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

R2463

Incident date

October 10, 2017

Location

الظافرية, Al-Zaferiya village, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

Multiple media reported that three civilians, including two women, were killed and up to ten more were wounded following aerial shelling of the village of al-Zafriya, Hama, though it was unclear among the sources who carried out the strikes.

Multiple sources reported from the incident, echoing the same thing; namely that three civilians were killed and at least two and as many as ten were left injured.

Baladi News’ correspondent said that “Russian aircraft carried out several raids this morning [Oct 10th] on residential neighbourhoods in the village of al-Zafria of Al-Hamra district of the eastern countryside of Hama, killing three civilians and injuring several other civilians who were left in a critical condition.”

The Facebook account Bawaba.Hamah identified the names of the three victims as well as four of the wounded. All seven people shared the same last name, suggesting they were related.

Sources were not clear in terms of when the incident occurred. While Baladi News’s correspondent reported that the shelling took place in the morning, Bawaba.Hamah said it took place in the afternoon.

While sources attributed blame to Russia, the Syrian Network for Human Rights identified “Syrian-Russian alliance warplanes” as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Makkiya Qurush
Age unknown female killed
Amina Qurush
Age unknown female killed
Mohammad Qurush
Age unknown male killed
Fahmia Qurush
Age unknown female injured
Hussein Youssef Qurush
Age unknown male injured
Youssef Hussein Qurush
Age unknown male injured
Abdel Sattar Qurush
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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]

  • Footage from the moment after the contested airstrikes struck the village of Al-Zaferiya, Hama, October 10th, 2017, and victims are being carried away by the civil defence (via @SyriaCivilDefe)

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 October 1st - 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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

RS3623

Incident date

April 26, 2019

Location

كفرنبل , Kafar Nabil, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, reportedly two men and a baby girl, died and another five non-combatants were wounded in an airstrike on agricultural land between the town of Kafar Nabil and the village of Jbala in the southern suburb of Idlib, local media reported. Most sources blamed Russia, though there was also an allegation that the Assad regime had used barrels bombs on the location.

According to Halab Today TV, “three people were killed, including a girl, and five others were injured by Russian airstrikes targeting a house south of Kafar Nabil in rural Idlib. The correspondent said that the Russian aircraft launched a series of air raids on the outskirts of the village”.

Syrian Mosaic said that “according to private sources, the raid targeted the headquarters of one of the factions [the party was not named], which led to the death of two elements of the faction and the death of a girl, who was accompanied by her father to the place.”

However, @yyasaryyavuz tweeted an image of a Syrian Civil Defence volunteer holding the body of a baby and attributed her death to barrel bombs dropped by the regime.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an airstrike on Kafar Nabil, April 26th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an airstrike on Kafar Nabil, April 26th (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of an airstrike on Kafar Nabil, April 26th (via White Helmets)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A baby girl is pulled from the ruins of buildings destroyed in an airstrike on Kafar Nabil, April 26th.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: 'Murderer Assad and Iranian # Idlib continues to slaughter babies with barrel bombs. Maybe they're ashamed to look at this frame! Kafar Nabil'
  • Images showing the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Kafar Nabil, April 26th (via @TRTArabi).
  • Translation: "Three martyrs, 'two men and a baby girl', and 5 civilian casualties, as a result of warplanes targeting civilian homes on the outskirts of the city of Kafr Nabl from the southern side this evening, the civil defense team worked to retrieve the martyrs and assist the wounded to nearby medical points" (via Syrian Civil Defence).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Syrian Civil Defence recovering the body of a baby girl after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil, April 26th, 2019 (via @yyasaryyavuz).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer searching the rubble after alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Kafar Nabil, April 26th, 2019 (via @TRTArabi).

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS217

Incident date

December 1, 2015

Location

مهين, Mahin, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.241684, 37.056241 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including two women and one child, were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maheen according to the Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Amirah Jedoua al-Aseer
Adult female killed
Daughter of Amirah Jedoua al-Aseer
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Daughter of Amirah Jedoua al-Aseer
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Maheen (مهين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.241684, 37.056241. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

For November 26th-December 4th 2015, Russia reported carrying out 431 combat sorties, including strikes in Homs.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Incident Code

RS314

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586273, 37.04739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on A’zaz, according to multiple sources.

