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

Incident date

January 24, 2016

Incident Code

RS458

LOCATION

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria

Four civilians died and 12 were injured in alleged Russian airstrike on Tel Rifa’at, according local sources. The Syrian Press Centre reported that Russia carried out four raids and that a young man was killed in addition to a number of other civilians being wounded. The Violations Documentation Centre also alleged that this was a Russian

Summary

First published
January 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 24, 2016

Incident Code

RS457

LOCATION

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Between 13 and 19 civilians including 10 children and three women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources. Syrian News Desk reported that at least 19 civilians died and more than 30 were wounded when Russian warplanes fired “cluster rockets” on the city “to coincide with helicopter dumping barrel bombs“.

Summary

First published
January 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
13 – 19
(10 children3 women)
Civilians reported injured
20–30
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 24, 2016

Incident Code

RS456

LOCATION

سلقين, Salqeen, Idlib, Syria

Between five and 20 civilians died and 10 to 20 were injured – many critically –  in strikes by Ballistic missiles, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The Syrian Committee for Human Rights reported that 10 people died and

Summary

First published
January 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 20
(2 women2 men)
Civilians reported injured
10–20
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
6 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS453

LOCATION

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Three to four civilian children and one woman were killed in an airstrike on Baza’a, according to local sources – though one report says that they were killed by the regime. The Shaam News Network published a news roundup in which they said that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town

Summary

First published
January 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 5
(3–4 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS454

LOCATION

معدان, Ma'adan, Raqqa, Syria

Four civilians were killed in an airstrike on Ma’adan, according to local sources – though it is currently unclear whether Russian forces or the Assad regime were responsible for the incident. Only the Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the raid, reporting in a news roundup that “Russian enemy planes launched air raids on civilian homes in

Summary

First published
January 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS455

LOCATION

تدمر, Bal el Hawa or Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Three to four civilians including two children and possibly one woman were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Bab el Hawa and Sarmada, according to two local sources.

Summary

First published
January 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
(2 children0–1 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS452

LOCATION

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Six civilians including one woman and her five children were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources. In a news roundup, the Shaam News Network reported that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town of Baza’aa, the village of Qasr al Buraij, and a farm

Summary

First published
January 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(5 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS450

LOCATION

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Two civilians including one child were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Buliyal, according to the Violations Documentation Centre. No reports on strikes on Al Buliyal have yet been found.  

Summary

First published
January 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Incident Code

RS451

LOCATION

خشام, Khusham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between 61 and 90 civilians including two women and 11 children were killed – and between 40 and 100 others injured – in airstrikes on Khusham, according to multiple sources. While three of the five sources say that Russia was responsible for the attack, there was some uncertainty from the Syrian Network for Human Rights

Summary

First published
January 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
61 – 90
(11 children2 women22 men)
Civilians reported injured
40–100
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
68 named, 10 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS449

LOCATION

أم حوش, Umm Hawsh, Aleppo, Syria

A single source, Thefreesyria.org, named two civilians killed when Russian warplanes allegedly bombed a road near the village of Umm elhosh in the Aleppo countryside. The Syrian Network for Human Rights Tweeted an image of the child Sarah and said she died when warplanes launched several missiles near the village, though they did not identify

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS447

LOCATION

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between 10 and 15 non-combatants died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Al Dallou neighbourhood of Al Buliyal, according to multiple sources. The Shaam News Network reported on a “new massacre in addition to the daily massacres committed by Russian aircraft against civilians in the countryside of Deir al-Zour and areas under

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 15
(1 child2 women8 men)
Civilians reported injured
24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
9 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS448

LOCATION

الطابية جزيرة, Al Tabiya Jazeera, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between 34 and 50 civilians including up to eight women and 16 children were killed and more than 60 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Tabiya Jazeera, according to multiple sources. An initial report by Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently said that Russian two strikes led to the deaths of four civilians families in their entirety. Subsequent reports put the death toll

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
34 – 50
(10–16 children4–8 women)
Civilians reported injured
24–60
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
18 named, 8 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS444

LOCATION

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria

The Violations Documentation Centre named two adult male civilians as killed “as a result of the explosion of remnants of a missile from Russian shelling“, however in the notes of Abdul Naser Younes al-Khattab there is a video of the victim entitled ‘the Jihadist  Abdul Naser Younes Al khattab in one of the field hospitals in the Hama countryside’,

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS445

LOCATION

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

One adult male civilian, Ali Al Sultan, was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Numan, according to the Violations Documentation Center. No further details are currently available.

