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

RS1651

Incident date

November 20, 2016

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

In a single source claim, three named adult males were killed due to Russian shelling on Saqba.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Badr
Adult male killed
Ahmad Shekh
Adult male killed
Mohammad Bassam Barakat
Adult killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 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
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2156

Incident date

April 22, 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

A man, a woman and a girl were killed, and dozens more were wounded, in a airstrike on Akeirbat, according to sources on the ground. Both sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raids.

According to the Smart News Agency,  a Russian warplane struck the vicinity, “killing a woman, and wounding two others, including a child, their health is critical.” They noted that the victims were displaced from the eastern Homs countryside.

Step reported “Russian warplanes launch several raids around Akeirbat and the surrounding area in eastern Hama killing a girl and a man and injuring dozens.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (2) [ 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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2178

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

دير شرقي, Deir Sharqi, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.603718, 36.738955 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and “dozens” wounded in an alleged Russian airstrike in Deir Sharqi, according to local media sources. 

The University Hospital in Deir Sharqi, which reportedly was used to primarily treat women and children, was struck.

The hospital was destroyed by the strike and taken out of service, according to Smart News, who put the injured toll at four civilians.

The three civilians that were killed were patients at the hospital, Syrian Network for Human Rights reported. They further noted that this was the third time in two months that this location had been targeted.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mariam Shahoud al-Hosain
12 years old female From Sinjar: Squiah Village killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three martyrs and dozens of wounded civilians, as a result of the targeting of military aircraft on University Hospital, south of the town of #Deir al-Sharqi, rural Maarra Al-Nu'man.
  • Translation: The extent of the destruction in the university hospital for children and women, in the village of Deir al-Sharqi, in the southern countryside of Idlib.
  • Translation: Russian warplanes committed a horrific massacre this morning in the town of Deir al-Sharqi in rural Idlib, killing and injuring dozens of civilians who were taken to field hospitals.
  • Translation: The university hospital on the outskirts of Deir Sharqi, southern Idlib was destroyed after it was targeted by Russian planes.
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: Step News Agency)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)
  • The destruction in Deir Sharqi following an alleged Russian airstrike, 27 April 2017. (Via: SOHR)

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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2464

Incident date

September 18–19, 2017

Location

الطيبة , Tayba town,, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.08831, 38.914261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and his son died as Russian planes allegedly dropped cluster bombs on the town of Tayba, the Euphrates Post reported. Another source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that a “female child” also died at Tayba.

Mahmoud Hussein Al-Turki and his son were reportedly killed as several air raids attacked the area at dawn. The wife and daughter of Muhannad al-Hazoum were also wounded.

The Euphrates Post was the only source able to attribute the bombing.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the death of “a citizen and a female child in bombing by warplanes on areas in Al-Taybah town, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor yesterday [Sept 19th].

There was some ambiguity over the date. All sources put one said that the event was on September 19th, though Ashare Asouri  tweeted that a strike occurred on Sept 18th.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Hussein al-Turki
Adult male killed
Son of Mahmoud Hussein al-Turki
Child male killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Muhannad al-Hazoum
Child female injured
Wife of Muhannad al-Hazoum
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 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, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 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, Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2812

Incident date

December 24, 2017

Location

شنان, Shanan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.730271, 36.619461 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three children were killed by the remnants of an alleged Russian cluster bomb in the town of Shanan, eastern Raqqa, local media reported.

Among the sources, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that the three children were killed due a “cluster bomb explosion left behind by the Russian shelling of the town of Shanan.”

It was unclear when the bombs had been dropped.

All reports identified Russia as responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.




Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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

RS092

Incident date

October 30, 2015

Location

الرستن‬, Ar Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and child (and possibly a third civilian) were killed in an alleged Russian morning airstrike at Ar Rastan.

According to the Union of Hama rebels, those killed were “an orphan and his grandmother“. They were later named by VDC.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hamameh Abbas
Adult female Grand mother killed
Abdul Kareem Adnan al-Shaikh
Child male Grand son killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing the bodies of the grandmother and her grandchild (via Suhaib Al-Ali)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ar Rastan, for which the generic coordinates are: 34.93, 36.74. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3676

Incident date

May 7, 2019

Location

مرج الزهور, Marj Al Zuhour, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reported killed and eight others including two children were reported injured as Russian forces or Syrian regime targeted with airstrikes or artillery Marj Al Zohur in Idlib on May 7th, 2019, according to local reports.

