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

RS4426

Incident date

February 9, 2020

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four people, including a four year old child, were reportedly killed and up to nine civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on the city of Al Atarib, western Aleppo countryside, on February 9th, 2020, according to local sources.

The child was identified as Hatem Abdulllah Haid, who was four years old boy. Others identified as Ahmed Ibn Abdullah Mesto Yassin, a young man, Amjad Zikra, and Tamer Jaber.

Shabha Press reported that “two martyrs and nine wounded civilians, as a result of raids by Russian occupation planes on the city of Al Atarib in the western Aleppo countryside”. Earlier that day, Shabha reported that civilians were wounded in Syrian regime helicopter bombings with explosive barrels on the city.

@Step_Agency stated that the death toll of the airstrikes had risen to four civilians, including a child, and reported the use of vacuum missiles.

The Syrian Civil Defence in Aleppo posted a video of the recovering of the body of Amjad Zekra, a young man displaced from Ma’arat Al Numan, “from among the rubble caused by the artillery shelling that targeted civilian homes in Atarib city”. SCD Aleppo also posted a video of the burning of a car of a displaced person as the result of Russian airstrikes.

The SCD Aleppo gave conflicting reports about whether the incident occured in the afternoon or during the night.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Amjad Zekra
Adult male displaced from Ma'arat Al Numan killed
Ahmed Abdullah Mesto Yassine
Adult male killed
Hatem Abdullah Hiad
4 years old male killed
Tamer Jaber
Age unknown male displaced from Homs killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Atarib, Aleppo governorate, on February 9th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @Sy24ria)
  • A large fire broke out in the city of Atarib, as a result of the bombing with barrels and vacuum missiles (Image posted by @Sy24ria)

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
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4457

Incident date

February 17, 2020

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One child was killed alongside their mother and four others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Abzmo, Aleppo governorate, on February 17th, 2020, according to local sources.

Edlib Media Center reported that “a mother and her child were martyred due to the targeting of the Russian occupation air force of the town of Al Abzmo, in the western countryside of Aleppo”. Alaraby News refers to the child as being her “daughter” while others refer to the child as being a male.

The Syrian Civil Defence in Aleppo identified the victims as the wife of Ahmed Al Eid Al Houary and Ibrahim Ahmed Al Eid Al Houary.

A Facebook post from Sa`a hora reported that three civilians were killed in the airstrikes, also identifying the wife of Ahmed and Ibrahim.

SMART News reported that a woman and child were killed in a missile strike by Syrian regime forces.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed the Syrian regime, and confirmed that Ibrahim Ahmed Al Eid Al Houary died alongside his mother.

@ShahbaPress reported that, in addition, several civilians were injured. @ahmmaddaak put the number of injured civilians at four.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Eid Al-Houary إبراهيم أحمد العيد الحوري
Adult male killed
Wife of Ahmed Al-Eid Al-Houary زوجة الحاج أحمد العيد الحوري
Adult female first name unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Woman in the aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Abzimo, Aleppo governorate, on February 17th, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).

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
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4490

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

شلخ, Shalakh, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least four civilians, including up to four women and a child, were reported to have been killed and others were wounded by alleged Russian or regime air strikes in the village of Shalakh on February 27th, 2020.

A tweet from @almo3tasem91 stated that five “martyrs, including four women and a child” were killed in the village of Shalakh.  A tweet from @zaitunagency noted that three women and a child were killed by a bombing raid from Assad forces planes. Al-Jisr Tv correspondent reported that three women and a child were killed. A tweet from @EyadHoms20 noted “a number of wounded” along with the four civilians who were killed. Edlib News did report that five people were killed, including four women and a child, but Idlib TV reported that the death toll was four, with three women and a child. The majority of posts, from Ssyrian2011, Bsklaa16 and Ali Albd detailed the deaths of four civilians. The four names were later identified as Mrs. Maryam Shaaban Dweik, Mrs. Aisha Mustafa Shaaban Dweik, the wife of Safwan Shaaban Dweik and the daughter of Maryam Shaaban Dweik, with no ages given. A post from Rahmoo123 described four civilians killed through an air raid, while Freedom Press noted “five martyrs” along with “many wounded”.   A report from Alaraby News reported a series of bombing raids from Russian planes targeting civilian areas, with five people killed in Shalakh.  This number contrasted with the number reported to be killed. Shaam News reported that Syrian Defense Forces removed the bodies of four women and a girl from rubble in Shalakh.

