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

R4459

Incident date

August 15, 2022

Location

بلدة قسطون جنوبي ,ادلب, Qastoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An eleven year old boy called Abdul-Wahhab Ibn Hassan Al-Hanawi was reportedly killed as a result of the remnants of a cluster bomb in the town of Qastoun, west of Hama on the August 15th 2022. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, the killing of Abdul-Wahab marks the second death through unexploded remnants within three days in the countryside of Idlib.

The remnants were reportedly as a result of Russian or Syrian regime incidents in the past.

While some reports state that Abdul-Wahhab was playing in front of his house in the town of Qastoun when the explosion occurred, other sources report that the boy was searching for scraps to sell near his family village.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Wahab Hinnawi
11 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (12) [ 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4491

Incident date

November 20, 2022

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was killed when an unexploded cluster bomb originally launched by Syrian regime or Russian forces exploded in agricultural land on the outskirts of the city of Jisr Al Shughur on November 20, 2022.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a child was killed when a cluster bomb from a previous bombing, attributed to the Syrian regime and Russia, exploded while the child was grazing sheep on the outskirts of the city of Jisr Al Shughur.

A local source told North Press that “the explosion resulted in the killing of the child, Muhammad Saleh al-Daghli, from the city of Jisr Al Shughur” and that many children were grazing their sheep in the same area.

@Almohrar1 added that the body of the child was transferred to the forensic medicine department in the city of Idlib, and then handed over to his family.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the bomb was from a previous Russian or Syrian regime bombardment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Saleh al-Daghli محمد صالح الدغلي
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers with the body of a child killed by an unexploded cluster bomb in Jisr Al Shughur on November 20, 2022. (Image posted by the Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)

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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4530

Incident date

July 10, 2023

Location

الأتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On July 10th 2022, Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly shelled the village of Al Atareb in western countryside of Aleppo, resulting in the injury of one elderly woman.

Local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and Baladi News stated that an elderly woman had been injured on the outskirts of Atarib, coinciding with an intense flight of reconnaissance. Orient Net added that the shelling also affected civilian homes and farms.

A tweet from @abderazakpato included an image of the remnants of an artillery shell, which was attributed to coming from Syrian regime forces in the barracks surrounding the city and was identified as part of the shelling that resulted in the injury of a 60 year old woman and the destruction of civilian property.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime or Russian forces were responsible.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers at the site of alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Al Atareb on July 10, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Dangerous moments of our teams' response to artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the city of Atarib, west of #Aleppo, today, Monday, July 10, causing the injury of a woman, and the destruction of civilian homes.
  • "A woman was injured as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the city of Atarib in the western countryside of Aleppo" (Image posted by @alkhabour21)
  • Remnants of an artillery shell launched by Syrian regime forces in the barracks surrounding the city. (Image posted by @abderazakpato)
  • Artillery targets 🇸🇾 of terrorist sites east of Atarib, the western countryside of #Aleppo

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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4574

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

ادلب, a main road and a camp in Idlib outskirts, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two men were reportedly killed, one man injured and up to more than 30 civilians were wounded after alleged Syrian regime and/or Russian and/or Iranian artillery struck the outskirts of Idlib town in Syria on Thursday, October 5th, 2023.

Idlib Media Center and Revolution Radio Facebook accounts posted images of the clouds of smoke arising after the bombardment of the Idlib’s outskirts, while Al Arabia and Twitter/X user @pvSScBsybeozsB8 posted videos showing the bombardment.

According to ajournalist Ahmed Rahhal, two men were killed in the outskirts of the city of Idlib, one of whom was a young man Bashar Al-Zee. A Facebook account “Martyrs of Idlib city” posted a tribute to the victim posting an image of a smiling bearded young man in a red hat.

Syrian Civil Defense reported that one man was injured after the strike hit a main road on the outskirts of Idlib. Syrian Civil Defense crew took the injured person to a hospital which was seen on the images attached to its tweet. The Civil Defense also inspected and repaired the parts of the road that had been damaged.

Meanwhile, a Twitter/X user @DeirEzzorre reported over 30 people injured after the bombardment of the outskirts of Idlib. It’s possible that some of the injured were included in other incidents.

The Syrian regime forces were identified as responsible for the strikes by most of the local sources, including Idlib News Network, who claimed rocket launchers were used, Syrian Civil Defence, Orient news and others. However, some sources wrote that Russian forces were involved — including Step News reporting that the strike was carried out amid the flight of Russian reconnaissance planes. A journalist Ahmed Rahhal alleged that the strikes may have been carried out by the Russian and/or Iranian military.

