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

RS3450

Incident date

June 24, 2018

Location

الحراك, Al Harak, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman and a young man were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak, Dara’a governorate, on June 24th, 2018. At least one other man was injured, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least two civilians were killed as Syrian/Russian regime warplanes fired missiles on al Harak city in Dara’a governorate’s northeastern suburbs, on June 24, 2018.”

In another post, the SN4HR wrote that “Syrian/Russian regime warplanes fired missiles on al Hrak Makeshift Hospital in al Harak city (…), severely damaging its building and equipment, on June 24, 2018.” According to Al Arabia, the strike led to the hospital being out of service.

Khadija Al Khairat wrote on Facebook that Aisha Issa Al Khairat, also known as “Umm Maan”, was killed in the airstrikes, and that her husband Ibrahim Al Qaddah had been injured.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that Murad Sulaiman Al Hariri had also died in the airstrikes on Al Harak, while multiple other sources stated that the man died in airstrikes on Al Soura on the same date. Multiple sources did report that a civilian male died in addition to a woman in the airstrikes on Al Harak, but the identity of te second victim remains unclear.

Al Harak City reported “many injured”, whereas other sources made no mention of injured civilians besides Ibrahim Al Qaddah.

The eastern countryside of Dara’a was heavily targeted on June 24th, 2018, with reports of strikes on Al Soura, Eastern Maliha, Al Harak, Alma, Nahhath and Basr Al Harir, according to Aswat News, blaming Russia for the airstrikes.

Whereas some sources pointed to Russia as the belligerent for the airstrikes on Al Harak, others blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Aisha Issa Al Khairat
Adult female mother of Maan Al Kaddah killed
Ibrahim Ibrahim Al Qaddah ابراهيم القداح
Adult male husband of Aisha Issa Al Khairat injured

The victims were named as:

Murad Sulaiman Al Hariri
Adult male other sources stated the man died in airstrikes on Al Soura killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Explosions after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak or Al Soura on June 24th, 2018 (via Dara'a Now).
  • Explosions after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak or Al Soura on June 24th, 2018 (via Dara'a Now).
  • Ibrahim Al Qaddah was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Harak on June 24th, 2020. His wife Aisha Issa Al Khairat was killed in the airstrikes (via Mohammad Al Qaddah).

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3840

Incident date

June 22, 2019

Location

اللطامنة, Al Latamina, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was allegedly wounded by Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on the town of Al Latamina in Hama from the camp of South Halfaya.

Halab Today TV reported: “A child was injured by artillery shelling from the Russian camp on the city of Al-Lataminah in the northern Hama countryside.” The source added in a different post that both Russian and the Syrian regime conducted airstrikes in the area.

Mahmod Haway accused the Syrian regime of condcuting the shelling: “Artillery shelling from the checkpoints of the regime’s militia on the agricultural lands located between the city of Al-Latamina and the village of Latmine.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3456

Incident date

June 25, 2018

Location

الصورة, Al Soura, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a woman, were killed and 10 others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Soura on June 25th, 2018, according to local sources.

The LLMA wrote on Facebook that “Russian warplanes launched six airstrikes so far on the town of Al Soura in Dara’a countryside, as a result of which three civilians, including a woman, were killed and ten others, most of them children and women, were wounded, in addition to extensive destruction in civilian homes.”

Qasim Samara, the head of the local council of the town, told Smart News Agency that “a man and a woman were killed and others were wounded by bombing warplanes targeted residential neighbourhoods, schools and infrastructure in the town.”

The LLMA identified one of the victims as Hajj Muhammad Mahmoud Al Sayah Al Haraki. Abu Hussam Al Hiraki wrote on Facebook that the man’s last name was Al Shawamreh. The other victims were identified as Ahlam Abdul-Fattah Al Shawamreh and Raed Mahmoud Al Shawamreh.

Bassam Wasim Bassam wrote on Facebook that “the terrorist Raed Mahmoud Al Shawamreh” had been killed, whereas all other sources listed the man as a civilian.

Whereas most sources blamed Russia for the airstrike, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported the Syrian regime had been responsible.

Dara’a governorate was heavily targeted on June 25th, with Aswat News reporting additional intensive Russian raids on the towns of Eastern Maliha, Alamah, Nahhath and Basr Al Harir.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hajj Muhammad Mahmoud Al Sayah Al Haraki Al Shawamreh الحاج محمد محمود الصياح الحراكي
Adult male killed
Ahlam Abdul Fattah Al Shawamreh أحلام عبدالفتاح الشوامرة
Adult female wife of Munir Mahmoud Al Shawamreh killed
Raed Mahmoud Al Shawamreh رائد محمود الشوامرة
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hajj Muhammad Mahmoud Al Sayah Al Haraki Al Shawamreh was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Soura, June 25th 2018 (via Abu Hussam Al Hiraki 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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3553

Incident date

September 9, 2018

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and others including his brother injured in Kafar Zeita in Hama on September 9th, 2018 after Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes targeted the town with several barrel bombs, according to local sources.

