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

R4420

Incident date

November 28, 2021

Location

معرزاف, Maarzaf, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.204464, 36.555058 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 10 children were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on the town of Maarzaf on November 28, 2021.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, 10 children, all from one family, were injured as a result of laser-guided artillery shelling against civilian homes in Maarzaf. One of the injured children was heard yelling out “I want Youssef” to one of their siblings that was still trapped under the rubble of their home.

Halab Today TV’s correspondent reported that “four children survived the bombing that targeted their house in the town of Maarzaf, indicating that ambulance teams transferred the injured to the nearest medical point in the area for treatment” after also putting there injury count at 10. Xeber24 News added that the injuries were “seriously” wounded.

A tweet from @resalapost and @thiqanewsagency identified four children as being injured in the strikes on the town of Maarzaf and both blamed the regime.

The correspondent of “Zaman al-Wasl” in Idlib said that the two brothers, “Fatima and Marwan Aref Suleiman“, were injured to varying degrees and that the parents and the civil defense teams managed to get four children out from under the rubble without any injury.

An image posted by @IdlibPlus shows three children covered in dust who were said to have escaped from the rubble of the house.

Alsouria News specifically referred to the area affected by the strikes as being a residential neighborhood and the buildings struck as being civilian homes.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime was responsible, with @Wesal_TV blaming the regime while @OmarAlMakhtar86 attributed the strikes to Russia. A tweet from @freeehsem mentioned that “rocket-propelled grenades” were used in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatima فاطمة
male injured
Marwan Aref Suleiman مروان عارف سليمان
male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A state of panic and fear for children who were pulled out from under the rubble as a result of Russian bombing in the morning on the town of Maarzaf, south of Idlib
  • Three of the children that escaped from the rubble of their house after strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @IdlibPlus)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)
  • Destruction to civilian homes from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by Macro Media Center)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    https://archive.md/2mZHs
  • Smoke and dust from strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @OmarAlMakhtar86)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured in alleged Russian strikes on Maarzaf on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @anasanas84)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Maarzaf (معرزاف), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.204464, 36.555058. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    4–10
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4421

Incident date

November 28, 2021

Location

كفرتعال, Kafr Taal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.154183, 36.893768 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and several other civilians were wounded in alleged Russian or regime artillery strikes on Kafr Taal on November 28, 2021.

A tweet from @anasanas84, a local Syrian reporter, identified that the initial toll from shelling of Kafr Taal was one person killed and several civilians wounded. @SRoudinah2 referred to the person killed as being a “civilian”.

Multiple other sources also referred to “civilians” being injured but none specified how many.

@Almohrar1 provided the names of two of the victims: Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Shahid, killed, and Yassin Khaled Al-Shalabi, injured.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strikes, with @AliAlHu69859396 attributing the shelling to Russia while @IdlibPlus blamed the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Yassin Khaled Al-Shalabi ياسين خالد الشلبي اصابة
Age unknown male injured
Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Shahid محمد إبراهيم لمحمد شهيد
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Shahid, killed in strikes on Kafr Taal on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Yassin Khaled Al-Shalabi, injured in strikes on Kafr Taal on November 28, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Taal (كفرتعال), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.154183, 36.893768. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4422

Incident date

December 2, 2021

Location

بنش,, Bennish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.956227, 36.712570 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child, Nour Al Atrash, ten years old, was killed whilst having breakfast with her family on December 2nd 2021 when Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit their house in Binnish, East Idlib.  Five other members of her family were injured, including three of her cousins or brothers, all boys, including Jamal Al Atrash, five years old, Muhammad Al Atrash, Tariq Al Atrash, their father, and another woman.

Nour Al Atrash was inititally reported injured but later died from her injuries.

In total, the reported numbers of those injured from this strike was seven.

It was reported by multiple sources that the building was hit with Krasnopol laser shells.

Baladi News also reported that the city of Sarmin in the southeastern countryside of Idlib was subjected to a “similar bombardmet, which caused widespread destruction of private and public properties, without caausing any human damage among civilians.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Nour Al Atrash
10 years old female sibling or cousin to the children below killed

The victims were named as:

Jamal Al Atrash
5 years old male brothers injured
Muhammad Al Atrash
Child male injured
Tariq Al Atrash
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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.

