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

Incident Code

RS2993

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, allegedly a child, was killed by an Assad or Russian waged assault in the town of Harasta, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Harasta was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the “most bloody day in Syria in the latest few weeks” referring to the bombardments of eastern Ghouta.

Multiple sources mentioned that one civilian was killed, who, according to SOHR, was a child.

The Damascus Media Center published images of how smoke from the airstrikes rose from, what they reported, were residential buildings.

While most sources reported about aerial shelling, Masrawy News reported that in addition to the airstrikes, 15 surface-to-surface missiles had also been launched in several towns, including Harasta.

Almost all sources, including Masrawy News and SOHR, attributed blame to the Syrian regime. However, Russian culpability cannot be excluded as LCCSY pointed to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rising from Harasta following the contested airstrikes in Harasta, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Smoke rising from Harasta following the contested airstrikes in Harasta, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2992

Incident date

February 6, 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

Between two and four civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and at least one child was wounded following alleged Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling of Saqba, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Saqba was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the “most bloody day in Syria in the latest few weeks” referring to the bombardments of eastern Ghouta.

While HalabTodayTV reported two fatalities, other sources reported three and four. For example, the Syrian Press Center reported that four civilians were killed by one airstrike. SOHR also reported four victims, including one woman. Additionally, SOHR reported that “areas” of Sabqa was subject to aerial shelling, indicating more than one strike.

The only victim identified by name was the three-months-old child Ibrahim, the son of a White Helmet volunteer, Saaed, as depicted below, reported by Hadi Abdullah.

While no sources reported the number of wounded, the incident inflicted great damage on residential houses, and according to videos and photos, several civilians, including at least one child, were left under the rubble.

All sources besides Masrawy News reported about aerial shelling. However, because Masrawy News reported about both aerial shelling and missile attacks in eastern towns Ghouta on February 6th, it is possible that ground-launched weaponry also caused civilian harm.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. While most sources, including SOHR and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, identified the Syrian regime as responsible, Damascus Media Center pointed to Russia.

Meanwhile, LCCSY pointed to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

3 months years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • A White Helmet member carrying the body of his dead child, Ibrahim, who was killed by the contested airstrikes in Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Hadi Abdullah)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defence trying to rescue children from under the rubble following the contested airstrikes in Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Abu Alhuda Homsi)
  • The immediate, chaotic aftermath of the contested airstrikes in Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Mohammed ALdaher)
  • The moment the contested airstrikes hit Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • The moment the contested airstrikes hit Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Damascus Media Center)
  • Child stuck in the rubble of his home following the contested airstrikes hit Saqba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via SN4HR)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2991

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

مديرا, Mdyra, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.544613, 36.3861 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including up to two children and one woman, were killed following alleged Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling and/or missile attacks of Mdyra, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Mdyra was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the “most bloody day in Syria in the latest few weeks” referring to the bombardments of eastern Ghouta.

Local reports mentioned between two and four fatalities. Both Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported “at least” four victims, including one or two children and one woman.

None of the sources mentioned whether if the incident wounded any civilians.

While most reports referred to aerial shelling, Masrawy News reported about both “air and missile attacks” in eastern Ghouta on February 6th, why it is possible that ground-launched weaponry also caused the civilian harm.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Even though most sources identified the Syrian regime as responsible, including SOHR and SN4HR, Russian culpability cannot be excluded as LCCSY pointed to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • 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

RS2990

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

حزة, Hazza, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.52034, 36.36494 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three and as many as nine civilians were killed and one child was wounded, following aerial and possible missile shelling of Hazza, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, according to local media reported – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

According to local reports, the incident in Hazza was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the “most bloody day in Syria in the latest few weeks” referring to the bombardments of eastern Ghouta.

While most sources reported that three civilians were killed, Syrian Press Center said that nine were killed in two raids. None of the sources provided details about age or gender.

At least one civilian was left wounded as the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) published a photo of a little child receiving treatment for the wounds he sustained by the strikes.

It should, however, be noted that while most reports referred to aerial shelling, Masrawy News and SN4HR, both attributing blame to the Syrian regime, mentioned the use of missile attacks.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Even though most sources identified the Syrian regime as responsible, Russian culpability cannot be excluded as Local Coordination Committees of Syria pointed to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]

  • A wounded child following the contested shelling of Hazza, Damascus, February 6th, 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

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
    3 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

RS2986

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

كفر باتنة, Kafr Batna, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed and up to 80 more civilians were wounded as Russian and/or Assad warplanes struck the town of Kafr Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Kafr Batna was one of many lethal aerial incidents on that day in eastern Ghouta and was by many described as a massacre.

DMC News said that the strikes hit a popular market in the town and other sources mentioned that the strikes hit residential areas.

The death toll spanned from four to seven, the highest reported, among others, by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) who reported that one child was among the fatalities.

Al-Araby, who reported five fatalities said that one woman and one child were among the victims.

Some sources reported “a number of wounded” while Smart News Agency reported as many as 80, reportedly including women and children.

The incident reportedly included both airstrikes as well as ground-launched artillery. As the field activist, Omar al-Khatib, told al-Araby that the massacre carried out by the Syrian military aircraft by firing rockets.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Most of the sources who identified a culprit pointed to the Syrian regime. Among these are SN4HR, al-Araby and Smart News Agency.

