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

RS1127

Incident date

August 12, 2016

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.255362, 37.087714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes reportedly destroyed a Pediatrics and Gynecology hospital on 12th August 2016 in Kafr Hamra. At least three civilians were killed, and seven or more wounded, mostly members of a medical staff, women, or children. Some of the personnel working in the hospital were affected; both a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in addition to another medical staff member that was injured.

Photos published by the Syrian Network for Human Rights showed the destruction of patients’ rooms and storage areas of the hospital.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the regime or Russia was responsible for the airstrikes. While the majority of sources, including the Shaam News, attributed the attacks to Russian planes, a few sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and @ALAMAWI, blamed the regime for the attacks. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “government warplanes and its allies” were responsible.

A number of sources noted the use of artillery in Kafr Hamra on this day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nizar Ismail
29 years old male ambulance driver killed
Mahmoud Barakat
Age unknown male killed
Zainab Khalil
50 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Nizar Ismail, an ambulance driver, killed in an alleged raid on Kafr Hamra. (via, Halab Today)
  • Nizar Ismail, an ambulance driver, killed in an alleged raid on Kafr Hamra. (via, SN4HR)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SN4HR)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SN4HR)
  • Exterior of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SHRC)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, SHCR)
  • Inside of the Pediatrics & Gynecology hospital in Karf Harma which was targeted on 12th August 2016. (via, Bof-sy)

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 August 12th – 13th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1419

Incident date

October 9, 2016

Location

الظاهرية, Al Zhahiria, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.878124, 36.52047 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three children died in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on al-Zhahiria village, according to local media.

According to LCCSY, “three children were martyred as Russian warplanes carried out thermobaric missile attacks on #Zhahiria village in the western suburb”. This claim was repeated by many other sources.

There was no information available on the identity of the victims.

Majority of the sources pointed to Russia as the culprit – these were the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Spm_Syria, SyriaLive54, EMC and LCCSY.

However, one report by the Step News Agency attributed the strikes to both the Assad regime and Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (13) [ 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 October 1st – 19th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1930

Incident date

February 27, 2017

Location

ربيعة, Rabi'a, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

35.784346, 36.037978 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Smart, an unspecified number of civilians were wounded and killed following a “likely Russian” airstrike on Rabi’a.

It was reported that “the aircraft fired missiles on the outskirts of the village which was under the control of ‘Islamic State’, killing three civilians, including a child, and injuring five others, including a woman, some of them in critical condition.”

The other sources is, according to Airwars researchers, a pro-Assad source. It reported that “the terrorist groups targeted the villages of Jab al-Jarrah with a number of rocket-propelled grenades”.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ 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 specific strikes between February 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2130

Incident date

April 16, 2017

Location

كفرزتيا , Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.374143, 36.601896 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two named children died and three male civilians were wounded in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Kafr Zita, according to sources on the grounds. Several reports said that “rocket-propelled grenades with parachutes” were used in the attack.

Smart News Agency reported that “two children were killed and three men were wounded on Sunday when the Russian air force bombed the town of Kafr Zeita”.

However, other sources pointed to the regime. The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed Assad, also putting the death toll at two children.

But Syria Mirror, who attributed the event to the regime and Russiam said that three children died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shahad Ebadah Karimish
8 years old killed
Mohammed Khalid Al-Hajj
14 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 children3 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Kafr Zita: Russian bombardment with parachute bombs 16/4/2017'
  • More footage of the alleged Russian strike on Kafr Zita, April 16th.
  • According to Alhadath, the regime carried out this strike on Kafr Zita, April 16th.

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 children3 men)
  • 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]

Incident Code

RS2335

Incident date

July 13, 2017

Location

المكيمين , Al-Mkimin, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.129444, 37.415278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed in an alleged Russian bombardment on the village of Al-Mkimin, local media reported.

Hisham Sarhan Hisham Al Zubin was also reported dead by his cousin. Four others were wounded.

Syria Newsdesk said the the bombing came after the regime forces failed to win back villages under the control of Daesh, “despite more than a thousand raid and thousands of rockets and artillery.”

