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

RS1962

Incident date

March 11, 2017

Location

رسم سبعة, Rasim Saba'a, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.773204, 37.53479 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that a woman and a child were killed following Russian warplane raids. Two civilians were wounded and a heard of 20 sheep were also killed.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between March 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

RS1965

Incident date

March 12, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded by alleged Russian airstrike in Akeirbat. One source named Russia as the belligerent responsible, and the other did not name a belligerent. 

A local source, @tayyeal91aa, tweeted that there were more than 20 air raids in the vicinity, resulting in civilian injuries, in a bombing which reportedly targeted ISIS headquarters. The source didn’t identify the culprit.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ 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 specific strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1965a

Incident date

March 12, 2017

Location

قريتي دالية وسوحا, Suha and Abu Dalia villages, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were killed, including a woman, and as many as “dozens” more were injured following an alleged Russian raid on the villages of Suha and Abu Dalia, local media said. @B_ALHAMAWI was the only source to blame Russian warplanes; the other sources do not attribute any blame.

According to @HalabTodayTV, two raids that used missiles struck the vicinity. 

Additionally, @HalabTodayTV reported that there were only two wounded civilians, however @B_ALHAMAWI argued that dozens were wounded. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (4) [ 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 specific strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1964

Incident date

March 12, 2017

Location

درعا, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.900000, 36.200000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult males were killed in an alleged airstrike on Dara’a, local media reported. Only one source, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, blamed the Syrian regime for the raid whilst the others all blamed Russian warplanes.

One of the men killed was a doctor. He was known as the “father of the martyrs” as in August 2014, an alleged Syrian regime raid killed all members of his family in a strike on Basra al-Hariri. Enabbaladi reported that “the doctor joined the ranks of the Syrian revolution since the early days and worked with a group of doctors in the ambulance caring for wounded demonstrators.”

Additionally it was reported that he participated in more than one battle, including the “Southern Storm”, and was injured during the Battle of the “Alotin” in Al-Khadr Hill in July 2014, the battle that coincided with the killing of his sons.

A media activist, who was covering the fighting in the neighbourhood, was also killed in the raid.

There were no reports of wounded civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    People grieve over the body of Dr. Hassan Hariri, after he was killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via , Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office)
  • Dr. Hassan Hariri, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via Smo-sy)
  • Dr. Hassan Hariri, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via Enabbaladi)
  • Dr. Hassan Hariri and Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via @stefmhameed)
  • Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via LCCSY)
  • Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via SN4HR)
  • Mohamed Abazid, killed in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Dara'a, 12th March 2017. (via Homs 24 news)

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 March 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
    2
  • (2 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1966

Incident date

March 13, 2017

Location

ام المياذن, Um Almayathen, Dara'a , Syria

Geolocation

32.585547, 36.190245 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in an alleged air raid on the residential neighbourhood, Um Almayathen. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the strike, with some blaming Russian warplanes, and others the Syrian regime.

There was allegedly huge widespread damage  to residential homes and buildings as a result of the strike.

Missiles were reportedly used in the raid.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Um Almayathen (ام المياذن), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.585547, 36.190245. 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

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between March 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
    0
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1967

Incident date

March 13, 2017

Location

الهبا, Al-Hiba, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.824302, 37.451749 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that an elderly man and his grandson were killed, and one other civilian was injured, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al-Hiba.

A local source told Smart that the village was under the control of ISIS.

The child was aged six.

The injured civilian only suffered from mild wounds.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1969

Incident date

March 14, 2017

Location

ديرحافر , Deir Hafer, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.151494, 37.707842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians died and were wounded in an alleged Russia or regime strike on Deir Hafer, according to local media.

The Shaam News Network and LCCSY pointed to Russia, as did the Step News Agency who said that “several surface rockets” were used in the attack.

However, Aljazeera reported that “Syrian regime planes targeted the cities of Deir Hafer and the residents of the countryside of east Aleppo with number of air raids”.

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (7) [ 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

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

Incident Code

RS1968

Incident date

March 14, 2017

Location

صيدا, Saida town, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources reported that one woman died and several other civilians were wounded in an alleged Russia airstrike on Saida town.

All sources that named a culprit identified Russia as the responsible party.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult female 'She died after being hit by a military air raid on the town' killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The moment of the strike on Saida town, March 14th.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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