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

RS3539

Incident date

September 4, 2018

Location

البدرية, Al Badriya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.83411, 36.2199 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Badriya on September 4th, 2018, according to local sources. Possibly, more civilians were killed and injured.

@SyriaCivilDefe reported that “a woman was injured and a large number of civilian property was destroyed, after an aerial bombardment targeted the homes of civilians in the village of Al Badriya, near the town of #Mahmal. Civil defence teams went to the site and worked to help the injured and inspect and secure the place.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Observatory had monitored “the death of four people including a man and his wife, and injured about eight others including two women with varying severity, in the shelling on Kafridin and the shelling on the vicinity of Al Janudiyyeh and Al Badriya.” The source did not specify how man civilian casualties fell in Al Badriya.

Al Ariha also reported civilian casualties in Al Badriya but also did not specify a number.

Ebaa News reported that Russian warplanes had targeted schools in the village of Badriya in the morning. According to @Mithaq_plus, the Al Badriya School for Basic Education was targeted.

All sources reported Russia as the belligerent of the airstrike.

Sputnik reported that during the night on September 4th, Russian airforces targeted Al Nusra drones. This seems to be a separate incident, where no civilian harm was reported.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "A woman was injured and a large number of civilian property was destroyed, after an aerial bombardment targeted the homes of civilians in the village of Al-Badria, near the town of # Mahmal. Civil defense teams went to the site and worked to help the injured and inspect and secure the place" (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • An injured woman is carred away by Syrian Civil Defence volunteers after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Badriya on September 4th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers helping an injured woman after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Badriya on September 4th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Badriya on September 4th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3567

Incident date

December 31, 2018

Location

مرعند, Mar'and, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.77769, 36.22453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Mar’and, Jisr Al Shughour countryside, on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources.

Masr Al Arabia reported that civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on civilian homes in the village of Mar’and on December 31st.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote that there were possible casualties in alleged airstrikes after midnight on the former headquarters of factions in the area. The SOHR did not specify whether the possible casualties were civilians or not.

Edlib Media Center reported two raids on the outskirts of the towns of Al Zayniyeh and Mar’and. While several other sources reported on the strikes, none of them reported on possible civilian casualties.

According to the SOHR, it was the first time since the agreement on a demilitarized zone on September 17th, 2018, between Russia and Turkey that a Russian airstrike took place in the area.

The incident occured after midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3877

Incident date

July 9, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

A single source reported “wounded civilians” following airstrikes in Khan Sheikoun, Idlib, on July 9th.

Khan Sheikoun Lens cited “wounded civilians in the city of # Khan_ Sheikoun because of the targeting of Russian air strikes.” However, @HalabTodayTV  tweeted that no casualties were reported. The remaining sources didn’t mention civilian casualties.

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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Airstrikes by the warplanes targeted residential areas in Khan Sheikhoun and caused damage and the break-out of fires without civilian casualties.
  • SCD member responding to result of an airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun on July 9th, 2019. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Image shared in the aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Khan Sheikhoun. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • 'Live from Khan Sheikhoun.'
  • An image shared to raids on Khan Sheikhoun on July 9th, 2019. (via @anasanas84)

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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3166

Incident date

March 4, 2018

Location

الزلاقيات, Al Zalaqiyat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.278891, 36.605973 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were reported to be wounded following air and artillery strikes on Al Zalaqiyat. Sources blamed both Russian and the Syrian regime.

Shaam was the only source to report on wounded civilians, while the rest simply stated there was bombing in the vicinity.

Sources do however mention that there was heavy shelling, artillery fire and phosphorous bombs all fired onto the vicinity.

There are no more details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

Sources (4) [ 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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3479

Incident date

June 27, 2018

Location

الصورة, al Soura, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported injuries among civilians as a result of Russian airstrikes on Al Soura in Dara’a on June 27th, 2018.

@Mohamadabzed tweeted that “Russian warplanes launched intense air strikes on the town of Al Soura, in the eastern Daraa countryside.”