The area of Shalakh was an area with a significant civilian population.

Smart News cited the Directorate of the Civil Defense in Idlib Governorate, Firas Khalifa, stated that Russian warplanes conducted the deadly raid while other sources attributed the strikes to the regime.

The incident occured at 15:48:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mrs. Maryam Shaaban Dweik السيدة مريم شعبان دويك
female killed
Mrs. Aisha Mustafa Shaaban Dweik السيدة عائشة مصطفى شعبان دويك
female killed
The wife of Safwan Shaaban Dweik السيدة زوجة صفوان شعبان دويك
female killed
Daughter of Maryam Shaaban Dweik ابنة مريم شعبان دويك
female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–4 women)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Airstrikes on the village of Shalakh in the northern countryside of Idlib on February 27, 2020. (Image posted by @our_syria)

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
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1–4 women)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4513

Incident date

July 14, 2020

Location

الدقماق, Al Dakmak, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were reported injured during alleged Syrian and/or Russian artillery shelling and/or airstrikes on the towns of Al Dakmak in the Al-Ghab Plain, west of Hama on July 14th 2020.

The Syrian Civil Defence Forces of the Southern Directorate reported that two young men with injuries of varying degrees were rushed to the hospital by the SCD team to receive treatment after civilian homes were targeted with heavy artillery, while @AJA_Syria only mentioned that “civilian casualties” resulted from the artillery shelling. In a different post the SCD attributed the strike on Al Dakmak to Syrian forces.

However, sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strike. According to @HalabToday reporters “Artillery shelling from the regime forces’ positioned in Jorin camp targeted the village of [Al Dukmak] in the western Hama countryside”, thus corroborating the SCD’s statement. However, @Ebaa News and @Albukhari attributed the strike to Russian Armed Forces. In turn, @Step_Agency and @kwater4syr said that “Russian occupation warplanes bombard the town of Kafr Aweed in the southern countryside of Idlib in conjunction with artillery shelling from the positions of the regime’s militias in Jorin camp on the village of Duqmaq in the western countryside of Hama”, thereby leaving it contested whether Russian forces were involved in the strike on Al Dakmak.

The incident allegedly took place at night based on images from the White Helmets rescuing those injured. The exact local time of the incident is unknown.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "The injury of two civilians, with artillery shelling by the regime forces, last night, July 14, targeting the village of Al-Duqmaq, west of Hama, and this came hours after the killing of a civilian and his child and wounding 3 other children and a woman, by missile shelling of the regime in the city of Jericho, south of Idlib" (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers treating wounded civilians in an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling on the town of Al Dakmak, Idlib governorate, on July 14th, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers treating wounded civilians in an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling on the town of Al Dakmak, Idlib governorate, on July 14th, 2020 (via Southern Directorate).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers treating wounded civilians in an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling on the town of Al Dakmak, Idlib governorate, on July 14th, 2020 (via Southern Directorate).

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
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3945

Incident date

July 23, 2019

Location

الحامدية, Al Hamidiya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians were reported wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Hamadiya, Idlib governorate, on July 23rd, 2019, according to local sources.

@baladinetwork reported that “civilians were wounded by the bombing of warplanes on the town of Al Hamidiya near the city of Ma’arat Al Numan in the southern countryside of Idlib”.

@MasarPressNet tweeted: “Warplanes target the town of Deir Sunbul and the village of Al Hamidiya in the southern countryside, causing civilian casualties.”

According to @NagiNajjar, the strikes on Al Hamidiya were in conjunction with Russian strikes on Jabal Al Akrad, but the source stated that “the regime’s aviation most often takes off from the airport silently and executes on residential neighbourhoods in the liberated villages to inflict the greatest possible damage among civilians”, implying that the Syrian regime had been responsible for the strikes on Al Hamadiya.

Shaam News Network, however, blamed Russia for the strikes, writing: “The Russian military aircraft and heavy air raids accompanied by heavy shelling and artillery shelling on the cities and towns of Ma’arat Al Nu’man, Khan Sheikhoun, Tallakan, Kanda, Hamidiya, Deir Snabal, Jabala, Bassamis, Sahihan, Hayish, Najeej and Ma’ar Zeita. This resulted in one martyrdom in all of  Ma’arat Al Nu’man, Khan Sheikhun and Jabala and others injured in the other areas.”

