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

RS3451

Incident date

June 24, 2018

Location

الصورة, Al Soura, Dara'a, Syria

Airwars assessment

A woman and a disabled young man from the same family were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Al Soura, Dara’a governorate, on June 24th 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “two civilians from the same family, one of them a woman, were killed as Syrian/Russian warplanes fired missiles on Al Soura town in the eastern suburbs of Dara’a governorate on June 24, 2018.”

Amer Aba Zaid, director of the media centre of the Syrian Civil Defence in Dara’a told Smart News Agency that “a woman and a young man (with special needs) were killed and others were wounded as a result of the raids on the town of Al Soura, 21 kilometres northeast of Dara’a.”

Several sources, such as the Violations Documentation Center in Syria, identified the victims as the woman Khaloud Al Hariri and the young disabled man Murad Suleiman Al Hariri. The Syrian Human Rights Committee wrote that Murad Suleiman Al Hariri was killed in airstrikes on the city of Al Harak on June 24th, but all other sources reported the man died in Al Soura.

Pro-regime website Dara’a Now wrote that the Syrian regime forces used high precision weapons to attack “terrorist strongholds of Al Nusra in the town of Al Soura” on June 24th, 2018.

The eastern countryside of Dara’a was heavily targeted on June 24th, 2018, with reports of strikes on Al Soura, Eastern Maliha, Al Harak, Alma, Nahhath and Basr Al Harir, according to Aswat News, who blamed Russia for the airstrikes.

Whereas some sources pointed to Russia as the belligerent for the airstrikes on Al Soura, others blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Kholoud Al Hariri خلود الحريري
Adult female killed
Murad Suleiman Al Hariri مراد سليمان الحريري
Adult male disabled young man, other sources state he died in Al Harak killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Explosions after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak or Al Soura on June 24th, 2018 (via Dara'a Now).
  • Explosions after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Harak or Al Soura on June 24th, 2018 (via Dara'a Now).

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
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3550

Incident date

September 8, 2018

Location

كفرسجنة, kfarsijna, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that attacks with barrel bombs on Kfarsijna in Idlib on September 8th, 2018 led to injuries among civilians.

HalabTodayTV reported saying “Wounded civilians as a result of bombing the village of Hass and the surrounding town of Kafr Sjana rural Idlib South with explosive barrels.”

@IdlibPlus blamed the Syrian regime and tweeted “Helicopters target the outskirts of the town of Kfar Sijnah in the southern countryside of Idlib, with barrel bombs.”

While Shaam Network referred to possible involvement of the Russian forces “The Russian warplanes and the Syrian Air Force continue to bombardments in a new campaign of escalation, recording dozens of air strikes accompanied by heavy artillery and rocket fire. The indiscriminate shelling led to a martyr in the village of Al-Halba and the death of a woman and  her embryo in the village of Al-Sarj, and a number of wounded in cities and towns of Khan Sheikhoun, Kefar Sijna, ….”

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
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (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
    Unknown
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3491

Incident date

June 29, 2018

Location

تل شهاب, Tal Shihab, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.686231, 35.980525 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two male civilians were killed in alleged Russian air or artillery strikes on the town of Tal Shihab on June 29th, 2018, according to local sources.

@asfyhbjinnkhvgz reported the deaths of Ayman Ahmed Al Amyan and journalist Ali Al Rifai Abu Hussein in Tal Shihab. Hamza Al Shaheed wrote on Facebook that Al Rifai had been killed in Russian shelling on the town. It is unclear whether Al Rifai was working at the time of the shelling.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Ahmed Al Amyan ايمن احمد العميان
Adult male killed
Ali Al Rifai Abu Hussein علي الرفاعي ابو حسين
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ 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
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2745

Incident date

November 20, 2017

Location

السوسة السوسة, al Soussa, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Step News Agency reported that “many civilians were wounded to varying degrees” by alleged Russian strikes on al Soussa.

According to Euphrates Post on November 20th, there was “Intense displacement of people in the towns of al-Baghouz, al-Safafna, al-Marashda and al-Soussa in the Albukamal countryside due to the continuous aerial and artillery shelling around the clock.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3980

Incident date

July 30, 2019

Location

جبالا, Jbala, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that Russian forces shelled the town of Jbala in Idlib governorate on July 30th, 2019, wounding an unknown number of civilians.