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS446

LOCATION

الجنينة, Al Jneina, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Two women were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Al Jneina, according a a single source, Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS443

LOCATION

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Up to eight civilians including one child were killed and 12 others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sarmada, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human rights said that eight people (including a child and three people from the Palmyra area, a commander of a checkpoint belonging to a rebel faction and other fighters) were

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 8
(1 child4 men)
Civilians reported injured
12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
8 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2016

Incident Code

RS442

LOCATION

الباب, Bab al Hawa, Idlib, Syria

Between six and 35 civilians were killed and up to 65 injured in an airstrike on Bab al Hawa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether the raid was the work of Russian forces or the Assad regime. The White Helmets reported that 30 non-combatants were killed and 65 injured when warplanes

Summary

First published
January 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 35
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
65
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS440

LOCATION

مشفى السلام, Al Salam hospital, Raqqa, Syria

One civilian died following an alleged airstrike on Al Salam hospital in Raqqa, according to two local sources. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of Izzo Hamid Al Hammash. The victims was also named as killed in a Russian strike by Raqqa Post.  

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
Healthcare facility
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS441

LOCATION

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Between three and five civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources. The Syrian Press Centre reported that three civilians died in four Russian raids on residential neighbourhoods, leaving dozens more wounded, including women and children. A later report put the death toll at five,

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 5
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
19–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS438

LOCATION

المشلب, Al Mashlad (Ar Raqqah), Raqqa, Syria

Six civilians including four children died in strikes on the Al Mashlab neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime carried out the attacks, while some sources do not identify those responsible. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named civilians as having been killed by

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(4 children1 woman1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
6 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS439

LOCATION

مديرية الكهرباء, Vicinity of power directorate in Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Ten civilians including four children and three women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the power directorate in Raqqa city, according to local sources. Syrian News Desk also blamed Russia, but did not say how many died. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “alleged Russian warplanes shelled the vicinity of the Power Directorate

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10
(4 children3 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Named victims
10 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS437

LOCATION

منطقة الأماسي, Al Amassi (Ar Raqqah), Raqqa, Syria

Sixteen civilians including six to nine children and four women died in airstrikes on Al Amassi in Raqqa, according to local sources – though most reports blamed Russia, others did not identify who was responsible. RBSS initially referred only to “warplanes“, but in a later post alleged that Russia was responsible. According to the Syrian

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16
(6–9 children5 women2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
14 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS435

LOCATION

كرم البيك, Karam al Bayk (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

One woman was killed and six to eight other civilians injured in airstrikes on the Karam al Bayk neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to local sources. While most reports allege that Russia was responsible, another blames the Assad regime. Al Buraq named the victim and also reported that the Russian raids wounded eight other civilians. Smart said

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
6–8
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS436

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Saif al Dawla, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Seventeen civilians including eight children and five women died in airstrikes on the Saif al Dawla area of Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame. RBSS initially referred to raids by “warplanes” and did not identify them, however, in a later

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
(8 children5 women5 men)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
17 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS432

LOCATION

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Russian warplanes allegedly “carried out raids on several areas in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Saeed and Bostan al-Qasr in Aleppo.” They said that casualties had been reported in the Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood, but did not provide further details.  Aleppo Media Center published a video depicting the aftermath of alleged

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS433

LOCATION

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Five civilians died and up to 20 were injured in airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. Syrian Press Centre blamed Russia, putting the death toll at five, adding that “the city Of Al Bab is

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
Healthcare facility
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
20
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS434

LOCATION

احرص, Ahras, Aleppo, Syria

Six civilians including two women and three children were killed and at least eight injured in an airstrike on Ihress, according to local sources. All sources blamed Russian forces for the attack, though an initial report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights said Assad regime warplanes were responsible. The Shaam News Network reported that “a new

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(3 children2 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
8
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
6 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS430

LOCATION

البغيلية, Al Bgailieh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between two and six civilians died in an airstrike on Al Bgailieh, according to local sources – though only one source alleged that Russia was responsible. Step News Agency Tweeted that Russian strikes had hit Al Bgailieh. According to the Syria News Network, members of Daesh were “killed and wounded following clashes with the Syrian

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 6
(2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS431

LOCATION

محيميدة, Mahimideh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One adult male was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mahimideh according to local sources. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that a Russian raid destroyed a house and that there were “many injuries“, though deaths were not mentioned. According to ANA Press, Russia warplanes “stepped up raids on the western countryside of

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2016

Incident Code

RS429

LOCATION

الخريطة, Al Khareeta, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Seven civilians including one woman and four children were killed and dozens more injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Al Khareeta, according to local sources. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that five died (one man and four children) when Russian warplanes struck the village. All4Syria, also said a family of

Summary

First published
January 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
Healthcare facility
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(4 children1 woman2 men)
Civilians reported injured
12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Named victims
7 named, 2 families identified
View Incident