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

RS3460

Incident date

June 25, 2018

Location

بصر الحرير, Busr al Harir, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilians who worked as a Syrian civil defense volunteer was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime attacks on Busr Al Harir in Dara’a on June 25th, 2018. Local sources reported that he was rescuing injured people when the attack happened.

@SCD_Daraa tweeted “The family of the Syrian Civil Defense in Daraa gives you the news of the martyrdom of the volunteer Abd Al- Hadi Mohammed Al-Hariri after being exposed to a raid in the town of Busr Al-Harir, in the eastern countryside of Daraa, while he was carrying out his humanitarian duty to treat the wounded in the shelling of the town.”

@HalabTodayTV tweeted that “Abd Al-Hadi Al-Hariri, a member of the Civil Defense, was killed by an airstrike on the town of Busr Al-Harir, in the eastern countryside of Daraa.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also reported that “Abdul Hadi Mohammad al Hariri, a civil defense member in Daraa governorate, killed due to bombing by Syrian/Russian warplanes fired missiles on Busr al Harir town in Daraa governorate northeastern suburbs, on June 25th, 2018.”

Dawod Al hariri, who is allegedly a cousin to the victim said in a Facebook post that the victims rescued civilians for six years.

While many sources blamed Russia like Step News Agency, the Syrian Network for Human Rights accused both the Syrian regime and Russia for the incident.

However, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) which is the regime’s media agency reported from a military source that the Syrian army was launching attacks against Jabhat Al-Nusra there.

“The [military] source told SANA that army units, in cooperation with supporting forces, continued operations against Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists located east of Izra’a city, establishing control over the towns of Busr al-Harir and Malihat al-Atash, two of the terror organization’s strongholds in the area.”

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 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • A civil defense volunteer, Addul Hadi al Hariri, was killed while trying to rescue the wounded from an airstrike in Basr al Harir on June 26th, 2018 (via Al Soussa)
  • "Abd Al-Hadi Al-Hariri, a member of the Civil Defense, was killed by an air strike on the town of Busr Al-Harir, in the eastern countryside of Daraa."
  • Syrian Civil Defense in Dar'a branch reporting the death of their volunteer Abd Al-Hadi Al-Hariri in Busr Al harir in Dara'a on June 25th, 2018 (Via SCD).
  • Abdul Hadi Hariri, a SCD volunteer was reported killed in Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Basr Al-harir on June 25th, 2018 (via SCD)

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 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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

RS3556

Incident date

September 9, 2018

Location

حصرايا, Hassraya, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.336591, 36.553126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly wounded by alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the town of Hassraya, Hama governorate, on September 9th, 2018, according to local sources.

Shaam News Network reported “a number of wounded in the city of Latamina and the villages of Hassraya, Al Sayyad and Al Zakat”, as the result of Russian air and artillery shelling. SNN did not specify how many civilians were injured in Hassraya.

@MasarPressNet tweeted that “Russian air forces shell the town of Hasraya in the northern countryside with missiles.” The Local Coordination Committees of Syria also blamed Russia for airstrikes on the village.

@tareklebanon reported “intense airstrikes by Russian warplanes, and airstrikes by Syrian regime aircraft and the throwing of explosive barrels on civilians of the village of Hasraya, north of Hama.”

Only Shaam News Network reported civilian casualties. Hence, the civilian harm status for this incident is weak, whereas the strike status graded as contested.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3049

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

كفربطنا , Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to dozens of civilians, mostly children, were left wounded following Russian and/or Assad-waged airstrikes in Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta Damascus, as reported by local media. There were, however, no reports of fatalities.

Supported by photo documentation, several media reported how “several” to “dozens” of civilians in Kafar Batna were wounded as the town was hit by airstrikes during the night, as reported by Ghouta Media Center (GMC). Photos following the incident showed that many of the victims were children.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces, while GMC in some tweets pointed to Russian culpability, while in another to the Assad regime. Thus, the culprit remains contested.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • One of the wounded children caused by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via SN4HR)
  • Large parts of Kafar Batna was left in rubble following the contested aerial shelling on February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Many civilians, including children, were left wounded by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Many civilians were left wounded by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Many civilians, including children, were left wounded by the contested aerial shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 20th, 2018 (via GMC)

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 February 1st - 28th 2018.


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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3905

Incident date

July 16, 2019

Location

خان شيخون, khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was wounded in an airstrike with cluster munition on the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun, according to local sources.

Shaam News reported that Russian warplanes stepped up raids on a number of towns and villages in Idlib in Hama, targeting several civilian areas. Local source Khan Sheikhoun Lens however, blamed the Syrian regime forces for the attack and claimed that the airstrike struck “the eastern farm” of Khan Sheikhoun and caused “civilian casualties”.

According to Syrian Network for Human Rights, Mohammad Nader al Sahh, from Latmin village in Hama governorate northern suburbs, age 24, died of wounds sustained in the airstrike.

No other details are known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Nader al Sahh
24 years old male

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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.

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mohammad Nader al Sahh, from Latmin village, age 24, died due to wounds sustained in an airstrike on Khan Sheihkoun (via Syrian Network for Human Rights).

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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.

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3461

Incident date

June 26, 2018

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians were reported killed and up to 25 others injured as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Nawa in Dara’a, south of Syria on June 26th, 2018 according to local sources.

