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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS3573

Incident date

January 4, 2019

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.28247, 36.85216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around 11 pm in the night of January 4th, 2018, alleged Russian airstrikes targeted the villages of Dera Azza, Urm Al Kubra, Al Rashidin and Rehab Al Mohandeseen.

In the village Darat Izza, up to three civilians of the Qadili family were killed, including a father and son, while several more civilians were reportedly wounded.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the suspected Russian planes “fired missiles near a chicken house sheltering IDPs in the west of Darat Izza city in Aleppo governorate” – killing three civilians including a child.

According to AMC, “two civilians (a child and his father) were killed, Friday evening [Jan 4th], by a Russian air strike targeting the city of Dara Azza in the countryside of west Aleppo.”

Multiple sources, such as Step News Agency, reported that several civilians had been injured in the strikes.

The incident occured at approximately 10:14 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

One person from the Qadili family
killed
A child from the Qadili family
Child male killed
One person from the Qadili family

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • News report on alleged Russian airstrikes on Darat Azza and Urum Al-Kubra in Aleppo (via Jisir TV).
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Azza (via LCCsy).
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Darat Azza (via SCD Aleppo).

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R3362

Incident date

January 4, 2019

Location

أورم الكبرى, Urma Al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Around 11 pm in the night of January the 4th, alleged Russian or regime airstrikes targeted the villages of Dera Azza, Urm Al Kubra, Al Rashidin and Rehab Al Mohandeseen, local media reported.  

In the village Urma Al Kubra, west of Aleppo, no civilians appear to have been killed but several were wounded. Reports varied on the number. Several sources claimed between seven and nine civilians were wounded as a result of the airstrike on Urma Al Kubra alone. Among the reported wounded were three women and a child.

Dirarkhattab  said that the Assad regime had also bombed Urma Al Kubra.

 

The incident occured at approximately 11:14 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • The aftermatch of an alleged Russian airstrike in Aleppo (Via Jisir TV).
  • The aftermatch of an alleged Russian airstrike in Aleppo (Via Qasioun).
  • Destruction as a result of an alleged Russian airstrike (via AMC).
  • Injured civilians as a result of an alleged Russian airstrike (via @OKKO5Lc4iNiZH6S).
  • Destructed vehicle as a result of an alleged Russian airstrike (via syria.liveuamap.com)
  • Destruction as a result of an alleged Russian airstrike (via Smart News 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–9
  • 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

RS3571

Incident date

February 4, 2019

Location

التمانعة, Al Taman’a or Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russian airstrike targeted the town of Al Taman’a west of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern Idlib countryside. The airstrike was one of three airstrikes with high-explosive missiles launched by a Russian aircraft, according to Ziad al-Aboud, commander of the “civil defense sector” in Khan Sheikhoun 

It is not clear whether there were civilian casualties as a result of this airstrike. Some sources reported no civilian casualties, while other sources reported up to seven wounded – although this could refer to one of the other Russian airstrikes on Al-Mantar.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3569

Incident date

December 31, 2018

Location

بكسريا, Baksriya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.866414, 36.213093 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians, including a child, was injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the town of Baksriya, Idlib governorate, on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources.

@LccSy reported “civilian casualties following the shelling of a ballistic missile on the village of Baksriya, west of Jisr Al Shughour.” @ahmad_haj_bakri wrote that “a number of civilians were wounded in the village of Baksriya in the western countryside of Idlib, as a result of targeting a cluster missile believed to be from the Russian warships stationed in the sea.”

Several sources, such as@IdlibPlus, reported that a child had been injured the missile strikes. Hamah Now reported that multiple children had been injured.

@spc_fr reported that the incident had been a cluster bomb attack. According to Edlib Media Center, a ballistic missile had been loaded with cluster bombs.

While a majority of sources blamed Russia for the attack, other sources such as @HamahNow pointed to the Syrian regime.

Masr Al Arabia wrote that 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • (1–2 children)
  • 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 (21) [ 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • (1–2 children)
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3568

Incident date

December 31, 2018

Location

الزعينية, Al Zayniyeh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.841314, 36.225318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly killed or injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Zayniyeh on December 31st, 2018, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote that there were possible casualties in alleged airstrikes after midnight on the former headquarters of factions near the towns of  Mar’and and Al Zayniyeh. The SOHR did not specify whether the possible casualties were civilians or not.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria tweeted that “two raids were carried out by Russian warplanes on the outskirts of the towns of Al Zayniyeh and Mar’and, west of the city of Jisr Al Shughour in the western Idlib countryside.”

According to Shaam News Network, civilian homes were targeted. While several sources reported on the airstrikes, only SOHR reported possible civilian casualties. Hence, while the strike status of this incident is graded as fair, the civilian harm status remains weak. All sources pointed to Russia as the responsible belligerent.

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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ 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

RS3566

Incident date

November 6, 2018

Location

دير العدس, Deir Al A'adas, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

33.160229, 36.124098 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four children were reportedly injured in the explosion of a cluster bomb from an earlier alleged Russian or Syrian regime air raid on the town of Deir Al A’adas, November 6th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the raid took place.

@Step_Agency reported: “Four civilians, including children, were injured as a result of a cluster bomb explosion, left by the forces of the regime forces, in the town of Deir Al A’adas in the northern countryside of Dara’a.” @HalabTodayTV and the Syrian Unified Observatory reported that all four victims were children. According to @HalabTodayTV, the explosion took place near a school.

Whereas @Step_Agency and @HalabTodayTV blamed the Syrian regime for the unexploded ordnance, the Syrian Unified Observatory pointed to Russia.

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
    4
  • 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 (3) [ 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
    4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3565

Incident date

October 20, 2018

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shougur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A boy was killed and his sister injured when a cluster bomb from a previous alleged Russian raid on the city of Jisr Al Shughour exploded on October 20th, 2018, according to local sources. It is unclear when the bomb was fired.

@maraya404 tweeted that “a child is martyred and his sister is injured due to the explosion of a cluster bomb from the remnants of the previous bombing of the Russian aggression in the city of #Jisr Al Shughour, west of Idlib.”

The Facebook page Jisr Al Shoughour deaths identified the victim as Najdat Saroat Hilal. According to @haber822, his sister was “moderately wounded”.

It is unclear when the bomb was fired. All sources pointed to Russia as responsible for the unexploded ordnance.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Najdat Saroat Hilal نجدت ثروت هلال
Sister of Najdat Saroat Hilal
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]