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

R4463

Incident date

August 29, 2022

Location

الغانية, Al Ghaniya, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one woman was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Al Ghaniya on August 29, 2022.

@SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that a woman was injured by intense artillery shelling carried out by the regime or Russian forces on the town of Al Ghaniya. @snhr also identified a woman as being wounded, and added that several houses were damaged.

According to @shaamnews and @thiqanewsagency, “civilians” were wounded by artillery without specifying how many civilians.

@1973syr1 tweeted that the heavy artillery was against “terrorist movements” but did not specify whether those injured were civilians or “terrorists”.

The majority of courses attributed the shelling to the regime forces, while the Syrian Civil Defense identified both the regime and Russia as being responsible.

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
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defense volunteers at the site of shelling by alleged Russian or regime forces on Al Ghaniya on August 29, 2022. (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
    1–2
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4498a

Incident date

January 19, 2023

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four to nine civilians, including three children and a woman, were reported injured as a result of alleged Russian forces, Syrian regime, or Iranian militia artillery fire on January 19th 2023 in Qastoun, Idlib, according to local sources.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, four civilians were injured from the same family (three children and their grandmother). One child was reported to be in critical condition. The artillery fire hit their home in the village south of Idlib.

@mzmgr941 identified the injured as slightly different including two men, and three children, and that the names of those injured were: Riyad Radwan Ahmed Attia Al-Khalil, aged 7; Ahmed Radwan Attia Al-Khalil, aged five; Abdel-Dominant Khalil, aged 35; Khalil Juma Muhammad Al-Hamoud, aged 35; and another “injured girl.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of injured at five, including three children. Alaraby News put the number of casualties at nine injuries, adding that the shelling struck civilian homes and close to the vicinity of the Turkish base in Qastoun.

The majority of sources attributed the shelling to the Syrian regime forces, while the Syrian Civil Defense blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian forces and @Almohrar1 identified the “Russian external occupation” as being responsible. Daily Sabah News, a Turkish pro-government source, quoted “civilian sources” who said that the Syrian regime and accompanying Iranian militias in the village of Jourin launched the artillery shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Riyad Radwan Ahmed Attia Al-Khali
7 years old injured
Ahmed Radwan Atiya Al-Khalil
5 years old injured
Abdel-Dominant Khalil Khalil
35 years old male injured

The victims were named as:

Juma Muhammad Al-Hamoud
35 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • 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, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Turkish Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • Civil Defense volunteers respond to civilians injured by shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense via Twitter)
  • "3 children, their grandmother, and a child from another family were wounded in artillery shelling by the regime forces and Russia, targeting their house in the village of Qastun in Sahl al-Ghab, south of Idlib" (@HalabTodayTV)
  • shelling in Qastoun on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by @Almohrar1 )
  • "#injuries The child, Riyad Radwan Ahmed Attia Al-Khalil, 7 years old The child Ahmed Radwan Atiya Al-Khalil, 5 years old There is also an injured girl The young man, Abdel-Dominant Khalil Khalil, 35 years old The young man, Juma Muhammad Al-Hamoud, 35 years old" (Image posted by @AlsarwtJ)

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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • 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, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Turkish Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4529

Incident date

July 10, 2023

Location

كفرعمة, Kafer Amme, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Monday, July 10th 2023, an alleged artillery shelling by Syrian regime forces and Russian armed forces hit the village of Kafarama (or Kafr Amma), west of Aleppo, northwest Syria, injuring one civilian.

Sources including @SyriaCivilDefe, @HalabTodayTV twitter accounts, and Orient News reported one civilian, a woman, being injured by the airstrike on the village.

Orient, Baladi, and @SyriaCivilDefe twitter account also reported that the attack took place on the village of Kafarama, in the western countryside of Aleppo as a result of heavy artillery shelling.

The suspected attackers are alleged to be Russia and Syrian regime forces, as reported by most of the sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and @Almohrarmedia2 twitter accounts, with some accusing either Russia or the Syrian regime.

