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

RS3061

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

عين ترما, Ain Tarma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Aerial shelling of Ain Tarma, Damascus, carried out by Russian and/or Assad regime, killed up to six civilians and wounded at least three children, local media reported.

As shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, sources reported about both airstrikes and the launch of explosive barrels in Ain Tarma, especially striking residential areas.

Baladi News and Enab Baladi reported that the strikes had resulted in civilian fatalities, reportedly respectively six and five killed.

Meanwhile, the remaining sources reported that the strikes had only wounded civilians of the town. Specifically, Smart News Agency reported three wounded, all children, which also was depicted on photos from the scene published by other sources.

Addtionally, Damas Press reported how “helicopter aircraft renews targeting of residential areas in the town of Ain Tarma with several barrels of explosives, causing several injuries among civilians, including critical injuries.”

Sources were not clear in terms of culpability, as blame was appointed to either the Syrian regime, Russia, or both across the reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Civilians in the rubble following the contested shelling of Ain Tarma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Alaa al-Ahamad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the contested shelling of Ain Tarma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Abo alhoda alhoms)
  • Victims of the contested shelling of Ain Tarma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Ahmad Zhrani)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3065

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

كفربطنا , Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.514529, 36.374577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians were killed and several left wounded as Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was subject to Russian and/or Assad-waged air and artillery shelling, local media reported.

As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, Baladi News reported how a total of 22 civilians had been killed in Kafar Batna the past 72 hours.

While most reported the launch of aerial missiles, al-Etihad Press added that the town had also been struck with artillery.

The death toll spanned from one to five, according to local reports. Most reported the death of one named civilian man, Mu’adh Rahma, who was the brother of a well-known Maamoun Rahma, preacher of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

Step News Agency and the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that at least five civilians were killed in the strikes, while HalabTodayTV, added that several also were left wounded.

Sources were not clear in terms of culpability, as blame was appointed to either the Syrian regime, Russia, or both across the reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mu'adh Rahma
43 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Mu'adh Rahma, reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Horrya News)
  • Large parts of Kafar Batna were left in rubble following the contested shelling on February 22nd, 2018 (via Ghouta Media Center)
  • Mu'adh Rahma (right) was reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018. He was the brother of the Umayyad mosque preacher, Mamoun Rahmeh (left) (via al-Etihad Press)
  • Mu'adh Rahma, reportedly killed by the contested shelling of Kafar Batna, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Orient News)
  • The immediate aftermath in Kafar Batna after being subject to the contested shelling on February 22nd, 2018 (via HalabTodayTV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3066

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

الأفتريس, al-Aftis, Damascus , Syria

Geolocation

33.51728, 36.40167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, four civilians were killed and up to “dozens” more wounded as Russia, possibly in cooperation with the Assad regime, carried out airstrikes in al-Aftis, Damascus, local media reported.

All sources, who provided a death toll, reported that four civilians were killed.

While some, such as HalabTodayTV, referred to “a number” of wounded, Step News Agency said that the strikes had left “dozens” wounded.

Most reports identified Russia as responsible, including HalabTodayTV and Step News Agency. However, the event remains contested as Orient News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed both Russian and Assad warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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

RS3067

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29353, 37.04466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, Step News Agency reported that two children were injured by an alleged Russian cluster bomb explosion in Anadan, Aleppo.

Step News Agency did not not specify the date of the event, and it has therefore been registered as taking place the day it was reported, February 22nd, 2018.

Currently, no further details are available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3062

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5714804, 36.4033699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what was described as “endless” bombing of Douma, Damascus, up to 34 civilians, including children and women, were killed and dozens left wounded, as reported by local media, who blamed either the Assad regime or joint Assad/Russian forces.

As eastern Ghouta continued to be under heavy shelling, Smart News Agency reported how “the Syrian regime and Russia continue their intensive bombardment of various types of weapons on the eastern towns and villages of Al-Ghouta in the Syrian capital Damascus.”

The bombardement in Douma was described as particular heavy on this day. Smart News Agency said that the bombardment of residentital areas in Douma had been intense since the early morning hours.  Also, several media, such as Enab Baladi reported how “more than 150 rockets” had been launched in the city.

The death toll spanned from eight, as reported by al-Jazeera, to as many as 34, as reported by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR).

