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

RS4458

Incident date

February 17, 2020

Location

الدانا, Al Dana, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed, including a woman and a child and an unknown number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian air or artillery strikes on the city of Al Dana, Idlib governorate, on February 17th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Ahmad Abu Dai, a displaced civilian from Khan Sheikhoun city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, was killed as Syrian regime forces’ artillery fired a shell on al Dana city in the northern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on February 17th.”

@ShahbaPress reported “civilian martyrs and wounded due to artillery bombardment by Assad forces on the city of Dana in the northern Idlib countryside”.

According to @SyrianCoalition, three civilians were killed and @Hani_Alymani reported that a woman and her child were killed, bringing the death toll to three. A Facebook post from Mohammad Tarman reported that in addition to the one civilian killed, “Mustafa Nader Al-Sousi and his child Hassan, 12 years old, from Khan Sheikhoun” were injured. Later reporting indicates that Mustafa and Hassan died of their injuries.

SMART reported that activists stated the attack came from the “46th Regiment”.

Shaam News Network reported that “Russian and Assad air forces launched violent airstrikes amid artillery and missile shelling” targeting several cities and towns, among which Al Dana, reportedly leading to the death of one civilian. @mhmdfaisel identified “rocket-propelled grenades” as being used in the attack.

According to @pressrahhal, “Turkish forces near the city were subjected to a similar bombardment”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mustafa Nader Al-Sousi مصطفى نادر السوسي
male Possibly later died injured
Hassan, child of Mustafa Nader Al-Sousi طفله حسن
12 years old Possibly later died injured

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 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

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the city of Al Dana, Idlib governorate, on February 17th, 2020 (via @SyrianCoalition).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a civilian killed in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Al Dana on February 17, 2020. (Image posted by @AM_AHMAD90)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a civilian killed in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Al Dana on February 17, 2020. (Image posted by Abu walid via 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 status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 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

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4491

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

جنوب مدينة ادلب, Idlib city (south), Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

The death of at least one child and the wounding of civilians was reported on February 27th, 2020 the result of an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on the outskirts of Idlib. The brothers were displaced from the city of Kafranbel and relocated to a rural area of Idlib.

A post from Bsklaa16 noted that the boys killed were named Ghad Mustafa Al-Qadah and Majd.  Ghad was killed and his brother was wounded as, according to this post, Sukhoi-24 warplanes used vacuum missiles. Posts from Shohada Baskal, Khaledsy2, and Ayham.alkarjy referenced the “martyrdom of the child”, acknowledging the death of Ghad Mustafa Al-Qadah. Shaam News reported that alleged Russian warcraft “repeated the shelling on the city several times”. Smart News later quoted Abdul Razzaq Ghafir, an administrator working with local hospitals, as saying “regime’s warplanes” specifically struck this neighborhood in Idlib and in addition to the dead child, seven civilians were wounded. Reports of the dead and wounded continued to conflict as Step Agency reported four wounded civilians, and the Syrian center for Human Rights reported that both brothers were killed.

Local witnesses reported that civilian areas outside of Idlib, including those with displaced individuals, were struck by warplanes.

Both news agencies including Step and the Syrian Center for Human Rights as well as local witnesses attributed this attack to Russian warplanes while Smart News attributed the incident to the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child male killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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

RS4293

Incident date

December 28, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Maarat Numan, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and up to four civilians were wounded in initial reports about a Russian bombing raid upon the village of Maarat Numan on December 30th.

Local sources reported that Russian helicopters dropped barrel bombs, and there were early reports of four wounded civilians, the death of a child, and the killing of a Civil Defense Worker.  The child was identified as Muhammed Fateh Arafat. Human Rights Watch confirmed the death of the child and noted that the child was only eighteen months old. The Civil Defense Worker was later identified as Muhannad Muhammad al-Shaar. Some local sources referred to three civilians killed and three wounded. There were numerous conflicting reports, including one report that noted two dead and two wounded. Syrian Human Rights Committee reported five victims of the bombings, with two dead and three wounded, including a woman.