Shaam Network said that “Activists confirmed that the Russian warplanes launched air strikes with rockets at the residential neighborhoods in the city of Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa, killing four men, two women and a girl, and the fall of more than 25 wounded.”

At the start, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said “at least five civilians, including two women were killed as Syrian/ Russian regime warplanes fired missiles on Nawa city in Daraa governorate northwestern suburbs, on June 26th, 2018.” @SyriaCivilDefe said that five children are among those injured.

Then, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria raised the number reporting the “death of six civilians, including women and children, and the injury of more than 15 others in an initial toll as a result of raids by Russian warplanes that targeted residential neighborhoods in the city of  Nawa in the western countryside.”

The local sources then increased the toll to seven after one of the children died of her wounds. @lornce_adm said “The number of martyrs in the city of Nawa, in the western countryside of Daraa, increased to seven after the death of a child, who was affected by her wounds sustained today after warplanes bombed her house in the city.”

Umo.nawa1 posted the names of eight civilians reported killed in the airstrike and they are: Amin Musa Al-Soua’a, Oula Emad Al-Ammarin, Khaled Abdulnour Abu Al-Hop, Thanaa Mustafa Amreen, amad Al-Massad, Ihsan Ibrahim Al-Khubei, Jana Samir Al-Tawbah (child), and Ghina Samir Al Tawbah (child)

Most sources blamed Russia, for example Local Coordination Committees of Syria, Shaam Network,   SMART Agency, Step News, @HadiAlabdallah, @SyriaCivilDefe Ahmad Al juhnami, Ilham Horani and Ghassan Ibrahim. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Image of the shelling on Nawa in Dara'a on June 26th, 2018 (via Hamza Khatib page)
  • An image by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights showing the aerial bombardment of Nawa in Dara'a on June 26th, 2018.
  • Images of bombing on Nawa in Dara'a on June 26th, 2018 (via @ahmad_ms96 )
  • Destruction to residential areas as a result of airstrikes on Nawa in Dara'a on June 26th, 2018 (@ahmad_ms96 )
  • Civilians near destructed homes are a result of alleged Russian airstrikes on Nawa in Dara'a on June 26th, 2018 (via @ahmad_ms96 ).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Nawa in Dara'a on June 26th, 2018 (via @ahmad_ms96 ).

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
    8
  • (2 children2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • 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

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3469

Incident date

June 27, 2018

Location

ابطع, Ibta'a, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.7899783, 36.152792 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of civilians was reportedly killed and injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Ibta’a, Dara’a governorate, on June 27th, 2018, according to local sources.

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported that there were “civilian casualties caused by a Russian air raid on the town of #Ibta’a in the central  countryside of #Dara’a.”

In a later post, the LCCSY wrote that “at least 10 civilians were killed by Russian forces airstrikes on the towns of Masifra, Jiza, Saida, and Ibta’a in the eastern and central countryside of the province”, but did not specify how many casualties fell in the village of Ibta’a.

@HalabTodayTV tweeted that their correspondent had reported “civilian victims of Russian airstrikes on the town of Ibta’a in the western countryside of Dara’a.”

Shaam News Network reported that “one martyr fell in each of Dara’a Al Balad and the towns of Msaifra, Al Ghariya Al Sharqiya, Al Soura, Al Adwan and Ibta’a”, implying that at one civilian was killed in Ibta’a.

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
    1 – 2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Smoke after alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Ibta'a, Dara'a governorate, on June 27th, 2018 (via @Mohamadabzed).

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
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3495

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

شيخ سعد, Al Sheikh Saad, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.835822, 36.037259 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly killed and/or injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Al Sheikh Saad on June 29th, 2018, according to Shaam News Network.

SNN wrote that “the Russian military and Assad aircraft and helicopter gunships launched airstrikes with rockets and explosive barrels on the neighbourhoods of Daraa 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 killed and/or injured in Al Sheikh Saad.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3966

Incident date

July 27, 2019

Location

كفرعويد, Kafar Aouid, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two girls were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kafar Aouid, Idlib countryside, on July 27th, 2019, according to local sources.

@baladinetwork tweeted: “The regime’s warplanes bomb the village of Kafar Aouid in the southern countryside of Idlib.” According to @IdlibPlus, civilian homes were targeted.

According to @nehad8_88, “two girls were wounded as a first toll and massive property damage as a result of the targeting of the town by Sukhoi 22 warplanes a short while ago.”

@Step_Agency wrote that “warplanes targeted the town of Kafr Aouid in the southern countryside of Idlib, coinciding with missile strikes from the Gorin camp targeting the town of Sufuhn in the western countryside of Idlib.”

Sources pointed to both Russia and the Syrian regime as the responsible belligerent for the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Video capturing the first moments after an alleged Russian or Syrian regime strike hit the village of Kafr Aouid in Idlib on July 27th (via Kafar Aouid).
  • Translation: “Warplanes carried out an air strike on the town of Kafr Aouid a short while ago” (via @binnish_revolu).
  • Photo of alleged Russian or Syiran regime airstrikes on the town of Kafr Aouid in Idlib governorate on July 27th, 2019 (via @binnish_revolu).

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]