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

R4488

Incident date

November 6, 2022

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 6th, 2022, in Kansafra, South of Idlib, between one to three civilians – one woman, or two women and a girl – were reportedly injured as a result of artillery shelling. While the Syrian Civil Defence (SCD) accused both the Russian and Syrian forces of carrying out the attack, other local sources claimed it was only conducted by the Syrian regime. @Sharqya_reporte added that the artillery shelling occurred in a residential neighbourhood.

SCD noted that a woman injured was sent to a hospital for treatment, without further precisions.

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
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • On November 6th 2022, in Kansafra, Idlib, artillery shelling reportedly injured between one to three civilians. Source: @Sharqya_reporte

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4483

Incident date

November 3, 2022

Location

خربة الناطور, Kharebt Al Natour, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 3rd 2022, two to three civilians, including two young men and a woman, were reportedly olive picking when they were injured by a land to ground missile, loaded with “internationally prohibited cluster bombs” as a result of alleged Syrian regime or Russian action.  The attack happened on forests and farms on the Khirbet Al Natour road, west of Idlib, Syria.

Most sources attributed this strike to Russia, although the Syrian Civil Defense and Shaam News attributed it both to the Syrian regime and Russia and therefore this is reflected in the Airwars archive as a contested event.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “Russian forces stationed in northern Hama countryside have fired two Russian-made Toshka missiles loaded with cluster bombs, targeting the perimeter of Idlib central prison and the western forests of Idlib province.” Syria TV reported that the same day in other local areas, “the observatories suggested that the long-range missiles were launched from a Russian warship in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tartus, while other observatories reported that the missiles were launched from Russian bases in the Hama and Latakia countryside.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • @SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that an olive field had been hit, injuring at least two people on November 3rd 2022 as a result of Russian or Syrian regime munitions (Image via Twitter)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that the attack was with cluster munitions (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • The Syrian Civil Defense reported that the attack was with cluster munitions (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "The report of the Monitoring Cluster Munitions Monitor (ICBL-CMC), of which the Syrian Civil Defense has become a member, confirmed that in 2021 Syria recorded the largest number of victims of cluster munition remnants recorded in any country in the world, as the number of cluster munition victims reached 37 victim." (@Syriacivildefe / Twitter)
  • "The Unexploded Ordnance Removal (UXO) teams in the White Helmets have managed, since the beginning of their work, to destroy about 24,000 munitions from the remnants of the bombing, including more than 21,000 cluster bombs. Our teams have documented the regime and Russia's use of 11 types of cluster bombs." (@SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "The Unexploded Ordnance Removal (UXO) teams in the White Helmets have managed, since the beginning of their work, to destroy about 24,000 munitions from the remnants of the bombing, including more than 21,000 cluster bombs. Our teams have documented the regime and Russia's use of 11 types of cluster bombs." (@SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense clear the area after a reported cluster munition attack in the northern Hama countryside of Idlib (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense clear the area after a reported cluster munition attack in the northern Hama countryside of Idlib (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "3 civilians were injured as a result of the bombing by the regime forces and Russia with surface-to-surface missiles loaded with cluster bombs, on forests and farms on the “Khirbet Al-Natour” road, west of Idlib." (Image via @IdlibPlus / Twitter)
  • "The bombing resulted in the injury of two young men who were working in the olive harvest.. #Photo from the farms of Khirbet Al-Natour, west of #Idlib, after being targeted by the regime forces and Russia with two ground-to-ground missiles loaded with cluster bombs" (Image via @AJA_Syria / 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4481

Incident date

October 28, 2022

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, three from the same family, were injured by a a double tap shelling carried out by the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces against the city of Darat Izza on October 28, 2022.

According to the @SyriaCivilDefe, four civilians, three of them from the same family, were wounded when two cars were hit by guided missiles launched by Syrian regime and Russian forces near the eastern entrance to the city of Darat Izza.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Syrian regime forces initially fired an anti-tank thermal missile, immediately followed by an artillery attack using multiple shells, which hit civilian vehicles in the area and wounded four civilians, in addition to heavily damaging cars. The incident occurred in the al-Ashrafiya area in eastern Darat Ezza city.

The majority of sources reported that both the Syrian regime and Russian forces were responsible for the shelling, while @anasanas84 attributed the incident to only the Syrian regime. Daret Izza media center and other local sources identified thermal missiles as being used in the attack, while @abo_aljod84 and others mentioned guided missiles.

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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers assist a civilian injured by alleged Russian and regime strikes near Darat Izza on October 28, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The first moments of our teams’ response to a double attack with guided missiles by the regime forces and Russia, today, Friday, October 28, targeting two cars at the eastern entrance to the city of Darat Izza, west of #Aleppo, wounding 4 civilians.
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian and regime strikes near Darat Izza on October 28, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    4 civilians were injured when their car was targeted by Assad militia with a guided missile on the eastern outskirts of the city of Darat Izza, west of Aleppo
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian and regime strikes near Darat Izza on October 28, 2022. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4482

Incident date

October 28, 2022

Location

منطف, Mantaf, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was slightly injured by alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of the village of Mantaf on October 28, 2022.

@SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that a civilian was slightly wounded by Russian and Syrian regime artillery shelling of the village of Mantaf in the evening.

Multiple other local sources, including @baladinetwork, reported on heavy artillery shelling of the town of Mantaf but no other sources mentioned civilian injuries.

@abo_aljod84 and @anasanas84 reported that intense shelling of the village of Mantaf came from the camps of the Iranian and Russian forces. However, @syr_television attributed shelling to the Syrian regime forces.

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
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Intense artillery shelling from the camps of the Iranian and Russian militias, targeting the village of Mantef in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib

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
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4480

Incident date

October 24, 2022

Location

شنان, Shnan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, including a child and/or woman, was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian shelling of the village of Shnan on October 24, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a woman was injured by Syrian regime and Russian shelling of the village of Shnan with tank shells. The Syrian Civil Defense added that the shelling occurred at the same time as schools letting out for the day, and volunteers protected students from the shelling.

According to @syr_television, a child was injured and a home was destroyed by missiles that hit the village of Shnan.

Baladi News correspondent in Idlib countryside reported that the Syrian regime forces intensively bombed the farms surrounding the town of Shnan, which resulted in the injury of a woman to varying degrees.

@idleb_online tweeted that the Syrian army was shelling the positions of the militants in the village of Shnan, but did not include information about casualties.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime. However, @SyriaCivilDefe reported that the Syrian regime and Russia were responsible.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by artillery shelling of Shnan on October 24, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteers protect students from artillery shelling of Shnan on October 24, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by artillery shelling of Shnan on October 24, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by artillery shelling of Shnan on October 24, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4479

Incident date

October 20, 2022

Location

معربليت, Ma’rblit, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, children, were injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of a vehicle in Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that two children were injured by a guided missile launched by Russian and Syrian regime forces that struck a car of civilians working in olive picking in the village of Ma’rblit. The Syrian Network for Human Rights added that the missile caused extensive damage to the car.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also identified the children injured as 12-year-old Awad Muhammad al-Qassum and seven-year-old Muhanna Khaled Qassum, both of whom are from Kafr Batikh village. @anasanas84 specified that the two children were injured to varying degrees.

A tweet from @Jamil_Alhasaan identified “a family” as being injured without specifying how many family members. @Tareek2011T put the number of injuries from the artillery shelling at four civilians.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime was responsible alone or if Russia and the Syria regime were both involved in the shelling.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Awad Muhammad al-Qassum
12 years old injured
Muhanna Khaled Qassum
7 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • One of the children injured by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage caused by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Damage to a vehicle caused by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @Tamer_Turkmane)
  • Damage to a vehicle caused by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured by artillery shelling on the village of Ma’rblit on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @hafeztaraman)

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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4478

Incident date

October 20, 2022

Location

قرية الصحن, Al Sahen village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of the village of Al Sahen on October 20, 2022.

According to the @SyriaCivilDefe, a child was injured by artillery shelling of the village of Al Sahen carried out by Russian and Syrian regime forces. The Civil Defense forces assisted the injured child and ensured there were no additional injuries in the area.

Activist Muhammad Al-Daher reported similar casualties to Al Araby, identifying one child as being injured.

A tweet from @idleb_online reported that the Syrian army was targeting terrorist movements in Al Sahen with heavy artillery, but did not provide any information on casualties. However, @AsharqNewsSYR tweeted that civilian hames were struck by the artillery shelling.

The majority of sources, including @RadioAlKul, attributed the artillery shelling to the Syrian regime, with Al Araby adding that the shelling coincided with the flight of Russian reconnaissance planes. However, @SyriaCivilDefe blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia while @alothman_nabel listed Russia as being responsible.

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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers inspect the site of artillery shelling that injured a child in Al Sahen village on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • The site of artillery shelling that injured a child in Al Sahen village on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @alothman_nabel)
  • The site of artillery shelling that injured a child in Al Sahen village on October 20, 2022. (Image posted by @Nidalhamo_1)

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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4477

Incident date

October 17, 2022

Location

قرية نحلة, Nahla village, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One woman was injured by alleged Syrian regime shelling and/or Russian airstrikes on the village of Nahla on October 17, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a woman was wounded by Russian and Syrian regime artillery shelling of the village of Nahla. The Aleppo correspondent @HalabTodayTV also reported that a woman was injured.

According to Baladi News, the air and ground bombardments caused extensive damage to civilian property and created a state of panic among the civilians near the bombing sites.

@Jamil_Alhasaan identified 70 missile shells and five Russian airstrikes on Nahla and Kfarsbo, which struck homes and civilians in agricultural lands. @abdulaziz_sy11 reported that Russian airstrikes occurred on the same sites of Syrian regime artillery shelling and the correspondent of Zaitun Agency said that Russian planes launched four raids with vacuum missiles on residential neighborhoods in Nahla.

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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by artillery shelling in the village of Nahla on October 17, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by artillery shelling in the village of Nahla on October 17, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by artillery shelling in the village of Nahla on October 17, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Volunteer inspects the site of artillery shelling in the village of Nahla on October 17, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via 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

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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]