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

RS2517

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and several others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib. Step News Agency was the only source to report on the incident and they identified Russian forces as responsible for the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

RS2516

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

كفرحلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.062057, 36.871512 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two girls were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Kafr Halab in southwestern Aleppo, according to a local source. SOHR however blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia.

Step News Agency was the only source to report on the incident and while they did not report a specific estimate of injuries, they indicated that it was more than one by using the plural. Step News Agency identified Russian planes as responsible for carrying out the airstrikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The airstrikes in Kafr Halab.
  • Two girls were injured in airstrikes.

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
    Unknown
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2515

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

البشيرية, al Bashiriya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.853376, 36.405749 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed in an airstrike on al Bashiriya, according to local media.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, “three sibling children killed in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on al Bashiriya village in Idlib governorate western suburbs on September 25, 2017.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omer Hikmat Abd al-Qader
Child male killed
Yasmin Hikmat Abd al-Qader
Child female killed
Abd al-Raheem Hikmat Abd al-Qader
Child male killed

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 (7) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2523

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

محمبل, Muhambal, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.784376, 36.468902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a girl, was killed and at least five others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Muhambal in Idlib governorate, according to local sources.

The “intensive air-raids” consisted of rockets.

Some sources did not mention civilian casualties but did confirm bombing in the vicinity.

One of the comments under the video shared by Baladi News, by someone called Mohammad al Sheikh says, “During these terrifying moments, I was with my wife and my son Khalil close to the site of targeting. After a year I say: “may god preserve the town of Muhambal safe, I am from Damascus but was treated brilliantly by the locals. We felt like we were among our people.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female From Mar'ayan village killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Salam al Shaghri, a girl killed in alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Muhambal on September 25, 2017 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • The moment airstrikes hit Muhambal, 25th sept 2017. (via Baladi News)

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 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2522

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

بداما, Bdama, Jisr al Shoughour, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians, including a child, were killed and up to 11 more were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime air and artillery strikes against the town of Bdama in the western village of Jisr al-Shoughour, according to local sources.

The initial estimate was that only one civilian, a child, had died but another civilian died the following day, September 26th, from his wounds sustained during the airstrike.

Conflicting reports were given as to who was responsible for carrying out the airstrikes against Bdama. The Syrian Network for Human Rights offered contradictory information, blaming Russian forces in one report while blaming regime forces in another report. However, the other source that reported on the incident, Idlib Media Centre, identified Russian planes as responsible for the airstrikes.

Orient News published an interview with the civil defence. Here is a rough transcript:

At 0’30” in the interview: I don’t know what to tell you. This is a civilian area, and it got hit at ten in the morning. Go and target military areas, we don’t mind.  One man died while he was fixing his tractor. He has six kids

At 1’15” in the interview with a doctor. “The regime is targeting the liberated coast and west of Jisr al Shoughour. All the injured and dead are civilians. There were about twenty of them including three martyrs of whom two were kids. Those injured were women, kids, old people, and a few young civilian men.”

“At 2’20” a reporter says: “Regime planes and helicopters are targeting al Badama alongside Russian planes and regime artillery.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ammar Ahmed Hamoudi
Child injured
Fadwa Hamoudi
Child female injured

The victims were named as:

4 years old male killed
Sister of Hamza Sadiq
Age unknown female injured
20 years old male " a college student at faculty of Pharmacy from Jisr al Shoghour city" Other sources said he was a pharmacist killed
Fadwa Hamoudi
Age unknown female injured
Mohamed A'raj
Age unknown male injured
Juma Khalilu
Adult killed
Bashir Stouf
Adult injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–11
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Image of Mohammad Nasser Hassoun, a child killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Bdama on September 25, 2017 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Image of Hamza Sadiq, a college student that died from wounds sustained during alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Bdama on September 25, 2017 (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of Mohammad Nasser Hassoun, a child killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes against the town of Bdama on September 25, 2017 (via Marsad Sarmada)
  • The exact moment the airstrike hit Bdama, 25th Sept 2017. (via Qasioun News Agency)

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
    1 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–11
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2507

Incident date

September 24–25, 2017

Location

خان شيخون, Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.440813, 36.6493607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one male civilian was killed and three others were wounded in six alleged Russian airstrikes against the town of Khan Sheikhun in southern Idlib as reported by local sources.