“More than 30 houses have been totally destroyed in the past two days,” its source said.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hisham Sarhan Hisham Al Zubin, killed in a strike on Al Makimin village, Julyt 13th (via Mohannad Al Terkawi)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS018

Incident date

October 4, 2015

Location

أم شرشوح, Umm Sharshuh, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.875730, 36.687650 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Russian raid killed up to three civilians at Umm Sharshuh, a town near Al Rastan. The Syrian Network cited local activist Abu Baraa Al Homsi: “Russian warplanes launched a number of air-strikes on Garnata and Umm Sharshuh. The strikes targeted civilian targets as usual. A number of individuals were killed and injured.”

The local Talbiseh Network claimed that four Russian strikes dropped thermobaric munitions on the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Umm Sharshuh (أم شرشوح), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.87573, 36.68765. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Kremlin made no mention of strikes in Homs governorate between October 3rd-5th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3004

Incident date

February 8, 2018

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.519286, 36.382427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local reports, three civilians, most likely two children and one woman, were killed and up to dozens were wounded as Russian and/or Assad warplanes launched air raids in Saqba town in eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

The strikes, which Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCCSY) described as “heavy night raids”, left large parts of the town, including a mosque, in complete rubble, as depicted on several videos and images.

Sources agreed that the strikes had claimed three fatalities, and most mentioned that the victims were two children and one woman. Only Enab Baladi, who also put the death toll at three, stating that just one child and her mother were among the victims.

The number of wounded spanned from two to as many as “dozens,” the latter reported by Damascus Media Center. Among the wounded was at least one female child as reported by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR).

Sources were conflicting in terms of culpability. The majority, including al-Araby and SN4HR, attributed blame to the Syrian regime, while al-Araby identified Russia as the responsible. Finally, LCCSY believed that both parties were to blame.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The remains of a mosque that was hit by the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)
  • The aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)
  • The immediate aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018, that left large parts of the city in rubble (via Alaa Alahmad)
  • The immediate and chaotic aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018, that left large parts of the city in rubble (via Alresalah)
  • The immediate and chaotic aftermath of the contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018, that left large parts of the city in rubble (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • The contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018, left large parts of the city in rubble (via Damascus Media Center)
  • The contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018, left large parts of the city in rubble (via Damascus Media Center)
  • The contested shelling of Saqba, Damascus, on February 8th, 2018, left large parts of the city in rubble (via Damascus Media Center)
  • A wounded girl left in the rubble following the contested shelling fo Saqba, Damascus, February 8th, 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
    3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3807

Incident date

June 15, 2019

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira , Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Al Fatira, Idlib, on June 15th.

Two sources claimed that three civilians had perished in the attack, with Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stating that two of these were women, and Smart News alleging the death of a child.

Meanwhile, other sources referred to two civilians slain, while Step News Agency reported “the killing of another person in the town of Al Fatira, with a family under the rubble south of Idlib.”

“Others” were reported “seriously wounded” in the bombardment, and Smart News stated that “Civil Defense teams worked to extract those trapped under the rubble and to take the injured to nearby field hospitals.”

While three sources attribute the attack to the Syrian regime, one source refers to both Russia and the Syrian regime in reporting of the incident. Another source does not positively attribute blame.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Nawaf Al-Hussein نواف الحسين
Age unknown male killed
Son of Nawaf Al-Hussein ابن نواف الحسين
Age unknown male injured

The victims were named as:

Hasna Khaled Al-Taha حسنة خالد الطه
Age unknown female killed
Laila Al-Naasan ليلى النعسان
Age unknown female killed
Jamil Hussein Al-Abrash جميل حسين الابرش
Age unknown male injured
Son of Abdul-Raouf Al-Abd Al-Rahman ابن عبد الرؤوف العبد الرحمن
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "At least two civilians, including a woman, were killed as Syrian warplanes fired missiles in Fattira village in Idlib suburbs, on June 15th" (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • "The death toll in the town of Al-Bara increased to 5, and in the town of Al-Fatira to 3 martyrs."
  • "The town of Al-Fateera in Idlib countryside, was targeted shortly before, with 4 missiles from the warplanes, which led to the death of a man and a woman and wounding 4 others, including 3 children, as we were there with civilians."
  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defense on the ground after Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Fatira on June 15th, 2019. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defense on the ground trying to rescue civilians under the rubble as a result of Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Fatira on June 15th, 2019. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Fatira on June 15th, 2019 left up to three civilians killed and others injured. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • Members of the Syrian Civil Defense on the ground after Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Al Fatira on June 15th, 2019. (via @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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]