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

RS2680

Incident date

November 5, 2017

Location

عشاير, Ashayer, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.511944, 40.903333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as four civilians were killed – including a man, his wife and daughter – in alleged Russian or Syrian regime raid strikes on Ashayer, according to local media.

Some media reported that “warplanes” fired missiles – therefore not attributing blame to a belligerent.

Syrian Network for Human Rights – who blamed the Syrian regime – reported that four civilians, including two children and a woman were killed. They later named a man as killed, adding he was killed alongside his wife and daughter.

Other local sources informed Al-Arab Al-Jadeed, that a civilian, his wife and daughter were killed by a “Russian air strike targeting their house in the village of Ashayer”.

They added this was renewed Russian shelling.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Mohammad al Salbi al Dablan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdullah Mohammad al Salbi al Dablan, killed in an airstrike on Ashayer, 4th November 2017. (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2632

Incident date

October 12, 2017

Location

ذيبان, Dhiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0108763, 40.5045318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including one woman, were killed and several more were wounded, following an airstrike and/or artillery attack on Dhiban, Deir Ezzor, local media reported – though sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were to blame.

While some sources reported the death of two civilians, several sources reported a total death of four fatalities – one woman and three men – all identified by name.

Reports were, however, conflicted in terms of what caused the civilian harm, reporting about both airstrikes and artillery shelling.

Like most sources, Amjad Al Sari, for example, reported that “Russian aviation targeted the town of Dhiban with several air raids focused on the municipality building and a bakery, which led to the rise of civilian martyrs and the fall of a number of wounded.”

Meanwhile, sources like The Syrian Network for Human Rights apportioned blame to “Syrian regime artillery.”

Finally, others attributed blame to warplanes belonging to the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aziz al-Kashmeh
Adult male killed
Ali Ibraheem al-Sayed
Adult male killed
Nour Abd al-Rahman
Adult female killed
Ahmad al-Aeraj
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between October 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 woman3 men)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS077

Incident date

October 25, 2015

Location

الشيخ بركة, Sheikh Barakeh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.559369, 36.979087 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Syrian Observatory, “suspected Russian warplanes attacked the village of al-Sheikh Barakah in the township of Sinjar in the eastern countryside of Idlib, killing a woman and [her] two children while other civilians were seriously wounded.” A third child died a fews days later of her injuries.

The centre of the village was targeted in the incident, resulting in widespread destruction. Up to 20 civilians were also reported injured. The Syrian Network later cited an eyewitness: “I was 3km away from the shelling incident. At 8pm on Sunday night, a Russian warplane launched a vacuum missile on the eastern neighborhood. I saw a warplane from a very high altitude and it launched a rocket without even flying at lower altitudes to reach the target. When it launched the rocket the sky was lit from the severity of the explosion. The neighborhood, which is free of any military headquarters, was shelled, and shops and houses around 500 meters were damaged, and a woman, her son and another child were killed. Five minutes later the warplane performed another raid 250 meters away from the first shelling location with a vacuum missile also. There, at least 7 shops were damaged. I do not know why they are shelling civilians.”

 

The incident occured at 20:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Sanae Walid A Mhaimeed
Child female Died of her injuries October 27th killed
Kamel Mhammad al-Mhaimeed
Child female killed
Sajed Waleed al-Mhaimeed
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Fatme Khaled al-Hawyan
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • GRAPHIC Child victim of an alleged Russian airstrike at (via Jaish Al-Fateh)
  • image of a child killed in the strike (via Jaish Al-Fateh)
  • image of a child killed in the strike (via Jaish Al-Fateh)
  • image of a child killed in the strike (via Jaish Al-Fateh)
  • image of a child killed in the strike (via Adnan Abu Mahmooh facebook page)
  • image of a child killed in the strike (via Adnan Abu Mahmooh facebook page)
  • translation: the death of three martyrs with God’s will and nearly 20 wounded in the village of Al Sheikh Baraka in the eastern countryside - Russian plane raids.
  • Translation: Opposition sources: Dead and injured in Russian strikes on the village of Sheikh Baraka in Idlib countryside
  • Translation: Idlib countryside: the martyrdom of two children and a woman and the wounding of 20 others following Russian plane bombardement of the Sheikh Baraka area near Ma’arat Al No’man.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Sheikh Barakeh (الشيخ بركة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.559369, 36.979087. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed carrying out airstrikes at Idlib on October 25th-26th 2015. “In the course of the last 24 hours, the Russian air group carried out 59 sorties engaging 94 terrorist objects in the Hama, Idlib, Lattakia, Damascus, Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ 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

RS239

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

المغيرية, Mughayriyah, Latakia, Syria

Geolocation

35.6774723, 36.1815729 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported killed and several others injured, including women and children, when Russian warplanes allegedly “launched scores of strikes on residential areas”, according to the Shaam News Network.

No further details are available at the present time.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Mughayriyah (المغيرية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.6774723, 36.1815729. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has published no known record of its strikes in Syria between December 4th-8th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS367

Incident date

January 11, 2016

Location

حوش الصالحية, Al Hoash, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51471, 36.4654 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to five civilians were killed – and many wounded – in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Hoash Al Salhiya, according to the Shaam News Network.

SNN referred to the incident as “a new massacre to be added to the series of daily massacres committed by the Russian aggression in the cities and towns of eastern Ghouta“.