Other sources reporting on the strike did not attribute blame to a belligerent.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4312

Incident date

June 10, 2021

Location

الكندة, Al Kendeh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.765353, 36.207676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on al-Kendeh on June 10, 2021.

A tweet from @FdzPWRe6ruAGFPd reported that “a civilian was injured as a result of Russian warplanes targeting the village of Al-Kinda, west of Idlib, in two raids”. @HalabTodayTV also reported that one civilian was injured but attributed the injury to artillery shelling by the regime.

Both @OrientNews and @abo_aljod84 reported that “civilians” were injured but did not give a specific number. Syria TV added that “the bombing resulted in the injury of a number of civilians – whose outcome is unknown – who were taken to medical points in the area”.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were responsible.

 

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
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • In this image, the smoke from the strikes is surrounding a building following alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Al-Kanda on June 10, 2021. (Image posted by @abo_aljod84)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Kendeh (الكندة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.765353, 36.207676. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4344

Incident date

July 17, 2021

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between four and eight civilians, including two to three children and a woman, were killed and three others were injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021.

@abdalwhab761identified “eight martyrs” from the bombing of Sarja while @OrientNews reported that six civilians were killed. A correspondent from @jisrtv also provided that six civilians were killed, including “3 children, brothers and their grandmother” and the Civil Defense member killed in the second strike assessed in incident R4345.

@syriapostnew1 tweeted about “the death of an entire family of 4 members, including a woman and two children” and a post from Edlib Media Center identified the members of the family as a man, his wife and three children. The correspondent of “Al-Suri Al-Youm” told Syrian Today that the artillery shelling resulted in “killing a woman and two children, and a number of wounded”. Syrian Civil Defense put the number of injured at six, including the three Civil Defense members injured in subsequent incident R4345.

A post by Assad Hamoudi named victims of the incident. #martyrs: Ritaj Ezzo Zureik, a child; Mays Ezzo Zureik is a girl; Sa’ida Ezzo Zureik is a baby girl; Hussein Haj Musa. #injuries: Hammam Haj Darwish; Abdul-Malik Satifi

Syrian Network for Human Rights provided details that the strikes killed ” three children sisters, named as Ritaj, Mais and Saeedah Izzou Zreiq, aged 11, 13 and 16 respectively, and injuring the other members of their family”.

The reporter @mhmdfaisel interviewed the mother of some of the victims, who told the reporter “My daughters are three under the rubble, where are my daughters!?”. Their home was also destroyed in the strikes. @OrientNews also reported that an entire family was trapped under the rubble.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes. Various sources identified “laser-guided Krasnopol missiles” as being used in the strike, which are made by Russia and Syrian Civil Defense blamed the strikes on both the regime and Russia. However, sources such as Baladi News attributed the shelling to the regime.

Syrian Today reported that “the village of Sarjah is located in Jabal al-Zawiya near Jericho from the south, a civilian area controlled by the Suqur al-Sham faction, and no military presence was recorded inside it.” They also provided that the reason that Sarja was bombed is they’re “considered the first line in the confrontation with the regime because of its proximity to the line of contact in the Al-Ruwaiha area”.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ritaj Ezzo Zureik
11 years old female killed
Mays Ezzo Zureik
13 years old female killed
Sa’ida Ezzo Zreik
16 years old female killed

The victims were named as:

Hussein Haj Musa
Age unknown killed
Hammam Haj Darwish
Age unknown injured
Abdul-Malik Satifi
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (35) [ collapse]

  • An image of a collapsed home with "an entire family under the rubble" following strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @OrientNews)
  • White Helmets and other civilians rescue victims of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @abdalwhab761)
  • Damage to a vehicle caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @NagiNajjar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the victims of the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @NagiNajjar)
  • Damage to buildings and homes caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Damage to buildings and homes caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Damage to buildings and homes caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Damage to buildings and homes caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @enabbaladi)
  • Damage to buildings and homes caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @khalid_sh_yusuf)
  • Damage to buildings and homes caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @khalid_sh_yusuf)
  • Damage to buildings and homes caused by the strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by @khalid_sh_yusuf)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Hussein Mohamed Haj Musa, killed in strikes on the town of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Sarja Deaths via Facebook)
  • White Helmets and other civilians rescue victims of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets and other civilians rescue victims of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets and other civilians rescue victims of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Harsh moments that will remain engraved in the memory, including what was documented by the martyred media volunteer Humam Al-Asi moments before his injury during the team’s response to the massacre committed by the regime forces and Russia today, which killed 5 civilians in the village of Sarja, and with direct targeting, the team was subjected to double bombardment. Hammam, who documented the truth for years, passed away, and the last thing he documented was the moment of his severe injury that led to his death. #not_a_target
  • Civilians carry a victim of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Damage of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civilians sort through the rubble to find victims of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The hand of a victims of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Civilians sort through the rubble to find victims of the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Damage from the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage from the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage from the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage from the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage from the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage from the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage from the bombing of Sarja on July 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)