Civil Defense reported that volunteers were aiding a family of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) evacuate a home in which they were hiding when the house was struck, and the child was killed. Shaam News described the ten hours necessary to remove the deceased Civil Defense volunteer from the home. Zaman Alwasl News reported numerous air strikes by Russian and pro-Assad forces that targeted highways linking Maarat Numan and Saraqib and Maarat Numan and Ariha.

Al Jazeera News detailed how the strike was carried out by Russian and pro-Assad forces.

A White Helmets post read: “Today [Dec 30th] we bid farewell to another of our White Helmet brothers, Muhannad al-Shaar, a hero killed in a direct hit via regime helicopters, along with a child from the family our team was evacuating in #MaaratalNuman City in #Idlib. The remaining family was rescued.”

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
  • (1 child1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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
    Assad regime

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (32) [ collapse]

  • SCD volunteers searching for survivors under the rubble in Ma'arat Al Nu'man - Dec 30, 2019 (via MMC)
  • SCD volunteers searching for survivors under the rubble in Ma'arat Al Nu'man - Dec 30, 2019 (via MMC)
  • SCD volunteers searching for survivors under the rubble in Ma'arat Al Nu'man - Dec 30, 2019 (via MMC)
  • SCD volunteers searching for survivors under the rubble in Ma'arat Al Nu'man - Dec 30, 2019 (via MMC)
  • SCD volunteers searching for survivors under the rubble in Ma'arat Al Nu'man - Dec 30, 2019 (via MMC)
  • Muhannad al-Shaar,, SCD volunteer was killed in Ma'art A NU'man on Dec 30th, 2019 (via SCD Idlib)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Muhamad Arafat was killed in Ma'arat Al Nu'man in Idlib on Dec 3th, 2019 (via MMC)
  • Damage caused by the airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man (via MMC)
  • The child Muhammad Fateh Arafat was killed while a number of his family were injured in an airstrike on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on December 30, 2019. (via SN4HR).
  • White Helmet volunteers sort through the rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @_abdulazizketaz)
  • White Helmet volunteers sort through the rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @_abdulazizketaz)
  • White Helmet volunteers sort through the rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @_abdulazizketaz)
  • White Helmet volunteers sort through the rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @_abdulazizketaz)
  • White Helmet volunteers sort through the rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @Media_idlib)
  • Rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @Media_idlib)
  • Rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @Media_idlib)
  • Rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @Media_idlib)
  • Rubble following strike on Maarat al-Numan on December 30, 2019. (Image posted by @Media_idlib)
  • The child "Mohammed Fateh Arafat" who was martyred today in the city of Maarat al-Numan as a result of the bombing of the city by helicopters
  • While helping to evacuate a family from Maarat al-Numan: Ten hours to retrieve the body of a volunteer who was killed by the regime's helicopters Yesterday, Monday, the Syrian Civil Defense Organization "White Helmets" mourned the volunteer in the Syrian Civil Defense Muhannad Muhammad al-Shaar, who was killed by air strikes by the regime's helicopters while carrying out his humanitarian work, in evacuating a family from the city of Maarat al-Numan. A helicopter targeted them with barrel bombs, which led to the death Volunteer Muhannad and another child.

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
  • (1 child1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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
    Assad regime

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4320

Incident date

January 20, 2020

Location

الكماري, Al Kamari, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Ghassan Mohsen Al-Dandal was injured as a result of an alleged Russian attack targeting Al Kamari at 11.23am on January 20th, 2020.

@so_ria98 tweeted that “Civilian casualties were reported by Russian airstrikes on the village of Al Kamari in the southern countryside of Aleppo.”

Mohammad Alhasuain reported on the alleged incident asserting the injury of Mr Al-Dandal was due to the attack by a Russian aircraft. Shaam news added that the injury recorded was caused by shelling of violent and heavy attacks by Russian warplanes in the western and southern countryside of Aleppo.

