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

R4513

Incident date

May 15, 2023

Location

كفرعويد, Kafr Aweed, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One man, identified by sources as Suleiman Muhammad al-Saleem, was killed on May 15th 2023 after artillery shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the village of Kafr Aweed in the southern countryside of Idlib according to local media outlets and the Syrian Civil Defence.

Initial reports from the Syrian Civil Defence said that a victim was taken to hospital to be treated for an abdominal injury, and later updated their reporting to state that the injured civilian died from his wounds.Twitter user @Nadjat567 claimed the shelling resulted in multiple casualties, with no further information on these.

Multiple sources reported that the area was subjected to ‘intense’ artillery shelling. Syria TV alleged that the shelling came from forces stationed in the Zaytoun camp near Kafranbel.

Macro Media Centre, local TV channel HalabToday, IQA News Agency, Baladi Network and Al Tareek attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime.

The Syria Civil Defence, Shaam, Zaiton and Syria TV attributed the artillery shelling to both Russian and Syrian forces. Local news source Zaiton Mag reported that “The towns of Al-Bara, Deir Sunbul and Benin, south of Idlib, Maarat Al-Naasan, northeast of Idlib, the vicinity of Al-Atarib, Al-Qasr, Al-Wasata, Kafarama and Kafr Taal, west of Aleppo, and Al-Sarmaniyeh and Dweir Al-Akrad, west of Hama, were also subjected to similar shelling, without causing casualties.”  Multiple media reports claimed that the shelling was deliberate in order to prevent civilians from returning to villages near contact lines.

The incident occured in the atternoon.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Suleiman Muhammad al- Saleem
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers helping a civilian injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @​​SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Suleiman Muhammad al- Saleem, killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @@MMCSYR)
  • alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of Kafr Aweed on May 15, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4512

Incident date

April 25, 2023

Location

معربليت, Ma’arablit, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young woman was killed and four other civilians, including two children and a woman, were injured by alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian artillery shelling of Ma’arablit on April 25, 2023.

Afrin Post reported that Noura Abdul Hamid Al-Ahmad, twenty years old, was killed by artillery strikes in Ma’arablit, and her family members, the infant Lyan Muhammad Al-Ahmad, only eight months old, Nour Abdul Hamid Al-Ahmad, sixteen years old, Khadija Abdul Hamid Al-Ahmad, eighteen years old, and Ghufran Najjar, twenty years old, were all injured.

All members of the same family, @SY_plus also reports two of their pet cats died from the strike.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that in addition to the one woman killed, four others were injured in the shelling. Other local sources provided similar casualty counts.

Ahmed Razzouk, a volunteer for the White Helmets, gave an account that the family had been gathering and celebrating Eid when the shelling occurred. Ahmed also described 8 month old Lyan, who was injured by shrapnel in her thigh, as crying and shouting for her injured mother after the shelling.

According to multiple sources, artillery shelling from regime and/or Russian forces hit Ma’arablit and other residential areas in the south of Idlib. A military source told Afrin News the Syrian regime’s military began bombing residential areas in Ma’arblit with heavy artillery, affecting many civilian homes. Zaman Al Wasl specified that the shelling was carried out by regime forces stationed in the city of Saraqib. Afrin Post reports the shelling occurred only hours after a meeting between defense ministers from Syria, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and North Press Agency notes the Northwestern region of Syria, which included Ma’arablit, continues to be affected by violence despite a 2020 de-escalation agreement between Russia and Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Noura Abdul Hamid Al-Ahmad
20 years old female killed
Lyan Muhammad Al-Ahmad
1 years old female injured
Nour Abdul Hamid Al-Ahmad
16 years old injured
Khadija Abdul Hamid Al-Ahmad
18 years old injured
Ghufran Najjar
20 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of eight month old Lyan injured by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arablit on April 25, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of eight month old Lyan injured by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arablit on April 25, 2023. (Image posted by @zaid__hassn)

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4510

Incident date

April 16–17, 2023

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Around midnight on April 16-17th artillery fire wounded five civilians in Al-Abizmo, a town west of Aleppo. The victims consisted of a woman and her four children. Local news agencies were conflicted as to whether the strike confirmed the strike was conducted by the Syrian regime, Russian forces or Iranian militias.