Other sources pointed out that the Russian warplanes targeted Al Soura with explosive barrels which reached eight according to @SYR_REV_NEWS.

Shaam Network reported that “the raids also resulted in  a number of wounded in  Daraa al-Balad, Ghariyah al-Sharqiya, al-Harak, Saida, Nahata, Kahil, Nawa, Tasil, al Soura, Ibta’a, Shaikh Saad, Tafas and al Taibeh.”

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

RS3505

Incident date

June 30, 2018

Location

السهوة, al Sahwa, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to 19 civilians including three women and at least two Lebanese nationals were reported killed in alleged Russian forces, Iranian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Sahwa in Dara’a on June 30th, 2018.

Dara’a Martyrs reported that “the warplanes of the regime forces targeted Al-Sahwah town in the eastern countryside of Daraa with several raids. Also targeted with a vacuum missile a house that hosted a number of IDPs in its basement as a shelter followed with fierce missile strikes that targeted the vicinity of the shelter. The raids and the shelling led to a massacre where 19 people were killed, including five women and five children. Among the martyrs were a family of three Lebanese citizens and residents of the town of Sahwa.”

@3bdalra7man7ar said that Iranian militias participated in the attack.

Mohammad Horani, a reporter for Al aan TV said Russian forces were responsible and said “Bombing by Russian warplanes leads to two massacres in the town of Al-Sahwa and his town of Ma’arba.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Daher al-Awad ظاهر العواد
male Lebanese national killed
Faisal Daher al-Awad فيصل ظاهر العواد
male Lebanese national killed

Family members (3)

Yaqen Ahmad Abdulrazaq al-Abaied
Adult female killed
Rama Walaa Abdulrazq al-Abeed
Adult female killed
Walaa al-Abaied
Adult male killed

Family members (3)

Akram Muhammad al-Daeat
Adult male killed
Saif Akram al-Daieat
Adult male killed
Badr Abdulhameid al-Daieat
Adult male killed

Family members (4)

Jehad Qasem al-Noamah
Adult male killed
Wife of Jehad Qasem al-Noamah
Adult female killed
Abdulkarim Jehad al-Noamah
Adult male killed
Zaid Qasem al-Noamah
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Ahmad Abdulrazaq al-Obaedah
Adult male killed
Shahd Bashar al-Kifre
Adult male killed
Zainab Hussien al-Dayat
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 17
  • (3 women12 men)
  • 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, Iranian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian 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
    15 – 17
  • (3 women12 men)
  • 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, Iranian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3248

Incident date

March 13, 2018

Location

كفر بطنا, Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.511853, 36.372857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

“Many civilians”  civilians were injured in airstrikes on Kafar Batna, local media reported. Sources attributed the blame to both Russia and the Syrian regime.

Cluster bombs and phosphorus rockets were reportedly used in the raids.

According ZamanAlwasl, “many civilians, including women and children, were injured in a bombing neighborhoods by cluster bombs”.

Syria Noor reported: “The cities and towns of Jisreen, Kafrabatna, Arbeen and Zamalka were hit by aerial bombardments with cluster and phosphorus rockets.”

 

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
    5–10
  • 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 (8) [ 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
    5–10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4110

Incident date

October 19, 2019

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A man and woman from the town of Binnish were killed and three of their children injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on a house in Taftanaz, Idlib governorate, on October 19th 2019, according to several local sources.

@SyriaCivilDefe reported that Russian warplanes bombarded the outskirts of Taftanaz town in the morning. The victims have been identified as Ahmad Kamrou Haj Qaddour and his wife Huda Al Shaar. Their three children were allegedly injured, although other sources such as Step Agency mentioned two of their children were wounded.

A Facebook post by Nasheta Al banshiea identified “the fall of 4 other wounded from the same family as a result of the air strikes.”

According to Syriahr, the strikes targeted a camp on agricultural land that was inhabited by displaced families in the vicinity of Taftanaz town. A tweet by @ZaitunAgency also identified that this camp was located close to Taftanaz airport.