@MasarPressNet tweeted that “civilians were wounded as a result of Russian warplanes bombing on the outskirts of the town of Jabala in the southern countryside.”

Edlib Media Centre and @Stepp_Agency also reported Russian strikes on Jbala, leading to an unknown number of injured civilians.

@IdlibPlus reported that “Russian warplanes target the towns of Jabala and Al-Amiriya in the southern countryside of Idlib with missiles.”

All sources blamed Russia for the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4032

Incident date

August 14, 2019

Location

بلدات متعددة في ادلب, Several towns in Idlib, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Shaam News reported that “Russian and regime warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes and artillery and rocket shelling were carried out by warplanes, helicopters and missiles in Idlib.”

The agency reported unspecified  “wounded in all of Kfarsjnh, Kfroma, Tarmla, Bskla, Kfarbasin, Kfarwasid, Sheikh Mustafa, Alrkaya, Umm Zaytouna, Umm Jalal, Teraa, Almanmah, Hish, Altah, Mardam, Sfohn, Mufuqat, Mukha, Krishah, Hasba, Hass, Sheikh Dams, Maarat Horma, Jabalra, Knezvhra,  Maarat Mater, Najda and Kinda.”

Airwars has set a possible injury range of 2 to 12 for this event – and is conducting ongoing research.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4125

Incident date

October 31, 2019

Location

حاس, Haas, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

One to three civilians died and four more were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Haas, according to local media. @baladinetwork said that Russian warplanes used vacuum rockets in the attack.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: “Ayyoub al Younes was killed as fixed- wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Hass village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, while he was aiding the injured of previous bombing by the same forces on the village, on October 31.”

Local sources circulated a the last video of Ayyoub Younes saying that he documented the moment of this death. Ahmad Alsheekh said that the victims always volunteered to rescue civilians after each raid.

However, according to the White Helmets, “two men were killed and four others were injured in airstrikes by Russian warplanes targeting the houses of civilians in Hass town west of Maaret al-Nouman in Edlib countryside”.

The Shaam News Network said three civilians died.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Ayyoub al Younes أيوب اليونس
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike in Haas, Oct 31st (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike in Haas, Oct 31st (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an alleged Russian airstrike in Haas, Oct 31st (via White Helmets)
  • Caption translation: Russian warplanes target with high-explosive missiles the village of Hass in the southern countryside of Idlib.
  • Caption translation: Two martyrs and several wounded, including displaced persons, as a result of Russian air strikes targeting separate neighborhoods of the town of Hass, south of Idlib
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Hass in Idlib on October 31st, 2019. (via @mohamed1aldaher).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Hass in Idlib on October 31st, 2019. (via @mohamed1aldaher).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Hass in Idlib on October 31st, 2019. (via @mohamed1aldaher).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Hass in Idlib on October 31st, 2019. (via @mohamed1aldaher).
  • Ayyoub Yunis was killed as a result of Russian airstrikes on Haas in Idlib on October 31st, 2019. (via Ahmad Alsheekh)
  • Ayyoub Yunis was killed as a result of Russian airstrikes on Haas in Idlib on October 31st, 2019. (via Mohammad Al Ido)

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 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4157

Incident date

November 11, 2019

Location

معرة حرمة, Ma’aret Harma, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5497387, 36.5422624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reportedly killed and three male civilians were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Ma’aret Harma, Idlib governorate, on November 11th, 2019, according to local sources.

Activists told Smart News Agency that a woman was killed in an alleged Russian rocket strike. Moataz Al Ali, director of the Civil Defence Center in the village, told Smart News Agency that “the Russian warplanes launched eight raids on the village of Maarat Harma, injuring three civilians who were transferred to nearby medical points.”

According to Idlib Plus, the three injured civilians were male.

A tweet by @HadiAlabdallah identified vacuum missiles as being used by Russia during the attack and @ufuk_sy reported on the use of high-explosive missiles.

All of the sources that reported on the incidents attributed the strikes to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]