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Nour Al Atrash, killed by allegedly Russian or Syrian regime artillery while she ate breakfast with her family on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Syria (Twitter / @NidalAbdulmonem)
  • Jamal Al Atrash, injured by allegedly Russian or Syrian regime artillery while she ate breakfast with her family on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Syria (Twitter / @NidalAbdulmonem)
  • Breakfast in the house of the Al Atrash family who were injured when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shell hit their house (Twitter / @NidalAbdulmonem)
  • Breakfast in the house of the Al Atrash family who were injured when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shell hit their house (Twitter / @NidalAbdulmonem)
  • Jamal Al Atrash was injured by a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shell on December 2nd 2021 (Image via Al Jazeera)
  • Jamal Al Atrash was injured by a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shell on December 2nd 2021 (Image via Al Jazeera)
  • Image via @Tb7FgaFJwxqQlKu of the Al Atrash kitchen after the family were injured in an airstrike on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Idlib (Twitter)
  • The aftermath and destruction of an artillery shell which hit the Al Atrash family on December 2nd 2021 (@mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • @OrientNews showed a photo of Nour Al Atrash who was killed by a Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Idlib (Twitter)
  • 1 of 4: The rescue operation after an artillery shell hit the Al Atrash family on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Syria (Image via @firas_alkhalifa / Twitter)
  • 2 of 4: The rescue operation after an artillery shell hit the Al Atrash family on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Syria (Image via @firas_alkhalifa / Twitter)
  • 3 of 4: The rescue operation after an artillery shell hit the Al Atrash family on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Syria (Image via @firas_alkhalifa / Twitter)
  • 4 of 4: The rescue operation after an artillery shell hit the Al Atrash family on December 2nd 2021 in Binnish, Syria (Image via @firas_alkhalifa / Twitter)
  • Image of the artillery shell which exploded on the house of the Al Atrash family (@Syrianfreeyouth / Facebook)
  • Image of the artillery shell which exploded on the house of the Al Atrash family (EdlibNewsNetwork / Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Binnish (بنش), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.956227, 36.712570. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • 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.

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4423

Incident date

December 2, 2021

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5816284, 36.9212293 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two children were injured in the explosion of a leftover cluster bomb in the town of Sarja on December 2, 2021.

According to @Almohrar1, “two children, Muhammad and Ahmad Hajj Musa, were seriously injured by the explosion of a cluster bomb left over from the bombing of the Russian occupation while they were herding sheep in the town of Sarja”. Zaman Al Wasl mentioned that Muhammad and Ahmad were brothers.

Al Araby News reported that the bombing occurred on a farm, attributing the cluster bomb to both the regime and Russia, and that the two injured children were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Images posted by @SyriaCivilDefe show one of the children being treated by White Helmet volunteers for what appears to be leg injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muhammad محمد
Child male injured
Ahmad Hajj Musa أحمد حج موسى
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured in the explosion of a left over cluster bomb being treated by a White Helmet volunteer on December 2, 2021. (Image posted by @Almohrar1)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured in the explosion of a left over cluster bomb being treated by a White Helmet volunteer on December 2, 2021. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the children injured in the explosion of a left over cluster bomb being treated by a White Helmet volunteer on December 2, 2021. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sarja (سرجة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.5816284, 36.9212293. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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]

Incident Code

R4424

Incident date

December 6, 2021

Location

الباره, Al-Bara, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.68599, 36.54239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Al-Bara on December 6, 2021.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, a civilian was wounded in artillery shelling by the regime and Russian forces on the town of Al-Bara. Watan FM also reported that a civilian was injured.

A tweet from@Click_Syria reports that raids were carried out on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham positions in Al-Bara but do not mention any casualties.

Activist Mustafa Al-Mohammed told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Russian raids caused material damage to civilian property around the village of Al-Bara.

A Facebook post by Mari Al Boukamal refers to vacuum missiles being used in the attack and attributed the missiles to Russia while @shibl91 mentioned Krasnipol laser bombs. However, @baladinetwork blamed the regime for the strikes.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets inspect the site of shelling on Al-Bara on December 6, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • Strikes on the town of Al-Bara on December 6, 2021. (Image posted by Mari Al Boukamal via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Bara (الباره), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.68599, 36.54239. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4425

Incident date

December 9, 2021

Location

جامع قباء, Quba Mosque, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.350014, 40.118543 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Russian forces army patrol reportedly killed a child with disabilities, Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, 17 or 16 years old, by gunfire, in the Al Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021, in the evening.

Euphrates reported that Abdul Al-Hajar was sitting next to the “Quba Mosque” and that the “patrolmen treated him as a suicide bomber because of the uniform he was wearing, known as the “skull.”” Euphrates also reported that he was wearing an abaya (a winter fur) – but as Deir Ezzor 24 News reported, the patrol members accused him of wearing a suicide vest. According to a local source, @Sada_AlSharqieh, one of the Russian patrol saw the young man filming the Russian forces, and shot him “directly for fear of having any weapons with him.”

Euphrates reported that the Russian patrol “ran him over with a car after he was killed.” Deir Ezzor 24 News added that they also beat him and dragged his body to a security branch. Other local sources corroborate this, saying that his body was tied to one of the military vehicles.

Abdul Al-Hajar was from Subikhan in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

@Sada_AlSharqieh reported on Twitter that “the city is witnessing a great security alert, fearing the people’s reaction to the incident.”  Aramme News also reported that “the killing comes amid popular anger in Deir Ezzor governorate for weeks, after Russian patrols tried to pass through the governorate, which was completely rejected by the people.”