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
    4 – 8
  • (2–3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4376

Incident date

August 20, 2021

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least four children from the same family were killed and their mother and two other men were injured in alleged Russian or regime or Iranian strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021.

Syrian Civil Defense reported “four children from one family were killed, and two civilians were injured, this morning, Friday, August 20, by artillery shelling of the regime forces and Russia with laser-guided shells”.

@abuhuzaifa_ provided the names of the children killed: Ayat Al Omar 12 years old, Muhammad 9 years old, Mary 6 years, Hatem 3 years. A tweet from @DeirEzzore added that Muhammad Faisal Al-Khalil is the father of the children.

An image posted by @thawrat111 shows the bottle belonging to one of the children that was killed amongst the rubble of their home.

Al Jazeera wrote that a reporter for the French Press Agency saw the father crying over the bodies of three of his children in a cemetery when the remains of his fourth child were brought to the cemetery. The fourth child had to be buried in a hurry because bombing had begun again in the area.

Macro Media Center also identified four children as being killed in the strikes but put the number of injured at five, all from the same family. Radio Al Kul identified the mother of the children killed as being injured in the strikes and added that two men were seriously injured in a bombardment of another home in the same village.

According to @zelal_abo_adnan, the father of the children killed had gone to work the day of the strike and his wife was able to escape the bombing with the youngest child just moments before the shell landed on a nearby home.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were responsible for the strikes. Radio Al Kul blamed the shelling on regime forces stationed in the vicinity of the city of Kafr Nabl. However, Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed the strikes to Russian artillery forces along with a Russian surveillance plane overhead and identified Krasnopol laser guided shells as being used. Anadolu Agency pointed to both the regime and Iran as being responsible for the strikes.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ayat Al Omar آيات العمر
12 years old killed
Muhammad Al Omar محمد
9 years old killed
Mary Al Omar مريم
6 years old killed
Hatem Al Omar حاتم
3 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (39) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets remove the body of one of the victims of the strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets sort through the rubble following strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets remove the body of one of the victims of the strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets sort through the rubble following strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Four children from the same family were killed by artillery shelling by the Assad militia and Russia targeting civilian homes in the town of Kansafra in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib.
  • People gather for the funeral of the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Edlib Media Center)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Edlib Media Center)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Edlib Media Center)
  • Four children from the same family were killed by artillery shelling by the Assad militia and Russia targeting civilian homes in the town of Kansafra in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib.
  • Bodies of the victims, all children, killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @abuhuzaifa_)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of one of the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @abdalwhab761)
  • Very graphic image of the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @mzmgr941)
  • Image of the four children that were killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc)
  • Funeral for the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Body of one of the victims killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @feryal222kakhi)
  • Destruction caused by strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @feryal222kakhi)
  • Bodies of the victims, all children, killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @feryal222kakhi)
  • A bottle belonging to one of the children that was killed in the strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @thawrat111)
  • Bodies of the victims of the strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @ajplusarabi)
  • Damage caused by the strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @ajplusarabi)
  • Explosion caused by the strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @ajplusarabi)
  • People mourn the victims of the strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @ajplusarabi)
  • Residents sort through their belongs and save what they can following strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @_abdulazizketaz)
  • Funeral and burial for the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by @bN2HlKac9SVdqtL)
  • Family and friends mourn the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Family and friends mourn the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Family and friends mourn the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Family and friends mourn the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Funeral for the children killed in strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Residents sort through their belongs and save what they can following strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Residents sort through their belongs and save what they can following strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Residents sort through their belongs and save what they can following strikes on Kansafra on August 20, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian 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
    4
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (32) [ collapse]