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

RS3022

Incident date

February 13, 2018

Location

عيناتا , Enata, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.82262, 36.48483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians, including up to two children and one woman, were killed while as many as six civilians were wounded following alleged Russian shelling of Enata, western Idlib, local media reported.

In this event, several sources reported that Russian warplanes had carried out airstrikes in Enata. The twitter account Hassan Darwisho mentioned that the strikes hit a camp in the village.

Several sources reported that the strikes had killed two civilians, while some specified that the victims were a woman and a child. As the only one, Step News Agency reported three fatalities; two children and one woman.

Between two and six civilians were left wounded, according to the local reports.

All known sources, who identified a culprit, pointed to Russia.

It should be noted that the reports from Enata match the previous event, R2825, that took place in an unnamed village in Idlib, also on February 13th. The unnamed village is located 15 km from Idlib, while Enata is 20 km from Idlib. Therefore, there is a possibility that the two incidents might be the same.

However, as of now, they will be treated separately.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The Civil Defense trying to rescue wounded civilians from under the rubble following the alleged Russian strike in Enata, Idlib, February 13th, 2018 (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • News report from Enata, Idlib, as it was subject to alleged Russian shelling og February 13th, 2018 (via Jsirtv)

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
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4068

Incident date

August 22–23, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib , Syria

Geolocation

35.6477913, 36.6591881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib, on August 22nd.

Edlib Media Center cited “two martyrs and several wounded, as a result of the regime’s helicopter bombardment with explosive barrels on the southern neighborhood of Ma’rat Al-Nu`man city.”

Meanwhile, Syria Civil Defense stated that “three civilians were killed and seven others were injured, including two women, after six helicopters targeted residential neighborhoods in Ma’rat Al-Nu`man city in Idlib countryside last night with explosive barrels.”

Macro Media Center initially reported two fatalities, yet this figure rose to three, including a girl, in later reports from this same source. A tweet from Zaitun Agency also reported that the death toll rose to three after the death of a child.

A tweet from @ufuk_sy also referred to two civilians killed and several wounded, in addition to the outbreak of fires, from bombarding that lasted for more than an hour.

Justice organisation named those killed as Kawkab Hassan Shaarawy, Wasel Ahmed Aldrees and Ali Khaled Al Shallah.

A tweet from @Ahmad_1alshble named those injured as Hussein Khaled Al-Shalah, Ahmed Ali Al-Hassan, Ibrahim Al-Shalah, Naim al-Hassan, Khaled Shaarawi, Kawkab Shaarawi (who later died), and Muhammad Al-Shaarawi.

A video posted by @EyadHoms20 shows the moment the bombs struck Ma`arat Al Nu`man and also referred to the strikes as barrel bombs. Videos posted by @AboAhmedSY8 and @anasanas84 shows the fire that resulted from the strike. Videos posted by Orient TV shows White Helmets rescuing people from the rubble and the destruction caused by the strikes.

Sources predominantly attributed the attack to the Syrian regime, yet a number named Russian forces in reports of the incident and some sources referenced both.

 

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Khaled Shaarawi
Age unknown male injured
Mohamed Sharawi
Age unknown male injured
Ali Khaled Al Shallah
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Hussein Ali Al Shallah
Age unknown male injured
Ibrahim Al Shallah
Age unknown male injured

Family members (2)

Ahmed Ali Hassan
Age unknown male injured
Naim Hassan
Age unknown male injured

The victims were named as:

Kawkab Hassan Shaarawy
Age unknown killed
Wasel Ahmed Aldrees
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "Three civilians were killed and seven others were injured, including two women, after six helicopters rotated to target residential neighborhoods in Ma'rat Al-Nu`man city in Idlib countryside last night with explosive barrels. Our teams were there with civilians." (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Image caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded civilians due to shelling with helicopters with explosive barrels in the southern neighborhood of Ma'rat Al-Nu`man city of Idlib countryside" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded civilians due to shelling with helicopters with explosive barrels in the southern neighborhood of Ma'rat Al-Nu`man city of Idlib countryside" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded civilians due to shelling with helicopters with explosive barrels in the southern neighborhood of Ma'rat Al-Nu`man city of Idlib countryside" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image caption translation: "Two martyrs and several wounded civilians due to shelling with helicopters with explosive barrels in the southern neighborhood of Ma'rat Al-Nu`man city of Idlib countryside" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image caption translation; "Martyrs in the city of Maaret al-Nu'man rise to 3 martyrs, including a girl child as a result of helicopters bombing residential neighborhoods in the city" (via Macro Media Center)
  • Image caption translation; "Martyrs in the city of Maaret al-Nu'man rise to 3 martyrs, including a girl child as a result of helicopters bombing residential neighborhoods in the city" (via Macro Media Center)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image caption translation: "Ali Khaled al-Shalah, from Ma'aret al-Nu'man city of idlib countryside, killed as a result, Assad regime helicopters dropped explosive barrels on the city" (via Justice Organisation)
  • An image posted by Oshak w mohbi ma`arat Al nu`man on Facebook of Wasel Ahmad al-Drees, who was killed by alleged regime airstrikes against the city of Maarat al-Nu`man on August 22/23, 2019.
  • Image translation: The bombing of the city with barrel bombs led to three martyrs and several wounded 1- The martyr Ali Khaled Al-Shalah 2- The martyr Wasel Ahmad al-Drees 3- The martyr Kawkab Hassan Shaarawi (Image posted by Habibti Ma`art Al nu`man via Facebook)

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 type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1797

Incident date

December 27, 2016

Location

ادلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.9266201, 36.6180588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as three civilians including a child were killed, including one child, and several others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes which hit Idlib. All sources attributed blame to Russia for these raids.

