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

RS3493

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

طفس, Tafas, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.735089, 36.067813 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian, Syrian regime and/or Iranian air and/or artillery strikes targeted the town of Tafas, Dara’a countryside, on June 29th, 2018, according to local sources. Possibly, civilians were injured and killed.

Shaam News Network reported that “the Russian military and Assad aircraft and helicopter gunships launched airstrikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighbourhoods of Dara’a and on the towns and villages of Nawa, Tafas, Kahil, Sheikh Saad, Giza, Mseifra, Saida, Gharia, Gharbia and Sharqiya and Um Al Mayan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians”, implying that civilians were possible harmed in Tafas.

@alahmed_nasser reported that the “Syrian Arab Army artillery strikes targeted locations and points of armed militants in Tafas town in Dara’a countryside.” @3bdalra7man7ar reported Russian airstrikes on the town

@Step_Agency wrote that artillery shelling targeted Tafas, explicitly stating there had been no injuries.

@s3d_al3nezi and @Horan_now1 blamed Iranian forces for artillery and rocket strikes on Tafas.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • 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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3500

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

الغارية الشرقية, al Ghariya al Sharqiya, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported deaths and injuries among civilians as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Ghariya al Sharqiya in Dara’a on June 29th, 2018.

Shaam Network reported that “The Russian military and Assad aircraft and helicopter gunships launched air strikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighborhoods of Daraa and on the towns and villages of Nawa, Tafs, Kahil, Sheikh Saad, Giza, Mseifra, Saida, Al Gharia Al Gharbia and Sharqiya and Um Al Mayan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians.”

Russian and the Syrian regime were both blamed for the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (6) [ 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
    2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3494

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

كحيل, Kahil, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.616784, 36.266117 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes targeted the village of Kahil, east of Dara’a, on June 29th, 2018, according to local sources. Possibly, the strikes led to civilian casualties.

Shaam News Network reported that “the Russian military and Assad aircraft and helicopter gunships launched airstrikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighbourhoods of Dara’a and on the towns and villages of Nawa, Tafas, Kahil, Sheikh Saad, Giza, Mseifra, Saida, Gharia, Gharbia and Sharqiya and Um Al Mayan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians”, implying that civilians were possibly harmed in Kahil.

@Step_Agency reported that “intense aerial bombardment with barrels and missiles targets the town of Kahil, east of Daraa, which has been going on for hours, in an attempt by the regime forces to advance into the town.” According to @omarbalkhi5, 15 airstrikes and more than 10 explosive barrels were used. @chessrabaa reported a double raid by the Syrian regime.

@FadilMha blamed Russian forces for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (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
    2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3501

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

ام المياذن, Um Al Mayathen, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported a number of killed and injured civilians in Um Al Mayathen in Dara’a, Syria on June 29th, 2018 as a result of alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrikes.

Shaam Network said “The Russian military and Assad aircraft and helicopter gunships launched air strikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighborhoods of Daraa and on the towns and villages of Nawa, Tafs, Kahil, Sheikh Saad, Giza, Mseifra, Saida, Al Gharia Al Gharbia and Sharqiya and Um Al Maythen, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians.”

No further information is available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (5) [ 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
    2
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3485

Incident date

June 28, 2018

Location

المسيفرة, Al Musayfrah, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to 70 civilians including women and children were reported killed in Al Musayfrah in Dara’a on June 28th, as a result of alleged multiple Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on a residential building or a group of shelters that host a group of families, according to local sources. Also dozens of civilians were injured including 19 in critical conditions, among them nine children.

Nariman Al-Kurdi, a child, is the only victim identified by the Syrian Human Rights Committee.

@HadiAlabdallah tweeted that ten civilians were killed “A horrific massacre in the town of Al Musayfrah in Daraa countryside, which resulted in the death of more than ten civilians, including women and children, as a result of targeting residential neighborhoods in the town with several air strikes by Russian warplanes.”

