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
4805 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS3542

Incident date

September 7, 2018

Location

الهبيط, Al Habit, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.4379459, 36.5379524 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018, according to local sources.

@SyriaCivilDefe reported that “four civilians were killed, and seven others were wounded, most of them in serious condition, as a result of heavy aerial and artillery shelling in the outskirts of the town of Al Habit and the village of Tel Aas in the southern countryside of Idlib this morning, where the two areas were targeted with nine Russian and Syrian airstrikes, and 25 artillery shells from the Assad forces’ checkpoints.”

Local activists told Smart News Agency that four civilians were killed and seven others were wounded in three rocket attacks on the town. Two of the wounded were in critical condition. One of the victims had his hand amputated.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that one of the victims was Fayyad Hussein Al Ezdin, from Al Trimasa village in Hama governorate.

@HalabTodayTV tweeted: “One martyr and several wounded, due to the shelling of Russian warplanes with vacuum missiles, around the town of Al Habit in the southern countryside of Idlib.” @IdlibPlus also reported civilian casualties.

@hasan0soufan reported that four militants of Ahrar Al Sham were killed and five were wounded in Russian airstrikes on their camp in Al Habit. Shaam News also reported that an Al Sham military camp had been targeted, killing four militants. All other sources reported that the victims were civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fayyad Hussein Al Ezdin فياض حسين العزدين
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "The moment the Russian warplanes bombed with a missile on the outskirts of the town of Al Habit in southern Idlib countryside" (via @HadiAlabdallah).
  • Translation: "Four civilians were killed, and seven others were wounded, most of them in serious condition, as a result of heavy aerial and artillery shelling in the outskirts of the town of Al Habit and the village of Tel Aas in the southern countryside of Idlib this morning, where the two areas were targeted with nine Russian and Syrian airstrikes, and 25 artillery shells from before the Assad forces' checkpoints" (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers carrying a victim after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers helping a victim after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • A digger removing rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Translation: "Russian warplanes bombed with vacuum missiles at the outskirts of the town of Al Habit in the southern countryside of Idlib" (via @SyrianCoalition).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via @SyrianCoalition).
  • Smoke after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via Ahmad.Kanfoura on Facebook).
  • Photo of smoke after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via Ahmad.Kanfoura on Facebook).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via Ahmad.Kanfoura on Facebook).
  • Photo of smoke after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the town of Al Habit, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018 (via Ahmad.Kanfoura 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3886

Incident date

July 10, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma’ret Al Nu’man, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two people were wounded by alleged Russian or Syrian shelling on the city of Ma’ret Al Nu’man South Idlib. Local reports did not specify whether the victims were civilians.

@HadiAlabdallah said that the shelling led to rendering Ma’aret Al-Nu’man main hospital out of service.

@Step_Agency said that Russian warplanes targeted the area with vacuum rockets.

No other details are known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Shelling destructed this structure in Ma'arat al-Nu'man in Idlib on July 10th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Shelling destructed this structure in Ma'arat al-Nu'man in Idlib on July 10th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Shelling destructed this structure in Ma'arat al-Nu'man in Idlib on July 10th (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Overturned furniture and rubble in an empty hospital room. (HRW)

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3484

Incident date

June 27, 2018

Location

ناحتة, Nahta, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were reported injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime raids on Nahta in Dara’a, Syria on June 27th, 2018.

Shaam Network reported that “the raids also resulted in  a number of wounded in  Daraa al-Balad, Ghariyah al-Sharqiya, al-Harak, Saida, Nahata, Kahil, Nawa, Tasil, al Soura, Ibta’a, Shaikh Saad, Tafas and al Taibeh.” and blamed Russia for the incident.

However, @Step_Agency accused the regime of the responsibility and tweeted ” The withdrawal of the opposition forces from the town of Nahata, east of Daraa, after heavy and intense air and ground shelling by the regime forces, and reports that the regime has entered the town.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (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
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3982

Incident date

July 30, 2019

Location

موقا, Mouqa, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that an unknown number of civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Mouqa, Idlib governorate, on July 30th, 2019.

@Step_Agency reported that “Russian warplanes targeted the town of Mouqa in the southern countryside of Idlib”

@Syrian191124 tweeted: “Helicopters targeted with barrel bombs the vicinity of the village of Mouqa in the southern countryside of Idlib”

In another post, Step News Agency reported: “The Russian air force targeted several air strikes in Khan, Moka and Jbala villages in the southern countryside of Idlib, injuring a number of civilians.”

All sources blamed Russia for the strikes.

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
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Warplanes shelling the village of Mouqa , southern Idlib countryside on July 30th, 2019 (via @AlatrashGhaleb).

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
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3994

Incident date

August 6, 2019

Location

بلدات متعددة في حماه, Several towns in Hama, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source reported an unknown number of civilian casualties as the result of alleged Russian air and artillery strikes on several cities and towns in Hama governorate on August 6th, 2019.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian warplanes and helicopters launched dozens of airstrikes accompanied by fierce rocket and artillery shelling that targeted the cities and towns of Kafar Zeita, Morek, Latamnina, Zakat, Hawija, Hawash, Sarmaniya, Latmin, Daqmaq, Hamidiya and Khirbet Al Naqous, causing many civilian casualties.”

Further information is currently unavailable to Airwars.

