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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS2572

Incident date

September 30, 2017

Location

الصالحية, Al-Salhiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7146658, 40.7555866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that three people were reportedly killed, including a child, in airstrikes on the village of Al Salhia, which lays at the entrance of Deir Ezzor. The airstrikes were blamed on Russian warplanes.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yazen Muhammad Fawaz al-Hamdah
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3097

Incident date

February 24, 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

According to local media, up to three civilians, hereof one woman and one child, were killed as several left wounded as Assad and/or Russian-waged warplanes struck Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

Several reports told how Kafar Batna was subject to aerial shelling, especially striking residential areas. As the only one, Ghouta Media Center (GMC) reported about both aerial and artillery shelling. al-Arabiya reported that helicopters of the Syrian regime had launched explosive barrels in the town.

Sources reported two fatalities resulting from the strikes. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, one woman was among the victims.

GMC identified the name of one child fatality, a 45-days-old baby who indirectly was killed by the shelling as his parents were hindered to provide him milk.

In addition to the civilian deaths, several were also left wounded.

While al-Arabiya, as the only one, blamed the Syrian regime, the remaining sources pointed to either exclusive Russian culpability or to both belligerents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalid Dahbour
45 days years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Large parts of Kafar Batna, including residential areas, were left in rubble following the contested shelling of the town on February 24th, 2018 (via Ghouta Media Center)

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 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

CS1659 RS2670

Incident date

November 2, 2017

Location

السيال, Al Sayyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.5713889, 40.9066667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians – including a woman and a child – reportedly died in an airstrike on al Sayyal, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US-led Coalition or Russia.

Al Hall pointed towards the Coalition, putting the death toll at two with nine more wounded.

According to the Our Bukamal facebook page, “warplanes targeted the eastern town of Sayyal this morning targeting the homes of al A’war killed the wife of Mohammad al Abboud al A’war and his sister and a child”.

However, Baladi attributed the event to Russia, reporting the death of “a woman and her daughter”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Wife of Mohammed Aboud al-A’war
Adult female killed
Daughter of Mohammed Aboud al-A’war
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sayyal (السيال) for which the coordinates are: 34.5713889, 40.9066667

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 2nd-3rd: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS line of communication. Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS line of communication, a VBIED factory and an ISIS headquarters.”

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
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1352

Incident date

September 26, 2016

Location

حي خان العسل, Khan Al Assal (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.169667, 37.040255 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians were reported killed as a result of alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes in Khan Al Assal, a village west of Aleppo.

LCCSY reported: “One dead and a number of wounded civilians due to Russian aircraft targeting Khan Al Assal in the western countryside with cluster bombs.”

Later, it also reported on Facebook: “Khan Al Assal town in the western suburbs was subjected to similar airstrikes, leaving two dead, including a woman, and dozens of wounded among civilians.”

Qasioun wrote that “a civilian was killed and seven others were wounded in Syrian military airstrikes on the town of Khan Al Assal in the western suburbs of Aleppo.”

Shahba Press claimed two civilians were wounded.

24Aleppo reported three dead civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 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 (15) [ 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 September 1st – 30th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1651

Incident date

November 20, 2016

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

In a single source claim, three named adult males were killed due to Russian shelling on Saqba.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Badr
Adult male killed
Ahmad Shekh
Adult male killed
Mohammad Bassam Barakat
Adult killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2156

Incident date

April 22, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man, a woman and a girl were killed, and dozens more were wounded, in a airstrike on Akeirbat, according to sources on the ground. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

According to the Smart News Agency,  a Russian warplane struck the vicinity, “killing a woman, and wounding two others, including a child, their health is critical.” They noted that the victims were displaced from the eastern Homs countryside.

Step reported “Russian warplanes launch several raids around Akeirbat and the surrounding area in eastern Hama killing a girl and a man and injuring dozens.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    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 strikes between April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2178

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

دير شرقي, Deir Sharqi, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.603718, 36.738955 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and “dozens” wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike in Deir Sharqi, according to local media sources. 

The University Hospital in Deir Sharqi, which reportedly was used to primarily treat women and children, was struck.

The hospital was destroyed by the strike and taken out of service, according to Smart News, who put the injured toll at four civilians.

The three civilians that were killed were patients at the hospital, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported. They further noted that this was the third time in two months that this location had been targeted.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mariam Shahoud al-Hosain
12 years old female From Sinjar: Squiah Village killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three martyrs and dozens of wounded civilians, as a result of the targeting of military aircraft on University Hospital, south of the town of #Deir al-Sharqi, rural Maarra Al-Nu'man.
  • Translation: The extent of the destruction in the university hospital for children and women, in the village of Deir al-Sharqi, in the southern countryside of Idlib.
  • Translation: Russian warplanes committed a horrific massacre this morning in the town of Deir al-Sharqi in rural Idlib, killing and injuring dozens of civilians who were taken to field hospitals.
  • Translation: The university hospital on the outskirts of Deir Sharqi, southern Idlib was destroyed after it was targeted by Russian planes.
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2464

Incident date

September 18–19, 2017

Location

الطيبة , Tayba town,, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.08831, 38.914261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and his son died as Russian planes allegedly dropped cluster bombs on the town of Tayba, the Euphrates Post reported. Another source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that a “female child” also died at Tayba.

Mahmoud Hussein Al-Turki and his son were reportedly killed as several air raids attacked the area at dawn. The wife and daughter of Muhannad al-Hazoum were also wounded.

The Euphrates Post was the only source able to attribute the bombing.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the death of “a citizen and a female child in bombing by warplanes on areas in Al-Taybah town, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor yesterday [Sept 19th].

There was some ambiguity over the date. All sources put one said that the event was on September 19th, though Ashare Asouri  tweeted that a strike occurred on Sept 18th.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Hussein al-Turki
Adult male killed
Son of Mahmoud Hussein al-Turki
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Muhannad al-Hazoum
Child female injured
Wife of Muhannad al-Hazoum
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 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, Unknown

Sources (8) [ 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 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, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]