Since the sources identified different belligerents as being responsible for the strike, Airwars has classified both Strike Status and Civilian Harm Status as Contested.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Al Zair بشار الزيز
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–31
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military, Iranian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: Martyrs of Idlib city
  • Source: Idlib Media Center
  • Source: Revolution Radio
  • Source: @HalabTodayTV
  • Source: @Step_Agency

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  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–31
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military, Iranian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4438

Incident date

February 20, 2022

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.347545, 37.531967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were injured, with one reportedly dying of their injuries, when an unexploded cluster bomb from a previous bombing by the regime or Russian forces exploded in the town of Tadef on February 20, 2022.

According to a tweet from @Almohrar1, two children were injured, one of whom had his hand amputated, due to the explosion of a cluster bomb from a previous Russian bombing of the town of Tadef.

Baladi News also reported that two children were seriously injured from the explosion of bomb remnants. However, they attributed the previous bombing to the regime.

A day after the incident, February 21st, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that one of the children that was injured died from the explosion in Tadef.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadef (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.347545, 37.531967. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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

R4470

Incident date

September 17, 2022

Location

كفر عمة, Kaframma, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a boy or young man named Muhammad Hamdo Arab, was reported killed and his brother, Qusai Hamdo Arab, was wounded when an artillery shell hit civilian homes in the village of Kafr Amma in the western countryside of Aleppo, Syria on September 17th 2022.  It is a contested event as a result of either Russian or Syrian regime action.

One other source reported that a girl had been injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Qusai Hamdo Arab
Child male brother of Muhammad injured
Muhammad Hamdo Arab
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Muhammad Hamdo Arab was reportedly killed by a Russian or Syrian regime missile on September 17th 2022 (Image via Almohrar1 / Twiter)
  • Qusai Hamdo Arab was reportedly injured by a Russian or Syrian regime missile on September 17th 2022 (Image via Almohrar1 / Twiter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Muhammad Hamdo Arab was reportedly killed by a Russian or Syrian regime missile on September 17th 2022 (Image via Almohrar1 / Twiter)
  • One civilian was killed when a reported Russian or Syrian regime strike hit the vicinity of Darat Izza on September 17th 2022 (Image via @bkdadaksa / Twitter)
  • One child was killed and another was reported injured when a contested strike hit Kafra Amma on September 17th 2022 (Image via @AsharqNewsSYR / Twitter)
  • "A boy was killed and his brother was wounded by artillery shelling by the Assad regime forces on the village of Kafr Ama." (Image via Euphrates Post)
  • "A boy was killed and his brother was wounded by artillery shelling by the Assad regime forces on the village of Kafr Ama." (Image via Euphrates Post)
  • "A boy was killed and his brother was wounded, today, Thursday, September 22, by artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia, which targeted civilian homes in the village of Kafr Amma in the western countryside of Aleppo, and the outskirts of Darat Izza city were similarly bombed." (Image via Syria Civil Defense)

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4499

Incident date

January 21, 2023

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured, and one later died, from alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of the city of Darat Izza on January 21, 2023.

The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was injured by Syrian regime and Russian artillery shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of the city of Darat Izza. Civil Defense volunteers inspected the site of the bombing and made sure there were no other injuries.

@OrientNews and other local sources referred to “civilians” injured but did not specify how many.

Syrian Network for Human Rights later reported on January 28th that Sameh Salim Ayyoub, a poultry farm worker from Qebtan al-Jabal village, died from the wounds he sustained during the artillery shelling on January 21st.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the shelling, with Baladi News blaming the Syrian regime while @thiqanewsagency specified that the regime forces stationed in Qabtan al-Jabal carried out the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sameh Salim Ayyoub
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense at the site of civilian casualties in Darat Izza on January 21, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Shelling of Darat Izza on January 21, 2023. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4535

Incident date

August 1, 2023

Location

معربليت, Ma’arbelet, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 1st 2023, Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly shelled the village of Ma’arbelet, south of Idlib, resulting in the injury of at least one civilian, a child. @SyriaCivilDefe stated that the child was in critical condition.

Local sources including @RadioAlKul reported that a number of civilians were wounded by artillery shelling, but did not give a specific number. Baladi News stated that “regime forces are intensifying their bombardment of the towns and villages of Jabal Al-Zawiya in the southern countryside of Idlib, and the town of Ma’arbelit, which has caused displacement as a result of the continuous shelling.”

Sources were conflicted as to whether the Syrian regime or Russian forces were responsible for the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • "Civilian casualties as a result of artillery shelling targeting the town of Ma'arbelet, south of Idlib." (Image posted by AI Arabiya Press Agency via Facebook)
  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted by Al Hadath Syria via Facebook)
  • The moment of the bombing of the village of Ma'arbilit 1 August 2023
  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted by Radio Free Syria via Facebook)
  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted by @mzmgr941)
  • Alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of Ma’arbelet on August 1, 2023. (Image posted by @HalabTodayTV)

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]