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)

Belligerent
Russian Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
4807 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS032

Incident date

October 9, 2015

Location

التمانعة, Al Tamana’h, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in Al-Tamana’h. While the Violations Documentation Center attributed the deaths to Russian aircraft, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were killed as a result of actions by Syrian regime helicopters.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fedaa Abdulrazzaq al-Najjar
Adult male originally from Khan Shaykhun, killed in al-Tamana'ah killed
Zeinab Aamer al-Bakri
Adult female originally from Khan Shaykhun, killed in al-Tamana'ah killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Tamani’ah (التمانعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.457626, 36.750314. 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

Russia did not publicly report any strikes in Idlib governorate for October 9th-10th 2015: “In the course of the last 24 hours, the main objects for engagement were militants’ command and communication centres, ammunition depots, bases and training camps of terrorists in the Raqqah, Hamah, Damascus and Aleppo provinces.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS160

Incident date

November 17, 2015

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The VDC and Aleppo Eyewitness reported that two named non-combatant men were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in Al Bab. However, Syrian Martyrs and the Damascus Centre for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime. Other sources simply blamed ‘warplanes.’

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar al-Hamad
Adult male killed
Mustafa al-Reene
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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

Russia reports carrying out cruise missile strikes in Aleppo governorate on November 17th 2015.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3383

Incident date

April 1, 2018

Location

القنبة, Al Qanba, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.700000, 36.700000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shaam reported: “Russian aircraft launched heavy air strikes resulting in the fall of martyrs and wounded in the cities and towns of Ariha and Khan Sheikoun and Urma Al Jouz and Al Qanba and Kafr Lata and Hazarin and Hamdiyah and Ma’aret Horma in the the southern countryside and the city of Jisr al-Shughour in the western countryside”.

No further details are available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS258

Incident date

December 11, 2015

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.180995, 37.151892 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No additional details are presently known.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Mohammad Dabbag
Adult male One victim was ages 55 and the other 56. It is unclear as to which victim was what age. Named by VDC. killed
Waleed Masri
Adult male One victim was ages 55 and the other 56. It is unclear as to which victim was what age. Named by VDC. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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 is not known to have publicly released any information relating to its airstrikes in Syria between December 9th and December 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3391

Incident date

April 4, 2018

Location

مناطق متعددة في أدلب, Various locations Idlib: Ariha, Khan Sheikhoun, Jisr al-Shughour, Hazarin, Al Rakaya, Abidin, Al-Zayara, Kars’a, Kansfara, Al Bara,Al Hbit,Al Naqir, Al Qastan, Halwaz, Al Ghassaniya, Al Alya,Al Drebat , Ashtabrak , Al Taybat and Al Bashiyriya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.700000, 36.700000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in Idlib province as airstrikes bombarded towns across the region, local media reported.

Smart News said Syrian forces shelled a market in the town of Bara, injuring four civilians, including a child, who were taken by civil defense teams to local medical points.

Helicopters threw several barrels of explosives on areas around Marj Zuhour and Zizun, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, although there were no reports of casualties. Warplanes also reportedly struck city of Jisr al-Shughur and villages of Sukkari, Ghassaniya and Halwaz in the western countryside of Idlib.

Rakaya and Khan Sheikun suffered material damage although no reports of casualties.

Russian forces destroyed large parts of Ariha according to a source on the ground.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Video of the airstrike in Idlib
  • Several towns across Idlib were struck, April 2018 (TRT)
    https://twitter.com/TRTArabi/status/981604617640402944
  • Several towns across Idlib were struck, April 2018 (TRT)
    https://twitter.com/TRTArabi/status/981604617640402944
  • Several towns across Idlib were struck, April 2018 (TRT)
    https://twitter.com/TRTArabi/status/981604617640402944
  • The city of Jericho was among those hit, April 2018 (Um Youssef)
    https://twitter.com/Omyusifsyria/status/981491863764037632

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS450

Incident date

January 23, 2016

Location

البوليل, Al Buliyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.20253, 40.37126 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians including one child were killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Buliyal, according to the Violations Documentation Centre.

No reports on strikes on Al Buliyal have yet been found.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Othman Hassan al-Ali al-Mousa al-Sheheily
Adult male also listed by Syrian Shuada as killed in a Russian strike, but it says that he died on Jan 19th. There is therefore the possibility the date of death in the VDC listing is incorrect. However, according to Syria 2011, who also listed him, claims he was killed in a regime strike on Jan 19th. killed
Saeed Rasheed Mallawardi 
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
Official source

In its military report published on 25th January, the Kremlin said: “In the course of the last three days, January 22-24, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic performed 169 combat sorties engaging 484 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure…crews of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed 18 combat sorties from the territory of the Russian Federation in order to engage manpower and hardware of the ISIS near Deir ez-Zor on January 22-24. Flight range reached more than 2,000 kilometers.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS674

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

جوبر‎, Jobar neighborhood, Damascus, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians died in alleged Russian airstrikes on the Jobar neighborhood of Damascus, according to local sources.

Smart reported nine Russian raids on the neighbourhood, while a tweet from FS_Muslim put the number of raids as high as 12. Baladi said two civilians died at the hands of Russia. Some other sources did not identify who was responsible, referring only to “warplanes”.

Two victims – killed in Jobar due to “air forces shelling” – were named by the VDC.

The victims were also named by Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies, who blamed Russia for their deaths.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Slaiman Kareem
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Kareem
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]

  • Heavy smoke in the aftermath of the incident on 26th February 2016. (via, Qasioun)
  • Footage of the exact momentsthe alleged raid struck on 26th February 2016. (via, Qasioun)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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

RS3202

Incident date

March 8, 2018

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

Two civilians – a child and a member of the White Helmets – were killed and others were wounded in air and artillery and missile strikes on Saqba, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

@HalabTodayTV tweeted the “demolition of residential areas by air, artillery and missile attacks”.

A child and a member of the Syrian Civil Defence were included in the death toll.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Mohammad al Asas, a member of Civil Defense center 215, was killed as Syrian/Russian warplanes fired missiles Saqba city in Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus suburbs, on March 8, 2018.”

The strikes reportedly occurred in the morning.

 

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Maria Jum’a
Child female killed
Mohammed al-Assas
Adult male Member of the White Helmets killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via @HalabTodayTV)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Maria Jum’a, a girl killed in airstrikes on Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via Abdlateef Al Ahmad)
  • Image of the father of the girl Maria Jum’a saying goodbye to his girl before she was buried (via SN4HR)
  • The burial of White Helmets member Mohammad al Asas (via SCD Damascus countryside)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Saqba, 8th March 2018. (via SCD Damascus countryside)
  • The burial of White Helmets member Mohammad al Asas (via SCD Damascus countryside)
  • The burial of White Helmets member Mohammad al Asas (via SCD Damascus countryside)

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
    2
  • (1 child1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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]