Footage shows huge amounts of material damage and a crater in the aftermath of the incident.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Tim Rajab
3 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Idlib, 27th December 2016. (via Qasioun news agency)
  • The aftermath of alleged Russian airstrikes on Idlib, 27th December 2016. (via @hadialbahra)

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 December 1st – 31st 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
    1 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2132

Incident date

April 16, 2017

Location

سوحا , Suha, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.000015, 37.401581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Smart News agency, reported: “A number of civilians were killed and wounded by a Russian air strike on the village of Suha, 30 kilometers east of Hama city, in the center of Syria, a local source told the Smart newspaper on Sunday.

“The source added that the raids targeted the homes of civilians in the village controlled by ‘Islamic State’, killing three civilians including one child and wounding two others who were left in a critical condition.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

RS2470

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

معرزيتا , Ma’arzita, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.555418, 36.573707 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were allegedly killed as planes bombed a primary school in the village of Ma’arzita.

Khaled Rzouq Qattish was named dead by local sources alongside two women. Al Jazeera reported two members of the civil defence forces were among those killed.

The perpetrator of the attack is unclear with reports of both Russian and Syrian warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Rzouq Qattish
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Russian air strike on Marzita village in southern Idlib countryside'

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • 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

RS3424

Incident date

May 4, 2018

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.43221, 40.99226 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes allegedly conducted by Russian forces reportedly killed three civilians in the village of Al Baghouz on the Syrian-Iraqi border in Deir Ezzor Governorate. The strikes took place on May 4th 2018.

Smart news was the only source to report these strikes, and cited in its summary that it received information from “a local source” – noting that “three civilians were killed on Friday morning raids by aircraft likely to be Russian on the village of Al Baghouz at the borders of Syrian-Iraqi near the city of Abu Kamal.”

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3725

Incident date

May 28, 2019

Location

سفوهن, Sufwhan, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

A man and two women were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Sufwhen, Idlib governorate, on May 28th, 2019, according to local sources. Up to five civilians, including a Syrian Civil Defence volunteer, were reportedly injured.

Shahba Press claimed that one woman had been killed and an unknown number of others were injured in the strike, while Edlib Media Center and Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the death of two women and one man.

The Facebook page of Sufwhen Town Media Center identified the victims as Qasim Muhammad Al Jisri and presumably his daughter Asia Qasim Al Jisri, and a woman named Radia Hassan Al Awad.

Horrya News wrote that in addition to three deaths, five civilians, including a Syrian Civil Defence volunteer, had been injured. @mo3atasem91 tweeted that a child and a woman had been injured.

Several sources reported helicopter strikes with barrel bombs.

Both @so_ria98 and Smart News agency attributed the strike to Russia, while others named the Syrian regime as the responsible belligerent.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Asia Al Jisri اسيا الجسري
Age unknown female daughter of Qasim Al Jisri killed
Qasim Al Jisri قاسم الجسري
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Radia Al Awad راضيه العوض
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption from Syrian Network for Human Rights: "At least three civilians, including two women, were killed as Syrian regime forces helicopters dropped barrel bombs on Sfuhun village in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on May 28th". (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Translation: “Targeting the town of Sufwhan in the southern countryside of Idlib” (via @islamarmys).
  • Translation: “Watch the moment when the Assad gangs bombed the town of Sufwhan in the countryside of Idlib with barrel bombs” (via @alshamiobada).
  • Translation: “The first moments of the bombing of Sufwhen town in Idlib countryside” (via Enab Baladi).
  • Men carrying the body of one of the victims after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on May 28th (via Enab Baladi).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Qasim Al Jasri was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Safwhen on May 28th, 2019 (via Safwhen Town Media Center).

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3007

Incident date

February 8, 2018

Location

كفرسجنة, Kafr Sajneh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5261134, 36.5813398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and another three children were wounded as Russian or Assad-waged warplanes carried out airstrikes in Kafr Sajneh, Idlib, local media reported.

The raids were reportedly launched in the centre of the village, and according to locals on the ground, cited by Smart News Agency, they killed a pregnant woman and a man and wounded three children.

Other sources, including Edlib Media Center, said that a woman and a child were killed. Anas Tracy tweeted, as the only one, that the strikes killed three civilians.

Like Smart News Agency, several sources mentioned that three children were left wounded.

While most sources, including Edlib Media Center and Masar Press Net, pointed to Russian culpability, the incident remains contested as al-Jisa blamed regime warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (0–1 children1 woman0–1 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the contested strike in Kafr Sajneh, Idlib, February 8th, 2018, that left large parts of the city in rubble (via al-Jisa)
  • Aftermath of the contested strike in Kafr Sajneh, Idlib, February 8th, 2018, that left large parts of the city in rubble (via Yahya)

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
  • (0–1 children1 woman0–1 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]