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

RS3813

Incident date

June 16, 2019

Location

حيش, Heesh, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Two children and a woman were reported wounded in airstrikes on Heesh, Idlib, on June 16th.

While four sources referred to “a number wounded”, or “many wounded”, in the attack – – cited as “mainly children” – both Local Coordination Committee for Syria and Edlib Media Center, quantified those injured as two children and a woman.

While three sources did not positively attribute blame for the aerial bombardment, two named the Syrian regime as the belligerent responsible. Meanwhile, Shaam News referred to both Russia and the Syrian regime in reporting the incident.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Two children and a woman were wounded, and homes and properties were destroyed in the town of Hish, as a result of the air strikes of the Assad warplanes targeting the residential neighborhoods of the town this evening."

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
    3
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3276

Incident date

March 15, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian harm incident, up to 21 civilians died and as many as 70 more were wounded in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Zamalka. Many sources said that this was a chemical attack by the regime, though there were also multiple allegations against Russia.

The Violations Documentation Centre named “18 victims killed in warplane shelling by Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

@Mo7ameDAl_shami and other sources noted reports of “toxic gases”.

According to Micro Syria, the town was bombarded with barrel bombs dropped by the regime and warplane raids by Russa, along with artillery fire. The source said the bombardment had “hysterically targeted places crowded with civilians. It recorded:

30 Russian warplanes

24 barrel bombs

25 heavy artillery shells”

The White Helmets reported  “Twenty-one martyrs, including three women and two children, with more than 70 others injured”. It added that residential neighbourhoods had been targeted with “16 air strikes, 18 barrel bombs, more than 60 rockets, rocket launchers and heavy artillery, along with incendiary Napalm bombs”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Fahed Zain al-Deen
Adult male killed
Hasan Zain al-Deen
Adult male killed
Yazan Zain al-Dee
Adult male killed
Haneen Zain al-Deen
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Ragad al-Malla
Child female killed
Qamar al-Malla
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Yasin Diae al-Shaikh
Adult male killed
Mahmoud al-Helo
Adult male killed
Iman al-Dabbas
Adult female killed
Salwa al-Dahla
Adult female killed
Abo Ali Shaikho
Adult male killed
Haytham Shaebia
Adult male killed
Khaled Wakkaf
Adult male killed
Husam Karkour
Adult male killed
Abdo Saedoun
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Laila
Adult male killed
Waleed al-Sadat
Adult male killed
Alae Faeour
Adult male killed
Zia Sheikh
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 21
  • (2 children2–3 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child following a strike on Zamalka, March 15th 2018.

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
    18 – 21
  • (2 children2–3 women12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–70
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • 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

RS3308

Incident date

March 19, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime forces airstrike/artillery strikes on Harasta, March 19th, 2018, according to local media sources.

Sham Network reported that “Harasta was fired on by land to- land missiles and artillery shells, which led to the fall of two martyrs and the wounded.”

Shaam Network and ShahbaPress  blamed both the Syrian regime and the Russian forces for the attack, while Salamtk2011 and @HalabTodayTV  reported that Russian warplanes did the attack.

According to Harasta city page on Facebook, more than 30 raids targeted Harasta on that day, killing two civilians. However, the Violations Documentation Center in Syria (VDC) said there were three fatalities.

Qudspress  mentioned the use of rockets in Harasta and Douma.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (3 men)
  • 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

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (3 men)
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3344

Incident date

March 27, 2018

Location

محمبل, Mhambel, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.784376, 36.468902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were possibly killed and wounded in alleged Russian and/or Syrian airstrikes on the town of Mhambel, Idlib governorate, on March 27th, 2018, according to Shaam News Network.

@IdlibPlus tweeted that “warplanes targeted the town of Mhambel in the southern countryside of Idlib, with several airstrikes.”

@Wateen_Media and @BNN_SYR reported that the warplanes were Russian, but @media_idlib tweeted that “[Syrian] Civil Defense personnel inspected the location of one of the barrel bombs dropped by regime forces helicopters on the outskirts of the town of Mhambel, the place was secured and no human casualties were recorded.”

Activists told Smart News Agency that Syrian regime helicopters dropped explosive barrels on the villages of Mhambel and Al Alia, but that there was no information on civilian casualties.

Shaam News Network, however, reported that “Syrian helicopters and Russian warplanes launched violent airstrikes on the cities and towns of Barah, Kafrnbell, Mhmbel, Al Alia, Nukir, Habit, Altmanah and Hass and Kafroma, causing the deaths of martyrs and wounded civilians.”

It is unclear in which specific incidents as listed by Shaam the reported civilian harm occured. Hence, Airwars has rated the civilian harm status for this incident as “weak”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3364

Incident date

March 31, 2018

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shougur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or regime airstrikes on Jisr al-Shughour, according to a single source, the Shaam News Network.

Most sources reported regime airstrikes on Jisr al-Shughour, noting “material damage” but no civilian harr. For example, @dored1pash said there had been “two air strikes targeting the city of Jisr Al-Shughour without human casualties”.

According to the Smart News Agency, ” a popular market in the city of Jisr al-Shughour, west of Idlib, northern Syria was struck [by the regime], which led to destruction and damage to buildings and public property. The market that was targeted is a civilian market and there are no non-civilians working in the blacksmithing market.”

However, the Shaam News network reported that “Russian and Regime warplanes launched dozens of very violent air raids on the cities and towns of Idlib, causing dozens of martyrs and wounded civilians.” It added that there had been “a number of wounded civilians in Khan Shekhun, Mhambel, Al Naqir, Al habit, Mukah, Al Taman’a ,Al  Khwain and Sefwhen in the southern countryside, Jisr al-Shaghoor, Marj Zuhour and Al Zyadiya in the western countryside.”

