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

R4475

Incident date

October 10, 2022

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was killed and between one and two women were injured in alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of Al Abzimo on October 10, 2022.

According to @SyriaCivilDefe, a child was killed and his mother was seriously injured by artillery shelling launched by the Syrian regime and Russian forces at a residential house and a wedding hall in Al Abzimo. A tweet from @anasanas84 identified one child killed and two women injured in the bombing.

Zaman Al Wasl reported that the child killed was 17-year-old boy “Mahmoud Al-Jassem” and two other women were seriously injured and taken to Atarib city hospital. Baladi News added that the child and his mother were displaced from the town of Sheikh Ali, west of Aleppo.

@Ahed_Slebi reported that the bombing struck a small, short wedding for some of the families from the village, killing the child and injuring his mom. However, @seerij80 tweeted that during the bombing, Mahmoud and his mom went outside of the house and that is where they were killed and injured.

An image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe shows the father of the child killed sitting next to the child’s body mourning his loss.

The majority of sources, including @abo_aljod84, reported that the Syrian regime was responsible for the artillery shelling. Baladi News specified that the regime forces used rocket-propelled grenades in the attack and Syria TV blamed the regime forty-sixth regiment. However, the Syrian Civil Defense attributed the shelling to both the Syrian regime and Russia.

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Al-Jassem
17 years old male killed
Mother of Mahmoud Al-Jassem
Adult female injured

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

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Body of the child killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling on Al Abzimo on October 10, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Body of the child killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling on Al Abzimo on October 10, 2022. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Body of the child killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling on Al Abzimo on October 10, 2022. (Image posted by @seerij80)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the child killed by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling on October 10, 2022. (Image posted by @abo_aljod84)

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
    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

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4507

Incident date

March 24, 2023

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man identified by sources as Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, was reportedly killed in the town of Al Abzimo, in the western countryside of Aleppo on March 24th 2023 after a contested attack as a result of Russian forces and/or Syrian regime artillery shelling hit the marketplace after midnight, according to the Syrian Civil Defense and other local sources.

Baladi reported that this attack took place during the time when residents were breaking their fast, after the first day of Ramadan.

Baladi also reported that there was material damage to shops, as well as other sources reporting that residential houses were also damaged too.

 

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Mamoun Hijazi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, reportedly killed by artillery fire in Al Abzimo, in the western countryside of Aleppo (Image via @Ahmad__1alshble / Twitter)
  • "A person was killed and a fire broke out in the town of Al-Abzimo in the western countryside of #Aleppo, with artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia targeting the town's market after midnight. Our teams responded and made sure that there were no other casualties in the place." (Image via @SyriaCivilDefe / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, "Ayman Hijazi" and another injury, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the countryside of Aleppo." (Image ia @Sy_Press_Agency / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, "Ayman Hijazi" and another injury, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the countryside of Aleppo." (Image ia @Sy_Press_Agency / Twitter)
  • "The death of the young man, Ayman Mamoun Hijazi, as a result of artillery shelling by pro-Assad forces on the town of Al-Abzimo in the western countryside of Aleppo" (Image via @OrientNews / Twitter)
  • Jamil al Hasan / YouTube

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4541

Incident date

August 18, 2023

Location

ديرسنبل, , Deir Sinbul, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one woman suffered a psychological injury following alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of the village of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023.

The Syrian Civil Defense (@SyriaCivilDefe) reported that a woman suffered a nervous breakdown after artillery shelling reportedly carried out by the Syrian regime and Russian forces struck the village of Deir Sinbul. The civil defense volunteers inspected the locations struck by shelling to ensure no other civilians were injured and took the injured woman to the hospital. @Almohrar1also reported that a woman suffered from a psychological injury.

According to @Najdat567, the Syrian regime forces stations at the checkpoints surrounding the village shelled Deir Sunbul. However, @Almohrar1 attributed the shelling to Russian forces.