Two of those killed were workers with a humanitarian organisation for food support.

The Local Coordination Committee Syria and Jisir Media Center reported that one civilian was killed. According to Jisir Media Center, eight other civilians including at least six members of the same family were wounded.

According to Step News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, two members of the same family were killed, while the Syria.liveuamap claimed a total of three and two wounded.

Syrian Network for Human Rights in a later post identified Jarrah Hadid as one of the victims. He was reportedly a humanitarian aid worker for al Amin Organization for humanitarian support, from Marj al Zohour village in Idlib, who died on May 8th due to wounds sustained in the attack on May 7th. Khaled Hadid was also reported killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Mohammad Hadid محمد حديد
21 years old male injured
Amjad Hadid أمجد حديد
24 years old injured
Mohammed Hadid محمد حديد
17 years old male injured
Hassan Yousef Hadid حسن يوسف حديد
50 years old male injured
Khaled Hadid خالد حديد
28 years old male killed
Maher Asa'ad Hadid ماهر اسعد حديد
30 years old injured
Fawaz Hadid فواز حديد
60 years old male killed
Jarrah Hadid جراح حديد
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Shahtan مصطفى شحطان
40 years old male injured
Mohammed Shihab محمد شهاب
15 years old male injured
Abu Omar Al Sabe' أبو عمر السبع
Adult male Unclear whether this is the real name or a nickname. killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Jarrah Hadid, killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Marj al Zohour village in Idlib on May 8th (via SN4HR).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Fawaz Hadid was reported killed in Russian forces or Syrian regime airstrikes on Marj Al Zohour on May 7th, 2019. (via Khaled Al Aseer).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abu Omar Al Sabe' was reported killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime attacks on Marj Al Zohour on May 7th, 2019. (via Khaled Al Aseer)
  • Khaled Hadid, a worker with a food support organization died as a result of Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Marj Al Zohour in Idlib on May 7th 2019. (via Al-Ameen for Humanitarian Support).
  • Jarrah Hadid, a worker with a humanitarian organisation was reported killed in airstrikes that struck Mari Al Zohour in Idlib on May 7th, 2019. (via Mohammad Harsouny)

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
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS189

Incident date

November 25, 2015

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr al Shughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.81425, 36.319812 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians were reported killed and several others injured (“most of them women and children”) in an alleged Russian air raid with vacuum missiles on the town of Jisr al Shughour, according to Radio Alkul. The local media organisation additionally reported that “The town was also struck by more than 50 rockets from Joreen camp [regime-controlled] which led to the death of one man and one woman.”

SHRC named one victim of a Russian strike. It also names four additional civilians killed by the regime.

The VDC also named another man as having been killed in the town, but blames “regime air forces’ shelling of Rabea Adawiye school.” Syria Net instead blamed the school attack on Russia, saying it killed one person and injured eight.

All4Syria blamed both the regime and Russia, noting: “Field sources reported that Russian aircraft flew over the countryside of Idlib in flocks, and carried out raids on the city targeting one of the city’s mosques and Rabea school, nearby houses and the city centre, killing three civilians including Abdel Halim Mohamed Sulaiman (44 years old.) Also wounded were more than a dozen civilians, including two women and three children in the school. This was followed a few hours later by regime forces stationed in the Goren camp in Hama targeting most of the city’s neighbourhoods. This killed two civilians and wounded others. Among those killed were Nasser Mohammed Bakri (45 years old) and his wife Susan (36 years).”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Halim
Age unknown male named by SHRC killed
 Abdulhaleem Mohammd Suliman
Adult male named by vdc killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • The moment an airstrike hit Jisr al-Shughour, Nov 25th (via JMC)
  • The Civil Defense attend the scene of an airstrike in Jisr al-Shughour, Nov 25th (via Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib Governorate)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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]