Many sources reported that children and women were among the fatalities and in SN4HR’s final update, it reported that out of the 34 victims, seven were children and nine were women. SN4HR identified one of the female victims by name.

Also, several sources, such as Zaman al-Wasl and Hadi Abdullah, reported how “dozens” were left wounded, including children.

While no-one pointed exclusively to Russian culpability, several reports, such as Smart News Agency,  Enab Baladi and SN4HR, blamed joint Russian/Assad forces.

Though, some, including Hadi Abdullah and LCCSY, only blamed Assad forces.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Nour al Durra
Adult female member of Local Development and Small Businesses Office in Eastern Ghouta killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 34
  • (7 children9 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Footage from Douma, Damascus, in the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes on February 22nd, 2018 (via al-Marshad)
  • The civil defence evacuating a wounded boy in the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Douma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Syrian Civil Defence)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage of one of the child fatalities, reportedly killed in the contested shelling of Douma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Ammaa94)
  • Bodybags of some of the many fatalities, reportedly killed in the contested shelling of Douma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Moaz al-Shamy)
  • The civil defence evacuating civilians in the immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Douma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Syrian Civil Defence)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two child victims of the contested shelling in Douma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via LCCSY)
  • A rescuing team discovers the body of a child victim in the rubble following the contested shelling of Douma, Damascus, February 22nd, 2018 (via Syrian Civil Defence)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 34
  • (7 children9 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3063

Incident date

February 22, 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

According to local media, up to five civilians, including four women, were killed and several were left wounded as Russian and/or Assad-waged warplanes struck Hamouriya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

Enab Baladi reported how “at least five people were killed today in the town of Hamuriya, in the center of the besieged area, by an air strike that hit a shelter.”

Most reports, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Damascus Media Center, agreed that the strike had resulted in five fatalities; four women and one man.

Only LCCSY reported four civilian fatalties.

Step News reported, among others, that the strike also had wounded several civilians, including children.

The same media, who blamed Russia, reported that the city had been struck by cluster bombs. Meanwhile, Wesal_TV and HalabTodayTV reported that Hamouriya had been struck by missiles “loaded with internationally prohibited napalm.” Wesal_TV  blamed the Syrian regime.

Generally, reports were conflicting in terms of culpability as blame was appointed to either the Syrian regime, Russia, or both across the reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of the contested shelling in Hamouriya, Damascus, is being evacuated by the civil defence, February 22nd, 2018 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3058

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

الشيفونية, Al Shifonya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5582404, 36.4335823 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed along with a number of wounded as Russian airstrikes and/or Assad artillery shelling struck Al Shifonya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

Several sources reported that two civilians were killed in the incident, and both were identified by name by Ghouta Media Center. It was however, not clear whether the victims were adults or children.

Additionally, several civilians were reported wounded by the shelling.

However, sources were unclear as to whether the civilians were killed by an air raid or artillery shelling and whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame.

While LCCSY, for example, blamed Russian waged airstrikes, Orient News also said an airstrike had caused the two fatalities, however while blaming the Assad regime. Finally, without identifying a culprit, GMC said that “heavy artillery” had claimed the two civilians lives.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Awad Mohammed al-Silik
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Nasser Hamada
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3059

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, between two and three civilians, including one child, were killed along with a number of wounded as Mesraba, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was struck by Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes.

For the third day in a row, eastern Ghouta, including Mesraba, was subject to heavy shelling, as reported by numerous media. Baladi News reported that ten civilians were killed in Mesraba within the past 72 hours.

During this air raid, sources reported two or three fatalities According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who reported “at least” three fatalities, they were from the same family. A video published by the Civil Defense showed the body of one of the fatalties, a young boy.

Without specifying the number, sources described how “several” and “many” civilians were left wounded.

While the majority of sources, including LCCSY and Smart News Agency, identified Russia as responsible, the incident remains contested, as Orient News and Damas Press suggested the Syrian regime’s involvement as well.

Finally, it should be noted that the incident possibly took place the preceding day, on February 21st, as the Civil Defence, on the 22nd, published a video of “yesterday’s strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of a dead young boy in the streets of Mesraba, Damascus, following the contested shelling of the city on February 22nd, 20218 (via Syrian Civil Defense)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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]