Activists told the Network that the Russian airforce targeted the town with six high-explosive rockets which landed on civilian homes, killing four and  wounding many others.

The report concluded by noting that “the Marj region saw a day of violent clashes between Assad’s forces and factions Gervo turf operations ended with the rebels on several farms and killed more than two dozen of the elements of Assad’s forces.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Qallaa
Adult male VDC notes they were killed by Syrian Regime forces killed
Ali Shukri al-Khateeb
Adult male VDC notes they were killed by Syrian Regime forces killed
Alaa al-Helo
Adult male VDC notes they were killed by Syrian Regime forces killed
Bilal Ghannoum
Age unknown named by Syria2011 killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets place a body in an ambulance after an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Houash. (via, The White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Khaled Qallaa, killed by an alleged Russian and Syrian Regime raid. (via, VDC)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between 11-15 January.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4082

Incident date

August 27, 2019

Location

معرشورين,, Ma'ar Shourin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.667511, 36.727252 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a child and one to two women, died and seven others were injured in alleged Russia or regime raids on Ma’ar Shourin on August 27, 2019. The majority of sources pointed to the use of barrel bombs.

A Facebook post by Nabed Maarshourin listed the names of those killed: Wael Abdulaziz Al-Qaddour, Abdul Rahman Al-Ramah, Naima Al-Hassan, Fatima Hassan al-Tawil (mother of Zaki)

@HalabTodayTV tweeted that an Aleppo Today reported that two civilians were killed and others were wounded.

Step reported: “Russian warplanes and helicopters targeted all towns of the southern and south eastern Idlib countryside with barrels, killing three civilians in Ma`ar shourin”. A tweet from @MasarPressNet also identified three civilians as being killed.

Tweets from @syr_television and @ZaitunAgency reported that the death toll rose to four, indicating that it was originally lower.

According to Shaam, who blamed the regime, there were “four martyrs, including women in Ma’rshouren, in addition to a number of wounded civilians”.

MMC said that the four fatalities included “a child, two women and a man”.

A tweet from @jisrtv “4 civilians, including a woman and a child” as being killed by the regime’s bombing.

@ufuk_sy tweeted “Five casualties so far” but did not indicate if they were killed or injured.

A tweet by @mhmadtr reported that 15 people had been injured and Syrian Civil Defense identified seven others injured while other sources did not specify how many people were injured, only referencing “several” and “a number” as being wounded.

Sources said that as many as 12 “explosive barrels” were dropped on the town.

A video posted by @ufuk_sy shows the moment the bombs are dropped, causing an explosion, flames, and smoke. @ufuk_sy also posted a video taken by someone in the town and at least three explosions can be heard on the video.

The White Helmets added that “five helicopters have been taking turns targeting the town since this morning” while a tweet by @mhmadtr identified eight helicopters.

Local sources were conflicted as to who was responsible, with @ZaitunAgency and various other sources attributing the strikes to Russia while @jisrtv and other sources blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Wael Abdulaziz Al-Qaddour
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Rahman Al-Ramah
Child male killed
Naima Al-Hassan
Age unknown female killed
Fatima Hassan al-Tawil
Age unknown female mother of Zaki killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Martyrs and a number of wounded were reported as a result of helicopter gunships targeting the town of Ma`ar shourin in the southern countryside of Idlib with more than 12 barrels of explosives"
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime barrel bombing of Ma'ar Shourin, Aug 27th (via SN4HR)
  • Images of airstrikes and aftermath on Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Saad Al Khabous via Facebook)
  • Images of airstrikes and aftermath on Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Saad Al Khabous via Facebook)
  • Images of airstrikes and aftermath on Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Saad Al Khabous via Facebook)
  • Images of airstrikes and aftermath on Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Saad Al Khabous via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of airstrikes and aftermath on Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Saad Al Khabous via Facebook)
  • Images of airstrikes and aftermath on Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Saad Al Khabous via Facebook)
  • Images of airstrikes and aftermath on Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Saad Al Khabous via Facebook)
  • Image of Wael Abdulaziz Al-Qaddour, killed in airstrikes against Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Nabed Maarshourin via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Abdul Rahman Al-Ramah, killed in airstrikes against Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image from Nabed Maarshourin via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of victims of airstrikes against Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image taken by Ahmed Al-Mustafa and posted on Syria Today Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of victims of airstrikes against Ma'ar Shourin on August 27, 2019 (Image taken by Ahmed Al-Mustafa and posted on Syria Today Facebook)

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1295

Incident date

September 21, 2016

Location

قاضي عسكر, Qadi Askar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2025, 37.17361111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians were killed, and up to seven wounded, in an airstrike on  Qadi Askar, Aleppo, local sources reported – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russian warplanes or regime helicopters were to blame.

On September 22nd, aircraft pummeled several neighbourhoods in Aleppo. Smart News reported “four civilians were killed, and seven others injured” by barrel bombs dropped by regime helicopters. @RadioAlKul also stated that barrel bombs were used.

@RFS_NORTH tweeted that the casualties were “one martyr and a number of wounded,” while @Shahed_alep referenced three dead and an unknown number of wounded. Smart News and Baladi News both pinned the number of dead at four.

According to Islammemo and a Shaam News Network update, both helicopters and planes were involved in the attack, suggesting that Russian and regime forces were coordinated.

@Shahbapress accused the regime of carrying out the strikes, as did @RFS_NORTH, @Shahed_alep and Smart News.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]