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

RS2984

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

جوبر, Jobar, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528874, 36.337967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and six civilians were killed as Russian and/or Assad warplanes struck the town of Jobar, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident in Jobar was one out of many that day in eastern Ghouta. In Jobar, most sources reported the death of two civilians, while Local Coordination Committees of Syria was alone in saying that six died.

DMC Press identified the name of one male fatality.

It should be noted that while all sources only mentioned airstrikes, Douman Revolution1 reported that both “two air strikes and artillery shelling” had struck the town.

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Daily Sabah News identified the Syrian regime as responsible while LCCSY pointed 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:

Muslim Sawan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (1 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Locals attending a prayer a victim of the contested strikes in eastern Ghouta on February 6th, 2018, identified by this source as Muslim Sawan. However, it is unclear whether if he was killed from the strikes in Jobar as reported by this source, as Smart News Agency published the same photo in relation to the strikes in Kafr Batna, also on February 6th (via DMC Press)

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
    2 – 6
  • (1 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2987

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

مسرابا, Mesraba, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55027, 36.39659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The town of Mesraba, Damascus, was hit by an airstrike that killed between one and five civilians, including two children and at least one women, and wounded several others, local media reported. It was unclear whether Russia or the Syrian regime was to blame.

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

While Masar News reported one fatality, the remaining sources agreed that the strike had killed at least five civilians. SOHR and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported that two children were among the victims, adding that one or two women were also killed.

The Twitter account Qais Shami reported that “a father misses his three children in Masraba as a result of the missiles fired by the criminal regime’s planes”, suggesting that the number of killed children reached three and that they were siblings.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (2–3 children1–2 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little girl was reportedly among the victims of the contested airstrike in Mesreba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via AJA News)
  • The moment Mesreba, Damascus, is being hit by the contested airstrike on Februar 6th, 2018 (via @HosamDamascene)
  • The moment Mesreba, Damascus, is being hit by the contested airstrike on Februar 6th, 2018 (via Abu Qusai)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little girl was reportedly among the victims of the contested airstrike in Mesreba, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

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
Official source

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


Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (2–3 children1–2 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2983

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

عربين, Arbeen, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.538143, 36.364331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three and as many as 13 civilians, including two women, were killed and “dozens” others wounded, local media reported after the city of Arbeen, Damascus, was subject to air and artillery strikes. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime.

The incident, described as a “massacre” by several sources inflicted heavy damage and destruction to large parts of the city leaving many civilians trapped under the rubble.

While reports spanned from three fatalities to 13, as reported by the Syrian Civil Defence, most sources reported the death of seven civilians that also counted two women.

For example, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported “at least seven civilians, including two women, killed as Syrian regime warplanes fired missiles on Irbeen city in Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus suburbs, on February 6, 2018.”

The numbers of wounded spanned from two to “dozens” according to Abo Alhuda, who also mentioned that most of the wounded were children and women.

It should be noted that while all sources reported about airstrikes only, al-Arabiya mentioned both “artillery shelling and raids.”

Finally, it remains unclear who is to blame. Two sources, Abo Alhuda and SN4HR attributed blame to the Syrian regime while LCCSY pointed to Russian culpability.

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
    3 – 13
  • (2 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Footage from the scene during and after the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Smart News Agency)
  • Footage from the scene during and after the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Smart News Agency)
  • The Civil Defence trying to rescue civilians from under the rubble following the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Step News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Some of the many victims of the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus on February 6th, 2018(via Abo Alhuda)
  • Many civilians were trapped under the rubble following the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Aftermath of the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Alaa Alahmad)
  • The immediate aftermath of the contested strikes in Arbeen, Damascus on February 6th, 2018 (via Mohammed Abazeed)

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
    3 – 13
  • (2 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2982

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

آفس, Afis, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.904707, 36.800796 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, a child was killed in Afis, Idlib, as alleged Russain warplanes struck the town.

Step News Agency reported that “the Russian military launched successive raids” mentioning several locations, including Afis, and that it caused the death of one child.

Unlike other sources, Step News Agency, wrote on February 6th that the strike took place “last night”. Therefore, the strike most likely took place at some point between February 5th and 6th.

All sources pointed to Russia as responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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 (3) [ 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 February 1st - 28th 2018.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2981

Incident date

February 6, 2018

Location

الغدفة, Ghadafa, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6742, 36.79058 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A volunteer of the Syrian Civil Defense was killed as he was on duty in Ghadafa, Idlib, local media and family members reported.

The victim, Ahmed Ali Al-Mustafa, and his Civil Defense team were reportedly inspecting a bombing site when the strike took place.

The victim’s brother wrote on his Twitter account, Apdlrahmah, about the death of his brother and how  “he and a group of his comrades were subjected to a double raid by fighter jets as they inspected the bombing site in the village of Al-Ghadfa where the group was directly targeted.”

Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) mentioned in its reporting that he was from Hama.

Only SN4HR identified a culprit and pointed to Russia. The remaining reports merely referred to “warplanes” and “fighter jets”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Ali Al-Mustafa
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Volunteer in the Syrian Civil Defense, Ahmed Ali Al-Mustafa, was reportedly killed by unidentified airstrikes in Ghadafa, Idlib on February 6, 2018 (via Syria Civil Defense)
  • Volunteer in the Syrian Civil Defense, Ahmed Ali Al-Mustafa, was reportedly killed by unidentified airstrikes in Ghadafa, Idlib on February 6, 2018 (via Apdlrahmah)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
Official source

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


Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2979

Incident date

February 5, 2018

Location

الغوطة, al-Ghouta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.51388889, 36.49861111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The local media platform, Local Coordination Committees of Syria, reported that as many as 32 civilians were killed by both Russian and Assad-waged airstrikes and artillery in various towns of eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

Initially, the source reported that 14 civilians were killed as Russian and Syrian regime warplanes, along with artillery shelling, struck the towns of Duma, Harasta, Arbeen, Hamouriya, Beit Sawa, Haza, Nashabiyah, Otaya, Ein Tarma and Masraba in the eastern Ghouta.

Later, it added that the death toll had risen to 21 and finally, it added that it had reached 32.

LCCSY also reported that “dozens” were left wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    32
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ 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 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
    32
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2978

Incident date

February 5, 2018

Location

مرديخ, Mardkikh, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81117, 36.79093 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that alleged Russian airstrikes destroyed public facilities and possibly wounded two civilians as the town of Mardkikh in Idlib was subject to aerial shelling.

Smart News Agency reported how “warplanes likely to be Russian launched raids on the town, one of which hit the house, causing great damage and injury to civilians.”

Smart News Agency was, however, the only source mentioning civilian harm, as the remaining merely mentioned the destruction of public facilities, namely two schools and the health center.

All sources attributed blame to Russian warplanes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The Mardkikh Health Center was left completely destroyed following the alleged Russian strike in Mardkikh, Idlib, February 5th, 2018 (via Hurrya News)

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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2981

Incident date

February 5, 2018

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.859101, 36.797731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single source event, Edlib Media Center reported: “a civilian is wounded as a result of the targeting of the Russian occupation aircraft in residential neighbourhoods in the city of Saraqeb in eastern Idlib.”

Currently, there are no further details availble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 strikes between February 1st - 28th 2018.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]