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar
16 or 17 years old years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, aged 17, was reportedly shot by Russian patrol in the Al-Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021 (Image via Euphrates Post)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, aged 17, was reportedly shot by Russian patrol in the Al-Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021 (Image via Euphrates Post)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Aziz Khalil Al-Hajar, aged 17, was reportedly shot by Russian patrol in the Al-Jura neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on December 9th 2021 (Image via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Quba mosque (جامع قباء) in the Al Jura neighbourhood (حي الجورة) of Deir Ezzor (دير الزور).The generic coordinates for the Quba mosque are: 35.350014, 40.118543. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4426

Incident date

December 11, 2021

Location

الجديدة أو اليعقوبية, Al Jadida or Al Yaqoubia, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians, including a child, were killed and 12 to 15 others, including up to nine children and four women, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Jadida or Al Yaqoubia on December 11, 2021.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, three people, including a child, were killed and 13 others, nine children and four women, were injured in Russian airstrikes near the town of Al-Jadida.

Shahba Press reported the location as being the town of Al-Yaqoubia and quoted a local source who said that the two Russian raids resulted in the death of three people and the wounding of 12 others, including women and children. Step News added that the injuries were of various degrees of severity.

Fact News and @thiqanewsagency provided a lower death toll of one civilian killed while Ugarit Post put the number of injured people at “about 15”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights identified two of the victims of the strikes as a man from Kafrta village in Jabal al Akrad in the suburbs of Latakia, named as Mustafa Ali Khadrou, and his child son Muhammad. Both were killed in the attack on Al-Jadida.

Activists told Shaam News that “Russian air strikes targeted the house of the leader “Abu Muslim al-Shishani” known as “Abu Muslim the Chechen”, the leader of the “Jund Allah” faction, in addition to an immigrant of Turkish nationality, and the homes of Syrian civilians residing in the area, displaced from Latakia countryside to the outskirts of the village of al-Jadida” Shaam also provided the toll that the bombing led to the death of three civilians, including a child, and wounding 13 civilians, 9 children and 4 women.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pointed out that “Abu Muslim al-Shishani” was not killed in the attack. A tweet from @thawraa_syr mentioned that sons of Abu Muslim and his wife were injured.

Fact News reported that there was significant material damage caused by the airstrikes and Zaman Al Wasl referred to “widespread destruction”, especially since the town included a large number of displaced people.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Russia. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified three thermobaric rockets as being used in the attack by Russian jets while Fact News referred to vacuum missiles. Zaman Al Wasl specified that the plane responsible for the airstrikes was a Russian Sukhoi-35 warplane.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mustafa Ali Khadrou
Adult male from Kafrta village in Jabal al Akrad in the suburbs of Latakia killed
Muhammad, son of Mustafa
Child male from Kafrta village in Jabal al Akrad in the suburbs of Latakia killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–15
  • 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
    Other

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets with one of the children injured in alleged Russian airstrikes near the town of Al-Jadida on December 11, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets with the body of one of the victims killed in alleged Russian airstrikes near the town of Al-Jadida on December 11, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets with the body of one of the victims killed in alleged Russian airstrikes near the town of Al-Jadida on December 11, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • White Helmets with the body of one of the victims killed in alleged Russian airstrikes near the town of Al-Jadida on December 11, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The moment the Russian planes bombed the vicinity of the town of Al-Yaqoubia with missiles on December 11, 2021. (Image posted by Edlib Media Center)
  • The Russian plane that bombed the vicinity of the town of Al-Yaqoubia with missiles on December 11, 2021. (Image posted by Edlib Media Center)
  • Mustafa Ali Khadrou, and his child son Muhammad, killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al-Jadida won December 11, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Network for Human Rights)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Al Jadida (الجديدة) and Al Yakoubia (اليعقوبية). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, Airwars has narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 35.929334, 36.31337.

  • Tagged visual evidence from sources.

    Imagery:
    المرصد المدني

  • Distribution of tags in available satellite imagery.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–15
  • 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
    Other

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4427

Incident date

December 11, 2021

Location

الوساطة, Al Wasata, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.113975, 36.843999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and at least another civilian was injured in alleged Russian, regime, or Iran shelling of the Al Wasata area on the outskirts of the city of Al Atareb on December 12, 2021.

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that a 17 year old boy named Ismail Ahmad Barakat, from al Atareb city in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, was killed in Syrian regime artillery forces’ shelling of al Wasata area on the outskirts of the city.

@MasarPressNet mentioned that “others” were injured in the shelling but did not specify how many people while North Press Agency one person wounded in addition to the person killed.

Sources were conflicted about who was responsible for the shelling, with the majority of sources attributing the shelling to the regime, including North Press Agency pointing to regime forces stationed in the 46th Regiment, while @syria24news24 blamed Russia and @jabha_sy named Iran as the responsible party.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ismail Ahmad Barakat إسماعيل أحمد بركات
17 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Wasata (الوساطة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.113975, 36.843999. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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, Iranian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]