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

RS4532

Incident date

November 17, 2020

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5816284, 36.9212293 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a man, was reported killed and one civilian sustained injuries as the result of an alleged Russian and/or Regime strike on the village of Sarja in the southern countryside of Idlib on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Regarding civilian harm, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that “A 30-year-old Syrian citizen, named as Munif Ahmad Naddaf, died when the roof of his home in Sarja village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate collapsed on November 17, 2020.” SNHR quoted local activist according to whom “the roof had been severely damaged by intensive bombardment of the village by Syrian-Russian Alliance forces in previous military campaigns, including the dropping of barrel bombs weighing between 50 and 1,000 kilograms.”

The Syrian Civil Defence and Thiqa News agency provided that a civilian was killed an another civilian sustained injuries when a cracked roof, resulting from previous Regime bombing, collapsed on Tuesaday evening, November 17. According to the SCD, this was the second incident that day in which a civilian died because a destabilized roof collapsed.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strike, with @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc attributing the strike to the russian Armed Forces while @Khaled_Sheikh1 and @thiqanewsagency referred to the Regime as having carried out the attack on Sarja that caused the roof to collapse. The SNHRnamed both forces as responsible for the strike.

The incident allegedly took place in the evening.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Munif Ahmad Naddaf
30 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
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence teams carrying a victim after a civilian home in Sarja village collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on an unknown date (via SNHR).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sarja (سرجة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.5816284, 36.9212293. 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4458

Incident date

August 13, 2022

Location

بالقرب من بلدة النيرب بريف إدلب الجنوبي الشرقي, Near the town of Neirab in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, Amer Hussein al Asmar, from the town Halfaya was killed by a landmine explosion of the remnants of the battles near Jubas while he was collecting figs near the town of Neirab in the southeastern countryside of Idlib on August 13th 2022. Local media sources state that the victim was married and left behind his two children. One sole report by TvIdlib, identifies the victim by the name Amer Abu Khaled.

According to local sources, the landmine was a remain of the recurring bombings in northwestern Syria as a result of Syrian regime and Russian forces actions. The northwestern area of Syria has allegedly thousands of unexploded landmines from continued bombings, preventing ordinary civilians to harvest their crops.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amer Hussein al Asmar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • One civilian was reportedly killed by a landmine explosion in Jubas on August 13th 2022 (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • One civilian was reportedly killed by a landmine explosion in Jubas on August 13th 2022 (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • One civilian was reportedly killed by a landmine explosion in Jubas on August 13th 2022 (Image via @defense_syr / Twitter)

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 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4493

Incident date

November 22, 2022

Location

تديل, Tadel, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian was wounded by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of the village of Tadel on November 22, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was wounded by artillery shelling carried out by the Syrian regime forces and Russian forces on residential neighborhoods in the village of Tadel.

A tweet from @AsharqNewsSYR pointed out that the shelling coincided with the commencing of the 19th round of peace talks regarding Syria in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible, with @Almohrar1 identifying Russian forces while @alaskari_media blamed the Syrian regime. Alaraby News reported that the shelling coincided with the “intense flight of Russian reconnaissance planes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers treat a civilian injured by alleged Russian or regime shelling of the village of Adel on November 22, 2022. (Image posted by @AsharqNewsSYR)

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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4531

Incident date

July 11, 2023

Location

الأتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On July 11th 2023, Syrian Civil Defense volunteer Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdel-Khalek was killed when Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly struck a rescue vehicle in the vicinity of the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo.

Local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and Rasd Syria News stated that Abdul was killed in a double tap attack by regime forces with a guided missile, while the team was inspecting places that were hit by artillery shelling.

The Syria Monitoring Network of Human Rights reported that the “Syrian regime forces are still continuing their violations against civilians in their areas of control, violating international laws and non-compliance with them, and violating the ceasefire agreement, and recently increased shelling by the Syrian regime forces on civilian-populated cities.”

A tweet from @jabalybaraa includes a video of the Civil Defense vehicle up in flames, which was attributed to a guided missile, which resulted in the death of the volunteer.

The majority of the sources attributed the missile attack to the Syrian regime, while @tAAprK80Nn3GKmd identified Russian forces as responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdel-Khalek
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn the death of our volunteer, “Abdul Basit Ahmed Abdul Khaleq,” a martyr in a double attack by the regime forces with a guided heat missile that targeted the rescue vehicle while the team was working to inspect places that were hit by artillery shelling of the regime forces, on the outskirts of the city of Atarib, west of #Aleppo, today, Tuesday, July 11. (Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Yesterday he was donating his blood to save a human life, and today he donated his soul and the most precious thing he owns. The volunteer martyr: Abdulbaset Abdulkhaleq during his participation about a month ago in the International Day of Blood Donors. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Moments full of sadness and oppression during the recovery of the body of the volunteer "Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdul Khaleq" who was martyred in a double attack by the regime forces by targeting a rescue team's car in the Syrian Civil Defense with a guided missile while the team was inspecting places that were subjected to artillery shelling by the regime forces southeast of the city of Atareb, west of Aleppo, today, Tuesday 11 July.
  • Abdul Basset Ahmed Abdel-Khalek, a civil defense volunteer, was killed by alleged Syrian regime or Russian strikes in Atareb on July 11, 2023. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Moments documenting the targeting by the regime forces of the car of the rescue team of the Syrian Civil Defense in the city of Atarib, and the martyrdom of the volunteer Abdulbaset Abdulkhaleq during the team's response to inspect the places of artillery shelling with a mortar shell from the regime forces on the outskirts of the city of Atarib yesterday, Tuesday, July 11.