Shaam Network said more that 30 raids by Russian forces targeted the area. “A very terrible massacre took place in the town of Al Musayfrah in rural Daraa, which killed more than 14 martyrs in the preliminary statistics, mostly children, more than 30 violent air raids from Russian crime planes.” Al Hurra News said that 35 raids targeted the area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that ” 17 of the dead, including five children, were killed in a raid targeting a basement in which they were sheltering in the town of Al Musayfrah, east of the city of Daraa.”

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that “Russian warplanes commit a massacre against civilians, killing 20 people and injuring others in raids targeting the town of Al Musayfrah in the eastern countryside.”

@RevolutionSyria tweeted “A horrific massacre that killed more than twenty martyrs of children and women after a Russian aircraft targeted a house where families gather in the town of # Al Musayfrah in the countryside # Daraa_Al-Sharqi.”

However, Zamanalwasl accused the Syrian regime of the incident and said that “The warplanes of the war regime committed a massacre in the town of Al Musayfrah in eastern Daraa countryside, killing 22 people, including 12 children.” Sources confirmed to Zaman Al-Wasl that the shelling also resulted in the injury of dozens of wounded, including seven children, in a critical condition.

The number of victims kept rising according to local reports, where Masrawy News reported that “the death toll from the aerial bombardment of the town of Al Musayfrah in the eastern countryside of Daraa in Syria has risen to 45 dead and dozens wounded. “44 people were killed and dozens injured, most of them children, of 9 seriously injured, in the aerial bombardment of Russian air on the town of Al Musayfrah in the eastern countryside of Daraa,” a source in the Syrian opposition’s civil defense in Daraa governorate told the German news agency (dpa).”

A local sources told SMART that ” the number of dead reached more than 50 and the number of wounded exceeded 38, most of them are  in critical condition.”

SMART reported that “the Russian aircraft bombed three shelters containing civilians fleeing the bombing, killing about 66 civilians, mostly women and children and wounding dozens, including critical cases.”

In the highest death toll reported, @BassamJaara tweeted that “Russian aviation targets a shelter in the town of Al Musayfrah and the result is more than seventy martyrs, most of them are children.”

SMART Agency reported from a local sources that they are burying victims in mass graves and that the medical services in the town are very limited because of shortages.

Both the Russian forces and the Syrian regime were blamed for this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 70
  • (5–12 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

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    "A massacre in the town of Al Musayfrah, against children and women, from the Russian Air Force."
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    "More than 30 martyrs and dozens were wounded by the criminal Putin in the town of Al Musayfrah, Daraa."
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    "Urgent 25 martyrs, most of them children and women, in the bombing of a Russian criminal terrorist Asadi on the town of Al Musayfrah in Daraa."
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    "Urgent A horrific massacre in the town of Al Musayfrah in Daraa countryside, which resulted in the death of more than 10 martyrs, including women and children, as a result of targeting residential neighborhoods in the town with several air strikes by Russian warplanes."
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    "More than 20 martyrs, mostly children and women, in the town of Al Musayfrah in the eastern countryside of Daraa, after a Russian raid targeting the town."
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    "This is how Russia's planes tore apart the bodies of our children in Daraa. A horrific massacre that killed more than twenty martyrs of children and women after targeting Russian aircraft for a house where families gather in the town of # Al Musayfrah in the countryside # Daraa_Al-Sharqi."
  • "At least 20 martyrs in Russian raids on the city of Al Musayfrah in the eastern countryside of Daraa."
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    "The massacre is now in Al Musayfrah, Dara`a."
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    Children killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on residential buildings in Al Musayfrah in Dara'a on June 28th, 2018 (via @3amaral7arery)
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    Two children killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on residential buildings in Al Musayfrah in Dara'a on June 28th, 2018 (via @3amaral7arery)
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    Two children killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on residential buildings in Al Musayfrah in Dara'a on June 28th, 2018 (via @3amaral7arery)

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
    10 – 70
  • (5–12 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3486

Incident date

June 28, 2018

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to 13 civilians were reported killed and dozens including women and children critically injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on residential areas and a convoy of displaced people who were heading from Nawa to Qunaitera in Dara’a on June 28th, 2018 according to reports from local sources.

