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

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 They have not withdrawn from any area in the eastern suburb of Daraa.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

RS3516

Incident date

July 8, 2019

Location

قرب حي طريق السد, Tareeq Al Sad, Dara'a , Syria

Geolocation

32.61119, 36.115947 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians were reportedly killed in the plains surrounding Dara’a Al Balad when the region was hit by seven strikes, allegedly launched from Russian warplanes, on July 8th, 2018, according to local sources. Two others were injured.

Shaam News Agency wrote that “in violation of the cease-fire agreement, a Russian warplane launched seven airstrikes on the plains and farms surrounding Dara’a Al Balad, killing two people and wounding a number of people.”

Smart News Agency reported that “a civilian was killed early Sunday in the plains surrounding the dam road in the city of Dara’a, as the region was hit by seven raids by aircraft likely to be Russian, which also wounded another civilian and his wife.”

Shafea Abazid wrote on Facebook that Muwaffaq Nayef Ali Abazid was killed in the airstrikes.

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 incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Mowaffaq Nayef Ali Abazid موفق نايف علي ابازيد
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ 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
    1 – 2
  • (1 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
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3515

Incident date

July 5, 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 ten civilians died in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Um Al Mayadhen on July 5th, 2018, according to sources on the ground.

@Step_Agency reported that “eight people, including a member of the Civil Defense, were killed as a result of the aerial bombardment targeting the town of Um Al Mayadhen, east of Dara’a, this morning [July 5th].”

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported the names of nine men who were killed in the airstrikes. Huran.net wrote that in addition, an unidentified young man from Homs was also killed.

Multiple sources named Suleiman Mohammad al Maf’alani, age 30, as a victim of the strikes, stating that he was killed while performing his duties as a volunteer for Syrian Civil Defense.

According to Hamza Alshaheed, Suleiman al Maf’alani was killed “in the course of his humanitarian duty to rescue the injured and evacuate the civilians after a previous aerial bombardment of Umm Al Mayadhen.”

Furthermore, the source reported “a number of civilians” wounded, as well as “severe damage” to civilian infrastructure in the airstrikes which intensified throughout the day, “accompanied by artillery shelling and a heavy missile”.

Whereas most sources, such as @JobarNewsNet, reported Russia as the belligerent for the airstrikes, others, such as @alahmed_nasser pointed to the Syrian regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Firas Younis Al Masry
Adult male killed
Abdo Al Masry
Adult male killed
Ayoub Muhammad Al Masri
Adult male killed
Ziyad Abdullah Al Masry
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Sulaiman Mohammed Al Mufalani
Adult male volunteer killed
Ahmed Al Toni
Adult male killed
Muhammad Yunus Al Nimr
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Muhammad Mufalani
Adult male killed
Fayez Mahmoud Al Rifai
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 10
  • (8–9 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Suleiman al-Mufalani, a volunteer for Syrian Civil Defense, killed while attempting to rescue civilians following a previous airstrike (via SCDdaraa)
  • Translation: "The Syrian Civil Defense introduces the volunteer martyr, "Suleiman Al-Mafalani", after he was subjected to an air strike, while performing his humanitarian duty to help the wounded and evacuate civilians, after an aerial bombardment on the town of #M_Myadhen in the eastern countryside of Daraa" (via @SyriaCivilDefe).

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
    9 – 10
  • (8–9 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3512

Incident date

July 5, 2019

Location

جسر الشغور , Jisir Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Russian airstrikes in the vicinity of the city of Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib governorate, on July 5th, 2018, according to Edlib Media Center.

EMC reported “two civilian casualties as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft around the city of Jisr Al Shughour in the western countryside of Idlib with rockets.”

@rahhalahmad06 tweeted that three Russian airstrikes targeted the vicinity of Jisr Al Shughour, including a cork factory. The source did not mention civilian casualties. Hence, while the strike status is graded as likely by Airwars, the civilian harm status is 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

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)

Rawda Mustafa Faluji
Adult female Mother of four children killed killed
Asma Mustafa Faluji
Adult female Sister of Rawda killed
Child of Rawda Mustafa Faluji
Child
Child of Rawda Mustafa Faluji
Child
Child of Rawda Mustafa Faluji
Child
Child of Rawda Mustafa Faluji
Child

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]

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

R3302

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

بانص, Banss, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Smart News Agency reported that two civilians were wounded in the explosion of remnants of a cluster bomb from a previous Russian forces and Syrian regime bombing in Banss, 55 km south of Aleppo, Syria on July 4th, 2018.

Also @24Aleppo tweeted that “two people were injured due to the explosion of a cluster bombs from the remnants of a previous airstrike on the village of Bans in the southern countryside of Aleppo.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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 (2) [ 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
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]