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 Code

RS3521

Incident date

July 17, 2018

Location

العالية, Al A'liya, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reported killed and others injured in alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al A’aliya in Qunaitera, Syria on July 17th, 2018.

Middle East Online (MEO) said “Another civilian was killed in Russian raids targeting the town of Al A’liya in the western countryside of Daraa at the administrative border with Quneitra, according to the observatory.”

Local Coordination Committees of Syria said the Assad regime attacked the town with explosive barrels.

However, Shaam Network raised the death toll to four “Four other people dead and a number of injuries in the town of al-‘Aliya, northwest of Daraa, as a result of heavy air raids on the town and its environs in Tel al-Mahs.”

MEO blamed Russia while Local Coordination Committee accused the Syrian regime for the responsibility for this event.

@DeryNews said that “Helicopters [usually refers to regime if no Russia is mentioned] threw several explosive barrels targeting the town of Al-Alia near the city of Jasem in the countryside of Dara’a, causing dozens of wounded.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • 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 (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
    1 – 4
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3522

Incident date

July 17, 2018

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that more than 19 people including women and children were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and/or artillery strikes on Nawa in Dara’a governorate on July 17th, 2018. Local sources reported that the attacks on Nawa happened with dozens of raids with explosive barrels, cluster bombs and rocket attacks.

For Southern Syria on Facebook identified eight of the victims as follows: Mo’ammar Qassim al Shawli, the wife of Colonel Fawaz al-Tayasneh, Nibal Montaser Droubi Al Suwaidani, Ahmed Jihad Al-Mutheeb, Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb, Wife of Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb, daughter of Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb. Another name mentioned is Qasim Abu Al Zein Sharaf, but Step Agency referred to him as the leader of Martyr Jameel Abu Al Zein Brigade which might mean he was not a civilian.

@Omar_Madaniah reported the deaths of 18 martyrs, including two children and three women, adding that among the killed civilians are six family members from the town of Al Nuaimiya.

Shaam Network reported: “The fall of more than 19 martyrs, including two children and three women and a number of those who fled to the town, in addition, there are unidentified martyrs, dozens of wounded people, including some in very serious conditions, what might raise the number of martyrs, especially with the targeting of the only field hospital by the helicopters that put it out of service completely.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime saying “Syrian/ Russian regime forces killed several civilians in Nawa city in Daraa suburbs on July 17th. At least 13 civilians, including two children and three women, killed due to continuous air and land bombing by Syrian/ Russian regime forces on Nawa city in Daraa governorate northwestern suburbs, in the evening of July 17th, 2018.”

According to Dara’a Martyrs Documentation Office, the airstrikes led to “a massacre of eighteen martyrs, including seven women, one of whom is pregnant and four children. Among the martyrs were nine martyrs due to missile strikes and nine martyrs due to warplane strikes.”

Shaam Network blamed the Syrian regime saying that “Activists confirmed that the Assad forces stationed in Tal al-Mahs and the artillery battalion in the town of Al-Shulaileh targeted the town of Nawa with more than 300 shells in just ten minutes, while the shelling continues.” Step Agency blamed the Syrian regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “the regime forces targeted by more than 350 missiles and more than 40 explosive barrels and airstrikes, areas in Nawa city and its vicinity as well as the area of Tell Al Jabiyyah and Tal Al Jumou.”

According to Nasr Al Hariri, head of the opposition negotiating body, more than 50 civilians were killed. Al Hariri blamed Russia for the airstrikes. @Bosracoord also reported “50 martyrs and dozens of wounded people on the streets of the city and under the rubble and complete failure to assist the martyrs and those injured.”

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (2 children3–7 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Rubble after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • Rubble after alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on Nawa, Dara'a governorate, on July 17th, 2018 (via Dara'a Martyrs Documentation Office).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mo’ammar Qassim al Shawli was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Nawa on July 17th, 2018 (via Omar Al Res on Facebook).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammed Khair Fawaz Al-Mutheeb was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Nawa on July 17th, 2018 (via Sarot Nawa on Facebook).

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (2 children3–7 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3519

Incident date

July 16, 2018

Location

عقربا , A’kraba, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

33.440089, 36.375631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on A’kraba, Dara’a governorate on July 16th, 2018, according to local sources. An unknown number of civilians was injured.

According to the Smart News Agency, “activists said three civilians were killed and others injured in an airstrike with rockets likely to be on the town of Aqraba, controlled by the Free Syrian Army north of Dara’a.” @RadioAlKul and @liveuamar blamed Russian forces for the airstrikes.

Dara’a Martyrs Documentation Office also put the death toll at three but did not identify the belligerent. A Now Damascus correspondent reported that terrorist sites in the village were targeted.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS3517

Incident date

July 8, 2018

Location

غرز, Gharaz, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.595556, 36.158333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian airstrikes in Gharaz, Dara’a governorate, on July 8th, 2018, according to local sources. An unknown number of others was wounded.

Several sources, such as @Wesal_TV, reported that four civilians were killed and others were wounded by airstrikes targeting the Gharaz area, east of Dara’a.

While most sources did not specify a belligerent, @yosefzzx blamed Russian-Syrian warplanes for the airstrikes, while Qasioun News and @omar_hariri pointed to Russia.

According to Shaam News, “Russia and the Assad regime have not implemented any of the stipulations agreed upon in Bosra al-Sham. They have not withdrawn from any area in the eastern suburb of Daraa. The Russian and Syrian aerial bombardments have continued and have not stopped yet.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (13) [ collapse]

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
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3518

Incident date

July 8, 2018

Location

أم المياذن, Um Al Mayadhen, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.585547, 36.190245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Um Al Mayadhen, Dara’a governorate, on July 8th, 2018, according to local sources. An unknown number of people was injured.

