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

RS2829

Incident date

December 30, 2017

Location

اللطامنة, Lataminah, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3219885, 36.6234398 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

High explosive missiles struck Lataminah, leaving several civilians wounded, according to local media. All sources either attributed blame to Russia, or did not identify a belligerent.

Only an unspecifiied number of civilians were reported injured, but there were no reports of fatalities.

According to Arab48 News, there was a “heavy bombardment with missile launchers, without reports of civilian casualties.”

Footage published shows the intensity of the bombardment.

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
    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]

  • The exact moment an airstrikes struck the Lataminah vicinity, 30th December 2017. (via Thiqa News Agency)
  • The exact moment an airstrikes struck the Lataminah vicinity, 30th December 2017. (via Mahmoud Al Hamwi)

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
    0
  • 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

RS2826

Incident date

December 29, 2017

Location

التمانعة, Al Taman'a, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.457626, 36.750314 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured, and an unspecific number were killed, in air and artillery strikes which struck Al Taman’a, according to sources on the ground. Local media blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes for the civilian harm.

Orient News reported that “helicopters threw several barrels of explosives” on the vicinity. A local source, @mohanadalshekh, corroborates this report.

According to @abdallah_taweel, the missiles were land-to-land, and targeted both Al-Khwain and Al Taman’a.

Only one source reported that a single civilian was injured. While Step News Agency reported that as many as five civilians were killed and others were wounded when “Russian and Syrian air raids targeted today [Dec 29th] the towns of Al Taman’a  and Khwain and Tahtaya and the city of Ma’arat al-Nu’man”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment aircraft struck Al Taman'a, 29th December 2017. (via Edlib Media center)

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.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2825

Incident date

December 29, 2017

Location

الخوين, Al Khwain, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.478114, 36.83559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in air and artillery strikes on Al Khwain, according to reports from the ground. Local sources either attributed the blame to the Syrian regime or to Russia.

The only civilian harm allegation is from Step News Agency who reported that “The Russian and Syrian air raids targeted today, the towns of “Al Taman’a  and Khwain and Tahtaya” and the city of “Ma’arat al-Nu’man” in the southern countryside, killing five civilians and wounding others”. It does not specify where they died.

Other local media reported “heavy shelling of land-to-land missiles” and the use of cluster bombs.

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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (6) [ 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.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2827

Incident date

December 29, 2017

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma'arat Nu'man, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.6477913, 36.6591881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as three civilians were killed, and three to five others were wounded, in airstrikes which struck a residential neighbourhood and market in Ma’arat Nu’man, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes.

Dw News also reported that a hospital was partially damaged in the raid, however they were the only source to make this allegation.

Enabbaladi – who blamed the Syrian regime – reported that “Assad forces bombed the city of Ma’arat al-Nu’man, which left victims and wounded civilians, in addition to the destruction of civilian homes”. They added that the “shelling killed two civilians and wounded three as a result of the bombardment of the city by the “Sukhoi 22″ aircraft.” Despite attributing blame to the regime, the aircraft identified is Russian.

The planes, according to multiple sources, struck the vicinity with four high explosive missiles. Overall, one local media source reported that there were ten bombardments.

Civil Defence teams worked to retrieve the dead and wounded and transported them to medical points.

One source reported that “dozens” were wounded overall in Idlib on December 29th, and as many as 22 were killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Qader Samir Skaf
Child male killed
Sate Sabouh
Adult male killed
Boshra Absi Twaish
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abd al-Qader Samir Skaf, killed in airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via VDC-SY)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sate Sabouh, killed in airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via VDC-SY)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via Enabbaladi)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via @SyriaCivilDefe)
  • A child being pulled from the rubble in the immediate aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via @aboalhodaalhoms)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abd al-Qader Samir Skaf, killed in airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via Husam Qamou’a)
  • Abd al-Qader Samir Skaf, killed in airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via Husam Qamou’a)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sate Sabouh, killed in airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via Ramiz Mustafa)
  • A child rescued from the rubble in the immediate aftermath of airstrikes on Ma'arat Nu'man, 29th December 2017. (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib The White Helmets)

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2824

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

تحتايا, Tahtaya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5105879, 36.7138624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two airstrikes which hit Tahtaya killed three civilians and wounded another three, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes for the airstrikes.

Despite @AjamiNetwork reporting there were no civilian casualties, all other sources reported on civilian harm.

According to Baladi News, the victims were pulled out of the rubble by members of the Syrian Civil Defence.

Rozanafm News reported that these victims brought the overall death toll up for December 28th to 22.

Some sources reported that an unspecified number of victims were wounded, however the highest reported figure is three.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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]

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.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS2823

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

بابولين, Baboulin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.539928, 36.677332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians including two children were killed and an unspecified number were wounded in airstrikes which hit Baboulin, according to local media. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes for the raids.

According to some sources, Syrian regime helicopters dropped four explosive barrel bombs on the vicinity. Aircraft also allegedly “targeted a children’s school” which was housing Internally Displaced Peoples.

@abohasan15 reported that “a brutal Russian bombardment of the villages of the southern countryside of Idlib targeted a children’s school in Baboulin resulting in the martyrdom of three children”.

Several other sources reported that two civilians died.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (10) [ 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.

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 children)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2822

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

المشيرفة, Mushrifah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.767778, 36.393333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and between three and five children were killed in airstrikes which “targeted” their home in Mushrifah, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible, with some attributing blame to Moscow, while others pointed to the Syrian regime.

Manahi Al Ahmad reported that the victims died as a result of “targeting the house with an explosive barrel [from] flying helicopters at 8.45 am.” They added that all the children were under the age of 12.

Both @mohamed1aldaher and @abdkramalhalbi reported that only four people were killed in the raid. But the Violations Documentation Centre named six victims

The incident occured at 08:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Zahra Mahmoud al-Nahar
60 years old female killed
Mazen Hasan al-Mekhlef
Child male killed
Yazan Hasan al-Mekhlef
Child male killed
Ahmad Hasan al-Mekhlef
Child male killed
Farah Hasan al-Mekhlef
Child female killed
Abeer Hasan al-Mekhlef
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Abeer Hassan al-Mukhtar
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (3–5 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of airstrikes which struck a residential home in Mushrifah, 28th December 2017. (via Ali)

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.

http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154621@egNews
http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154688@egNews
http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154776@egNews
http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154751@egNews

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (3–5 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2821

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

الصرمان, Al Sarman, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.606005, 36.852539 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were killed, and six others were wounded – including women and children – in airstrikes which struck Al Sarman. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with both Russian warplanes and Syrian regime helicopters receiving allegations.

There is some confusion over how many civilians were killed. The Violations Documentation Centre published the names of an adult female and a male child. Fresh-Syria News, however, reported that two women were killed.

Some sources reported that three civilians were wounded, while others reported as many as six were wounded. Both agree that women and children were included.

More than one source reported that explosive barrel bombs were used in the airstrikes which were dropped by helicopters, meaning that regime involvement can’t be ruled out.

According to Al Etihad Press, “military and helicopter gunships launched a heavy bombardment of southern Idlib on Thursday [December 28th], which could be described as the heaviest attack on the region in months.”

@mohamed1aldaher reported that 19 civilians were killed on the 28th in various locations in Idlib.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dibeh al-Dabean
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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]

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.


Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–6
  • 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]