The incident occured at 11:23:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Ghassan Mohsen Al-Dandal
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ghassan Mohsen Al-Dandal, from the village of Al-Kamari, was injured in alleged Russian strikes on Al Kamari on January 20, 2020. (Image posted by Mohammad Alhasuain via Facebook)

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
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4368

Incident date

January 27, 2020

Location

مرديخ, Mardikh, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child and her mother were killed and another child was wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike in the village of Mardikh, Idlib governorate on January 27th, 2020, according to local media.

SN4HR reported: “Mrs. Fteim Mahmoud a Shbib was killed along with her girl as fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on Mardikh village in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, on January 27th.”

The Syrian Civil Defence (Idlib) said: “In the town of Mardikh, east of Idlib, a child and a woman were killed and another child was wounded by an airstrike by Russian warplanes”.

Shaam Network said that Russian and Syrian regime forces launched dozens of airstrikes on January 27th in the midst of artillery and missile shelling on this area and other areas of Idlib on that day.

Anastracey reported a Russian raid targeted the village of Mardikh at 10:18 am.

The majority of the sources implicated Russia in the attack.

The incident occured at 10:18:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female mother killed
Child female daughter killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (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
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4403

Incident date

February 3, 2020

Location

معارة النعسان, Ma’aret Al Na’ssan, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured and a fire broke out in a fuel refining station as the result of airstrikes on the town of Ma’arat Al Na’ssan in the northern countryside of Aleppo on February 3rd, 2020, as reported by the Syrian Civil Defence.

@NagiNajjar reported: “Russian warplanes launch missile strikes on the town of Maarat al-Naasan, north of Idlib.”

Hosn and Shaam News said Russian and Syrian regime warplanes struck dozens of cities and towns including Maarat al-Na’asan.

Vdcsy reported that the Syrian regime carried out barrel bomb attacks across several areas in the countryside of Idlib including Maarat al-Na’asan.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

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
    1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire at a fuel refining station after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma’aret Al Na’ssan on February 3rd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire at a fuel refining station after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma’aret Al Na’ssan on February 3rd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire at a fuel refining station after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma’aret Al Na’ssan on February 3rd, 2020 (via SCD Aleppo).
  • Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire at a fuel refining station after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma’aret Al Na’ssan on February 3rd, 2020 (via SCD 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
    Airstrike
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4427

Incident date

February 9, 2020

Location

بلدات متعددة, Several towns, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian and Syrian regime air and artillery strikes on several towns in Idlib have led to the death and injury of an unknown number of civilians on February 9th, 2020, according to Shaam News Network.

Shaam reported that “Russian and Assad’s air forces launched airstrikes targeting the outskirts of Idlib, Sarmin, the villages of Maarat Al Na’san, Marj Al Zuhur, and Ram Hamdan, and the city of Jisr Al Shughour and the towns of Badama and al-Hanboushieh were subjected to fierce artillery shelling, which resulted in martyrs and wounded civilians.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars. Due to limitations in sources, it is possible that the casualties have been reflected in other assessments.

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
    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 (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
    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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4438

Incident date

February 11, 2020

Location

كفرتعال, Kafar Ta'al, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A 17-year-old child was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the village of Kafr Ta’al, Idlib governorate, on February 11th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “the child Qasem Lattouf al Omar, aged 17, was killed as Syrian regime fixed-wing warplanes carried out a strike using machine guns in Kafr Ta’al village in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, on February 11.”

Civil Defense informed the Anadolu Agency that one civilian was confirmed dead from an air strike in Kafr Taal. No other information was released about whether others had been wounded.

The air strikes were reported by local sources to be part of a larger strategy to drive civilians out of towns and villages. SMART News Agency blamed both Russian forces and the Syrian regime for the incident while @so_ria98 attributed airstrikes to Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

17 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
    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 (7) [ 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
    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 (7) [ collapse]