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

RS3204

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528464, 36.389472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians including a woman were wounded in “renewed” airstrikes on Hamouriya, according to local media.

The Smart News Agency said that one civilian was wounded in a Russia raid.

@KumaitAgency tweeted that “Several civilians, including women, were injured in the renewed aerial bombardment of an air strike with more than one rocket on the town of Hamouriya.” This source did not identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

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
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3206

Incident date

March 8, 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

Between nine and 17 civilians were killed, and an unspecified number of others were wounded in airstrikes on Zamalka, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

The lowest death toll was given as nine by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. But other sources put it higher. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there were 35 dead and wounded in total.

The Violations Documentation Centre published a list of 17 unidentified adult male civilian fatalities – and blamed warplanes belonging to the “Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Members of the White Helmets assisted in rescuing the wounded from the wreckage.

Cluster bombs were reportedly fired onto the residential neighbourhood.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 17
  • (17 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 (12) [ 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
    9 – 17
  • (17 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3200

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

اللطامنة, Al Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

“A civilian was wounded in bombing by warplanes likely to be Russian on the city of Al Latamina”, according to the Smart News Agency.

Halab Today noted “artillery shelling on the city of Latamna and its surroundings in the northern countryside of Hama”, but made no mention of civilian harm.

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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ 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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3207

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

عين ترما, Ein Tarma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51602, 36.35078 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male, named as Hazzae al-Saed, was killed in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Ein Tarma, local media reported. Both Russia and the Syrian regime were blamed for the raids.

According to Daraa Martyrs, the victim “was killed after he was hit by a military air strike on the town of Ein Tirma in the province of Damascus countryside. He is a medical activist and a nurse in the medical office in Jubair district in Damascus governorate.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Hazza 'Abdullah al-Sa'ad, killed in airstrikes on Ein Tarma, 8th March 2018. (via SN4HR)
  • Hazza 'Abdullah al-Sa'ad, killed in airstrikes on Ein Tarma, 8th March 2018. (via Daraa Martyrs)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3208

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

منطقة الفروع, Al Foru’ area, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.047222, 38.000278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and members of the Bani Khaled tribe were injured in airstrikes on the Al Foru’ area. Sources blamed Russian raids for the civilian casualties.

7al reported that “the area of ​​the Al Foru’ Badia Al Alyania has been subjected to more than five Russian raids. All the residents of the region are from the tribe of Bani Khalid, located in the Palmyra desert, northwest of the crossing of Talef on the Iraqi border.”

According to the Smart News Agency, “A number of civilians were killed and injured on Thursday [March 8th] in a bombardment by the Russian air force on the Al Alyania strip (60 km south of Palmyra) in the eastern Homs countryside in central Syria. Militants said the warplanes believed to be Russian launched raids on the Al Foru’ area, killing three civilians and injuring others from the Bani Khaled tribe, without giving further details.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ 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
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3205

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and an unspecified number more civilians wounded in alleged Russian and regime air and artillery strikes on Arbeen, according to local media.

@eg_nawras tweeted an image of a dead child, though he was not identified, and the source did not say which belligerent was responsible for this death.

The Step News Agency reported: “Russian aircraft launched an air strike targeting the city of Arbeen in the eastern Ghouta in conjunction with heavy artillery shelling by the regime forces on the city, resulting in many civilian casualties.”

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A child killed in an alleged Russia or regime strike on Arbeen, March 8th 2018. The child has not been named.

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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3201

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

جسرين, Jisreen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5112138, 36.3881891 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@SYR_REV_NEWS tweeted that “dozens of civilian casualties occurred as a result of the targeting of residential areas in the town of Jisreen by several air strikes”. The source did not attribute blame.

However, according to Local Coordination Committees Syria, there was “the fall of a large number of martyrs and wounded civilians as a result of raids by the Russian warplanes on the cities and towns of Hamouriya and Jisreen and Saqba in the eastern Ghouta”.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3188

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52034, 36.36494 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between eight and ten civilians including two or three women were killed in air and artillery strikes on Hazza, local media reported. Sources blamed the Syrian regime and Russian alliance for the strikes.

Out of the ten named victims, three adult males were reported as unidentified.

Dozens of civilians reportedly were wounded in the raids.

Two rockets loaded with cluster bombs were struck on the raid.

The Violations Documentation Centre blamed “Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Sources added that cluster munitions were used.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (2–3 women7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Hazza, 7th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Hazza, 7th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Hazza, 7th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Hazza, 7th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Hazza, 7th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Hazza, 7th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Wounded victims in the aftermath of airstrikes on Hazza, 7th March 2018. (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

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
    8 – 10
  • (2–3 women7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]