The Shaam News Network reported that four Russian airstrikes struck the city.

Activists told SNN that the raids targeted a field hospital and a women’s and children’s hospital, causing severe damage and huge fires which the White Helmets attempted to extinguish. They stated that three civilians were killed, that the hospitals were put out of service and that there were other raids on non-combatants’ homes.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named one young man, Nasser Abd Al H’alia, from the village of Dibssi Afnan, as killed in a Russian air raid that targeted the Aleppo countryside as he traveled to A’zaz and Bab Al Salama on business.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nasser Abd Al H’alia
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A video of a children's hospital burning down after it was targeted by alleged Russians raids. (via, SNN)
  • The White Helmets extinguishing flames at a children's hospital which was targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, SNN)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

There were no published Russian reports for strikes in Syria on December 24th-25th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS346

Incident date

January 6, 2016

Location

نوى, Nawa, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.89044, 36.0399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three non-combatants were killed and several others injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Nawa, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Smart News reported that “Russian warplanes launched four raids on residential neighborhoods in the city, leaving three dead and several wounded including women and children (some of them critical), who were taken to a field hospital nearby.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Assadi
Age unknown male named by a local coordinating committee killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing damage and destruction to civilian homes which were targeted by alleged Russian raids. (via, Aleppo Media Center)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the raids in Nawa. (via, Al Jisir TV)

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 January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Dara’a governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS570

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

معارة الارتيق, Maarat al Arteek, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.247681, 37.053483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Maarat al Arteek, according to local sources.

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network reported deaths in the town as a result of alleged Russian airstrikes: “Russian planes launched intense air raids using cluster bombs on the towns of Anadan, Hraytan, al Tamoura, Mang, Tal Mssibain, Ma’arat al Arteek, Hayan, Bayanoun, Kafr Hamra, Kafr Naya, Miskan and the area of Qabr al Inglisi [the english tomb]. The raids led to the fall of martyrs and wounded in particular in Kafr Hamra and Ma’arat al Arteek.“

According to Shahba Press, three civilians died in a Russian strike. They provided no further details.

The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian victim.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Badr Saleh Omar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “Two powerful field commanders were liquidated in the Aleppo province.In the suburbs of Kalaz-Tahtani, a large illegal armed group with its commander, “Abu Maher” (“Farid Al-Misri”) was eliminated by an airstrike.The field commander “Abu Anas Al-Sham” from the Jaysh al-Sham terrorist group was liquidated in the territory of the same province.” It also said that “Russian aviation eliminated open ISIS oil storages in the Aleppo province.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • 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

RS634

Incident date

February 17, 2016

Location

الشيخ علي, Sheikh Ali, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.09736, 36.91384 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one child died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Sheikh Ali, according to local sources.

Al-Arabiya blamed Russia, reporting an “unspecified number of dead including children“. Shahba Press also put the death toll at three, including a child – and also attributed the incident to Russia.

According to a 40-minute programme by Al Jissr Satellite TV, (video posted in incident above) three civilians were killed in the village of Sheikh Ali, allegedly by a Russian airstrike. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “three civilians (including a child) died in warplane raid in Shikh Ali in western countryside of Aleppo.” They didn’t identify the warplanes.

 

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jisr TV covering the alleged strikes. (via, Jisir TV)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS827

Incident date

June 1, 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

Three civilians including one child died and five more were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Khan Assal, according to local sources.

Orient News put the death toll at three and said that one of those killed was a child. It blamed Russia.

Step News Agency also said that Russia was responsible, while SRG reported that Russia had carried out raids on the neighborhood.

Radio Al Kul also put the death toll at three, with “many” injured – and attributed the incident to Russia.

Other sources, including Syrian Press Center and Baladi News Network also put the number killed at three – but did not identify the warplanes that carried out the strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "3 people were killed and 5 were wounded due to warplane targeting Khan Al-Assal in western countryside of Aleppo in missiles"

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 June 1st – 31st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]