@HalabTodayTV said that Russian warplanes targeted a convoy of displaced people with many rockets, and SMART agency said the attack was executed with three raids.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee has documented the following victims’ names: Hayam Abu Ajeeb, Ali Omar Al-Aqil (child), Khalil Al-Ammarin Abu Ibrahim, Ahmed Ghazi Al-Shazly, Yasser Ahmad Al-Fashtaki and  Naseem Qasim Al-Rayes. 

Nabaamedia tweeted that “Two civilians were killed and others wounded by the bombing of Russian warplanes on residential neighborhoods in the city of Nawa, in the western Dara’a countryside.”

Umo.nawa1 posted on Facebook that “Russian aviation launched air strikes targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Nawa, followed by artillery shelling and rocket launchers, after which three martyrs rose (three people died).”

SMART Agency said that “On Thursday, June 28th, 2018, warplanes, possibly Russian, bombed the main street in the city of Nawa in Daraa, southern Syria, one of which targeted civilians trying to move to safer areas, killing two of them, wounding dozens, including children and women, and causing extensive destruction.”

Shaam Network also said “Activists confirmed that three civilians were killed and dozens were wounded by Russian warplanes raids on the city of Nawa in the western countryside of Dara’a, as rescue teams recovered the martyrs and evacuated the wounded, after a multi-store apartment building collapsed on the heads of its residents.”

@Omar_Madaniah tweeted that “Russia’s warplanes bomb a convoy of displaced people from #Nawa West # Daraa, chasing them after escaping from the horrific battles.”

SMART Reported that “A warplane [believed to be Russian] launched three raids on the main street in the city of Nawa, one of which targeted civilians trying to move to safer areas, killing two of them and wounding dozens, including women and children, including critical cases, were taken to the city hospital.”

The highest death toll was reported by a source that told Masrawy News that “thirteen people were killed and dozens wounded, when Russian fighters bombed a convoy of displaced persons from the city of Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa as they were heading towards Qunaitera.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wife of Nasser Al Aqeel زوجة ناصر العقيل
Adult female Might be the same as Hayam killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Khalil al-Ammarin Abu Ibrahim and his family were killed by a Russian airstrike in the city a short time ago."

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
    6 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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

RS3487

Incident date

June 28, 2018

Location

داعل, Da'el town, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to five civilians were killed and 15 others injured in alleged Russian raids with four rockets on Da’el in Dara’a on June 28th, 2018.

SMART reported that “Four civilians, including two women, were killed and others wounded as a result of raids by Russian planes on residential neighborhoods in the city of Da’el , according to the media officer of the Police Centre in the city. ”

However names of victims shared by Abu Ghadab in a Facebook post show that one woman was killed. The names Ahmed Salem Al-Masry aged 27, Maryam Qasim Al-Shehadat aged 50, Hudhaifa Faisal Awir aged 22 and Qasem Ali Qanbar aged 25.

@maher_jamous tweeted “Russian occupation warplanes targeting the town of Da’el in the countryside of Daraa, with two strikes a short time ago, and preliminary reports that martyrs and many wounded were among the civilians.”

Russian forces were accused to be responsible for this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmed Salem Al Masri was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Da'ael in Dara'a on June 28th, 2018 (via Mohammad.almasri)

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
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3488

Incident date

June 28, 2018

Location

الغارية الشرقية, Al Ghariya Al Sharqiya, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.67648, 36.258917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two men were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Ghariya Al Sharqiya, Dara’a governorate, on June 28th, 2018, according to local sources. Step News reported that “many were dead and wounded, including children.”

Step News reported: “Many dead and wounded, including children, killed by the targeting of the town of Al Ghariya Al Sharqiya, east of Dara’a, with more than 25 Russian raids.” @3bdalra7man7ar tweeted that Russian airstrikes were targeting Al Ghariya Al Sharqiya. @GMT4GROUP wrote that the town was targeted with explosive barrels.

@Alsari23 reported “the death of the young man, Al Mu’tasim Billah Ibrahim Abu Houran, after Russian warplanes targeted the town.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that two civilians were killed, identifying Muhammad Adel Al Qadri as the second victim.

All sources blamed Russia for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (2 children2 men)
  • 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 (8) [ 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 – 10
  • (2 children2 men)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]