A few of the local sources, including @akhbar, only mention one woman injured, while other sources reported that in addition to the woman, her four children were also injured, with a few sources only mentioning three children injured. Zaman Al Wasl mentioned that the woman and children were injured to varying degrees, and were taken to the hospital.

No deaths have been confirmed as a result of this bout of shelling. Shaam News alleged the shelling was conducted in retaliation for opposition activity: “Al-Assad’s forces responded, as usual, to their military losses by bombing civilian homes and residential neighborhoods, as they targeted the vicinity of the village of Al-Abzimo, west of Aleppo, with artillery shells”.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime. However, @Almohrar1 blamed Russian forces while @wa3ediq mentioned Iranian militias as being involved alongside the Syrian regime. The Syrian regime and its Russian partners have not yet made reference to the strikes.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Two of the children injured by artillery shelling in Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @alaskari_media_)
  • Remnants after an alleged Russian/Syrian regime/Iranian shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by Euphrates Post via Facebook)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)
  • Damage to a home caused by shelling of Al Abzimo on April 16, 2023. (Image posted by @Sy_press_agency)

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4509

Incident date

April 9, 2023

Location

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On April 9th, 2023, in the town off Sarmin, east of Idlib, multiple sources allege artillery fire from Syrian and/or Russian forces killed 15 year old boy Ibrahim Musab Al Haj Musa and injured between three to four others, including a six year old child named Malak Khalaf, a three year old named Abdul Salam Al Mustafa, and one and a half year old baby named Muhammad Al Mousa, the names being from the Syrian Civil Defense and Baladi News reports.

Ibrahim Musab Al Haj Musa dreamed of becoming a doctor or an engineer; multiple sources note that he had been born in Saraqib, and had been displaced by the war to live in Sarmin.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Syrian Human Rights Committee, and the Syrian Civil Defense, and other sources note that the artillery strikes affected residential areas and markets in Sarmin, and Twitter user @mzmgr941 stated the strikes were “targeting civilians exclusively”.

Syria Files alleged the artillery strikes came from Syrian regime forces based in Saraqib, the hometown of Ibrahim Musab Al Haj Musa. Twitter user @mzmgr941 reported the bombing of the city had escalated, and a number of reconnaissance planes hovered over the city, and blamed Syrian regime forces along with the Russian and Iranian occupation.

Multiple sources blame Syrian president Bashar Al Assad personally for the attack, claiming it was in reaction to an earlier strike from Israel, including @Omar_Madaniah and @k7ybnd99, a reporter for Television Syria. As the Syrian Civil Defense reports, this alleged strike occurred in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake in Syria, which has further devastated the lives of Syrians, and during the holy month of Ramadan, “[depriving] families of the joy of being reunited at the Iftar tables.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Musab Al Haj Musa
15 years old male killed
Malak Khalaf
6 years old injured
Abdul Salam Al Mustafa
3 years old injured
Muhammad Al Mousa
1.5 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • People mourning the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • People mourning the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @MMCSYR)
  • A child was killed and 4 others were wounded in shelling by Assad's militia on "Sarmin" east of Idlib

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first moments of our teams' response to artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeted the city of Sarmin, east of #Idlib today, Sunday, April 9, killing a child and wounding 4 others, including an infant.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @Omar_Madaniah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @Omar_Madaniah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @Omar_Madaniah)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the alleged Russian/Syrian regime bombing of Sarmin on April 9, 2023. (Image posted by @mzmgr941)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • A displaced child was killed and others injured as the criminal Assad militia targeted the city of Sarmin, east of Idlib, with artillery shells.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4508

Incident date

March 30, 2023

Location

ترمانين, Termanin, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the evening of March 30th, 2023, several sources reported alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling near Termanin, north of Idlib resulting in the injury of between one and two civilians.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights and other sources report that one civilian was wounded while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other sources report two civilians were wounded due to the shelling. Details about the civilians affected are limited, but Baladi News reported that one of the civilians injured was a man who received help from civil defense teams in accessing medical care. They note the attack occurred during the 8th night of Ramadan, and multiple sources reported the attack affected a camp for displaced people.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blame Syrian regime forces for the attack, while the Syria Civil Defense and From Idlib allege both Russian and Syrian regime forces were responsible, and Al Mohrar holds Russian forces responsible. Baladi News specified that the shelling was carried out by forces stationed in the western countryside of Aleppo.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers response to alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Termanin on March 30, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4507