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
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
    From @Najdat567 on Twitter
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
    From @Najdat567 on Twitter
  • Damage caused by alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @Najdat567)
    From @Najdat567 on Twitter
  • Civil defense volunteers respond to alleged Syrian regime/Russian shelling of Deir Sinbul on August 18, 2023. (Image posted by @SyriaCivilDefe)

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
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4578

Incident date

October 5–6, 2023

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

From the evening of Thursday, October 5th, 2023, and during the morning of Friday, October 6th, 2023, the repeated artillery bombardment with contested responsibility allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian regime forces and/or regime-associated militias or Russian and/or Iranian militias struck a residential neighborhood in Darat Izza, west of Aleppo, Syria, reportedly killing up to four civilians, including three children, and injuring  up to 15 civilians. Two women, six children, and a Civil Defense volunteer were among the injured.

Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) reported that the first attack was in the evening of Thursday, but the repeated missile bombardment allegedly happened also after midnight, hitting the city’s residential neighborhoods, the popular market, a mosque, and a gas station.

Many videos on social media captured the artillery strikes. On the videos shared by Al-Jazzera and Syria TV sounds of explosions can be heard. A journalist Anas Maarawi (@anasanas84) reported at 12:42 AM on Friday that the bombing already lasted for two hours and was not stopping, while more than 40 missiles and shells were used. He shared a video with the sounds of explosions where the prayer “Ya Latif” (Gracious Allah) used when facing something terrifying could be heard.

A Twitter/X user Mix World (@alking14399969) shared a video of bombardement at 1:29 AM, noting that “the hysterical bombardement of the city” was stiil continuing. A journalist Muhammad Abu Al-Huda Al-Homsi (@aboalhodaalhoms) posted a striking video where he himself had to hide from the artillery while reporting.

Last but not least, a reportage by Syrian journalist M.Faisal (@mhmdfaisel) featured an elderly man who was a witness of the strike. He said the following: “I fell asleep for five minutes, and my neighbours have called me. Come, your shop was bombed. I came and saw my shop bombed. I can only say thank God, in any case”.

According to Syrian Civil Defense, the bombardment led to the death of three civilians and injujries of 15, including two women and six children. SCD also reported that its volunteer Mahmoud Al-Hassan was injured while in his home. In addition, SCD shared images of the inspected places affected by the strikes where rubble and burnt cars can be seen and images of the wounded civilians being treated in the hospital. Darat Azza also shared a video on Facebook showing the injured civilians, including children, being treated in a hospital in Darat Azza.

The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights (SOHR) reported four civilian deaths, where three of these were reported to be children, and seven injuries from the “intense artillery shelling carried out by members of the regime forces”. Syria TV also reported about four casualties. Twitter/X user @Rian_almasri also reported four killed civilians, sharing the graphic images of the dead bodies.

Missile strikes were reported to have destroyed civilian homes and shops, evidenced by images in the Facebook post by Darat Azza. Ariha TV reported on October 6 that there was a large evacuation from the city because of the attacks.

The majority of reports, with one exception, claimed the civilians were targeted; however, a Twitter/X account @SAMSyria0 claimed the strike targeted the city as it was gathering Al Nusra militants.

Whilst a majority of reports attributed the strike to the Syrian regime forces and/or regime associated militia, a Facebook user Ibrahim Radwan attributed all the recent bombings in Syria, including the Darat Izza strikes, to the militias of Iran and Russia. Therefore, the Airwars has graded both Strike Status and Civilian Harm as Contested.

The exact local time of the incident is unknown, but it was reported that the strikes started in the evening of October 5 and continued at least till 1:29 AM on October 6.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Al-Hassan محمود الحسن
Age unknown male SCD volunteer injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food,Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

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    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

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    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe

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    Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: @SyriaCivilDefe
  • Source: Darat Azza
  • Source: Darat Azza
  • Source: Darat Azza
  • Source: Darat Azza
  • Source: Darat Azza
  • Source: Darat Azza
  • Source: Ahmed Abdel Malik
  • Source: Bench services
  • Source: Obada

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Rian_almasri

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Rian_almasri

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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 infrastructure
    Marketplace, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–15
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food,Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military

Sources (31) [ collapse]