Salim Al Mohammad, an activist in the area, told Giron that “Russian SU24 planes targeted an apartment house on the outskirts of Taftanaz town south of Idlib”.

A video posted by @ibnaljaball shows the moments a building is being bombed and engulfed in smoke from the explosion. A video posted by @blaas083 shows the aftermath of the strike, which severely damaged a building, collapsed another building, and damages a vehicle close by.

Orient News reported that their correspondents on the ground counted 30 airstrikes in total. A tweet by @blaas083 quantified six Russian raids as being carried out.

All sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Russian forces except for one. A tweet from @EuphratesPost identified regime forces as responsible.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Ahmad Kamrou Haj Qaddour أحمد حاج قدور
Adult male from Binnish city, husband of Huda Al Shaar killed
Huda Al Shaar هدى الشعار
Adult female wife of Ahmad Haj Qaddour killed
Child of Ahmad Haj Qaddour and Huda Al Shaar
Child injured
Child of Ahmad Haj Qaddour and Huda Al Shaar
injured
Child of Ahmad Haj Qaddour and Huda Al Shaar
injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • A volunteer of the Civil Defence Force on the site of an alleged airstrike on Taftanaz on October 19th, 2019 (via @SyrianCoalition).
  • The site of an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz, Idlib governorate, on October 19th 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • The site of an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz, Idlib governorate, on October 19th 2019 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Footage of the alleged Russian strike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19th, 2019 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Photo of damage caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19, 2019 (via Edlib Media Center on Facebook).
  • Photo of damage caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19, 2019 (via Edlib Media Center on Facebook).
  • Photo of damage caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19, 2019 (via Edlib Media Center on Facebook).
  • Photo of damage caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19, 2019 (via Edlib Media Center on Facebook).
  • Photo of damage caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19, 2019 (via Edlib Media Center on Facebook).
  • Photo of damage caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19, 2019 (via Edlib Media Center on Facebook).
  • Photo of damage caused by an alleged Russian airstrike on the town of Taftanaz on October 19th, 2019 (via Edlib Media Center on Facebook).
  • Photo allegedly showing the house that was targeted in the alleged Russian airstrike before and after the strike (via @so_ria98).
  • Caption translation: The barbaric bombing of the Russian occupation of Taftanaz Al-Habiba ... and the rise of two martyrs ... May God accept them ... and these are pictures of the building before and after the targeting ... their problem with a despicable world is that they are not from a minority (Image posted by @Ahmadmuaffaq)
  • Caption translation: In the protection of God the martyr, God willing: Haji Ahmad Kamro Haj Qaddour And his wife, "Hajjah Hoda Al-Shaar" As a result of the raids on their home, this afternoon, God counted us and is the best representative May God accept them and dwell in them in His spaciousness. (Image posted by Binnish.alan via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: The city of Binnish or the martyrs brings you the news of the martyrdom of Al-Hajj "Ahmed Kamro Haj Qaddour and his wife Hoda Al-Shaar" in addition to the fall of 4 other wounded from the same family as a result of the air strikes that targeted the outskirts of the town of Taftanaz a little while ago (Image posted by Nasheta Al banshiea via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: The city of Binnish or the martyrs brings you the news of the martyrdom of Al-Hajj "Ahmed Kamro Haj Qaddour and his wife Hoda Al-Shaar" in addition to the fall of 4 other wounded from the same family as a result of the air strikes that targeted the outskirts of the town of Taftanaz a little while ago (Image posted by Nasheta Al banshiea via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: The city of Binnish or the martyrs brings you the news of the martyrdom of Al-Hajj "Ahmed Kamro Haj Qaddour and his wife Hoda Al-Shaar" in addition to the fall of 4 other wounded from the same family as a result of the air strikes that targeted the outskirts of the town of Taftanaz a little while ago (Image posted by Nasheta Al banshiea via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: Local news networks reported that two civilians were killed and several others were wounded, today, Saturday, as a result of a Russian raid in the vicinity of the town of Taftanaz in the southern countryside of Idlib. (Image from Qasioun News)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (38) [ collapse]