@SyriaCivilDefe identified the victim as Aref al-Hamada and tweeted “The body of the young man Aref al-Hamada was recovered, and his injured brother was rescued as a result of intense shelling by Russian aviation and helicopter flights, as well as artillery and missile shelling of the town of Kafar Zeita, from morning until now.”

Kafar Zita TV said that Aref’s brother, Uday al-Hamada was injured as a result of the raid and that his leg had to be amputated.

Step Agency reported “One person was killed as a result of wounds he sustained after a helicopter bombarded with explosive barrels the town of Kafar Zaita in the northern countryside of Hama.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also said “Aref Mohammad al Hamada was killed as Syrian regime helicopters dropped a barrel bomb on a main street in Kafr Zita city in Hama governorate northern suburbs, on September 9th, 2018.”

@SyriaCivilDefe said that Russia and the Syrian regime are both responsible for this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Aref al-Hamada عارف الحمادة
Adult male killed
Uday Hamada عدي حمادة
Adult male Leg amputation injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Arif Mohammed Hamada, killed in airstrikes on Kafar Zeita, 9th Set 2018. (via Kafar Zita TV)
  • Uday Hamada, injured in airstrikes on Kafar Zeita, 9th Set 2018. (via Kafar Zita TV)
  • Arif Mohammed Hamada, killed in airstrikes on Kafar Zeita, 9th Set 2018. (via SN4HR)
  • SCD volunteer pulling out body of Aref Hamada who was killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Civil Defence)
  • SCD volunteer pulling out body of Aref Hamada who was killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Civil Defence)
  • SCD volunteer pulling out body of Aref Hamada who was killed in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Civil Defence)
  • Image of the targeting of the city of Kafar Zaita and its surroundings by helicopters with several explosive barrels. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Aref Mohammad al Hamada killed as Syrian regime helicopters dropped a barrel bomb on a main street in Kafr Zita city in Hama governorate northern suburbs, on September 9th, 2018. (via SNHR)
  • Aref Al-Hamada was killed as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on September 9th,, 2018. (via Firas Al Bakkour).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aref Al Hamada killed as a result of airstrikes on Kafar Zaita on Sep 9th, 2018 (via Abo Al Hareth).

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
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS903

Incident date

June 14, 2016

Location

Various locations in Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2000000, 37.6000000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Shaam News Network, reported that “Russian planes launched raids on the villages of Zeitan, al Zirba, Al Karassi, Khan Tuman, Al I’ss, Jib Kass and Aleppo – Damascus road – leading the fall of civilian martyrs and wounded.” No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3972

Incident date

July 28, 2019

Location

تحتايا, Tahtaya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two men were reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Tahtaya, Idlib governorate, on July 28th, 2019, according to local sources.

Idlib Plus reported that “two men were wounded because of the targeting of the town of Tahtaya by a Russian airstrike.”

@alahmed_nasser tweeted: “The War Air Force launches raids on the sites of terrorist groups in Al Latamina, Kafr Zita, Morek, and Zakat, north of Hama, Khan Sheikhoun, Tahtaya, and Taramala, south of Idlib”, but did not report on the belligerent or civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4028

Incident date

August 14, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Syria Civil Defense reported the “martyrdom of a civilian and wounding three others, as a result of the targeting of Khan Sheikhoun, Sheikh Dams and the town of Kafr Sijana, Russian warplanes, helicopters and rocket launchers, our teams were there with civilians.”

Step News said that both the Syrian regime and Russia were involved in this incident.

It is unclear which casualties occurred in Khan Sheikhoun at this point.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS4062

Incident date

August 21, 2019

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib , Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians, including as many as two children and a woman, were reported injured in airstrikes on Saraqib, Idlib, on August 21st, 2019.

Syria Civil Defense and Edlib Media Center documented “three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets.” A tweet from @NEDAAPOST also reported three civilians wounded, including two children and a woman.

A tweet from @jisrtv reported that two civilians were wounded in the bombing.

Xeber24 referred to those killed in the bombings as “militants and civilians loyal to Turkey.”

Shaam News stated that “regime warplanes targeted several popular market [with] missiles in the city center of Saraqib, causing civilian casualties and significant damage to the market facilities.” An image posted by @abd9722 and a video posted by @mahmoudalbakor1 shows the damage to the market, with food and other goods scattered on the ground. A tweet by @NEDAAPOST refers to the market as “Al-Hal market.”

Sources variously attributed the attack to Russian forces and the Syrian regime. A tweet by @abd9722 identified the plane that bombed the market as a Al-Asadi Air MiG-23 .

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "Three civilians were injured due to warplanes targeting missiles targeting Saraqib city in Idlib countryside this morning. Our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "Three civilians were injured due to warplanes targeting missiles targeting Saraqib city in Idlib countryside this morning. Our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "Three civilians were injured due to warplanes targeting missiles targeting Saraqib city in Idlib countryside this morning. Our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).
  • Image caption translation: "Three wounded, including two children, after warplanes targeted the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib with rockets." (via Edlib Media Center).

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]