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
    5 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

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
    5 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4128

Incident date

November 2, 2019

Location

حزارين, Hizareen town, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.600002, 36.526 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Hizareen the morning of November 2, 2019.

The White Helmets reported: “One man was killed and another injured as a result of a Russian military air raid, targeting civilian homes in the town of Hizareen”. A tweet from @ramiswidfree added that “the civil defense teams rescued the killed man and took the injured man to the nearest medical point to receive the necessary treatment.”

A tweet from @QasiounAr reported “a civilian was killed and others wounded in a Russian raid on Hazarin.”

According to the Syrian Human Rights Committee, “In Idlib governorate, six people were killed, five of them by the Russian bombardment of the towns of Jabala and Hizareen”.

An image posted by @AleppoAMC shows the “destruction in civilian homes” as a result of the airstrikes on Hazarin.

A pro-regime source @signal7579 posted that “the Syrian Air Force destroys several Al-Qaeda outposts in Hazarin in the southern countryside of Idlib.”

All sources that reported on the incident attributed the airstrikes to Russia except the pro-regime source that attributed the strikes to the regime.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Hizareen, Nov 2nd (via White Helmets)
  • Image caption: A civilian was killed and others wounded in a Russian raid on Hazarin. (Image posted by @QasiounAr)
  • Caption translation: The effects of destruction in civilian homes as a result of the air strikes that hit the town of Hazarin in the southern Idlib countryside this morning. (Image posted by @AleppoAMC)
  • Caption translation: A man was killed and another wounded, as a result of an air strike by Russian warplanes targeting civilian homes in the town of Hazarin, south of Idlib, this afternoon, Saturday. The civil defense teams rescued the killed man and took the injured man to the nearest medical point to receive the necessary treatment. (Image posted by @ramiswidfree)
  • Caption translation: A man was killed and another wounded, as a result of an air strike by Russian warplanes targeting civilian homes in the town of Hazarin, south of Idlib, this afternoon, Saturday. The civil defense teams rescued the killed man and took the injured man to the nearest medical point to receive the necessary treatment. (Image posted by @ramiswidfree)

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
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4159

Incident date

November 12, 2019

Location

كفرنبل, Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6155094, 36.5471898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including a woman, were killed and around seven civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the city of Kafar Nabil, Idlib governorate, on November 12th, 2019. In addition, five militants were reported killed.

Step News Agency reporter Omar Al Omar stated that “Russian warplanes have launched several raids with vacuum missiles since this morning on the outskirts of Kafar Nabil and the southern outskirts of Hass, killing five civilians and wounding others in Kafar Nabil”. Euphrates Post and @fattumabdulfat1 reported four killed civilians while @tranem122 identified eight civilians as being killed.

Local sources however reported to Smart News Agency that five militants were killed, rather than civilians. According to Shaam News Agency, this number included four militants from militant jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir Al Sham.

Both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Step News Agency reported that a woman was killed. The Syrian Network of Human Rights identified Abdul Hamid al Khalil as another killed civilian. Hence, it is likely that at least two civilians were killed. An image posted by @MoamenRawy shows a White Helmet treating a child.

Whereas most sources reported “multiple injured civilians”, @ShahbaPress reported 7 wounded.

All of the sources that reported on the strikes attributed the strikes to Russia while tweets from @MoamenRawy and @SyrianCoalition also mentioned the regime as carrying out strikes on the countryside.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Hamid Al Khalil
Adult male from Kafr Nbouda killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 8
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: The killing of 4 civilians in Kafr Nabl and reports of casualties in Shannan as a result of Russian and regime air strikes on the southern countryside of Idlib. (Image posted by @MoamenRawy)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes on Kafr Nabl on November 12, 2019. (Images posted by @SyrianCoalition)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes on Kafr Nabl on November 12, 2019. (Images posted by @SyrianCoalition)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes on Kafr Nabl on November 12, 2019. (Images posted by @SyrianCoalition)
  • Images of the aftermath of alleged Russian strikes on Kafr Nabl on November 12, 2019. (Images posted by @SyrianCoalition)
  • Caption translation: Zaytoun Agency correspondent: A martyr and injured civilians as a result of renewed Russian air strikes on the city of Kafr Nabl in the southern countryside of Idlib, bringing the death toll from the morning until the moment to 6 people. (Image posted by @ZaitunAgency)

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
    2 – 8
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4193

Incident date

November 23, 2019

Location

قرية الشيخ بحر, al-Sheikh Bahr village, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Sheikh Bahr village in Idlib, Syria on November 23rd, 2019 according to local sources.

IdlibPlus reported that “three people were also injured in the village of Sheikh Al- Bahr west of Idlib as a result of being targeted by four raids by Russian aircraft” and also tweeted that the strikes occurred at Sheikh Bahr camp.

Orient News also reported that there were three civilian casualties from the strikes but didn’t specify whether they were injuries or deaths.

According to a tweet from @SyriawatanNews, warplanes were targeting “terrorist groups in the Sheikh Bahr area”.

@HalabTodayTV identified four raids as being carried out by Russian forces while a tweet from @1zb0Yyh41tvDqU7 put the number of raids at two. All of the other sources attributed the strikes to Russia.

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
    3
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Raids by Russian warplanes target the outskirts of Sheikh Bahr camp in the western countryside of Idlib. (Image posted by @IdlibPlus)
  • White Helmets respond to strikes on the village of Sheikh Bahr, injuring civilians on November 23, 2019. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

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
    3
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]