@omar_hariri_dr wrote: “Two martyrs up to this moment and a large number of wounded by the Russian airstrikes on the town of Um Al Mayadhen”, adding that “the evacuation of the displaced people, which was scheduled for this morning, was postponed.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported three civilian deaths.

Shaam News also reported a number of injured in what it describes as “a very heavy rocket attack”, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights refers to as a “bombardment by warplanes and helicopters”.

All sources identifying a belligerent blamed Russia for the airstrikes. According to Shaam News Network, the alleged airstrikes are a violation of the ceasefire agreement agreed upon in Bousra Al Sham. According to this source, “Russian and Syrian aerial bombardments have continued and have not stopped”, in spite of the stipulations of the Bousra Al Sham agreement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (7) [ 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 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3513

Incident date

July 5, 2018

Location

درعا‎, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on neighbourhoods in Dara’a city on July 5th, 2018, according to Step Agency.

Step News reported that “Russian warplanes intensified raids since the morning on the liberated neighbourhoods of the city of Dar’aa and the towns of Naseeb and Um Al Mayathen in the eastern countryside of Dara’a, leaving wounded and serious damage.” The source did not verify whether the wounded fell specifically in Dara’a city.

@HadiAlabdallah tweeted that “Russian warplanes are intensifying its shelling on the liberated areas of Dara’a and launching airstrikes on the town of Naseeb and Al Naima, east of Dara’a, the city of Tafas, west of Dara’a, and the neighbourhoods of the Dara’a country.” The source did not mention civilian casualties, hence the civilian harm status of this incident is graded as weak.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3514

Incident date

July 5, 2018

Location

نصيب, Nasib, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.550502, 36.187213 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Nasib, Dara’a governorate, on July 5th, 2018, according to Step Agency.

Step News reported that “Russian warplanes intensified raids since the morning on the liberated neighbourhoods of the city of Dar’aa and the towns of Naseeb and Um Al Mayathen in the eastern countryside of Dara’a, leaving wounded and serious damage.” The source did not verify whether the wounded fell specifically in the village of Nasib.

@HadiAlabdallah tweeted that Russian warplanes intensified shelling “on the liberated areas of Dara’a and launching airstrikes on the town of Naseeb and Al Naima, east of Dara’a, the city of Tafas, west of Dara’a, and the neighbourhoods of the Dara’a country.”

All sources blamed Russia for the airstrikes, except for @omar_hariri_dr, who wrote that the Syrian regime and Russia were responsible for the heavy bombing campaign on Dara’a governorate, mentioning several towns. Because the source is summarising events and does not specifically say which belligerent conducted the strike on Nasib, while other sources all report that it was a Russian strike, Airwars graded the strike status of this incident as likely. The civilian harm status remains weak, as only Step Agency reported possible civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Dara'a, Nasib" (via @motionbox89).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Nasib, Dara'a governorate, on July 5th, 2018 (via @motionbox89).
  • Smoke after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Nasib, Dara'a governorate, on July 5th, 2018 (via @motionbox89).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Nasib, Dara'a governorate, on July 5th, 2018 (via @motionbox89).

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3511

Incident date

July 5, 2018

Location

صيدا , Sayda, Dara'a , Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians, including four children, of the same family, were reportedly killed in suspected Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Sayda, Dara’a governorate, on July 5th, 2018, according to local sources.

Step News reported that “more than 25 Russian airstrikes targeted the town on Thursday morning [July 5th]”, killing the family who was “displaced from the city of Dara’a”, according to For Southern Syria.

One woman, Rawda Mustafa Faluji, and her four children were reportedly killed, according to four sources, while the For Southern Syria also named Rawda’s sister, Asma Mustafa Faluji, as killed in the strikes. @SyriaCivilDefe, among other sources, indeed reported that two women and four children were killed.

Syrian Civil Defence teams recovered the bodies and transported them to the city of Dara’a Al Balad.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had “counted the killing of at least six civilians, including a woman and four children, as a result of the bombing of Sayda, which has been under constant raids since yesterday.”

While several sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian, regime, other sources, such as Al Arabiya, pointed specifically to Russia as the belligerent.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Adult female Mother of four children killed killed
Adult female Sister of Rawda killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children2 women)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four children of the Mustafa Faluji family killed in July 5th airstrikes on Seyda, Daraa (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "A massacre of the Russian occupation air forces on the town of Saida in the countryside of Daraa, where a mother and four children were killed" (via @Wesal_TV).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of children who were killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sayda on July 5th, 2018 (via @Wesal_TV).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "A whole family of six people is martyred due to the aerial bombardment of the Assad regime and Russia on the town of Sayda in the Dara’a countryside" (via @HadiAlabdallah).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer carrying the body of a child after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sayda on July t5h, 2018 (via @Layalhaddad).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer carrying the body of a child after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sayda on July t5h, 2018 (via @Layalhaddad).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "A massacre this morning by the Russian air force in the town of Saida in Daraa, in which a mother and four children were killed" (via @3amaral7arery).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of woman and her child, who were killed in alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sayda on July 5th, 2018 (via @3amaral7arery).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of the Syrian Civil Defence recovering the bodies after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sayda, July 5th, 2018 (via @BonnieKipperman).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Sayda, July 5th, 2018 (via @BonnieKipperman).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
    6
  • (4 children2 women)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (17) [ collapse]