.

Airwars was not able to find any other information on this incident.

The incident occured at approximately 5:56 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4496

Incident date

March 1, 2020

Location

باتنتة, Batneta, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two to four civilians, including one child, were killed and five others, including two women, were injured as a result of an alleged Russian or Syrian Regime airstrike on agricultural lands in the vicinity of Batenta village near Idlib on the morning of March 1st 2020 according to local sources.

Almost all of the sources attributed the attack to Russian forces, however the Syrian Network of Human Rights (SNHR) stated that  “Syrian regime fixed- wing warplanes” fired the missiles on the village.

Ahmed Sheikho, the director of the media office of the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, said in a statement that four civilians, including a child, were killed and five others, including two women, were wounded as a result of a raid by Russian warplanes targeting agricultural lands in the vicinity of Batenta village, north of Idlib. The civil defense team worked to rescue the injured and retrieve the dead bodies.

While most of the sources reported the death of 4 civilians, Edlib Media Center mentioned that the airstrike killed 2 people, and Syrian Network for Human Rights stated on the day following the attack that 3 civilians, including one child, were killed.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on agricultural lands near the village of Batneta, Idlib governorate, on March 1st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Site after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on agricultural lands near the village of Batneta, Idlib governorate, on March 1st, 2020 (via EMC).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on agricultural lands near the village of Batneta Idlib governorate, on March 1st, 2020 (via EMC).
  • The Civil defense checks the remnants of the weapon used in the attack near the village of Batenta, north of Idlib. March 01, 2020 (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The Civil defense checks the remnants of the weapon used in the attack near the village of Batenta, north of Idlib. March 01, 2020 (Idlib Gate)

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
    2 – 4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4280

Incident date

December 21, 2019

Location

تل منس, Tal Menes, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

In one of two incidents in Tal Menes on December 21-22, 2019, civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on the village the morning of December 21st, 2019, according to local sources.

Both @ShahbaPress and a Facebook post by Mustafa.alshekh78 identified civilians injured in the strikes but did not provide a number.

A Facebook post by Wasim Alkhalaf reported that Russian raids were carried out against the village of Tal Menes at 10:36 and at 10:46.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes. Alkhaleej Online reported that the regime carried out the strikes while @AramMedia_N attributed the strikes to Russia. A tweet from @oulaalassaad identified Su-24 warplanes as carrying out the missile strikes while @mhmood540123 referred to a helicopter.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Hasan al Hasan
Age unknown male killed
Suleiman al Halabi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

Sources (8) [ 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
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]