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 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4576

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

منطف, Mantef, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Thursday, October 5, 2023, an artillery shelling was allegedly carried out by the Syrian regime forces and/or Russian military on the village of Mantaf in the southern countryside of Idlib, reportedly killing at least one civilian, a woman later identified as Sulaf Abido.

The alleged attack was reported by the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) as well as the local media outlets, and a journalist, Ahmed Rahhal. Two Facebook users also circulated a list of the names of the identified victims of the attacks in Idlib, its countryside, and the western Aleppo countryside, including Sulaf Abido, who was the only reported victim of the attack in Mantaf.

One day after the alleged incident, on October 6, 2023, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) conveyed that the regime forces bombed the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib, corroborating the information shared by the majority of the sources regarding the attack in Mantaf village and conveying that the strike was attributed to the Syrian regime. An account on Facebook allegedly belonging to an individual, Omar Al Talawi, also suspected Russian militias. As of February 4, 2024, neither of the suspected belligerents has issued an official statement claiming their responsibility for the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sulaf Abido سلاف عبيدو
Age unknown female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Source: @globalJSN

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 woman)
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS023

Incident date

October 7, 2015

Location

جبل الزاوية, Jabal al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.71345, 36.52933 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Syrian Observatory, Russian aircraft targeted a number of locations in Idlib governorate on October 7th including “Khan Shekhon, al-Tama’a, and al-Habeet in the southern countryside of Idlib, and other areas of Ehsim and al-Bara in the Zawyia mount [area].”

As many as 10 non-combatants may have died at five different locations. However casualty reporting remains confused. TRT Arabic reported that “Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs on [al Habeet] town, killing six people, wounding 10 most of whom were civilians.” However VDC identified only one person killed in Habeet, named as an FSA combatant. Syrian Network for Human Rights instead said a ten year old boy,  died in the town – but that he was killed by Assad regime artillery fire.

At al Zawiya, an unidentified adult female was reported by VDC as having been killed; an adult male was reported slain at Kansaefreh; and another one was reported killed at Khan Sheikhoun.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Hameid Abu Ras
Child male Named as a 10 year old victim by SN4HR. Killed in al Habeet, Idlib by regime artillery killed
Ibraheem Abdullah al-Dani
Adult male Named as a victim by VDC. Killed in Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib by Russian airstrikes. killed
Muhannad Taqi el-Dein al-Bakour
Adult male Named as a victim by VDC. Killed in Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib by Russian airstrikes. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Missile fragments recovered at al Bara, Idlib, Oct 7th 2015 (via SOHR)
  • Missile fragments recovered in the area between the towns of al Bara and Ihsim in al Zawiya mount. Oct 7th 2015 (via SOHR)
  • Missile fragments recovered in the area between the towns of al Bara and Ihsim in al Zawiya mount. Oct 7th 2015 (via SOHR)
  • Missile fragments recovered in the area between the towns of al Bara and Ihsim in al Zawiya mount. Oct 7th 2015 (via SOHR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Abdul Hameid Abu Ras from Habeet, Idlib, aged 10, killed in alleged Syrian government artillery fired on the town. October 7th, 2015 (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jabal Al Zawiya (جبل الزاوية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.71345, 36.52933. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Russian MoD confirmed multiple strikes in Idlib for October 7th 2015: “In Idlib, a Su-24M aircraft made a strike against an ISIS terrorist training ground. Objecting monitoring data registered multiple explosions of munitions. The training base aimed for the preparation of terrorists is eliminated.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS055

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

بزينة, Bazeena, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.48288, 36.44022 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A seven year old girl and two civilian adults were killed and a dozen injured in an airstrike on the town of Bazeena – though reports were conflicted as to whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The dead child was named as Ghazal Al Tokhi [pictured below], with one tweet reporting that “She was getting water for her parents who were caught in the middle of the siege, when the Russian planes killed her.” Another tweet (below) noted that “Only in the time of oppressors do fathers bury their children.” An entire family was reported to be among those injured.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ghazal Al Tokhi
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "In the time of oppressors only - fathers bury their children. The chidl martyr Ghazal Al Tokhi who was martyred yesterday in Douma." (via @revolutionSyria)
  • "She was getting water for her parents who are in the middle of the siege when the Russian planes killed her. The martyr child Ghazal Al Tokhi, Douma - yesterday." (via @revolutionSyria)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bazeena (بزينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.48288, 36.44022. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Kremlin has confirmed strikes in Damacus governorate for October 18th-19th 2015, noting: “Russian aviation performed 33 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase engaging 49 ISIS facilities in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Lattakia and Hama provinces… Precision strikes of the Russian combat aviation in the Damascus province have crucially changed the operational situation in this region.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS088

Incident date

October 28, 2015

Location

بانص, Banis, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.97697, 36.9748 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one and as many as seven civilians were reported killed in an alleged Russian strike on Bansh. Violations Documentation Center reported that an unnamed woman was killed “Due to the Russian army air forces’ shelling.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Banis (بانص), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.97697, 36.9748. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]