Saidat al Yasmin reported that “A squadron of Russian planes in the sky of the province of Idlib” – highlighting the presence of Russian planes.

According to Al Latamna Youth, three of the casualties were members of the same family, including the man killed, his sister in law who had to have her leg amputated, and another relative that lost an eye.

There were conflicting reports given as to when the incident occurred, with Smart News Agency reporting that it occurred along with other incidents on Sunday night (September 24th) while Al Latamna Youth claimed that it happened on September 25th.

The city’s civil defence spokesman Anas al-Diab told Smart News Agency that Russian planes were suspected to have carried out the airstrikes. Smart News Agency and Al Latamna Youth were the only sources to report on the incident and both identified Russian planes as responsible.

The incident occured at 04:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

26 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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]

  • Image of Mohammed Khaled al-Muhammad, killed in alleged Russian airstrikes against Khan Sheikhoun on September 24th/September 25th, 2017 (via Al Latamna Youth Facebook)

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 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

RS2506

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

قرية القنيطرة, al Quneitra, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

33.126, 35.824 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five people were killed, and eight others, including four children and three women were wounded, in airstrikes against the village of al Quneitra in the Harem district of northwest Idlib.

Sources all blamed Russian aviation for the raids.

Syrian Network for Human Rights published an image of an injured child and reported that “The girl Aya al Hasan wounded in suspected Russian warplanes missiles fired on al Quneitra village in Idlib governorate western suburbs, the shelling resulted in the death of her 2 sisters Salma and Malak and her grandmother. Additionally, a number of her family members have serious injuries on September 25, 2017.”

VDC named a female adult and two children, whom we suspect are the grandmother and girls.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Tabya al Hassan
Adult female killed
Malak al Hassan
Child female killed
Salma al Hassan
Child female killed
Aya al Hasan
Child female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Aya al Hasan, injured in an airstrike on 24, September 2017. (via S4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Dead children in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Ibrahim Yusuf)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2505

Incident date

September 24–25, 2017

Location

قرية حير الصبي, Hayr al-Sabi near the town of al Dana , Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.213186, 36.770897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to seven civilians were killed, including a family of seven, and six others, including women and children, were injured in airstrikes against the village of Hayr al-Sabi near the town of al Dana in northern Idlib according to local activists. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to Russia, while the others blamed the Syrian regime.

The date of the incident is contested. Step says 06:am on 25th, however, some tweets appeared night of 24th and others early on 25th. The first tweet was 9pm on 24th.

Some sources have only reported that a family of three was killed, including a mother, father and a son, however others put the numbers as high as seven.

An interview with one of injured residents ‘Abu Mahmoud’ goes as follows. “I heard a noise of a plane then a noise of a missile – I couldn’t hear the plane anymore- I was sure it was a missile. Most residents were sleeping on their roofs. It is an entirely civilian area there are no militants here. The result of the raid, as you can see, the house was totally flattened. There were about five injured and five martyrs.  In our neighbours house there were two people injured.”

An interview with another resident ‘abu Hussein’ goes as follows:, “This is my house. We suddenly heard a plane we looked up and the missile fell. These are civilian home there is no free army and no one else. It is civilian homes.”

Footage shows huge fires in the aftermath of the raid, which occurred at dawn.

The incident occured at 06:05:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Tayseer Ahmad al-Namer
Adult male killed
Ahlam Fares Shihadeh
Adult female killed
Ahmad Tayseer al-Namer
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Sayed Abu Sbeih)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Sayed Abu Sbeih)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Sayed Abu Sbeih)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Syrian Coalition)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Tuan Thuoc)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Ibrahim Yusuf)
  • Members of the Civil Defence in the aftermath of airstrikes, 24th September 2017. (via Al Jazeera Syria)

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
    3 – 7
  • (1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (24) [ collapse]