However, LCCSY pointed, as the only one, to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The remaining sources did not apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–80
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Locals attending a prayer for a victim of the contested strikes in eastern Ghouta on February 6th, 2018. It is unclear whether if he was killed from the strikes in Kafr Batna as reported by this source, as DMC Press published a similar photo in relation to the strikes in Jabar, also on February 6th (via Smart News Agency)
  • Locals attending a prayer for a victim of the contested strikes in eastern Ghouta on February 6th, 2018. It is unclear whether if he was killed from the strikes in Kafr Batna as reported by this source, as DMC Press published the same photo in relation to the strikes in Jabar, also on February 6th (via Smart News Agency)
  • Footage from the immediate aftermath of the contested aerial shelling in Kafr Batna, Damascus, where locals are rescuing trapped civilians from under the rubble, February 6th, 2018 (via GMC)
  • Wounded civilian receiving treatment following the contested aerial shelling in Kafr Batna, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)
  • Smoke rising from the town of Kafr Batna, Damascus, after being subject to aerial shelling on February 6th, 2018 (via DMC Press)
  • Smoke rising from the town of Kafr Batna, Damascus, after being subject to aerial shelling on February 6th, 2018 (via DMC Press)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–80
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2989

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalaka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as seven civilians, including a child and three women, were killed and up to dozens were wounded following Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling of Zamalaka, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local sources reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Zamalaka was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the “most bloody day in Syria in the latest few weeks” referring to the bombardments of eastern Ghouta.

Reports spanned from three to seven fatalities, the highest reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), who added that one child and three women were among the killed.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported the death of “at least four civilians, including a woman and her daughter.” Additionally, Irafa Sawtak published a photo of a father carrying his the body of his daughter.

Damascus Media Center was the only source who identified one of the victims by name as the adult man, Mahmoud Idris.

While few reports mentioned the number of wounded, Alaa Ahmad tweeted that the toll reached “dozens”.

It remains unclear who is to blame. Even though most sources identified the Syrian regime as responsible, including SOHR and SN4HR, Russian culpability cannot be excluded as Local Coordination Committees of Syria pointed to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1 child1–3 women1 man)
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Footage from the immediate aftermath of the contested aerial shelling of Zamalaka, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Alaa Ahmad)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A father carrying the body of his death child following the contested airstrikes in Zamalaka, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Irafa Sawtak)
  • One of the victims of the contested airstrikes in Zamalaka, Damascus, February 6th, 2018, identified as Mahmoud Idris (via Damascus Media Center)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1 child1–3 women1 man)
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2985

Incident date

February 6, 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 this incident, described by many sources as a “massacre”, up to 31 civilians, including up to eight children and 11 women, were killed and “dozens” wounded, as Russian and/or Assad warplanes struck the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

According to local reports, the incident in Douma was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. In fact, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) called strikes in eastern Ghouta on February 6th “the largest Syrian massacre in 53 days.”

In Douma, the lowest reported death toll was seven while the Syrian Network for Human Righth (SN4HR) reported as many as 31 fatalities, including four children and 11 women. SOHR said that eight children were among the fatalities.

In the immediate aftermath of the strikes, Ammar Alhassan noted that “a whole family is still under the ruins of Douma”.

DMC identified the name of one male victim who was killed along with his wife. However, it should be noted that DMC, reporting on February 6th, said that the couple was killed by strikes in Douma “yesterday.”

It should be noted that while most sources only mentioned airstrikes, Mohammed Wahd, Smart News Agency and SN4HR also reported about artillery shelling. For example, SN4HR reported about both “warplanes and artillery, missiles and shells.”

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Most of the sources who identified a culprit pointed to the Syrian regime. Among these were Daily Sabah News, SN4HR and Smart News Agency.

However, LCCSY pointed, as the only one, to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The remaining sources did not apportion blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 31
  • (4–8 children1–11 women)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The contested strikes left large parts of Douma, Damascus, completely destroyed with many civilians buried under the rubble on February 6th, 2018 (via Bilal Abu Salah)
  • Civil Defence members arriving to the scene following the contested strikes in Douma, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Diaa DOuman)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defence members arriving to the scene following the contested strikes in Douma, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes in Douma, Damascus, February 6th, 2018 (via Smart News Agency)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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
    7 – 31
  • (4–8 children1–11 women)
  • 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

RS2988

Incident date

February 6, 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

Up to five civilians, including a child and woman, were killed and “many” wounded following Assad or Russian-waged aerial shelling of Hamouriya, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Hamouriya was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this was the “most bloody day in Syria in the latest few weeks” referring to the bombardments of eastern Ghouta.

An activist told al-Araby that four civilians, including a child, were killed by shelling of Hamuriya, and most reports agreed that four civilians were killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported five fatalities, adding that a child and a woman were among these.

Without specifying, sources mentioned that “several” or “many” civilians were left wounded.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Even though most sources identified the Syrian regime as responsible, Russian culpability cannot be excluded as Local Coordination Committees of Syria pointed to both “Russian and Assad raids”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]