Incident date

March 24, 2023

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man identified by sources as Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, was reportedly killed in the town of Al Abzimo, in the western countryside of Aleppo on March 24th 2023 after a contested attack as a result of Russian forces and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling hit the marketplace after midnight, according to the Syrian Civil Defense and other local sources.

Baladi reported that this attack took place during the time when residents were breaking their fast, after the first day of Ramadan.

Baladi also reported that there was material damage to shops, as well as other sources reporting that residential houses were also damaged too.

 

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Mamoun Hijazi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, reportedly killed by artillery fire in Al Abzimo, in the western countryside of Aleppo (Image via @Ahmad__1alshble / Twitter)
  • "A person was killed and a fire broke out in the town of Al-Abzimo in the western countryside of #Aleppo, with artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the town's market after midnight. Our teams responded and made sure that there were no other casualties in the place." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, "Ayman Hijazi" and another injury, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the countryside of Aleppo." (Image ia @Sy_Press_Agency / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, "Ayman Hijazi" and another injury, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the countryside of Aleppo." (Image ia @Sy_Press_Agency / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, as a result of artillery shelling by pro-Assad forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the western countryside of Aleppo" (Image via @OrientNews / Twitter)
  • Jamil al Hasan / YouTube

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

R4506

Incident date

March 23, 2023

Location

الأتارب, Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to one civilian was killed, plus one woman and a man were reportedly injured as a result of contested action by Russian forces or the Syrian regime when a marketplace and a residential neighbourhood was hit by artillery and missile shelling in the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo, Syria. This attack took place on March 23rd 2023, the first day of Ramadan, in the evening.

Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Syrian regime and reported that “Syrian regime artillery forces fired multiple shells targeting Atareb city in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate. A number of shells landed on civilians’ homes, while the remainder landed in the popular market in the city center, injuring one man and woman as well as inflicting moderate damage and partial destruction on shops in the popular market, as well as in the street.”

Al Araby news blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces and reported that the attack led to the cancellation of “Tarawih” prayers in the town. @HalabTodayTV reported that the attack happened “at the moment of breaking the fast.”

@KawtharQshqosh was the only source to report that this attack killed a “person”, the other sources all reported that two civilians were injured.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atareb, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, during the breakfast hour on the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan." (@SyrianCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "Artillery shelling by the Russian external occupation during Iftar on the city of Atarib, west of Aleppo, causing civilian casualties" (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • "Residents announce the cancellation of Tarawih prayers in the city due to the intense shelling" (Image via @Aishasapri / Twitter)
  • "The sounds of children's cries rose above it" (Image via @rami498 / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "Mosques in the city of #Al-Atareb cancel Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan due to the artillery shelling that the city is subjected to by the Assad regime, which led to the death of one person and the injury of dozens" (Image via @KawtharQshqosh / Twitter)
  • "A woman and a man were injured in artillery shelling by the forces of the Assad regime and loyal militias, targeting the popular market and residential neighborhoods of the city of Atarib, west of #Aleppo, this evening, Thursday, March 23, in the first minute of breaking the fast on the first day of the holy month of #Ramadan." (Image via @khaleedalkhteb / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)
  • "Muhammad Rajab Lattouf.. His house was destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck the city of #Atareb in the countryside of #Aleppo" (Image via @Sy_press_agency / Twitter)

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

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
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4505

Incident date

March 17, 2023

Location

افس, Afes, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.905004, 36.802975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child, a girl, and a woman were reportedly injured on March 17th 2023 after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime machine gun fire or shelling hit the village of Afes, east of Idlib in Syria.

Two sources, the White Helmets and Baladi reported that a child was injured by Russian forces, and the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights reported that a woman was injured by Syrian regime forces.

There is no further information about these civilians at this time.

 

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Afes (افس), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.905004, 36.802975. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Artillery
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]