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

RS2073

Incident date

April 4, 2017

Location

عنجارة, Ainjara, Aleppo, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.2203271, 36.952976 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An elderly woman was killed when her home in the agricultural neighbourhood of Ainjara, Aleppo was struck by missiles. Sources all reported that Russia was to be held accountable for this raid.

According to sources, others were also wounded.

Footage published by Smart News, shows the damage left behind and the remnants of the missile shell.

The woman’s son, Ahmad Talha, and her, husband Mohammad Talha, were both named by Smart. The son had planned to take his mother on a pilgrimage this year.

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
  • (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 (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 April 1st - 31st 2017.

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2071

Incident date

April 4, 2017

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisir Al-Shoghour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.814269, 36.31994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 11 civilians were killed, and dozens more were wounded, following an alleged missile strike on Jisir Al-Shoghour. Almost all sources blamed Russian warplanes for the incident. Some, however, remained impartial, and two blamed the Syrian regime.

According to sources, three children and women were killed in the raid. LCCSY and Step News put the death toll as low as two, however, most others put the figures much higher, with Orient saying that as many as 11 people died.

Sources reported that missiles including “bunker busting missiles” were used in the raid.

Footage shows serious the damage to the residential neighbourhood, in which entire buildings collapsed.

Additional footage shows members of the Civil Defence searching in the rubble for casualties and injured civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 11
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Baladi-News Network)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. Civilians are pulled from the rubble to safety. (via Syrian Civil Defence)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via SHRC)
  • A civilian is rescued in the immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via SHRC)
  • A civilian is rescued in the immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via FreeSyrian2014)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Qasioun)
  • The immediate aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Jisir Al-Shoghour, 4th April 2017. (via Idlib Media Centre)

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 April 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
    4 – 11
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2074

Incident date

April 4, 2017

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

Up to 18 civilians were killed, and between 12 and 50 were wounded, following an airstrike on Saqba. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to Russia, while others blamed the Syrian regime – though the majority of sources pointed to Russia.

Four rockets were allegedly fired at one residential building, according to Aladehye.

There was disparity as to how many women and children casualties there were in the raid. Smart news reported that two children and four women were killed. Rfsmediaoffice put the number of children killed as high as 13 – they also blamed Syrian regime for the raids.

Smart News later reported that the number of casualties had risen to 17, “mostly from the family, “Khamis”, including seven women, one pregnant, and three children. One of them is a baby.”

Syriahr was the last to report, and suggested 18 had been killed in the raid so far. 

According to Raialyoum News 165 people were injured in the past two days in Eastern Ghouta alone, dozens of them being from Saqba.

Similarly Egy news reported this was the second day in a row the vicinity was struck by warplanes. @RevolutionSyria also reported “more than 200 air raids in two days [on Saqba], leaving dozens of martyrs and wounded”.

More than one source suggested that the death toll would likely rise due to the severity of many of those wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 18
  • (2–13 children4–7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Moments after the raid. Wounded civilians can be seen being dragged from the rubble in the aftermath of the incident, Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Abo Ayman)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Shrc)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Eldorar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Eldorar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Rfsmediaoffice)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child receives medical care in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Rfsmediaoffice)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child receives medical care in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Rfsmediaoffice)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Rfsmediaoffice)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Saqba, 4th April 2017. (via Rfsmediaoffice)

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 April 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
    9 – 18
  • (2–13 children4–7 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2076

Incident date

April 5, 2017

Location

بداما, Bdama, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.811903, 36.202275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as eight civilians were wounded – including women and children – in an airstrike on Bdama. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some blaming Russia and others the Syrian regime.

EdlibNN  tweetted that “Russian warplanes bombard the perimeter of the town of Bdama in rural Jisr al-Shughour”.

Syria News Desk and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights specified that there were four raids with ballistic missiles on the vicinity.  

The incident occured during the day.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on Bdama, 4th April 2017. (via Omar Madaniah)

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 April 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
    2–8
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2077

Incident date

April 5, 2017

Location

ابو الضهور, Abo Al-Zuhur, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.738674, 37.047791 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult male was killed, and another man was injured in an airstrike on Abo Al-Zuhur. All sources blamed Russian raids for the airstrike. 

Smart news reported that “shelling took [place in] the town of Abu-Zuhurt (50 km east of Idlib), killing one civilian and injuring another from the village of Umm al-Karamil in Aleppo. The injured man was taken to a medical point in the area.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male from Um el-Karameel killed

Summary

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2078

Incident date

April 5, 2017

Location

عين السودة, Ain Al-Sawda, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.832218, 36.342838 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed – including an adult male and a male child – and between four and five others were injured – including a woman – following airstrikes in Ain Al-Sawda. All sources blamed Russian raids for the strikes, except a local tweet, Abdlrazak-sbeh, who simply alleged that “air raids that struck the village” causing the death of two civilians.

According to Smart News, the injured civilians were taken to a nearby hospital where they were treated. Images published by JMC, show children amongst those injured.

Smart news reported there were other similar strikes that day due to Russian forces around Idlib and Aleppo. 

The incident occured around dusk.

The victims were named as:

13 years old male from Jisr Shagour: Ain Soda killed
28 years old male from Jisr Shagour: Ain Soda killed
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Adult female injured
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A injured child revives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Ain Al-Sawda, 5th April 2017. (via JMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A injured man revives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Ain Al-Sawda, 5th April 2017. (via JMC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A injured child revives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Ain Al-Sawda, 5th April 2017. (via JMC)
  • A injured civilian revives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Russian raid on Ain Al-Sawda, 5th April 2017. (via JMC)

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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2079

Incident date

April 5, 2017

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.3747033, 36.5923691 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that Zayed Awad al Rajab was the victim of Russian warplane shelling on Kafr Zita. 

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male born in Kaferzita killed

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Zayed Awad al-Rajab, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Kafr Zita, 5th April 2017. (via VDC)

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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2080

Incident date

April 6, 2017

Location

الحور, Hor, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.88256, 38.17169 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mother and her two children were killed, and as many as four more civilians were injured, following an airstrike on the residential neighbourhood of Hor, Aleppo. All sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raid.

Al Jazeera initially reported that “a girl and her mother were killed in the bombing” on Hor, however, later reports suggested it was a mother and her two children.

According to Syria News Desk, an entire family of four were injured in the strike on their home. 

Orient news reported that there were “four raids [with] vacuum rockets on the town of Hor, Aleppo”. They did not specify how many civilians were wounded.

Smart Mews reported that “A member of the Information Office of the Civil Defence in Aleppo, Ibrahim Abu Laith, said that Russian warplanes are likely to have carried out four raids on residential neighbourhood in the town of Hor (15 km west of Aleppo), the civil defence teams rushed to retrieve the mother and her two children from the rubble, others were injured”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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]

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 April 1st – 31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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]