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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Two air strikes by the regime's war planes target the city of Jisr Al-Shughour" (via Smart News Agency)

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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3543

Incident date

September 7, 2018

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.44208, 36.65095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two Syrian Civil Defence volunteers were injured in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strike on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib governorate, on September 7th, 2018, while extinguishing a fire after the first air raid, according to local sources.

@SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that “two volunteers were injured (Anas Al DiabMuhammad Al Sah) and the rest of the team survived after the #Civil Defense team was bombarded with cluster rockets, while working to inspect the targeted places and put out the fires, after airstrikes targeted the area of the city of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern countryside of Idlib this afternoon.”

Hamid Kutini wrote on Facebook that “Muhammad Al Sah, the driver of the fire truck, was one of the survivors after we were targeted by the first missile during the process of putting out a fire north of Khan Sheikhoun.” According to the source, Al Sah tried to find shelter in a less dangerous place, but a missile hit him.

@HalabTodayTV reported that Russian warplanes had carried out an airstrike in the vicinity of the city.  @IdlibPlus and @kefranbil also blamed Russia. According to Smart News Agency, however, the victims were injured in a Syrian regime rocket-propelled grenade attack, following a Russian airstrike. Edlib Media Center also reported regime forces as the belligerent.

Anas Al Diab, one of the victims, wrote on Facebook: “I extend my sincere thanks to all the colleagues and friends who were reassured about my condition after my injury yesterday afternoon, and, God willing, we will be on the covenant we made for the sake of communicating the word of truth and exposing criminals.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Syrian Civil Defence volunteer injured
Adult male Syrian Civil Defence volunteer injured

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the aftermath of airstrikes, 7th Sept 2018. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • Translaton: "Two volunteers were injured (Anas Al-Diab - Muhammad Al-Sah) and the rest of the team survived, after the #Civil Defense team was bombarded with cluster rockets, while working to inspect the targeted places and put out the fires, after air strikes targeted the area of the city of Khan Sheikhoun in the southern countryside of Idlib this afternoon" (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the town of Khan Sheikhoun on Septemer 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • A SCD volunteer extinguishing a fire after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the city of Khan Sheikhoun on Septemer 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • SCD volunteers extinguishing a fire after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on the town of Khan Sheikhoun on Septemer 7th, 2018 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, was injured while performing his duties on September 7th, 2018, in the town of Khan Sheikhoun (via Shareef Alesmaili on Facebook).
  • Muhammad Al Sah, a volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, in the hospital after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun on September 7th, 2018 (via Hamid Kutini on Facebook).
  • Muhammad Al Sah, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, was injured while performing his duties on September 7th, 2018, in the town of Khan Sheikhoun (via Hamid Kutini on Facebook).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, in the hospital after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun on September 7th, 2018 (via Mohammad Khattab on Facebook).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, was injured while performing his duties on September 7th, 2018, in the city of Khan Sheikhoun (via Mohammad Khattab on Facebook).
  • Anas Al Diab, a media volunteer with the Syrian Civil Defence, in the hospital after alleged Russian or Syrian regime air or artillery strikes on Khan Sheikhoun on September 7th, 2018 (via Mohammad Khattab on Facebook).
  • Statement by the Syrian Civil Defence Idlib. Translation: "The civil defense family in the Idlib governorate wishes the speedy recovery of the media volunteers Anas Al-Diab and the volunteer Mohammed Al-Sah who were injured due to the bombing of cluster bombs while they were working in the area of Khan Sheikhoun city" (via SCD Idlib).

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
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3213

Incident date

March 9, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in air and artillery strikes on Saqba, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for raids.

Heavy explosions caused mass destruction on the vicinity.

Baladi reported that “The towns and cities of Saqba, Harasta, Arbeen, Masraba, Madara and Duma witnessed heavy aerial and artillery bombardment of warplanes, helicopters and rocket launchers.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ 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
    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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3990

Incident date

August 2, 2019

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the area of Kafar Zeita, Hama governorate, on August 2nd, 2019, according to local sources.

@IdlibPlus tweeted that “a civilian was injured as a result of the targeting of regime forces by the city of Kfar Zeita in the northern suburbs of Hama.”

@baladinetwork tweeted: “The regime forces bombarded the city of Kafar Zeita and the village of Latamina in the Hama countryside.”

@MahmodHamway reported “artillery shelling from the Russian camp in the town of Maaradis on the agricultural lands located between the cities of Al Latamina and Kafar Zeita in the northern Hama countryside.”

According to @NeSyria, “Russian militias targeted with heavy artillery the cities of Kafar Zeita and Al Latamina and the villages of Al Arbaeen and Al Zakat in the northern Hama countryside.” In another tweet, @NeSyria reported the use of Grad missiles.

@ZaitunAgency wrote that “a civilian was wounded by missile strikes from Assad’s forces stationed in the village of Sheikh Hadid on the city of Kafar Zeita in the northern Hama countryside.”

According to @MasarPressNet, a civilian was wounded in a missile strike by alleged regime forces.

Step News Agency stated that “the cities and towns of the northern and western Hama villages have been hit by rocket and artillery fire from the camps of the regime forces and Russian camps in the region, less than 24 hours after the Syrian regime declared a conditional ceasefire in the region […] Our correspondent pointed out that the shelling of the northern villages of Hama resulted in the injury of a civilian, while the rural areas are almost completely devoid of civilians who have been displaced to safer and more peaceful areas.”

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
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]