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

R3828

Incident date

August 19, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان, Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib , Syria

Airwars assessment

One to two civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on Ma`arat Al Nu`man, Idlib, on August 19th.

Smart News documented “two civilians killed by regime warplanes on the outskirts of Ma’aret al-Nu’man city, south of Idlib”, while @abuhuzaifa_ tweeted, “civilians wounded due to warplanes shelling residential neighborhoods of Ma’aret al-Nu’man city with vacuum missiles.”

Meanwhile @IdlibPlus and other sources cited “a civilian martyr and a number of injuries” as a result of Russian warplanes targeting the outskirts of Ma’rat Al-Nu`man.

Sources variously attributed the attack to Russian forces and/or the Syrian regime.

No other information is known at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 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
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1692

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.83869, 38.7462902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and 10 others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Mansoura in the western countryside of Aleppo, local media reported.

According to a civil defense official of Hussein al-Masri, “an aerial bombardment by Russian aircraft targeted the Shifa pharmaceutical factory in the town of Al Mansoura in Aleppo, causing the death of victims as well as large destruction in the factory.”

The majority of other local sources, including Smart News, also attributed the airstrikes to Russian airplanes or did not identify who was responsible.

Reports stated that the civilians that were killed in the airstrikes were employees, including the director of the factory, and the damage to the factory rendered it inoperable.

Videos posted by Baladi Network and Smart News show the destruction to the Shifa pharmaceutical factory caused by the airstrikes, including blood stains from the injured workers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Aerial bombardment of the town of Mansoura and Shifa pharmaceutical factory in the western Aleppo countryside.'

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.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1800

Incident date

December 28, 2016

Location

عين الفيجة, Ain Fijeh, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.616058, 36.179599 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians were killed, and a minimum of 10 were wounded, in raids on Ain Fijeh. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame the raids, with most blaming the Syrian regime, and some attributing blame to Russia.

Only two sources mentioned the death of a civilian in Ain Fijeh.

One source – Sky News Arabia – reported the death of a civilian, however, this source is the same report as from the previous incident – RS1799 – where it stated: “A civilian was also killed and others were injured, including a civil defence volunteer, following the bombing of Syrian warplanes on the villages of Basima, Dir Muqrin and Ayn al-Fijah”.

Despite this, another single source – @FreeArmyNews – reported that “heavy shelling today resulted in the death of two and the injury of at least 10 civilians”.

In a similar fashion to the previous incident in Basima – RS1799- it was reported that there were as many as eight raids with missiles, cluster bombs, artillery, explosive barrel bombs and “dozens of rockets”.

This allegedly led to extensive material destruction including the cities water-pipes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The exact moments an alleged air or artillery strike hit Ain Fijeh, 28th December 2016. (via Qasioun news Agency)
  • The exact moments an alleged air or artillery strike hit Ain Fijeh, 28th December 2016. (via Qasioun news Agency)

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 December 1st – 31st 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.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1760

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

حي السكري , Al Sukkari neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.17594, 37.14111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were reportedly killed during an alleged Russian airstrike on the al Sukkari neighbourhood in Aleppo, according to local media sources.

Halab News reported that the two unidentified civilians were killed “following Russian enemy raids” on al Sukkari.

Whilst Step News Agency corroborated the fact that there were Russian airstrikes in al Sukkari on this day, they did not explicitly mention any civilian harm in this particular neighbourhood. They did, however, report that 30 civilians died “in the city of Aleppo from Russian aerial bombardment”.

There were no other known sources reporting on the incident in al Sukkari.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (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 specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 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.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2067

Incident date

April 3, 2017

Location

حي جوبر, Jobar neighbourhood, Damascus, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.528874, 36.337967 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported an unspecified number of dead and wounded civilians in heavy strikes by alleged Russian and Assad regime warplanes on Damascus’s Jobar neighbourhood. Reports said that there had been as many as 40 airstrikes within just a few hours

Aljazeera: “Russian and Syrian planes have carried out dozens of raids on the Jubar district and other areas east of Damascus, including the eastern Ghouta, causing deaths and injuries”.

According to Sharf, “The Joubar neighborhood was subjected to a fierce and barbaric campaign by the Russian and Asiad enemy planes, which carried out more than 40 air strikes in a few hours, accompanied by a very heavy artillery and missile attack. This led to the deaths of a number of martyrs and wounded.”

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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Russia warplanes over Damascus' Jobar neighbourhood, April 3rd 2017 (via Jobar Media Centre)

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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2247

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

More than one civilian was injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Akeirbat in eastern Hama, local media reported.

All sources that reported on the incident, including Aljazeera and Step News, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS2249

Incident date

May 22, 2017

Location

الحريشة, Al Harisha, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.005113, 37.491875 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians, including two children, were killed and at least three others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the village of Al Harisha in the Eastern Hama countryside, according to local sources. Smart News Agency named Russian planes as those believed to be responsible while other sources did not name a party to blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (4) [ 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
  • (2 children)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2704

Incident date

November 8, 2017

Location

القورية, Al-Qourya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.96, 40.55 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and son were killed following an airstrike on the river crossing at Al-Qourya. Members of their family were also allegedly injured in the strike. Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible.

Euphrates Post blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes, however Smart News Agency reported that the Syrian regime was culpable for the civilian harm.

Some sources say their home was also damaged in the raid, so it can be assumed they lived near the river crossing.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yassin Ali al-Jassem
Adult male father killed
Omar Yasin al Jasem al Malali
Child male son killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Yassin Ali al-Jassim, killed in airstrikes on Al-Qourya, 8th Nov 2017. (via Mhamadahmade)
  • Yassin Ali al-Jassim, killed in airstrikes on Al-Qourya, 8th Nov 2017. (via Omar Omar)

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]