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 (11) [ 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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4556

Incident date

September 19, 2023

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least two farmers were injured during the afternoon of September 19, 2023, by an artillery strike allegedly from the Syrian regime and/or Russian forces in the town of Al-Fatira, in the south of Idlib. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported the farmers were injured while picking figs and received treatment in a hospital in the city of Idlib.

According to a correspondent from the Baladi News, the farmers were injured to varying degrees of seriousness from artillery shelling, reportedly from the Syrian Regime and the militias supporting it. However, @VedengAgency1 and @ralshhwan9 attributed the shelling to Russian forces, who reportedly launched more than 30 rockets and artillery shells at the town of Al-Fatira.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS007

Incident date

October 1, 2015

Location

بليون‎, Belyon, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.695922, 36.50804 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Belyon, near Jabal al Zawiyah in southern Idlib, reportedly killed four civilians including a woman and child. ‘Several others’ were said to have been injured in the attack, some seriously.

SN4HR placed the civilian slightly higher at six deaths, noting that “the town is under the control of the armed opposition in partnership with [al Qaeda affiliate] the Al Nusra Front.“

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Belyon (بليون‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.695922, 36.508040. 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 Russian MoD did not report any strikes in the dierct vicinity of Belyon for October 1st-2nd 2015, though did note: “Su-25 attack aircraft hit the field base of the ISIS militants near Maarrat Al-Nuuman (Idlib). Terrorist bunkers as well as ammunition and POL depots were completely destroyed. Pinpoint bomb attacks eliminated a facility used by militants as a transshipment base and a large ammunition depot.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS039

Incident date

October 14, 2015

Location

حمورية, Hamouriya, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52777, 36.38582 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was reported killed in Russia’s first confirmed airstrikes in the vicinity of the Syrian capital Damascus, which struck the suburb of Hamouriya.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ameinah Shakhtout
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A female victim being pulled out from under the rubble of her home following raids on al Hamouriya a suburb of Damascus, 14th October 2015. (via, Syrian Civil Defence)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hamouriya (حمورية), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.52777, 36.38582. 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

Russia has confirmed strikes in Damascus governorate for October 14th-15th 2015: “In the Eastern Guta region (Damascus province), a fortified fire position of Osa AA missile system, which had been captured by the militants, was destroyed by a Su-34 bomber. Strike with KAB-500 guided bomb caused elimination of concrete fortifications, which used to shelter the AA system. The air defence missile system was eliminated…

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS072

Incident date

October 23, 2015

Location

برقوم, Barkoum, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.03733, 36.96627 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six or more civilians were reported killed in an airstrike at Barkoum. The Violations Documentation Center (which in English said the attack was by unidentified warplanes, and in Arabic attributed it to the Assad regime) later named the dead.

However other sources described the attack as the work of the Russian airforce.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatema Abdul Aziz Bakkar
Child female 15 years old killed
Abdul Aziz Bakkar
Adult male 40 years old killed

Family members (3)

Yasmeen al-Mustafa
Adult female 20 years old killed
Meriam al-Mustafa
Child female 9 years old
Nour al-Mustafa
Child female 12 years old

The victims were named as:

Aysha al-Khather
Adult female 40 years old

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Barkoum (برقوم), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.03733, 36.96627. 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

There is no published Russian Defence Ministry record for October 23rd-24th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS104

Incident date

October 31, 2015

Location

الحميدية, Hamidiya (Deir ez-Zor), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3301466, 40.1456308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four named civilians were killed in a reported Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Hamidiya. The Violations Documentation Center named the victims, all adult males.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Maher al-Dali
Adult male killed
Ahmad al-Dali
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Qasem Mohammad Ahmad al-Madi al-Jole
Adult male killed
Hsain al-Mustafa
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 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 (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on October 31st-November 2nd 2015, the Kremlin made no mention of strikes in Dayr ez Zawr governorate.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 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 (4) [ collapse]